9mm Hellcat Reviews - Few have the ability or power to disrupt an entire industry when it comes to firearms, but that's apparently what the Springfield Armory Hellcat has accomplished. They have become smaller in size than was thought possible and, conversely, have increased your magazine capacity at the same time. Why sacrifice capacity in an easy-to-carry weapon when you can have both? The Springfield Armory Hellcat has been praised by nearly everyone who has touched it in its four months of existence. Since the day it was announced, TFB and TFBTV have had copies of the Hellcat to play with, drive and create our own personal impressions. So today I'm going to share mine in this TFB review of the Springfield Armory Hellcat. Let's dive in!
We all know that this pistol's monumental selling point is its claim to fame as "the world's highest-capacity micro-compact" and that's not just a fancy advertising slogan; It is true. As with everything Springfield Armory produces, that's not the only noteworthy element of this pistol. Full specs for this pistol can be read below as provided by Springfield Armory.
9mm Hellcat Reviews
MSRP for the Hellcat is currently $569. There is also a Hellcat OSP (Optical Sight Pistol) version on the market that can easily accept micro red dots for a slightly higher price of $599. An even deeper dive into the gun going from concept to reality can be seen via Springfield Armory's product announcement YouTube video:
Review: Springfield Xds 9mm Mod.2
Dennis Reese, CEO of Springfield Armory, who has run the company with his father since 1974 when the Reese family took over the Springfield Armory name, gives us more insight into where the Hellcat came from and what led to its creation. What was the force of :
For the past few years, we have been deeply involved in the research and development of ultimate solutions for everyday carry and personal protection. The result is a handgun that exemplifies our disciplined approach to modern firearms design. On behalf of Springfield Armory, I am very proud to finally present to you... the Hellcat! The world's highest capacity, 9mm micro-compact.
When I first saw the Springfield Armory Hellcat in person I was honestly conflicted. I had initial thoughts.
Firearms companies throw around the terms "brand new" and "game changer" a bit, but the Hellcat really is (those are my buzzwords, not Springfield's).
Gun Review: Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm Micro Compact Pistol
The Hellcat is not an XDS. It has twice the capacity and, surprisingly, a smaller footprint overall. What kind of magic does it take to shorten a gun and increase magazine capacity? It's like the rounds coming out of a magazine come out of a magician's hat. I've always loved the fiber optic sight of the XDS, but the Hellcat really kicks it up a notch with the U-Dot™ Tactical Rack rear sight and tritium/luminescent front sight.
Also, the Hellcat is not an XD. Some of the older models of Springfield's subcompact XD and the most current subcompact XD Mod.2 could hold 12+1 rounds of 9mm, but of course they were also quite thick. Another factor that the Springfield faithful love to rave about is Springfield Armory's ad-hoc/creepy "grip zone" texture, which is missing on the Hellcat. They now have a very advanced Adaptive Grip Texture™ that is pressure activated. Uniquely, it's no longer scratchy, but gives you a lot more dexterity.
Finally, you can't talk about the Hellcat without comparing it to the SIG Sauer P365, which is nearly identical in size and footprint, but somehow through black magic, the Hellcat has an extra round. While the SIG P365 has been hailed as the best handgun in the industry for the past 1-2 years, the Springfield Armory Hellcat seems to have surpassed it in many other areas of capability as well as features.
I've been out to the range several times over the past 4 months to shoot the Hellcat, but the most telling visit was probably the most recent. I live in the beautiful frozen tundra that is Minnesota, and if you're not willing to travel outside in inclement weather to practice shooting, you won't get much practice in our state.
Hellcat® Micro Compact Handguns
One morning when it was -10°F, I took the Hellcat outside to warm it up (an oxymoron in such temperatures). The Springfield Armory Hellcat performs very well at close range, which should come as no surprise to anyone. At what I would consider "concealed carry distances" of 10 meters or less, this is perfect. You hit it, it hits. With a 3″ forged steel barrel hammer and a sight radius twice the range, this pistol has the same accuracy as a full-size pistol in its own micro-compact category.
So a CCW gun can hit from a CCW distance. impressive. Not entirely because it is expected and demanded. But what if he could hit the eye at 25 yards with a badass like me behind the trigger? It can be impressive. With this challenge in mind, I acquired a silhouette target at 25 yards and slowly attempted to fire 10 rounds. It probably took more than a minute because even though I'm a Minnesotan at heart, your skill wears off and feels in your toes in -10°F after a while.
The results we got were amazing. Hand firing some Federal American Eagle Suntec 9mm Luger 115 grain TSJ (Total Synthetic Jacket) I was able to get a rough bore up close. I did this a few times at 25 yards and luckily my first 10 shot group was perfect (probably because I had the most feel in my fingers).
Over the course of 4 months, I found time in my schedule to feed the Hellcats maybe 4 or 5 healthy doses of ammo. From all these range sessions I have never experienced a failure to feed, failure to eject, no failure. I tried various hollowpoints, FMJ (full metal jacket) and some Federal's TSJ ammo. Most of the ammo I shot was what I would consider good quality and had either brass or nickel cases, but regardless, the Hellcat always performed.
Springfield Armory Hellcat: A New Ccw Option
Over the last 4 months I have tried several different methods of concealed carry. I wore it on my hip, outside the waist band (OWB), which was very easy and convenient. Being as compact as it is, you never feel like it weighs on your hip, even if you wear it for more than 12 hours a day. Since this pistol falls into the micro-compact category, I felt it was almost necessary to somehow carry it inside the waist (IWB) for extended periods.
My preferred method of IWB carry for most any handgun is inside-the-waistband (AIWB), so that's what I did with the Springfield Armory Hellcat. It was very comfortable to wear all day in this position, whether sitting in the car, commuting, at a desk, or walking around my family's gun store (where the Hellcat sells like hotcakes, honestly).
The AIWB has become my favorite carry method over the years because it can be easily concealed under a simple t-shirt, whether it's a hot July day or a cold January day. At the same time, it is very fast if you practice it a little. A third reason I support AIWB carry is that it keeps the firearm safe.
. What I mean by this is that if you carry an AIWB, no one with bad intentions will sneak up on you and take your gun. Although the chance of this happening is one in a million, my head is always on a swivel (more than ever) when I carry IWB Small-of-the-Back (SOB) or just OWB on the hip. The Hellcat can be carried anywhere, but it feels most at home when carried AIWB.
Springfield Hellcat 9mm Pistol Tabletop And Range Video Review
So the cat is out of the bag and Springfield named it the Hellcat! One of my favorite features about the Springfield Armory Hellcat is the locations they are mounted on. The U-Dot™ Tactical Rear Sight and Tritium/Luminescent Front Sight were quick shots, easy to get and really stood out. I've shot U-Notch sights on pistols before, but this one was the most enjoyable to use in my experiences.
The flat body trigger that is nickel boron plated was a much appreciated upgrade. Traditionally, you wouldn't see a covered or flat trigger unless you were looking at a custom shop pistol. It was a pleasant surprise to see the Hellcat present.
Adaptive Grip Texture™ was another pleasant surprise. Springfield has worked hard in the past for its “Grip Zone” texture, but the Adaptive Grip Texture™ is no joke, just business. I know it's pretty popular for people to punch by hand or send their polymer guns out for punching, but the Hellcat doesn't need that. Texture, whether hands are warm or not
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