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Springfield Armory Echelon, Now with Installed Aimpoint COA

Posted on March 19, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

Springfield Armory and Croatia’s HS Produkt have collaborated on polymer-framed striker-fired handguns for 25 years, producing the XD series, Hellcat, and, since 2023, the modular Echelon. Our reviews of the Echelon 4.5F, 4.0C Compact, 4.0C Comp, and 4.0FC hybrid models found minimal issues – they perform reliably.

The guns are billed as “duty-grade,” a claim that has been supported by their adoption by several large U.S. law enforcement agencies, including those in Henderson and St. Louis County. Overseas, the Echelon just earned a Spanish National Police Corps (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía) contract for over 6,000 pistols to replace older HK USP Compacts, beating out several big-name contemporaries submitted for competitive evaluation.

Now, with the exclusive one-year relationship between Aimpoint and Glock over, the former’s excellent small-form COA enclosed red dot is available for use with the Echelon line – factory installed. Springfield this week debuted three new COA-equipped A-Cut footprint Echelon models: the full-sized 4.5F, hybrid 4.0FC, and compact 4.0C pistols.

The MSRP across the line is $1,119, which is a deal considering the published price for the COA direct from Aimpoint is $617, while the standard Echelon models start at $710, pointing to an easy $200 savings. Plus, keep in mind that the counter price we are seeing at launch is closer to $950, so…

Why the COA?

First off, let us talk about the Aimpoint COA and why it is a big deal. First introduced at SHOT ’25, the 3.5 MOA COA red dot eschews plate systems and direct mounts into its distinctive A-Cut via a wedge system that helps eliminate movement. With a 15×15 mm aperture, the ultra-compact 7075-T6 aluminum housing is fully sealed and rated as being submersible to 80 feet or so, and offers much the same performance as Aimpoint’s “bomb-proof” ACRO but in a smaller package with a deck low enough to allow most irons to co-witness. The optic is billed as surpassing a 40,000-round endurance standard.

The Aimpoint COA-equipped Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C — *The A-Cut allows the COA optic to be mounted deeper into the slide, increasing stability. Note how the mount provides an iron sight index for the optic. (Photo: Springfield Armory)*

Glock and Aimpoint blazed a path for the COA – which we extensively reviewed– but soon all but pulled them from the market for one reason or another, discontinuing the Gen5s and not (as of 3/17/26) offering the package on the U.S. market for the Gen6.

Now we are seeing the COA in more places, which is good, and, when paired with the Echelon, is great.

Especially for the price.

About the only rocks we can toss at the gun is that the COA and its A-Cut, for now, is a double-edged sword, painting the owner into a corner without any other (as of 3/17/26) optics available for it. Of course, that could change in the coming months and years. Other than that, the only knocks we can give the gun are its $35 magazines and not amazing (but upgradable) trigger.

In closing, we’ve always found the Echelon to be a superior gun that is often overlooked in a crowded market. When paired with the Aimpoint COA, at a reasonable price, those sleeper days could be in the rear view.

Full review in my column at Guns.com.

New: Mossberg 590 Bliksem 12 ga in Brushstroke Camo

Posted on March 17, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

Mossberg has teamed up with Christian Craighead to produce a new and visually striking Shockwave variant with both premium design elements and distinctive aesthetics.

Craighead, a former British SAS commando known as “Obi Wan Nairobi” for his one-man response in 2019 when Al-Shebab terrorists attacked the mall in Nairobi, Kenya, had direct input on the design of the new Mossberg 590 Bliksem.

Not technically a shotgun, the NFA-compliant Shockwave-gripped 12-gauge cylinder bore firearm features a 14.375-inch heavy-walled barrel, a 5+1 capacity with 2.75-inch shells, and bead sight with a top Picatinny rail for optics.

The aesthetics are off the charts with this one, as it runs a Rhodesian Brushstoke camo, an AfterShock grip with QD point, and a corn cob forend with a leather strap.

The Special Edition 590 Bliksem — Its compact size (26.37 inches overall) and maneuverability are complemented by a clean-out magazine tube, twin action bars, ambidextrous safety, anti-jam elevator, and positive steel-to-steel lockup, delivering the smooth, dependable operation expected from Mossy’s legendary 590 platform. (Photos: Mossberg)

The Special Edition 590 Bliksem has an MSRP of $728. The less cool standard Shockwave 590 runs about $200 less.

New: KelTec KP50 and MP50 5.7 Platform with 100 Rounds of 5.7 On-Gun

Posted on February 26, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

The company debuted the P50 pistol in 2021, which uses flat 5.7mm FN P90 pattern magazines in a top-loading format via a hinged receiver. Offered first in a pistol, then in a P50 carbine kit with a 16-inch barrel and a foldable stock, it performed well in our tests.

