Since its release in September 2019, the Springfield Armory Hellcat has stormed the world of concealed carry, posing a threat to entrenched competitors with its size, capacity, and features. The Hellcat is a true testament to innovation and purposeful design as it becomes a serious contender for self-defense and determines its dominance within a highly competitive market.
The Hellcat, designed by Croatian firearm company HS Produkt and introduced to the US market by Springfield Armory Inc., shook things up. Its unveiling caught an industry filled with respected names such as SIG Sauer and Glock off guard. In a segment of the marketplace where the standard for greatness was so high, the Hellcat gained popularity and recognition swiftly, even being declared the “2020 Handgun of the Year” by American Rifleman.
In micro-compact pistol circles, the Hellcat’s size is a critical component of its attractiveness. The pistol’s length is only 6 inches, with a 3-inch barrel and a height of 4 inches when it’s loaded with a flush magazine. Its width is only 1 inch, making it an ideal option for a concealed carry without compromising on grip and control.
The Hellcat’s 11+1 round capacity with a standard magazine stands out as a major feature in comparison to its rivals. For a firearm as small as it is, the 11+1 round capacity is impressive, with 13+1 and 15+1 round extended magazines as options. As a high-capacity sub-compact offering, this is unprecedented and an enormous benefit for concealed carry operators who value firepower.
Sights and accuracy of the Hellcat are also impressive. The pistol is optics-ready straight out of the box, which enables red dot sights to be affixed without further modification. The readiness of the pistol for optics, along with rear slide serrations that facilitate slide manipulation, makes the Hellcat highly accurate and puts it in a better position than some of its rivals, such as the SIG Sauer P365, which needs additional fitments for such upgrades.
As far as its firing mechanism is concerned, the Hellcat employs a contemporary striker-fired system, which is preferred for its simplicity and dependability. The system features internal safeties as well as fewer parts, which decrease the likelihood of malfunctions. Whereas striker drag proved to be a major problem in some of its rivals, including the SIG P365, there are indications that users of the Hellcat have had fewer issues with this problem.
Ergonomically, the Hellcat excels with its Adaptive Grip Texture and equalized weight, between 17.9 and 18.6 ounces based on load. These features allow for an easy and stable hold, essential for the demands of daily concealed carry.
While it has numerous advantages, the Hellcat does have a few detractors. Several users dislike the trigger as being less than stellar, and the slide catch as difficult to use, requiring other methods to drop the slide. Also, the increased recoil can be problematic for those with kickback sensitivity, and the high end price may scare off shoppers on a budget.
For carry options, the Hellcat’s compact size enables it to be successfully concealed using diverse methods such as inside the waistband (IWB), appendix, and even outside the waistband (OWB) holsters.
In the concealed carry battle royale, the Hellcat is a top contender against the Glock 43 and other top players. It has greater capacity, many features such as night sights and optics readiness, yet still packs a tiny footprint for best carryability. The Glock 43, though, holds a big advantage in the aftermarket department, with a wide array of accessories and a well-established reputation for dependability.
