Springfield Armory at the SHOT Show

Posted by River Knox January 22, 2025
Springfield Armory at the SHOT Show

Walking into SHOT Show every year is always an incredible experience. Even after eight shows under my belt, I still have sensory overload when walking in on the first day. The exposition hall is massive and filled with guns, people, expensive marketing displays and just all-around unique stuff that you don’t see every day.

It always takes a few minutes to get acclimated when first entering the building. It’s overwhelming to many people and can confuse you as to where to even start. I always just gravitate to the booth that stands out the most and grabs my attention.

This year, that booth was Springfield Armory. Springfield Armory has been doing some incredible stuff and the company’s exhibit was right to the point: guns, guns and more guns. Springfield efficiently fit a whole lot of firearms into their booth this year.

Springfield Armory has been turning heads with its recent releases such as the Echelon Comp, Prodigy Compact and 1911 Operator AOS. I was already excited to check out the booth and get my hands on some of these new releases. Plus, maybe I could see what else Springfield has up their sleeve for 2025.


The featured products area at Springfield Armory’s exhibit booth, highlighting a curated selection of rifles and pistols for attendees at the 2025 SHOT Show. The rifles are mounted against a branded wall, including long-range models with precision stocks and shorter tactical variants. Pistols are displayed on freestanding pedestals, offering easy access for visitors to handle and examine the designs up close. The area is brightly lit with Springfield Armory logos and product information strategically placed to catch the eye. The booth is filled with attendees engaging with staff and exploring Springfield’s diverse lineup of firearms. This section serves as the focal point of the booth, showcasing the company’s innovations and commitment to excellence in firearm design.

Upon walking into the booth the first thing that caught my eye was the multiple displays packed with guns all over the booth. Pistols surrounded the outskirts of the booth on island style displays, rifles on the back wall of the booth and a featured product display smack dab in the middle of the booth with a whole selection of different Model 2020 rifle configurations on display.

After inspecting the entire booth — and checking out pretty much every gun on display — I wanted to highlight some of my favorites here since not everyone gets to be blessed with a trip on the SHOT Show floor.


A row of Springfield Armory Hellion rifles is displayed prominently at the 2025 SHOT Show, featuring an array of new color finishes. The lineup includes OD Green, Flat Dark Earth (FDE), and Grey, each adding a distinct aesthetic to the already striking design of the Hellion. The rifles are neatly arranged on an illuminated rack, with detailed signage describing their features, including the bullpup configuration and adaptable controls. Attendees can be seen in the background, engaging with other firearm displays and chatting with Springfield representatives. The new colors highlight the Hellion’s versatility and modern appeal, catering to shooters with varied preferences. The lighting in the booth enhances the texture and finish of each rifle, emphasizing their durability and sleek profiles. This presentation underscores Springfield Armory’s commitment to offering functional firearms with a touch of personal style.

The first thing I noticed that I have been wanting to check out for a while was the newer color variations of the Hellion. I am a huge fan of all the Hellion models, but the standard model is now available in FDE, Grey, and OD Green. My favorite color is definitely the OD Green but all the other colors stand out and just enhance the overall appearance of the rifle that looks so good as it is.

I walked around the corner just a few feet away to find the entire line of M1A rifles. The classic design has been preserved by Springfield Armory while adding some very attractive upgraded models as well. The SOCOM 16 and the Loaded Precision model both stood out to me as unique and interesting. The SOCOM 16 rifle model features a 16.25″ barrel topped off with a proprietary short muzzle break and a scout style Picatinny rail on top. The two-stage tuned trigger is incredibly smooth, breaking at only 5 to 6 lbs. consistently. If you don’t want to run an optic on the rifle you get a nice set of iron sights with a tritium front and an adjustable rear.


A display row featuring multiple Springfield Armory M1A rifles at the 2025 SHOT Show. The rifles are arranged in a clean, orderly line, with each model showcasing unique configurations, including the SOCOM 16 with its compact design and the Loaded Precision with its extended barrel and adjustable stock. The SOCOM 16 has a distinctive muzzle brake and a scout-style Picatinny rail, while the Loaded Precision boasts match-grade sights and a long-slotted flash suppressor. Visitors at the booth can be seen in the background, engaging with staff and examining other displays. The lighting emphasizes the rifles’ finishes, drawing attention to Springfield’s craftsmanship and attention to detail. This display highlights the versatility and range of the M1A lineup, appealing to both tactical and precision shooting enthusiasts.

The Loaded Precision model goes long with a 22″ barrel and an adjustable composite stock. These M1A variants utilize that same two-stage tuned trigger that is found in the SOCOM 16. However, Springfield does a little more work to the trigger, making it even smoother somehow with a break at only 4.5 lbs. The Loaded Precision is tipped with a classic long slotted flash suppressor to give it the more traditional look.