Updating the concept, KelTec has flipped the loading to a faster and drop-free format and ditched the pistol-style trigger on the P50 for a more AR-ish SU16 trigger group on the new KP50. Other features on the gun include a B5 Systems AR-pattern grip, a rear accessory mount, a top Pic rail, a rear non-reciprocating charging handle, and an optional “jungle mag” setup with dual 50-round magazines, allowing rapid switch-out following a drop and 180-degree rotation.

*The KP50, seen in its SBR variant. (Photos: KelTec)*

KelTec will be offering the KP50 in four flavors: an $899 MSRP’d pistol, a $1,099 pistol with a side-folding pistol stabilizing brace, a $1,349 Defender braced pistol with a Vortex Crossfire green dot optic and Magpul MBUS backup sights, and a $1,099 factory SBR that transfers on a $0 ATF Form 4.

There is also the price-available MP50, a select-fire variant (come on Hughes Amendment repeal) with a cyclic rate of fire of 850 rounds per minute until the mag holds out.

KelTec K50 — *The $899 pistol variant of the KP50. It is lightweight at 3.2 pounds loaded (4.3 with 50 rounds of 5.7x28mm loaded) while being 18.27 inches long overall with its 9.6-inch barrel.*

KelTec 50 SMG — The more tricked-out folding-stocked MP50 SBR machine gun, which is pitched to Mil/LE sales due to its giggle switch. Contact your Congressman, Senator, and President on scrapping the Hughes Amendment if you disagree with that post-86 restriction.

The concept of the KP50/MP50 isn’t entirely new. The autists at Pennsylvania-based Stuff and Things have been marketing its $239 bottom-feeding ST50 FCG kit for the P50 for about a year, which uses AR trigger groups and allows users to swap P-90 pattern 5.7 mags via an AK/EVO 3-style mag release.

The ST50 FCG kit

Still, kudos to KelTec for keeping folks guessing. The MP50, in particular, sounds invigorating.

New: Beretta B22 Jaguar Rimfire Match Pistol

Posted on February 5, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

Beretta has been quietly bringing one of the coolest .22LR semi-auto pistols to the market for the past couple of years, and we can finally talk about it.

But first, a little background.

The Jaguar name goes back to 1958 when Beretta introduced a series of gently larger rimfire semi-automatic pistols to complement its pocket .22s like the Model 418 Panther and tip-up barrel Minx. Like today’s Jaguar, the Beretta that carried the name last century was primarily intended for use as a plinker and target pistol, although it went on to be used by covert kinda folks in covert kinda operations.

Beretta Model 71 Jaguar — *The original Beretta Jaguar series 70 pistols were introduced in 1958 and remained in production into the 1980s. They are old school cool, for sure. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)*

Meet the new Jaguar B22

We first saw the pre-production Jaguar B22 at a Beretta range event in 2025, but were sworn to secrecy on it. Like the original, it was cool and sleek. However, where the old 71 was art deco and classic, the new Jag was a rimfire muscle car, dripping with factory standard go-fast accessories from Tandemkross and built to go fast and perform while doing it.

Fast forward to SHOT ’26 last month and the Jag was back at Beretta’s range event– but this time soft-launched and ready to purr.

The new platform, designed for plinking, target shooting, and training the next generation, will be offered in a Tac Metal (MSRP $749) and a Metal Competition (MSRP $969) model, with sub-variants in standard (15-round magazines) and state-compliant (10-round) versions of each, at the same price.

Both are built atop an innovative new modular chassis system and an M_LOK barrel shroud with a detachable accessory rail, making the B22 easy to disassemble, clean, and customize. Featuring dual-side ejection with a fixed barrel, it is designed to be reliable and accurate. They are internal hammer-fired (SAO) and blowback action.

The Jaguar B22 Tac Metal runs a 5.25-inch barrel and is 8.85 inches overall. Weight is 33.6 ounces. Equipped with adjustable fiber-optic sights, an extended barrel, and a 1913 Picatinny rail, it is suppressor and optics-ready, as you can tell.

Beretta Jaguar B22 Metal Competition — The Jaguar B22 Metal Competition has a 5.5-inch barrel, giving it an overall length of 9.8 inches and a weight of 36.4 ounces. It comes standard with all the features of the Tac Metal but also adds A Tandemkross fiber front fiber optic, Tandemkross Steam Demon single port compensator, Tandemkross Accelorator thumb ledge gas pedal, and an adjustable Tandemkross semi-flat faced trigger with pre- and post-travel adjustments. It looks fast just sitting on the table.

