At the 2025 SHOT Show, Aimpoint and Glock made headlines with a new optic and mounting system. The Aimpoint COA with the A-CUT offered a fresh way to mount optics on pistol slides.
Initially, Glock had an exclusive deal, meaning only Glock guns could feature the proprietary optic cut. Now that the deal has ended, other manufacturers and select gunsmiths can adapt it. Springfield Armory’s new line of Echelon pistols is among the latest to do so.
SPECS
At launch, Springfield offers three variants of the Echelon, each arriving factory-milled with the Aimpoint A-CUT interface and equipped with the Aimpoint COA closed-emitter red dot sight. The standard specifications are as follows:
- Model(s): Echelon 4.5F COA, Echelon 4.0FC COA, Echelon 4.0C COA
- Action: Semi-automatic, striker-fired
- Grip: Polymer
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 17, 17, 15
- Sights: Black serrated front & rear
- Optic Cut: A-CUT for Aimpoint COA
- Magazines: 2 (1 Flush, 1 Extended)
- Barrel Length: 4.5”, 4”, 4”
- Overall Length: 8”, 7.25”, 7.25”
- Width at Grip: 1.2”
- Height: 5.5”, 5.5”, 5.125”
- Weight: 24.6 oz., 24 oz., 23.9 oz.
- Price: $1,119
FEATURES
The Springfield Armory Echelon COA A-CUT Pistols integrate the Aimpoint COA optic directly into the slide through a full-length A-CUT dovetail, secured by a front hook and rear wedge that transfers lateral forces away from mounting screws for improved durability and consistent zero retention.
This ultra-low mounting system allows co-witnessing with iron sights, keeping the sight picture intuitive and unobstructed.
The closed-emitter Aimpoint COA, built with a 7075-T6 aluminum housing, features a 3.5 MOA dot, over 5 years of runtime on a single CR2032 battery, and four night vision and eight daylight settings. A 15x15mm lens, 1.7 oz weight, and submersible to 25 meters round out its capability.
ZOOMING OUT
The Aimpoint COA and A-CUT are gaining popularity in the industry. Springfield’s offering of the Echelon is a natural extension. However, Springfield won’t stop there; the line will later expand to include select 1911 DS Prodigy and 1911 variants.
For more new release news, head over to the Cadre Dispatch.
