What’s Wrong with the Hellcat?

October 19th, 2020

6:36 runtime

The Hellcat is one of the top CCW guns in the industry. Here at GunSpot, we have already done a review of the standard Hellcat, and now we are back for more! We were excited to get the chance to take the new FDE Hellcat OSP to the range, and for the first time we got the chance to test out an OSP version mounted up with the Shield SMSc sight.

Shooting a Springfield Armory pistol — Grant has reviewed the Hellcat is several configurations so far, and just tried out the FDE OSP version.

For many, the Hellcat is really just a win all the way around when you start looking at what comes on the gun. The grip texture is appropriately aggressive without making it uncomfortable to conceal. The top-end 13+1 capacity is obviously amazing (and you can bump that up to 14+1 with the Hyve mag extension). The internals all look robust.

The Springfield Armory Hellcat in FDE trim

Sights On Target

Plus it comes with a high visibility tritium & luminescent front sight paired with a Tactical Rack U-Dot rear sight. The rear sight allows the Hellcat to be charged by one-handed manipulation. The rear sight can be racked off of belts, boots or other objects if you’re in a pinch and only have one hand available. There are also front serrations and rear serrations to match the all-around great ergonomics of the gun.

Over the shoulder view of shooting a target — The pistol was topped off with a Shield SMSc red dot optic.

Another feature most don’t talk about is the stand-off device at the end of the recoil spring. It protrudes a hair beyond the muzzle and can prevent the slide from coming out of battery in a contact-shooting scenario. This is something many other defensive guns haven’t even thought about.

I would say most people buy concealed carry guns knowing they have to upgrade them, and most commonly people upgrade the sights. Well, you don’t have to worry about that with the Hellcat. Right out of the box you have excellent sights for EDC that work well in a variety of lighting conditions.

Side view of author with Hellcat handgun at extension — The gun ran exceptionally well during his test, and Grant really liked the handling and shooting characteristics.

Above & Beyond

The OSP (Optical Sight Pistol) part of the Hellcat just improves this feature-rich gun even more. The Shield SMSc sight has a low enough profile that you can co-witness your red dot with your Hellcat sights so that you get the best of both worlds. The SMSc also has one of the most refined dots I have seen in an optic. It’s very bright and always maintains a crisp clear edge around the dot. The auto brightening in the SMSc is also top notch and critical for an EDC red dot.

Carry case for the Springfield Hellcat — The FDE OSP makes for a compact and powerful CCW-style pistol, and packs in a top capacity of 13+1.

Still Searching

After shooting several video reviews on the Hellcat, I still haven’t found any complaints. The Springfield Hellcat definitely shook up the market and broke the mold for concealed carry guns. I think this gun will be around for the long haul and I can’t wait to see what will happen with it in the future. With advances like the Hellcat, it’s an exciting time to be a gun enthusiast!

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Dylan Casey and Grant LaVelle and shared with us by GunSpot.com. You can view the rest of their videos on the GunSpot YouTube channel. Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the “Go To Forum Thread” link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!

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Springfield Armory® recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a certified instructor prior to handling any firearm and be sure to read your owner’s manual. These articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Springfield Armory.

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GunSpot

GunSpot was created to be the one spot for everything gun-related. With us, you can buy or sell guns. We have everything from small-caliber pistols to belt-fed machine guns. And on the GunSpot Academy, you can find high-quality original content. In our content, you will see two faces regularly. Dylan Casey is a gun enthusiast with a digital media degree who is GunSpot's Creative Director. Then there is Chief Instructor Grant LaVelle, who has decades of experience training Marines, police officers and citizens alike. Grant served with and taught marksmanship for the United States Marine Corps. After his time with the Marines, Grant served as a SWAT sniper.

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