2025 Pistol “Gear Up” Program

By Clayton Walker

Any gun person knows that the time after the holidays can be a bit of a drag. Most of us likely looked at our bank account at the end of December or the beginning of January and let out an audible “oof.” In some cases, it was because we showered our friends and loved ones with lavish gifts — in other cases, it was because we knew that what we really wanted was unlikely to show up under the Christmas tree unless we put it there ourselves.

In any case, the calendar has rolled over into February, and Spring is just around the corner. To my mind, the season for buying a new pistol is here, and Springfield Armory is running an offer that’s going to be hard to resist.

Through its “Gear Up” promotion, Springfield Armory will send qualified purchasers three additional magazines, a red dot sight, and a dual pistol bag absolutely free with the purchase of any new Hellcat, Hellcat Pro or Echelon pistol — at a value of up to $320.

The Loot

First up, some praise for the pistol bag. Simply put, the Springfield Armory Dual Pistol Bag with Crossed Cannons logo is a well-made piece of kit. Springfield Armory technically sells this as a bag designed for two pistols, with ample storage for mags and other accessories. When so configured, you have space enough for a couple pistols and enough ammo for a decent-length range session, all while providing a compact form factor.

Of course, it’s a bag. If you’re a guy like me who has played a virtual game of Tetris when it comes to getting more pistols into a gun safe, you’re going to really like this. You actually can get a few more flatter, smaller guns in there if you utilize all of the internal pockets and compartments, giving you scratch-free storage with a smaller footprint than would be possible with a bunch of el-cheapo pistol rugs. (I won’t tell Springfield Armory about fitting more than two pistols in there if you don’t.)

As for the magazines, this is a case where more is more. Additional magazines make it easier to perform the kinds of drills you know you should be doing, like shooting to empty, reloading and getting another speedy, well-centered hit. You can also use them to intentionally master dry-firing by mixing in a snap cap or five somewhere throughout all of your various mags.

Last but certainly not least is a Crimson Trace CT-1500 Red Dot optic. This red dot is going to be good-to-go on any of the optics-ready handguns available through Springfield Armory. Few accessories manufacturers are as seasoned as Crimson Trace, and the CT-1500 is going to give you a durable unit with a Shield RMSc/SMSc footprint, a 3MOA dot and more than 20,000 hours of battery life.

That’s a pretty neat freebie, and it makes this a great Gear Up. I know a lot of people who never got around to installing a red dot sight on their primary handgun simply because of the extra cost involved. If that sounds like you, free is a good way to see if this class of optics is a good fit.

Now, let’s talk about the guns that qualify you for the loot.

The Hellcat

Just about every expert will tell you that when you choose a defensive firearm — especially one intended for concealed carry — you’re going to have to confront a number of trade-offs. A heavier gun will shoot softer, but drag at the waistline. A gun with more slide radius will give you a clearer, more repeatable sight picture, but will be more cumbersome out of the draw. So on, and so forth.

The plain truth of the Hellcat series is that Springfield Armory knocked it out of the park where trade-offs are concerned. As soon as the Hellcat was introduced, the rest of the firearms industry found itself playing catch-up. The platform offers an 11+1 capacity with its flush-fitting magazine, and the extended magazine provides a 13+1 capacity — that’s as much as John Browning’s legendary P-35 in a drastically smaller footprint.

[Don’t miss Mike Humphries full Springfield Hellcat review for an insider’s look at this compact 9mm pistol.]

Now that the product line has matured a bit, there are a few more options for interested buyers. Beyond the original black-on-black look, you’ll also be able to find the Hellcat in FDE and a robin’s egg blue color available as a Davidson’s exclusive, as well as a two-tone black-under-stainless variant available through Sports South. Consumers who want a little extra peace of mind while carrying (or those used to a particular manual of arms) can also find a Hellcat variant with a manual safety. In addition, the Hellcat RDP in included in this program as well.