Beretta says the Jaguar B22 Metal Competition is the first .22LR pistol explicitly developed in partnership with the largest educational shooting program in the world for youth, the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP), in a process that has taken four years.

More direct from Tandemkross and SASP on the background of the new generation of Jaguar:

We hope to have a review of these in the coming weeks.

50 Rare Creapeiron Elysien Eagle Pistols Arrive in U.S.

Posted on February 3, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

With a backstory that sounds more avant-garde art show than iron and steel, the Eagle model of the Elysien pistol has flown across the Atlantic.

At the 2024 IWA Outdoor Classics show in Germany, the Guns.com crew sat down with inventor and gunmaker Jan Lysak, who spent almost a decade of blood, sweat, and tears crafting something a bit different. Lysak’s company, Brno-based Creapeiron, introduced its first product at IWA: the Elysien pistol.

While sitting down and drinking plum brandy with Lysak, he spoke about his gun in a way that seemed a cross between Werner Herzog and the Riddler (Gorshin, not Dano).

Lysak only had seven €10,000 ($10,850) chrome DLC Elysien Genesis “Ment for Gods” (not a misprint) models – all named after gods from Ancient Greek mythology – and 99 €5,000 plainer black DLC Elysien Soul models on the schedule, with only vague notions about sending guns to America– one day.

What made it across to the States, brought in by the Arizona-based CZ Custom Shop, is the new Eagle model of the Elysien, which looks more like the chrome DLC Ment for Gods model but with a serial number 1 to 50, as in one for each state.

The Creapeiron Elysien Eagle Pistol — *Engineered for balance and control, the Elysien features a sleek, sculpted profile that reflects both elegance and authority. (Photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)*

Price? $11,999– and that is only until they sell out, which is likely as, first announced on Monday during SHOT Show, something like half were spoken for by Thursday.

Is Kimber Winning the Affordable American Double Stack 1911 Game?

Posted on January 29, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

Alabama-based Kimber has made a big move to dominate the double-stack 1911 pistol space by offering the new DS Warrior series.

Debuting at SHOT Show in Las Vegas last week, the Kimber DS 1911 Warrior–borrowing from the company’s classic old Warrior line– is offered in not just 9mm but also .45 ACP, 10mm, and .38 Super chamberings.

Further, besides the standard 5-inch Government barrel format, they are also producing a 6-inch longslide hunter style Warrior in 10mm.

The longslide is a beast, and will surely be a hit with backcountry folks and handgun hunters.

Kimber DS 1911 Warrior longslide — *A conceptual design using custom Cerakote and a TLR-9, which looks small on the massive accessory rail of the 10mm longslide 1911 DS Warrior.*

All models are optics-ready for RMR-pattern mounts under a TAG cover plate with a fixed rear sight. The pistols use Kimber’s internal 1911-style extractor, a bushing system barrel, mil-spec guide rod, and a match-grade trigger.

They use stainless Checkmate 2011-pattern mags with the 9mm and .38 Super variant shipping with a 17+1 flush and 20+1 extended, while the 10mm goes 11+1/13+1 and the .45 ACP 15+1/18+1

Best yet, they are made in Alabama– not imported– and have an MSRP that starts at $1,099 and tops out at $1,350 for the 6-inch 10mm model. That’s a good bit less than even the Springfield Prodigy and on par with Turkish-made guns without the baggage and QC issues.

*Kimber also had the new compensated Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation DS 1911 Warrior on display, with a tasteful alpine motif. “Coming soon.”*

CZ Brings 75 Legend & 457 Target to SHOT, Talks German Army P13

Posted on January 27, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

As we have covered before, the current firearms works known and loved by collectors, hipsters, and savvy users alike dates to 1936 when its new factory was established to produce machine guns for the Czech Air Force. However, it became iconic in the West for its CZ 75 double-stack 9mm pistol.

We were fortunate enough to hold CZ 75 Serial Number 00001 when we visited the CZ factory in 2024, the gun that made the company a household name on this side of the pond.

Now, the new Legend repeats the same slab-sided Iron Curtain aesthetic while keeping the pistol’s internals and features modern, including a 16+1 round magazine, making it essentially a “post-B” gun in a “pre-B” body.

*The new CZ Legend. Note the slab-sided frame and slide as well as the pebble-style grips. (Photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)*

MSRP on the new CZ 75 Legend will be $1,399.

Bundeswehr Pistole 13

One of the big stories from late last year was that the German military (Bundeswehr) had selected the CZ P-10 pistol after it beat out a number of contenders to become the country’s new P13 sidearm.

