Springfield's Echelon 4.0FC Comp pairs full-size capacity with a compact slide

Springfield Armory has rolled out a new variant in its Echelon lineup, the 4.0FC Comp, which pairs a full-size grip with a compact 4-inch slide and a built-in compensator.

Snapshot

The Echelon 4.0FC Comp blends a shorter slide with a full-length grip module, keeping the 17-round flush-fit capacity while trimming overall length to 7.25 inches. The integral compensator is machined into the barrel and slide rather than threaded on, and Springfield positioned the front sight behind the ports to preserve the sight picture.

Key points

• Size and capacity: The pistol stands 5.5 inches tall with the flush 17-round magazine and weighs 24 ounces, with a 20-round extended magazine included in the box.
• Integral compensator: Ports cut into both the barrel and slide vent gas upward to manage muzzle rise without adding length.
• Shared platform: The pistol uses the same serialized Central Operating Group chassis and Variable Interface System optics mounting from the original 2023 Echelon, which Springfield says accepts more than 30 optics without adapter plates.
• Controls and finish: Ambidextrous controls, deep wraparound slide serrations, and a Melonite finish on the hammer-forged barrel and billet slide round out the build.
• Price and options: MSRP is $784, with restricted-state versions shipping with 15- or 10-round magazines at the same price, plus Gear Pac and Firstline variants.

Quick take

For readers weighing a carry gun that doesn't force a tradeoff between grip size and capacity, the 4.0FC Comp is worth a look on paper. Whether the integral compensator delivers a meaningful recoil reduction in a compact-length pistol is the kind of question best answered on the range, not in a spec sheet.

Read the full story: ssusa.org