For a few years, discovering a hid carry pistol was a little bit of a problem. I carried a Springfield Armory pistol chambered in 40 caliber for a few years. I need to admit that it was cumbersome and infrequently uncomfortable. But, I favored the way it shot and was content material to dwell with the burden and measurement.
Then, the hid carry gun market appeared to blow up, and plenty of pistol producers started what I termed the “Measurement Wars.”
Each main gun producer began producing smaller and lighter hid carry weapons culminating within the many compact and micro-compact measurement weapons we see at present.
The Transfer to 9mm and Smaller Pistols
I need to admit that I joined within the pleasure and have been carrying a Glock 43 for a number of years. It’s rather more comfy and simple to hide than my outdated 40 S&W Springfield.
Now the development appears to be reversing. Hid carry weapons have gotten barely bigger, and the journal capacities are rising once more. My Glock 43’s one shortcoming is the 6-round journal capability. I’ve at all times carried further mags due to this limiting spherical rely.
Journal Capability is the New Pattern
With many producers doing something they will to extend the journal capacities of their compact and sub-compact pistols, it’s no shock that Springfield Armory has entered the market with the Springfield Hellcat. Springfield is following the market with a barely bigger pistol with a better magazine capability than lots of its rivals.
The Springfield Hellcat OSP Overview
I’ve at all times favored Springfield armory merchandise. As I stated earlier, I carried a Springfield pistol as a hid carry gun for a few years. I used to be delighted to see Springfield Armory area the Hellcat pistol as a hid carry choice and have been anxious to place one to shut examination.
Now I’ve my likelihood, so let’s dive into the Springfield Hellcat pistol evaluation in earnest.
As regular, earlier than we get into the meat and potatoes of my ideas about this pistol, I like to check out the manufacturing facility specs and options. This gives springboard for evaluating this pistol to others within the micro-compact and sub-compact classes:
Springfield Armory Hellcat Specs
- Caliber – 9mm (9×19)
- Barrel Size – 3 inches
- Barrel Materials – Solid Metal
- Barrel End – Melonite
- Twist Price – 1:10
- Slide Materials – Billet Machined Metal
- Slide End – Melonite
- Slide Optics Prepared – Sure
- Body Materials – Polymer
- Recoil System – Twin Captive recoil spring with full-length information rod
- Weight – 17.9 ounces with flush match magazine
- General Size – 6 inches
- General Top – 4 inches with flush match magazine
- Grip Width – 1 inch
- Grip Texture – Springfield armory Adaptive Grip Texture
- Entrance Sights – Tritium luminescent entrance sight
- Rear Sights – Tactical Rack U-Notch rear sight
Options
- Optics-ready slide cuts match most pistol optical sights.
- Springfield Armory Adaptive grip texturing that holds tighter the extra you squeeze the grip.
- Normal tritium illuminated entrance sight with a U-shaped rear sight that can be utilized to carry out tactical slide racks if obligatory.
- Micro-compact design that may present as much as 13+1 spherical capability makes this the very best spherical rely of any micro-compact pistol in the marketplace.
Clearly, micro-compact pistol design has made some large advances over the previous few years. Let’s take a extra in-depth have a look at the Springfield Armory Hellcat pistol and its parts.
Hammer Solid Barrel
Like most different micro-compact pistols, there isn’t a whole lot of barrel to be seen. At 3 inches, there isn’t a whole lot of metal previous the chamber. The barrel is hammer cast and incorporates a 1:10 twist.
Clearly, this isn’t a pistol with which you’ll make long-distance correct pictures. Nonetheless, on the ranges that almost all self-defense encounters happen, the Hellcat is as correct as you may need, and doubtless extra correct than most of us can fairly shoot.
The Slide
Springfield stepped up its recreation a notch with its manufacturing facility slide. The slide is chrome steel and machined from a strong billet for one of the best tolerances. The slide serrations are distinctive and supply a safe grip for racking the slide or clearing malfunctions.
The slide serrations are positioned at the back and front of the slide to facilitate a number of other ways to control the slide.
The crowning function of the Springfield Hellcat OSP slide is the factory-ready optics slide deck that’s manufacturing facility customary. The notch is designed to suit a number of pink dot micro sights with out having to machine the slide or disturb the manufacturing facility iron sights.
Together with a visible and tactile loaded chamber indicator on the slide is one other optimistic function of this micro-compact pistol. I’m not certain how vital that is to the common hid carry person, however for me, it’s a function I wish to have, particularly on a micro pistol that I intend to make use of as a carry gun.
The Manufacturing unit Sights
Whereas trying on the slide, the manufacturing facility sights are a logical place to go to subsequent.
