The Springfield Echelon has been released to mostly rave reviews. Even the reviews that aren’t raving consider it to be a pretty good pistol. It’s certainly an improvement over the Springfield XD lineup. The Echelon is an interesting design and has sparked numerous comparisons to the SIG P320.
Why are the two guns getting these comparisons? It all comes down to the removable chassis system. SIG calls it the Fire Control Unit or FCU. Springfield calls it the Central Operating Group or COG. This simply means the serialized portion of the firearm can be removed from the frame. Shooters can remove the operating group and theoretically switch between frame sizes, slide lengths, and even calibers.
The COG and FCU systems are slowly becoming standard, and this evolution of handguns makes them much more customizable. It also makes the Echelon and P320 competing designs. Since I have both on hand, I figured, why don’t we take both for a spin and see how they handle in comparison to each other?
Echelon vs. Sig P320: Breaking Down the Features
Both of these guns are pretty standard for striker-fired, polymer frame pistols. They use double stack magazines, both chamber 9mm, and have a fairly similar manual of arms, but there are some slight differences worth noting.
Controls
The Echelon’s slide lock and magazine release are completely ambidextrous, and that’s always a nice touch. Most ambi magazine releases are quite stiff, but Echelon’s ambi magazine release is nice and smooth. Various models of the P320 utilize an ambidextrous slide stop, but the magazine release is only reversible.
Both use a dinky slide stop that just invites your thumbs to rest on it — at least my thumbs, anyway. With both guns, my thumbs sit on the slide lock and prevent it from actually locking.
With the Echelon, we have a flat-faced trigger design with a trigger dingus to act as a safety. The SIG lacks the trigger safety and comes in both curved and straight trigger designs.
Grips
The SIG P320 has a few different options for grip texture that vary between the X Series, the AXG, and the Legion design. The Echelon uses the same adaptive grip texture present on the Hellcat. It’s quite nice. Either works fine, and one doesn’t necessarily stand out.
If I had to pick one grip, I like the Echelon when it comes to stock grip designs. I will say the expensive AXG metal grip is very nice from SIG, and I like the Mirzon grip module for the P320 more than both stock options.
Magazines
In terms of magazines, the SIG P320 has 17, 21, and even 32-rounders. The Springfield Echelon has 17 rounders (currently), but the gun comes with two +3 extensions to bring it to 20 rounds.
Optics Ready
The Echelon model comes optics-ready, as do several SIG models. It’s fair to say both are optics-ready. The P320 uses one of two cuts. The older SIGs use a Leupold DPP footprint. The newer models use the SIG PRO footprint which works with optics like the SIG ROMEO1PRO and ROMEO2 series, as well as RMR footprints with a sealing plate.
The Echelon uses a rather revolutionary system. The slide is cut for a wide variety of optics, and when you remove the cover plate, you are met with a mess of holes. The Echelon comes with several pins. These pins are removable recoil bosses that can be inserted to work with multiple types of optics. Springfield calls this the VIS system, and it allows you to mount optics from Trijicon, Eotech, Shield, Leupold, SIG, Bushnell, and many more.
Plus, each model of the Echelon comes with sights capable of co-witnessing with the optic. These sights provide a lower 1/3rd co-witness through the optic. This is a very nice touch. Since everyone is rocking optics these days, why wouldn’t they just include the sights to use them?
Overall I think the Echelon’s system of being optics-ready is better. It fits more optics, doesn’t require plates, and even comes with suppressor height sights!
The Models Game
One thing the P320 has in spades is various models and seemingly dozens of different designs. Models with integrated compensators, metal grip modules, and various custom shop options. The gun has been around for almost a decade at this point, and its roots have certainly sunk in.
The Echelon is brand new, with a few different frame sizes that allow for different hand sizes. There is a threaded barrel model and a standard, but for now, that’s it. We’ve seen Springfield grow the Hellcat lineup, and that lineup didn’t include the COG modularity of the Echelon, so it seems likely the Echelon will have some customization and upgraded frames.
Performance: At the Range
Taking both guns to the range proved to be a fun day. Two high-quality pistols, an ammo can’s worth of 9mm, and a few targets were a good day. I ran through several timed drills with both guns side by side, swapping and averaging times to see if there was a major difference between the two guns.
I did the timed basics like the 10-10-10 drill, the El Presidente, and a round of Dot Torture with both guns. By the time I was done, I was covered in sweat from the Florida summer and ready for a cold beer.
In terms of time, I didn’t see a huge difference. Here and there, one would be a fraction of a second faster, but that’s more luck and speed of the shooter than the gun. The guns perform adequately, and you’d be well-armed with either option.
Control
A small difference between the guns came down to the heat. Pouring with sweat, the grip texture on the Echelon was easier to hold onto. I never had to shift my grip to regain control of the gun after firing a rapid string of shots. The Sig would occasionally slip a bit and require a quick readjustment to get the gun back into a good steady grip. It also helps that the Echelon has a longer barrel, which creates less concussion and muzzle rise.
Accuracy
Benched slow-fire accuracy was tested with a B8 target. There was hardly a noticeable difference. With that said, my SIG P320 FCU has the SIG Custom Works trigger. The Echelon trigger is stock and seems to be as good as the SIG’s custom trigger. I don’t feel a big difference between the two guns.
Comparing Track Records
SIG admittedly has a better track record with the nearly decade-old P320. Admittedly we all know the P320 had its own growing issues, but those seem to be fixed. The military has adopted the P320, and that speaks volumes, as have many police agencies. The P320 series is relatively popular and has performed admirably.
The Echelon is still quite new and certainly hasn’t had time for people to get long-term testing in. As such, the gun still remains largely unproven. In testing, the Echelon has certainly performed admirably, but time is the ultimate decider.
Is one gun truly better than the other? That’s tough to say. They both perform well, and I wouldn’t feel under-armed with either gun. Both are well-thought-out, high-performance firearms. The difference comes from the minor details. Evolution is always a small step forward — rarely dramatic. Which do you prefer? Let us know below!
