Hellcat 9 Mil - When Sig Sauer created a 10+1 subcompact pistol, it shook the industry. Shortly after that, about 9 months ago, Springfield introduced the Hellcat, a similarly sized 9mm pistol with one more round capacity than the Cygny P365. A single skill game will pay less in the end, but a 12 round 9mm in a small subcompact pistol is nothing to sneeze at!
The Springfield Hellcat is just that: a small, 11+1 round 9mm pistol that is essentially the same as the Sig P365. Is this a good thing? Does it work? What many have discovered in the months since the Hellcat's launch is that the answers to these questions are yes. But even with defensive-style drills, what's a Hellcat shoot-and-run? Follow my first impressions here.
Hellcat 9 Mil
The Springfield Hellcat is a non-compact, striker-fired double pistol. This is especially good for deep concealed carry. You might consider the Hellcat because of its 11+1 capacity (13+1 with an extended mag), which puts it above almost all other comparable pistols and at least slightly ahead of any other competition. You may consider wearing the Hellcat in non-permissive environments or wearing light-colored clothing. Basically, it is for when your choice requires more depth and more capacity.
The Hellcat X2 Government
I spent some time shooting the Hellcat and getting to know its capabilities and performance and wanted to share my thoughts on that experience here. As this is a first impression review, durability and reliability issues are not addressed. Also, if you're interested, the Hellcat was actually tested to 10,000, which the Hellcat passed without any reports.
Note that the Hellcat also has a fiber optic front sight version and a pre-cut micro red-dot optic version (and combinations thereof).
Also note that despite the positives and negatives mentioned in this review, the Hellcat is a subcompact pistol and is therefore only suitable for experienced shooters. If you are a beginner shooter or a complete new to daily carry, always avoid subcompact models of any brand and go for compact or full size pistols.
I started shooting Hellcat groups at short distances to get a feel for the shooting. It's subcompact, so it's a bit sleek. Given the increased feel of recoil and the short grip, you really have
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- Grip the weapon to maintain proper grip and control. It's really not that bad, but as with all small pistols, it takes some patience. I was able to rest the thumb of my support hand on the take-off lever, which turned out to be a good spot to help control.
Groups were good at short range, and when I missed, I missed low, mostly due to a long trigger pull trying to compensate for muzzle rise. It's my fault. I shot some groups at 10 yards and they were acceptable for a subcompact, but the standard scopes - spec rear sights - weren't amazing to me in terms of accuracy. If I owned this pistol I would swap the rear sight for a 2 dot model. I didn't really like the U-shaped rear view when trying to keep the groups tight. I find it inaccurate compared to the 2 dot rear sight which gives me a better idea of proper vertical placement. But I have the eyes of an old man and it was harder for me to know where to put the front dot compared to the "U" at the back. The upper "u" extensions do not reach the top of the scope, so my eyes could not effectively and accurately line up with the top of the front/rear structures, then without adjusting I found the right scope. Picture But that's me, and you might have trouble getting an accurate preview picture.
After a few groups, I did some rapid fire sequences that consisted of a moving "x" and 4 shots in 1 second, followed by a moving reload, followed by a follow up shot. I wanted to see if I could handle this small, agile pistol in a defensive shooting context. I had no trouble keeping fist-sized groups at 5 yards for those 4 quick shots, though I did my share. Reloading was not very easy at first, as the short grip caught the empty magazine in the palm of my hand rather than releasing it freely. After some practice I was able to change my grip by ejecting an empty magazine. It's not ideal, but it's practically possible. I didn't try those fast strings at 7 or 10 yards, but I'm sure they would have opened up quite a bit.
I should note that I have shot this pistol with a pink extension and an extended magazine, but not from a drop magazine. I could barely hold onto the pinky grip while shooting, but I usually don't mind if the grip is too short for all my fingers. The Hellcat's handle has a soft texture that I didn't like. Especially for a pistol this size chambered in 9mm, a rough texture would be better.
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The controls seemed to be well laid out and nothing got in the way of me holding or operating the gun. Overall, while it wasn't exactly enjoyable to film, it wasn't a big deal. It usually comes with a 9mm subcompact, so nothing special here.
The Hellcat's main point of fame and selling point is its 11-round standard magazine (with smooth or pink extension) and 13-round slightly extended magazine. This capability puts it in rarefied air compared to other subcompact 9mm pistols. Depending on the model, standard sights include a tritium or fiber optic front sight and a U-shaped rear sight.
The Melonite slide has front and back serrations which I found to be perfect for manipulating the slide. Melonite is probably the best way to treat a gun and it's nice to find it on this gun. Although I have not used this model, there are Hellcats with a slide that is pre-cut for micro red dot optics.
The polymer frame has a simple design and is decorated with large, well-placed textured areas. The texture is a bit of a micro-scratch, which I don't think is enough. As with almost all poly guns, they will require a proper fit to get them; Especially on such a nimble little pistol. The front of the frame also has textured rest/pointer areas that can be used for gripping. I found the takedown lever to be a better thumb area for shooting.
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The trigger is decent, but not great. The pickup is long and the brakes feel a bit "thick" and plasticy. I didn't find this to be a problem when shooting the pistol, except when I was used to the short press and sometimes dropped the muzzle lower in anticipation of an instant delayed shot. In practice, this will not be a problem. The shoes were quite comfortable for me. So, again, it's a trigger
Springfield seems to have managed to fit 12 rounds of 9mm into the little subcompact pistol without too much trouble. If it's reliable in the long run, it currently looks like the ultimate expression of a high-capacity subcompact for deep concealment.
I'm not a big fan of the sights or the trigger, but the sights are interchangeable and the trigger, while not amazing, works well and doesn't cause any problems when shooting the gun. No one talks about a subcompact 9mm being a bit sharp, so again I only recommend this or any subcompact to experienced, strong shooters who know how to properly handle a brutal little crowd in their hands.
If you need a small, high-capacity handgun, I recommend giving the Springfield Hellcat a try. Rent one at Eagle Gun Range or your local gun range and see what you think.
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Shooty McBeardface is a Twitter resident and flexes his beard on his personal site. He trains several days a week at the Eagle Gun Range and other locations to improve his marksmanship and defense skills. After years of precision development and engineering in close collaboration with top engineers, shooters and self-defense experts, Springfield Armory® is proud to present. Hellcat - the world's largest capacity compact 9mm.
Featuring a proprietary magazine with best-in-class 11+1 and 13+1 capacity with an included extended magazine, the Hellcat is specifically designed for everyday carry with Adaptive Grip Texture™ and high-visibility sights.
The Hellcat is the world's highest capacity micro-compact 9mm. The 3-inch barrel pistol is only 1 inch wide and weighs only 18.3 ounces. Has a class-leading capacity of 11 rounds with an empty but perfectly fitting magazine.
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