I have been a huge fan of the Model 2020 rifles since they came out, and the newer Rimfire models definitely got me excited when I saw them sitting right in the middle of the booth. Springfield Armory offers the Model 2020 Rimfire rifles in Classic and Target configurations. For me, I really liked the Target model in OD Green with Black Webbing. It just stood out in the middle of the booth with the color combo really popping on the Model 2020 Rimfire.

The rifle features a heavy 20″ threaded barrel which provides incredible accuracy that Springfield actually guarantees. The bolt action is extremely smooth with a nice short throw. They add a Remington 700 style trigger system in the rifle as well for easy compatibility. The Target stock is very comfortable and will work for pretty much every shooter.


The author holds a Springfield Armory Echelon Compact pistol equipped with a Vortex red dot sight during the 2025 SHOT Show. The firearm features a compact frame and a 4.5-inch barrel, designed for versatility and ease of carry. The red dot sight is mounted on the pistol’s optics-ready slide, showcasing the adaptability of Springfield’s variable optics interface system. Bright lighting in the booth enhances the pistol’s clean lines and durable finish, while the Vortex sight adds a layer of precision shooting capability. In the background, attendees explore Springfield’s extensive exhibit, filled with various rifles, pistols, and displays. The author’s poised presentation emphasizes the pistol’s balance of innovation and practicality. This moment captures the excitement of Springfield’s cutting-edge offerings at the event.

After checking out all the rifles I had to get my hands on a few of the new pistol models that have been released recently. First, The Echelon Comp caught my eye. I have shot most of the Echelons but never the Comp version so this one was intriguing to me. In essence this is a 4.5″ barrel Echelon with a generous hole in the top of the barrel and slide to minimize muzzle flip and felt recoil. The Comp comes with two magazines and the same variable optics interface system as the other models.


The Springfield Armory Echelon Comp pistol is displayed on a sleek pedestal at the 2025 SHOT Show booth. The 4.5-inch barrel features a discreet integrated compensator designed to reduce muzzle rise and enhance shooting precision. The pistol’s matte finish and clean lines are complemented by the variable optics interface system, making it compatible with a wide range of optics. Attendees in the background can be seen observing other firearm displays, adding to the vibrant and professional atmosphere of the booth. The Echelon Comp is presented with its accompanying 15-round magazines, emphasizing its versatility for both tactical and personal defense use. Bright lighting highlights the pistol's modern aesthetic and Springfield’s attention to detail in design and engineering. This display showcases Springfield Armory's commitment to innovation in the competitive handgun market.

The integrated compensator is very discreet and simple but looks like it will be very effective while shooting. It is very much comparable to the Hellcat Pro Comp, which I actually have personally had the honor of shooting and vigorously testing. If the Echelon Comp is anything like that compensated Hellcat it is going to shoot incredibly well.

Newest of the New

The two newest Springfield Armory releases were also on display. One gun that really stood out to me was the Prodigy Compact. A tiny double stack 1911-style pistol designed and made with concealed carry in mind, the Prodigy Compact boasts either short 3.5″ stainless steel bull barrel or a 4.25″ one that is finished in a nice black DLC coating and tucked nicely into the new shortened slide with some subtle press check serrations up front still. The pistols feed from a 15-round magazine and feature a lightweight forged aluminum frame mounting the polymer grip module.


The Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy Compact sits elegantly on a display stand at the 2025 SHOT Show, highlighting its compact design tailored for concealed carry. The 3.5-inch stainless steel bull barrel is finished with a black DLC coating, giving it a sleek and durable appearance. The shortened grip module and re-contoured frame enhance concealability while maintaining the ergonomic comfort Springfield is known for. Subtle front slide serrations add a functional aesthetic, complementing the optics-ready slide equipped with the Agency Optic System (AOS). Bright lighting emphasizes the pistol’s premium finish and modern design, drawing the attention of nearby visitors in the bustling booth. The Prodigy Compact is accompanied by two 15-round magazines, offering a blend of compact size and ample firepower. This display highlights Springfield’s commitment to creating innovative firearms for both personal defense and professional use.

The grip module has been shortened and re-contoured and the hammer downsized to make the package more compact and concealable. It is optics ready featuring the Agency Optic System or AOS for short and is paired with a nice tritium front sight and blacked out rear. Despite the shorter grip, the pistol still is shipped with two 15-round magazines.

The other new release was the Springfield Echelon 4.0C — which is an amazing gun. Slightly more compact than the original Echelon, the gun is a great size for both concealed carry and home defense. It enjoys all of the same features as it’s bigger brother — including the innovative red dot mounting system and its Central Operating Group — making it a state-of-the-art shooter in 2025.

Springfield also is making the Echelon 4.0C in a variety of colors. In addition to black, you have a choice of OD Green and Desert FDE. And with the ability to move the Central Operating Group from one grip module to another, you can purchase one color and later accessorize it with other colors should you desire.

The gun feels great in the hand, balances well and is a real looker!

All these new firearms from Springfield joined the arsenal with so many other incredible guns from Springfield. Personally, I can not wait to see what else comes from Springfield Armory throughout 2025.

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