News Spanish National Police Adopts The Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC David Lane October 28, 2026 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. A big win for Springfield Armory/HS Produkt, Spain’s National Police (Policía Nacional) adopts the Echelon 4.0FC as the standard-issue sidearm. Released in 2023, the Echelon is a modern duty-grade pistol designed to meet the needs of any user. Fully ambidextrous, striker-fired, and adopted by agencies across the nation. The Echelon has even earned the “Gold” ranking from the National Tactical Officers Association. The version adopted by Spain’s Policía Nacional blurs the line between full-size and compact, combining the 20+1 capacity of the full-size Echelon with a 4” barrel/slide assembly. Balanced, high-capacity, in a do-all platform. Facing off in a grueling testing regimen, the Echelon was tested to extremes. These included intensive shooting and accuracy tests, barrel obstruction testing, durability tests in a range of environments from -4°F to 122°F, drop testing, interchangeability of parts verification, and more. The Echelon 4.0FC met or exceeded all the requirements to become the pistol selected by the evaluation team. Echelon has a wide range of styles and flavors, and we’ve tested many of them. From the original release, to the 4” compact model, to the Alpha, we’ve consistently found the Echelon to be one of the best pistols on the duty market. Recoil management is excellent, and the Echelon shoots like a laser beam. “Springfield Armory and HS Produkt are extremely honored that the Echelon 4.0FC has been selected by the Spanish National Police to be the issued pistol for its uniformed officers,” said Dennis Reese, owner and CEO of Springfield Armory. “The Echelon family of pistols was designed from the ground up to provide a duty-grade 9mm pistol ready for a wide range of applications. This adoption by the Spanish National Police further reinforces this fact.” “HS Produkt, in conjunction with Springfield Armory, spent years and countless hours meticulously developing and testing the Echelon platform pistol to be the ultimate duty pistol platform in existence,” said Zeljko Pavlin, CEO of HS Produkt. “Having the Spanish National Police select the Echelon pistol over the competition through the rounds of vigorous testing validates all that has been invested in the design and establishes the Echelon as the premier choice in duty pistols for government and law enforcement use.” Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
