Springfield Armory Echelon 9mm vs Springfield Armory Prodigy 9mm

Both hold 17 rounds of 9mm, stand 5.5" tall and come optic-ready, and that is where they part. The Springfield Armory Echelon 9mm is a striker-fired polymer pistol at 23.9 oz with a 5.5 lb trigger and a $710 MSRP. The Springfield Armory Prodigy 9mm is single action with forged carbon steel frame and slide and an ambidextrous thumb safety: 33.0 oz (9.1 oz heavier), a 5.3 lb pull, a 5.0" barrel against 4.5", 8.5" overall against 8.0", and $1,530 MSRP — $820 more.

Pick the Springfield Armory Echelon if:

• You want the lighter gun by 9.1 oz (23.9 oz vs 33.0 oz)
• MSRP is $820 lower ($710 vs $1,530)
• It is the narrower and shorter of the two (1.2" vs 1.3", 8.0" vs 8.5")
• You want a striker gun with a trigger safety and no manual safety to manage

Pick the Springfield Armory Prodigy if:

• You want a single-action trigger breaking at 5.3 lb rather than a 5.5 lb striker pull
• The 5.0" barrel is 0.5" longer, in a 33.0 oz steel-framed gun built to sit still on target
• An ambidextrous thumb safety is what you train with
• A fiber optic front over a black serrated rear suits range and competition use

Same caliber, same capacity, same height, opposite designs. The Echelon is the lighter, cheaper carry-and-duty option; the Prodigy is 9.1 oz of steel and $820 more for a single-action trigger and a longer barrel.