Among the finalists bested were the Arex Delta and Glock G17 Gen5 for what could be an order of as many as 180,000 units. It will replace the HK-made P8A1, a version of the USP

CZ had the new P13 on hand at their booth last week.

*In another shift from previous German service handguns, the new striker-fired P13 will arrive wearing an FDE finish instead of the traditional black.*

*CZ will work directly with its authorized German partner, POL-TEC GmbH & Co., to fulfill the order and provide the Bundeswehr with support for the new platform.*

CZ 457 Target

CZ 457 rifles are known for their superb accuracy, but the new 457 Target, a fully adjustable, ISSF 3-Position competition-ready aluminum chassis co-developed with four-time American Olympic shooter Matt Emmons, raises that bar.

It includes a three-axis-adjustable pistol grip available in three different sizes, a side-tiltable buttstock with a five-axis-adjustable buttpad, along with a three-axis-adjustable, two-sided cheekpiece; and a forehand riser can be adjusted in three different axes. A 26-inch 12-groove .22 cold hammer-forged match barrel equipped with a diffuser is standard as is an adjustable 2-stage Flyweight trigger.

The MSRP for the CZ 457 Target rifle is expected to be around $3,600, which is still less than many European-made alternatives in the same class from folks like Anschutz and Walther.

C-series BHP, is that you?

Posted on January 26, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

I’ll fight to the death that the pinnacle of Browning Hi-Power production was the C-series guns made for the post-war commercial market between 1969 to 75.

Ditching the “thumbprint” slide and tangent sights while using an external extractor, ring hammer, and finely checkered wood (not plastic grips) on a finely fit pistol with a polished blue finish, the C-series is BHP royalty.

In my opinion, everything that came after was money saving move that cheapened the end product.

Oh, baby.

When the Springfield Armory SA-35 came out four years ago, we were among the first to break the story and loved the gun, despite its hiccups. However, I just wish it came with a better finish.

Now that is a pretty gun, and Springfield says it is made in America. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

Well, I came across the new SA-35 at SHOT this week and am in love. Best yet, the price is in the $700s.

15 rounds, forged and polished. I’m in.

Springfield Armory Goes 19X, But Better

Posted on January 22, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

Springfield Armory and Croatian firearms maker HS Produkt have been working together in the polymer-framed striker-fired handgun space for a quarter century, first on the divisive XD series, then the well-liked Hellcat, and, since 2023, the modular Echelon. We’ve reviewed the full-sized 4.5F, the 4.0C Compact, and the 4.0C Comp since then and have found few issues to complain about.

They run.

Going beyond that, Springfield has had some notable success with the Echelon on the LE market, as witnessed by the December 2024 adoption by the St. Louis County Police Department—with nearly 1,000 officers—as the agency’s duty pistol in a $2.1 million contract, adding some fire to the company’s smoke about the new pistol’s reliability and performance. There have been other significant LE contract awards as well.

Now, the newest addition to Springfield’s Echelon catalog is the 4.0FC. It is the same length and general specs as the Echelon 4.0C, save for the fact that the grip is more full-sized, which bumps the height up just 0.385 inches while providing better ergos and a higher magazine capacity (17+1 rounds flush fit and 20+ extended fit vs 15+1 and 18+1). It is also an ounce heavier.

Springfield Armory 4.0FC with Vortex Defender ST — The new Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC. Note the Compact length slide assembly with a Full-sized grip frame that uses a shorter dust cover to match the slide without an odd underbite. (All photos: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

The rest of the review is in my column at Guns.com.

Is Kimber the go-to for 1911s these days?

Posted on January 20, 2026 by laststandonzombieisland Leave a comment

Kimber has been really knocking it out of the park recently when it comes to 1911s in both single and double-stack formats.

The 2K11 came out a couple of years ago and is giving Staccato a run for its money, especially in its Pro and Comped variants.

Then came the company’s Next Generation of 1911s, which have all the features that modern Colt 45 lovers want, but for a price that doesn’t break a potential new buyer out in cold sweats.

Now this week, they debuted the DS 1911 Warrior line with options in 9mm, 10mm, .45ACP, and .38 Super, including a long slide variant, with prices starting at $1,099.

For an American made (no offshoring) double stack 1911. That’s even giving the Turkish guns a run for their money, much less Springfield.

Expect to see more on these soon.

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Weapons, Wars, Preparation and Security from a recovering gun nut turned bad writer

Category Archives: new guns

Springfield Armory Echelon, Now with Installed Aimpoint COA

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New: Mossberg 590 Bliksem 12 ga in Brushstroke Camo

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New: KelTec KP50 and MP50 5.7 Platform with 100 Rounds of 5.7 On-Gun

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