Once more, Springfield has upped the ante by together with night time sights as a normal function on this pistol. The tritium entrance sight and the U-shaped rear sight make discovering your sight image simple and quick within the darkest circumstances.
The Pistol Controls
The Springfield Hellcat is a striker-fired semi-automatic pistol with the same old and anticipated controls.
The very first thing many shooters will discover is the dearth of handbook security. The Hellcat has a striker disconnect on the set off that replaces the handbook security. There’s a manufacturing facility choice for handbook security on the body, however I’ve not seen a Hellcat that’s outfitted with this feature.
Journal Launch
Typical of Springfield pistols, the journal launch is positioned comfortably behind the set off guard on the grip body of the pistol. The journal launch may be swapped from the manufacturing facility left-side place, which is regular for a right-handed shooter. This can be a reversible magazine launch, and altering the magazine launch from left to proper does require disassembling the pistol, but it surely isn’t a significant job.
The magazines do drop free cleanly with one exception. Once I use the prolonged journal, My pinky tends to carry the journal in place, requiring me to make a acutely aware effort to maneuver my finger to get the journal to drop.
Slide Lock/Launch
The Slide Lock/Launch lever is positioned within the conventional location on the left aspect of the body, centered on the pistol’s grip. This can be a handy location for right-handed shooters to control the slide launch with their robust hand thumb.
Sadly, the slide launch is just not reversible, so left-handed shooters should be taught to function the slide launch otherwise.
On this word, I sometimes train shooters to keep away from utilizing the slide launch and make it a behavior to understand the slide of their weak hand and rack it absolutely to the rear and let it go to return to the battery place after a reload.
The Takedown Lever
Anybody acquainted with the takedown procedures on many striker-fired pistols will really feel proper at dwelling with the takedown lever on the Springfield Hellcat OSP.
The takedown lever is positioned on the left aspect of the body instantly above the set off. Locking the slide again and rotating the lever permits the slide to maneuver ahead and off the body. Nothing fancy or modern with this management on the Hellcat.
The Set off
I think about the set off on any pistol one of many controls and maybe crucial of all of them.
The set off on the Springfield Hellcat has combined opinions amongst handgun aficionados. Some like the texture of the set off, and others discover it both too stiff or too creepy. My opinion is that the set off on the Hellcat is best than a whole lot of others, however may nonetheless use a little bit of enchancment.
The Hellcat Set off Security
The set off features a security disconnect lever that disengages when the set off is pulled. I a lot favor a set off lever than a hinged set off for a security disconnect on a striker-fired pistol, so this function will get excessive marks in my guide.
So far as the set off pull, the Hellcat is center of the street. There’s a mild pull at the start that regularly will increase as your method the breakpoint on the set off. There’s a slight quantity of creep on the breakpoint, after which the pistol breaks cleanly and crisply. The break is a bit stiff, however I really feel like that could be a optimistic factor for a self-defense pistol.
The Body and Grips
Springfield has taken a step ahead, in my view, with the body and particularly the grips on the Hellcat. The body is stiff however mild which provides vastly to the attraction of this small gun as a hid carry weapon.
One downside with many small pistols for shooters with giant arms is getting a purposeful grip on the firearm.
The grip texture on the Hellcat and the grip measurement make it simple for even these with giant arms to regulate this little gun. I had no bother sustaining a safe grip, even on a sizzling day in West Texas.
The Really feel and General Impression of the Springfield Hellcat
My first impression when taking this Springfield Armory Hellcat is superb. The pistol match into my hand comfortably and with out making a acutely aware effort to regulate my grip. It’s uncommon for micro pistols to evolve to my grip and hand so nicely. This makes me assume this micro pistol is an efficient candidate for me as an on a regular basis carry firearm.
I’ve additionally been impressed with the match and end of this firearm. Springfield Armory has at all times had a popularity for manufacturing high-quality handguns. Springfield Armory has continued this custom with the Springfield Hellcat.
What You Get within the Equipment
Opening the fundamental equipment reveals some fascinating included options. The fundamental Springfield Armory Hellcat equipment is available in a cardboard field somewhat than the normal plastic case.
I don’t sometimes ever use the plastic circumstances, they usually collect mud within the prime of a closet till I lastly resolve to toss them within the trash.
Inside Its Personal Packaging
Contained in the field, you can find the pistol, two magazines, a normal flush match journal, and an prolonged journal.
You get the usual printed materials that comes with virtually something that you simply purchase. You get some hex wrenches that match the optics cowl slide plate and, after all, the required lock. All in all, that is a powerful equipment.
