GENESEO, ILL. – Springfield Armory® is proud to announce that the Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol has received the highest "gold" ranking in the "Member Tested and Recommended" (MTR) program of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), joining the full-size Echelon 4.5F and the compact Echelon 4.0C that are also NTOA MTR gold-ranked pistols.

The NTOA is a non-profit organization with tens of thousands of members dedicated to serving the law enforcement community by providing credible and proven training and information resources. The MTR program ensures products like the Echelon are thoroughly vetted and rigorously tested by a team of hand-selected law enforcement officers to ensure they meet their demanding standards.

In addition to the gold-ranked 4.5F full-size and 4.0C compact, the new hybrid-style Echelon 4.0FC variant that was recently awarded the MTR gold ranking combines a compact 4" barrel and slide assembly with a proprietary full-size grip module to add an entirely new dimension to the Echelon family.

At its launch, the Echelon quickly established a reputation for performance and adaptability through its host of patent-pending features. The modular and highly adaptable handgun is designed around a robust stainless steel chassis and a revolutionary optics mounting system designed to direct mount more than 30 popular red dot optics. This, along with the design's notable adaptability to a wide range of hand sizes through its swappable grip modules and interchangeable backstraps, ensures you have a truly duty-ready handgun.

The Echelon 4.0FC 9mm scored an impressive 4.65 out of a possible 5.00 in NTOA's testing. Simply achieving an MTR ranking alone is impressive, but the Echelon's score placed it not only in ranking, but in the top "gold" scoring range. The Echelon is now part of a small and exclusive group of firearms deemed deserving of the NTOA's law enforcement-oriented MTR program.

Tested products that receive the MTR ranking are given a "standard" rating from a score of 3.00 to 3.99, "silver" from 4.00 to 4.49, and a "gold" rating with a score from 4.50 to 5.00. The information and full review of the Echelon 4.0FC are available for viewing by NTOA members in the group's Member Tested and Recommended online database.

During testing, one law enforcement reviewer commented as follows: "I would recommend this firearm as an exceptional duty weapon without being too big, and perfect for plainclothes wear as well."

Another officer had similarly positive feelings about the pistol. "My final observations of the gun? I loved it. This gun is great for duty or personal use, and I would have no hesitation in recommending it."

"We are extremely proud the Echelon 4.0FC received the esteemed MTR gold ranking from NTOA," said Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory. "The group's demanding and rigorous testing standards ensure only the best products receive this rating, so this top-tier ranking proves the 4.0FC truly is an unparalleled offering."

• Echelon 4.0FC 9mm w/ U-Dot | EC9409BFC-U | 706397000813 | MSRP: $710

For more information on the Echelon 4.0FC, please visit https://spr-ar.com/r/5608.