The Hellcat Pro

The Hellcat Pro provides users with just a little more length in a few critical dimensions without substantially altering what makes the Hellcat such a pleasurable carry gun.

First, the Hellcat Pro will give users a 3.7” barrel over the 3” barrel of the Hellcat. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but I promise you’ll notice the increased sight radius, especially when it comes to making consistent hits at distance with the provided irons. Additionally, the extra mass in the slide and barrel adds just a little bit of secret sauce to moderate the felt recoil of the compact handgun. As an owner of a Hellcat Pro, I can tell you firsthand that these changes make the gun shoot just a little quicker and more accurately if you can spare the waistband space.

[Be sure to read Massad Ayoob’s Springfield Hellcat Pro review for additional details on this amazing self-defense pistol.]

Of course, the other place where the Hellcat Pro gets a stretch is in the grip dimensions. Beyond giving users additional purchase on the pistol, the Hellcat Pro boasts an upgraded capacity of 15+1 with a flush-fitting mag or a 17+1 capacity with the extended magazine. That essentially gives you a “New York reload” baked into the handgun.

The Springfield Armory Echelon

For the first time, Springfield Armory is making all of its Echelon pistols eligible for the Gear Up promotion.

The best way I would describe the Echelon is as an ergonomic marvel. Springfield Armory has spent quite a lot of time thoughtfully considering how users engage with the slide of a pistol to perform a multitude of tasks. As a case in point, the rear of the slide is flared to give users a more solid hold when racking rounds into or out of the chamber. Users will also find a very deliberate “forward trench” on the slide that allows for positive and safe press-checks of the chamber.

Today, Springfield Armory offers the Echelon in the full-size 4.5F models, a compact-sized 4.0C better-suited to CCW duty, as well as in a compensated version that will be right up the alley of shooting sports competitors — as well as those who may just want the benefits of a lighter-recoiling gun.

[Want more information on these handguns? Check out Massad Ayoob’s Springfield Echelon 4.5F review and his compact Echelon 4.0C review.]

Of course, the real key feature of the Echelon is the modular nature of the platform. The heart of the gun is a stainless steel chassis Springfield Armory terms the “Central Operating Group.” Each Echelon model ships with three backstraps: a “medium” size installed as a default, along with a small and a large backstrap. Additionally, the user can also purchase small, medium or large grip modules through Springfield Armory’s online store, giving multiple different options for a perfect fit.

Also, the Echelon features the “Variable Interface System,” a patent-pending optics-mounting system. This revolutionary system allows users to mount more than 30 popular optics directly to the slide without the use of adapter plates. By moving around the included self-locking pins to match the footprint of your selected optic, you can direct mount the optic and — in most cases — still co-witness the iron sights.

Tinkerers will also find that it’s a great time to jump into the platform now that a variety of quality manufacturers are offering some extremely nifty aftermarket support, including not just ample holster choice, but also compensators and even aluminum frames for extra recoil-reducing mass.

The Wrap-Up

The Gear Up package is valued at up to $320 worth of goodies, making it a pretty exceptional bargain. There’s something here for novices, intermediates, and experts alike, so if you were thinking about purchasing either a Hellcat or an Echelon of any variety, Springfield Armory is making now is a pretty good time to make the plunge.

This offer will last through April 30, 2025. Eligible buyers must show proof of purchase and fill out a redemption form online by that date. Once completed, Springfield Armory will mail the care package to your doorstep. Promo items are subject to change based on availability, and this cannot be used in conjunction with any other Springfield Armory promotion.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of this great deal, please consult the link below for more details.

Editor’s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the “Go To Forum Thread” link below to jump in!

Join the Discussion

Go to forum thread

Featured in this article

Springfield Armory Pistol Gear Up 2025

Springfield Armory Dual Pistol Bag with Crossed Cannons Logo

9^mm

Hellcat® Series

Echelon™ Series