The Springfield Hellcat - What Have We Here?
written by guest blogger Travis Pike
The Hellcat premiered September 25th and was the first real challenger we saw to the famed and beloved P365. The Hellcat is a micro-compact 9mm capable of holding 11 or 13 rounds in a package the size of most single-stack 9mms. I was lucky enough to be selected by Springfield to receive a Hellcat before its release and have had a little hands-on time with the gun.
The Hellcat is a small gun but can fill the hand well. I find the flush-fitting magazine too short, but adding on the included pinky extension makes it perfect for an excellent full grip. I hate a hanging pinky, and the Hellcat ensures I don’t have that. The gun has a good beavertail and a comfortable overall grip.
The Hellcat gets rid of the grip safety that’s on most XD handguns I feel the gun is better for it. Grip safeties aren’t needed and create an area of entry for more debris and dirt. The grip also features a new texture pattern that’s called the Adaptive Grip Texture. It’s very ‘sticky’ and stays in your hand while firing the gun.
The Hellcat also features some new slide serrations. They are deep and wide and grip the hand well when in action. The rear serrations also go over the top of the gun. With a small weapon, it’s easier to reload by going over the top, and these serrations make a big difference. Speaking of the top of the gun, Springfield is releasing a Hellcat OSP model that comes ready for a mini red dot sight. The OSP model will be 30 bucks more than the standard.
The Hellcat is also topped with Trijicon sights. I love Trijicon sights, and Springfield chose the right set of sights for the Hellcat. The U Dot sight picture is an outstanding combination of front and rear sights. The front sight is a night sight featuring a high visibility ring around the tritium vial. The rear sight is a U notch with a white half-circle encapsulating the rear of the sight. In practice, they make getting on target quickly possible.
I can achieve a good sight picture and put lead on target very intuitively and quickly. The sights are fantastic, and as the owner of a P365, I want to replace my rear sight with a Trijicon U Notch to mimic the Hellcat.
The Hellcat sports a Picatinny rail that’s unique for a gun this size. This rail makes attaching accessories like lights and lasers very easy. Viridian makes a very compact weapon light and laser combo that’s well suited for this gun.
Lastly, the trigger is flat-faced. The pull is smooth and grit-free with an excellent solid break and a lovely loud and chunky reset. This tops off what appears to be a terrific firearm. Springfield seems to have a winner with the Hellcat. SIG also appears to have some healthy competition.
