Reviews Springfield Echelon COA [NEW RELEASE] David Lane March 17, 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. NEW from Springfield Armory comes a full lineup of Aimpoint COA-equipped pistols, starting with the Echelon! First released a little over a year ago, the Aimpoint COA has been impossible to get for many months since Glock held a 1-year exclusive on the optic and then cut sales to civilians to focus on “MIL/LE” orders (Just another reminder that Glock believes American civilans are actually second-class). Lucky for us, that exclusive deal has ended and that has opened the door for Springfield Armory to give the people what they want — great pistols paired with great optics. Springfield offers a lot of Echelon pistols, but the ones with COA will start with three models. 4.5F, 4.0FC and 4.0C models. The 4.5F is a full-size model with a 4.5” barrel, the slightly smaller 4.0FC is a hybrid model with a proprietary full-size grip module and a compact slide assembly with a 4” barrel, and lastly the 4.0C is a compact model with a 4” barrel. 4.5F and 4.0FC both use 18-round standard or 20-round extended magazines, while the smaller 4.0C comes with a 15-round standard and 18-round extended mag. All three have an MSRP of $1,120. That sounds high, but keep in mind the Aimpoint COA has a standalone MSRP of $617, and a normal base Echelon starts at $710. This combo deal from the factory actually comes out less expensive than tyring to buy each by themselves. “We are extremely proud to announce the launch of these Aimpoint COA-equipped Springfield Armory pistols,” said Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory. “Pairing the Aimpoint COA closed-emitter optic with these dedicated A-CUT Springfield Armory pistols makes for a combination ideal for facing the most demanding situations and environments.” Springfield Armory also says they plan to offer more pistols equipped with the COA coming soon. Prodigy DS 1911 and standard 1911 with a COA sound awesome to us. ON THE RANGE The COA topped Echelon has been in my hands for several weeks and a lot of rounds on the range. This isn’t my first time shooting an Echelon, and it’s already one of my favorite pistols, but this was the first time getting rounds down range using the COA. First impression, shocked how much I like this dot. Aimpoint’s first enclosed pistol dot was the ACRO P1 and it had several issues. Quickly replaced by the ACRO P2, the second generation has gone on to be one of the highest rated pistol red dots on the market. Downside, the $650-$700 street price. The COA can almost be seen as a gen 3 ACRO. Enclosed, duty-rated, very robust, same window size, but with a LOT of the bulk taken out, so feels and is smaller where it matters. Shooting with the COA is easy, great glass, and backed by legendary Aimpoint quality and service. Aimpoint didn’t just redesign the optic; they also redesigned the optic mount. Using the new and exclusive “A-Cut”, the COA can’t really mount to anything currently in your safe. While it’s possible to mill for the A-Cut, it’s not as easy as RMR or DPP cuts and requires a slide that hasn’t been milled for another optic already. Good news is that the A-Cut is extremely durable and improves on the design as a whole. If you use a red dot pistol enough, you’ve likely seen them fail in some way or another. The A-Cut offers better mounting and reinforcement for the optic to increase an already reliable system. Because getting an A-Cut slide isn’t very easy right now, getting an entire pistol built for the optic is a nice option. In our book, the Echelon is one of the best (maybe even the best) duty-pistol on the market right now. The smaller versions of the Echelon are great for concealed carry and defensive use, while the larger full-size models are perfect for OWB carry and competition. Adding the COA on top just makes it better. While the optic itself is basically an improved ACRO P2, the cut is really what makes the difference. Getting lower on the slide and adding rear support to the optic sounds like small changes, but they’re changes that make big differences. Lower optic means more natural aiming, and more support just means more durability. LOOSE ROUNDS The Aimpoint COA is a nice improvement in pistol optics, but it’s not a total game-changer. Add the price and the difficulties of a new optic cut, and it’s not something most people are going to rush out to get. But getting the COA with an already proven pistol like the Echelon makes this a much better deal. If you’re wondering why we love the Echelon so much, take a look at these reviews. Springfield Armory Echelon: The New Best Duty Pistol? Gunning For Four Point 0: Springfield’s G19-Sized Echelon Answer 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. 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