By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
There is a lot of development going on at the major gun makers these days; the firearms market is currently lucrative and they want a part of that market.
Firearms owners, especially those with personal defense in mind, are discerning concerning performance and reliability. Young and old alike are looking for a good product at a fair price.
Among the best combinations I have tested in some time is the Springfield Hellcat Pro 9mm. This is a development of the original sub compact Hellcat. The new gun is .6-inch longer and .8-inch higher than the original. That doesn’t seem like much but the new handgun shoots much better. The original is still a great all around concealed carry pistol, but this new entry is an ideal size in my opinion for concealed carry and also offers good utility for home defense.
Handfit is good. The grip is more angular than the original but is very comfortable for both large and small hand sizes. The balance of adhesion and abrasion is good, even ideal with the Springfield Adaptive Grip Texturing. I cannot imagine needing to modify this grip. My hands are average size and fingers a tad short to handle something like the Glock 20 or Glock 21. It is one thing to handle a bulky grip on the range another to control the handgun well during an emergency. This grip offers good control.
While the Hellcat Pro must stand on its own merits it does compare favorably to pistols such as the Glock 19, I fire the Hellcat Pro better. It is faster on the draw than larger or smaller sidearms. It is about as fast as a Colt Commander for me and that is very fast.
I recommend carrying a spare magazine for many reasons. You may run into a deep hole and you may have to clear a malfunction. Just the same with 15 rounds in the magazine it is unlikely you will need a reload unless you miss a lot. If that is the case, no amount of ammunition will help you. That said, speed loads are rapid with the tapered magazine and generous magazine well.
The trigger is well designed, breaking clean at 6.0 pounds. Reset is sharp.
An excellent set of sights grace the Hellcat Pro’s slide. The front sight features a bright circle around a self-luminous tritium front post. The rear sight is a U notch type with white outline. These sights are excellent personal defense sights. The open notch rear mates well with the front post. Put the post on the target and you should hit what you’re aiming at. With these sights and the good trigger, a trained shooter will eat the target up at close range.
The Springfield sight set offers good accuracy past 25 yards as well. You would not be helpless against an active shooter or taking on a coyote at the back row. Since the pistol is striker fired the slide isn’t difficult to rack, as there is no hammer spring to overcome. Forward cocking serrations are an aid in leverage.
The pistol’s magazine release, slide stop, and trigger are positive in operation. I could find no fault with the controls. Disassembly is easy enough. Lock the slide to the rear, remove the magazine, and double check the chamber. Be certain the pistol is unloaded!
Next, turn the take down lever upward and run the slide off the frame. The recoil spring and guide are tight but handled easily enough. After the recoil spring and guide are removed the barrel falls out of the slide with a shake.
Firing the Hellcat Pro was interesting. By my third range session I had a good idea of the pistol’s capabilities. Firing at 7, 10, and 15 yards, the Hellcat Pro is as controllable as any 9mm can be. A combination of good sights and a good trigger are an aid in combat firing. I fired a box of Winchester USA Ready in several drills. The pistol proved accurate enough for any defense chore. I even rang the steel gongs at a long 25 yards. I had to slow down and take careful aim but I hit the target.
The 9mm depends on quality expanding bullet loads for personal defense. A combination of expansion and penetration is needed. I fired both the Winchester 115-grain Silvertip and the new Winchester USA Ready 124-grain load. The Silvertip is a proven loading with good expansion. The new 124 grain loading is designed to perform and expand over a wide range of situations. It is among the top 9mm defense loads.
I carried the Hellcat Pro 9mm in a Galco StoNGo holster. This inside the waistband holster features a reinforced holstering welt and a belt clip that attaches firmly to the belt. This isn’t an expensive holster but and I own several examples. The Hellcat Pro/Galco combination is a good choice for concealed carry. Practice, be vigilant, and stay safe.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Springfield
Model: Hellcat Pro
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.7 in.; 1:10-inch twist
Slide: Steel, Melonite® Finish, Optics Ready
Frame: Black Polymer
Sights: Tritium/Luminescent Front, Tactical Rack U-Notch Rear
Magazines: (2) 15-Round
Width: 1″
Weight: 21 oz
Length: 6.6″
Height: 4.8″
MSRP: $634
