THE MACBROZ BLOG

Every once in a while, I get the itch to start a new pistol project. Not just buy another gun, shoot it once, and toss it in the safe. I mean a real project. Something I can build content around, test, modify, carry, compare, and really see what kind of potential it has. Right now, I feel like I’m stuck between two very interesting options: the Springfield Armory Echelon Compact and the Canik METE Prime. Both are modern striker-fired 9mm pistols. Both have a lot going for the

The Springfield Armory Echelon is already one of the more impressive striker-fired pistols on the market. Out of the box, it brings a lot to the table with its modular design, solid ergonomics, aggressive grip texture, optics-ready system, and overall shootability. Springfield clearly designed the Echelon to compete in a crowded space, and in a lot of ways, they nailed it. But like most factory pistols, there is always room for improvement. For me, one of the biggest areas wh

I picked up my Springfield Echelon last year from Brownells.com, so I have had enough time with it to move past the new gun excitement phase and really think about where it stands. And honestly, the more I look at the Echelon, the more I keep asking the same question: Is the Echelon too good to be considered? That might sound strange at first, but in a market packed with hype, trends, and constant attention on the usual names, the Echelon feels like one of those pistols that

I’m torn between two very different—yet philosophically similar—carry/“do-more” pistols for my next project: the SIG P365 FUSE and the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C. Both are modern, striker-fired 9mm handguns built around removable, serialized chassis (a.k.a. fire-control units): SIG’s FCU and Springfield’s COG (Central Operating Group). That means real modularity—swap grip modules, slides, and small parts to tailor the gun to you. And yes—both show up at Brownells (stack