Choices and Fashions
Springfield Armory affords a big selection of choices and fashions of the Hellcat.
In all, Springfield Armory reveals 16 totally different variations of the Hellcat on their web site. Variations embody variations with threaded barrels, optical sight pistol decisions, some retailer exclusives, and the brand new Hellcat Professional package deal.
Aftermarket Accent Choices
Whichever variation you choose, there are additionally a big selection of aftermarket merchandise designed particularly for the Springfield Armory Hellcat line of pistols. Choices for aftermarket equipment vary from optical sights to prolonged magazine launch buttons. You too can buy high-capacity magazines that can provide you as much as a 15-round capability.
For extra details about particular fashions and choices out there with the Springfield Armory Hellcat, you’ll be able to click this link.
My Impressions from the Vary of the Springfield Armory Hellcat
Let me say first that I’m a fan of Springfield Armory Pistols. Which will have coloured my judgment just a bit for this Springfield Hellcat evaluation. Nonetheless, I’ll attempt to be as goal as potential.
General Impressions of the Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP
From the beginning, the Springfield Hellcat felt good in my hand, and that at all times begins a spread session on a optimistic word. A gun that feels good in your hand is a confidence builder that results in higher capturing total.
Loading and Charging the Springfield armory Hellcat
Loading the mags was typical. The mags match nicely into the magazine nicely of the Hellcat. The rear slide serrations make racking the slide and charging the chamber simple. I do consider that even the smallest shooter can handle to load and prepared this pistol with out issues.
The Manufacturing unit Sights of the Springfield armory Hellcat
The manufacturing facility sights are clear, although it did take me a number of pictures to get used to the U-shaped rear sight. My typical carry is a Glock 43, and I’m used to seeing the standard Glock three-dot sight image. Nonetheless, I rapidly figured it out and obtained on with the capturing.
Felt Recoil and Muzzle Flip of the Springfield Armory Hellcat
The felt recoil and muzzle flip of the Springfield Hellcat weren’t sudden or shocking. Small micro-compact pistols are sometimes a handful and might buck in case you aren’t ready for the sensations.
Truthfully, I felt like this Springfield Hellcat was simpler to carry and recuperate my sight image than my Glock 43.
Feeding and Operation of the Springfield Armory Hellcat
My vary testing of the Springfield Armory Hellcat concerned firing roughly 200 rounds of assorted varieties and weights of ammunition. 100 rounds had been manufacturing facility ball 115 grain 9mm cartridges. I shot 25 rounds of vital protection ammunition, and the steadiness was JHP 115 grain to evaluate accuracy and feeding.
Vary Operation Outcomes
I skilled no feed issues, stoppages or failures to feed with any of the ammunition I selected. The Springfield Hellcat even fed a combined journal of ball ammunition, vital protection, and JHP rounds with none malfunctions.
I solely used a single journal for my testing and do not know what number of journal assessments I would want to seek out an issue.
Accuracy of the Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP
I shot the Springfield Armory Hellcat at 7, 15, and 25-yard customary silhouette targets. I need to say upfront that a lot of the weapons I personal and shoot will carry out a lot better on the vary than my capabilities.
Higher than the Tester
With that little bit of fact in promoting out of the way in which, I can focus on my outcomes and my findings. At 7 and 15 yards, the Springfield Armory Hellcat was a surprisingly simple small body gun to shoot precisely. The Springfield Hellcat appears to level naturally, which makes accuracy a lot simpler.
The Check Strategies
I fired about 150 rounds on both the 7 or 15-yard vary line. Of these 150 rounds, I may rely the variety of hits outdoors the 8 ring on one hand. Thoughts you. I didn’t do something particular like shoot weakhanded or single-handed. I used my customary two-hand grip and stance to get the absolute best outcomes.
The Check Outcomes
At 25 yards, the outcomes had been a bit extra disappointing. I did handle to maintain all of my pictures on the black of the goal, however the sample was scattered. This could possibly be a mix of issues.
Nonetheless, since I shot this final 25-yard batch on the finish of my testing, I used to be a bit fatigued. I’ve little doubt that within the arms of somebody youthful, with higher eyesight, and in higher situation than me would do a lot better with the Springfield Armory Hellcat than I can.
My Closing Ideas on the Springfield armory Hellcat OSP
I’m satisfied that the Hellcat is pretty much as good an on a regular basis carry pistol as you’ll be able to select. I like the feel and appear of this gun, in addition to the journal capability and the way in which it shoots. The Hellcat OSP is a high quality instance of the most recent design and supplies know-how in a package deal created for hid carry. This can be a nice gun for knowledgeable shooters or starting license holders.
