Springfield Armory does it again and sets the bar high in the concealed carry weapons class with the Hellcat, a micro-compact 9mm that packs the highest capacity in its class. This is a result of years of attentive, rigorous development in conjunction with top engineers, shooters, and experts in self-defense.
One of Hellcat’s high points is its patented magazine, which comes in 11+1 standard configuration and 13+1 with the included extended magazine. A capacity of this magnitude is nothing less than a game-changer in an EDC firearm for those who want both firepower and concealability.
Ergonomically engineered, the Hellcat comes with Springfield Armory’s Adaptive Grip Texture, providing a positive hold without Temperature-induced or slippery sweat contention. High-visibility sights, with the luminescent tritium dot front sight, help in quick target acquisition, delivering huge improvements in accuracy for the Hellcat, making it not just mighty but very accurate as well.
For the optic fans, Optics Ready OSP versions of Hellcats are available, allowing the mounting of micro red dot optics directly on the slide—like the Shield RMSc—with co-witnessing of iron sights.
As far as reliability goes, Hellcat is second to none. It has been run through a punishing regimen of hundreds upon hundreds of rounds of all manner of ammunition, including defensive loads, without malfunction. Reliability like this with such an effective 9mm caliber makes this Hellcat very dependable for self-defense applications.
According to Dennis Reese, the CEO of Springfield Armory, the Hellcat was designed to provide the most concealed-carry handgun available. With a weight of approximately 18 ounces, featuring a 3-inch barrel and only 1 inch wide, the Hellcat dimensions are diminutive, making this pistol perfectly balanced between size and capacity.
It also features a loaded chamber indicator, a stand-off device that keeps the pistol from going out of battery when the pistol is pressed against a target, and a reversible magazine release for left-handed shooters. Melonite-coated slide and hammer-forged barrel make it strong and resistant to corrosion.
What’s special about this Hellcat, even with so many micro-compact semi-auto pistols saturating the market, is its feature set. Its high capacity, optic adaptability, and user-friendly features make it very competitive to be considered one of the best concealed carry weapons out there.
The MSRP for the Hellcat is $569 for the standard model and $599 for the OSP model—either way, rather competitively priced for a high-capacity, reliable, and accurate EDC firearm.
In all, the Springfield Armory Hellcat reset expectations of what can be done in a micro-compact handgun. Its blend of capacity, reliability, and user-friendly features make it a must-have for anyone serious about concealed carry.