SPRINGFIELD ARMORY HELLCAT

Posted Jun 16, 2023

The Springfield Armory Hellcat pistol has quickly become one of the most popular carry guns on the market. Its compact size and impressive capacity make it an ideal choice for concealed carry. But what sets the Hellcat apart from other guns?

When Springfield Armory set out to design the Hellcat, they wanted to create a handgun that was reliable, ergonomic, and, above all, concealable. The result is the Springfield Armory Hellcat, a lightweight yet robust concealed carry pistol that packs a lot of features into a small package.

While most concealed carry handguns have either a double-stack or single-stack design, the Springfield Armory Hellcat features an intriguing hybrid design. The Hellcat is a single-stack pistol that holds up to 11 rounds (plus one in the chamber) in the flush-fit magazine. In addition, the Hellcat ships with an extended 13-round magazine. This gives the shooter the option to increase their capacity to a total of 14 rounds without sacrificing comfort or concealability. In addition, the gun comes with interchangeable backstraps, allowing the shooter to customize the grip to their hand size.

The Hellcat features Springfield Armory's patented Optic Ready slide. On this slide, shooters can mount either an red dot sight or a suppressor-height iron sight (without the need for an adapter). This allows for added flexibility when it comes to customizing the setup of the gun.

The Hellcat has been designed for reliable and consistent performance. The gun features a 3-inch hammer-forged carbon steel barrel as well as a Melonite finish on the stainless steel slide. The barrel is capped by a threaded protector cap that allows the shooter to add a suppressor or other muzzle device. In addition, the slide is fitted with a 4-inch accessory rail that allows the shooter to mount lights and lasers.

When it comes to operation, the Hellcat is striker-fired and the trigger is incredibly light and crisp. The trigger has been designed to be predictable and consistent, giving the shooter a consistent performance shot after shot. The gun ships with two safety features: a trigger safety, as well as an external thumb safety.

The gun is size-friendly, as the overall length is 6 inches and the width is 1 inch. This small package allows the shooter to easily carry the gun without uncomfortable printing. With that said, the gun weighs a mere 18.3 ounces with an unloaded magazine.

The Hellcat is an incredibly impressive pistol. It is a very reliable and accurate gun that is easy to carry and shoot. Its hybrid single-stack magazine setup allows the shooter to increase their capacity to a total of 14 rounds without sacrificing concealability. The gun is fitted with a threaded barrel and accessory rail, allowing for easy customization. The trigger is light and crisp, giving the shooter a consistent performance every time. The small size of the gun makes it an ideal choice for concealed carry.

Overall, the Hellcat is an excellent carry gun for shooters who are looking for a reliable, accurate, and concealable handgun. It packs a lot of features into a small package and provides a lot of bang for the buck. If you are looking for a concealed carry handgun for yourself or a loved one, the Springfield Armory Hellcat is an excellent choice.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Compact size – The Springfield Armory Hellcat offers a very small and compact size, making it easy to carry and hide.

• High capacity – With a magazine capacity of 11+1, the Hellcat offers high-capacity compared with other pistols in its class.

• Flexible optics plates – The Springfield Armory Hellcat boasts threedifferent optics plates that are adjustable for your favorite sight or reflex optic.

• Superior durability – The Springfield Armory Hellcat offers enhanced durability due to its stainless steel and polymer construction.

Cons:

• High price – The Springfield Armory Hellcat is a premium handgun with a high starting price.

• Limited availability – The Springfield Armory Hellcat is a popular handgun and is sometimes difficult to find in stock.

• Trigger pull weight – The trigger pull weight on the Springfield Armory Hellcat is fairly brief, which can cause issues for shooters that need a more precise trigger break.

Who Should Buy

The Springfield Armory Hellcat is a lightweight concealed carry pistol that is designed to be a potentially effective self defense option for a wide range of shooters. It features a small, lightweight frame and includes features such as aggressive texturing, optics ready mounting capabilities, and an excellent trigger feel.

Those who should buy the Springfield Armory Hellcat include those who may be new to concealed carry and want a reliable and intuitive option as well as experienced shooters who are looking for a highly concealable firearm with features such as optics mounting and a smooth trigger press.

Those who shouldn't buy the Springfield Armory Hellcat include those who need a larger or more powerful handgun for self-defense. This firearm is made for concealment and therefore tends to have lower capacity magazines when compared to other handguns of similar size. Additionally, the Hellcat may not be ideal for those looking for a competitive shooting handgun.

Comparisons

	SPRINGFIELD ARMORY HELLCAT	SMITH & WESSON PC1911	WILSON COMBAT CQB TACTICAL LE	HECKLER & KOCH HK 416
Caliber	9MM	.45 ACP	.45 ACP	5.56 NATO
Barrel Length	3”	5”	5”	16”
Overall Length	6”	8.7”	8.7”	32.24”
Magazine Capacity	13+1 Rounds	7+1 Rounds	8+1 Rounds	30 Rounds
Weight	18.3 oz.	40.7 oz.	37.9 oz.	6.37 lbs.

Features / Specs

• Width: 1”

• Height: 4” Height

• Barrel Length: 3” Melonite-finished Hammer-Forged Steel

• Overall Length: 6”

• Sight Radius: 4.5”

• Weight (empty): 18.3 oz

• Magazine: 11-and 13-round extended mags included

• Grip Zone: Aggressive texturing on the frame for enhanced grip

• Action:

Optics Ready Kitt: •RMSc Optic Mounting System with Shrouded Slide

•Trigger: Adaptive Grip Texture and Melonite-coated stainless steel trigger

•Safety: Unilateral thumb safety

Popular Accessories

Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP 9mm Optics Ready Slide

Hellcat OSP Holster

Springfield Armory Hellcat Speed Loader

Hellcat 9mm Threaded Barrel

Enhanced Trigger / Trigger Upgrade for the Springfield Armory Hellcat

Hellcat IWB Inside the Waistband Holster

Magazines - Springfield Armory Hellcat 13 & 11 Round

Springfield Armory Hellcat Cloak Mag Carrier

Springfield Armory Hellcat Micro-Compact Cover Plate System

Springfield Armory Magazine Base Plate for the Hellcat OSP / Standard Model

Accuracy

The Springfield Armory Hellcat is a reliable and efficient handgun, well-known for its excellent accuracy. Due to its short 3” barrel, it is shorter and more concealable than other firearms of similar size, and yet boasts excellent accuracy.

The Hellcat’s accuracy is remarkable, in part due to its stainless steel short reset trigger (SRT) and precision-wound hammer spring. Springfield Armory gives each handgun genuine attention and dedication during the crafting process, which helps to ensure superior performance from the Hellcat. Additionally, this gun is outfitted with a rapid defense trigger (RDT) and a Melonite finish on the slide for rust and corrosion resistance.

Furthermore, the Hellcat is composed of high-tensile steel, with 1.9” match grade stainless steel hammer-forged barrel and 7075 T6 anodized aluminum frame. All of these components work together to create unparalleled accuracy and precision when firing the Hellcat. The 11- and 13-round magazines also allow for quicker reset times and a better follow-up shot than many other handgun models.

Overall, the Springfield Armory Hellcat has an incredibly high level of accuracy, made possible by its superior design, superior materials and superior construction techniques.