By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
What a different world, so many choices! During the pandemic, with its shortages and panic buying, some folks were eager to purchase anything they could find.
For example, there are a ton of overpriced shotguns that are now going begging for a quarter of their original price.
But you don’t see so many Springfield pistols in the used rack. Folks who actually try them out and run them hard appreciate a good gun. Folks who don’t shoot are as well off with a cheap gun. It is what it is!
I train and practice because I don’t want to be in the terrible position of being armed with a deadly weapon I am unable to use well. That is the difference between surviving and being a victim.
That said, Springfield’s Echelon and Hellcat 9mm pistols offer a high degree of protection. Both handguns are reliable accurate and effective in the hands of a trained individual. Reaching a degree of proficiency is what will matter. Two of Springfield’s recent introductions are important variants of proven handguns. I don’t jump at every introduction. In this case I have replaced my Echelon and Hellcat pistols with the variants illustrated. The first has advantages in practical handling, the second, in tactical shooting.
The pandemic propelled quite a few pistols to the forefront and some were OK, some were not. Today’s market offers far more choices. Utility staying power and innovation are needed to succeed- firearms are now chosen on merit more than availability!
The Springfield Echelon is among the bright new pistols of the past few years. This is a service size pistol. (Read Glock 17) The Echelon is a striker fired polymer frame handgun. It features an internal chassis similar to the modular SIG P320.
The Echelon is supplied with a hard case, gun lock, grip inserts, and two magazines, including a 17-rounder and an extended 20-round magazine. The slide features forward cocking serrations, while the sights are excellent for defensive use. A wide U notch rear sight allows real speed in target acquisition while the front sight is a single tritium dot.
Most new handguns now feature a plate for mounting optics. The Springfield VIS System is far superior. Springfield uses a pattern of cuts in the slide under a covering plate. A set of removeable pins for each application or footprint mounting pattern allows the use of at least 30 different red dot sights. The Echelon features a light rail for mounting combat lights.
The backstrap is easily changed. Place your finger inside the magazine well and press a tab to release the backstrap. Slip another into place; easy as that. Combat shooting results are good. Accuracy potential is high with five-shot groups of 2 inches or so at 25 yards from a solid benchrest.
The pistol features a typical blade type safety in the trigger face and an internal striker block. But it did not have a manual safety. This has changed as Springfield now offers a manual safety model. I like a manual safety and if most striker fired guns don’t have one they should. Springfield’s manual safety doesn’t lock the slide, it locks the trigger. This pistol may be loaded and unloaded with the safety on.
This ambidextrous safety is positive in operation. Simply thumb the safety off to fire. I have never felt comfortable with a striker fired gun beside the bed with no safety applied and chamber empty carry is far too slow and requires two hands. The safety is easy thumbed off on the draw there is no speed penalty. The safety lever is thin and unobtrusive. If one prefers, it is possible to carry the Echelon with the safety off and thumb the safety on for home storage when a handgun is nearby for home defense. I like the Echelon and this new version makes a good pistol even better.
The Springfield Echelon with safety is as good a 9mm service pistol as may be purchased anywhere. Predictably firing tests went well as the pistol is the same design as the original, save it now features a manual safety. A bright spot in accuracy is Federal’s affordable Train & Protect 115 grain 9mm with several 15 yard groups of 1.5 inch or less.
Springfield Hellcat Pro Comp
A few years ago Springfield introduced the Hellcat, a subcompact 9mm with a higher than usual magazine capacity.
The Hellcat is well balanced, affordable, reliable, and a great lightweight carry gun. Springfield’s Hellcat Pro features a long slide and taller grip. Capacity is increased to compact size norms and the longer slide and barrel result in greater control and practical accuracy.
While I like the Hellcat, I like the Hellcat Pro even better.
There is no free lunch and physics being what they are a lightweight 9mm kicks more than a full size 9mm. The compact 9mm isn’t a wrist snapper by any means but it generates more muzzle flip than an Echelon sized pistol.
The Hellcat Pro Comp is among a growing number of factory offerings with a compensator. This isn’t the type of compensator that hangs on the end of a barrel but an integral type. The result is a pistol with modest recoil and muzzle flip. Frankly I cannot tell much difference in the Hellcat Pro Comp and the Hellcat Pro in recoil. Comfort is good.
The difference comes when running a combat course you are firing from a barricade firing position. The Hellcat Pro Comp shoots flat. Muzzle flip is subdued and you are back on target quickly.
The Hellcat Pro Comp’s improvement in control is best illustrated when firing a +P loading such as the Federal 147 grain HST +P. +P loads feel like standard pressure loads. The result is a pistol that helps the recoil shy with standard loads or helps an accomplished shooter to be all they can be. The Hellcat Pro Comp is a notable improvement over the standard Hellcat. Springfield’s new polymer frame striker fired guns offer a well designed upgrade over previous offerings. I like them enough that they will be trusted parts of my defensive battery.
Springfield Echelon specifications
- Caliber: 9mm
- Magazine capacity 17 and 20, two magazines supplied
- Height: 5.5 inch
- Length: 8 inch
- Width: 1.2 inch
- Weight: 24 oz. Unloaded
- Frame: Polymer
- Slide: Melonite coated steel
- Barrel length: 4.5 inch
- Sights fixed: U Notch rear, tritium front, optional three dot tritium
- Average retail: $675.00
- Springfield-Armory.com
Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro Comp Specifications:
- Caliber: 9mm
- Color: Black
- Barrel: 3.7-inch hammer-forged steel, Melonite finish
- Slide: Billet machined, Melonite finish, optics ready, integral compensator
- Frame: Black polymer w/ adaptive grip texture
- Sights: Tritium/luminescent front, tactical rack U-notch rear
- Recoil System: Dual captive recoil spring w/ full length guide rod
- Grip Width: 1 inch
- Magazines included: One 15-round, one 17-round
- Weight: 21 ounces w/ flush magazine, 21.4 ounces w/ extended magazine
- Length: 6.6 inches
- Height: 4.8 inches w/ flush magazine, 5.3 inches w/ extended magazine
