FERKINGHOFF: Handgun of the Year - Springfield Armory ECHELON

ECHELON is a modern "Striker-Fire" pistol that sets new standards. Together with its importer FERKINGHOFF International, Springfield launches the ECHELON, manufactured by HS in Croatia, in Germany.

So what makes this pistol so unique? It features a streamlined grip frame that is very slim for a Double-Stack Full Size pistol. It is equipped with a finely textured stipple finish, providing good grip. The magazine well is slightly flared, as seen on competition guns. Interchangeable grip modules with a textured surface are delivered with three grip backstraps in Small, Medium, and Large sizes.

An incredibly attractive technical feature is the mounting interface in the slide called "Variable Interface System" (VIS). As one of the most advanced optic mounting systems on the market, it offers space for over 30 different Mini-Red-Dot-Sights (MRDS) for direct mounting on the slide. Only the self-locking mounting pins need to be configured for the base of the desired optic. Tedious searching and expensive mounting plates are a thing of the past.

The pistol has a trigger unit enclosed in a metal cage with integral slide guide rails called the "Central Operating Group" (COG). All essential components are machined from tool steel and high-gloss polished to ensure a clean, consistent path, a crisp trigger break, and a short, positive reset.

The slide stop lever and magazine release button are ambidextrous. Field stripping the pistol can be done without tools and without pulling the trigger. The package includes two double-row steel sheet magazines - one for 17 rounds, flush with the grip, and a second with an extended magazine base for 20 rounds.

This "Striker-Fire" pistol is offered in two "Full Size" variations - one with a 4.5" (114mm) standard barrel or a 5.28" (134mm) suppressor-ready barrel with a ½x28 UNEF muzzle thread. The price of the two variants ranges between 875 and 975 EUR. The Echelon is available at www.waffen-ferkinghoff.com.