Springfield’s Hellcat Pro is aimed squarely at anyone looking for a concealed carry pistol with exceptional capacity, unfailing reliability, and better ergonomics. Hellcat is continually in the top four or five best-selling guns in some parts of the country. And any honest approach to the Hellcat or Hellcat Pro may change how you think about your current concealed carry pistol.

Hellcat Pro Specs

Caliber	9mm
Barrel	3.7″ Hammer Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, 1:10
Slide	Billet Machined, Melonite® Finish, Optics Ready
Frame	Black Polymer w/ Adaptive Grip Texture
Sights	Tritium/Luminescent Front, Tactical Rack U-Notch Rear
Recoil System	Dual Captive Recoil Spring w/ Full Length Guide Rod
Grip Width	1″
Magazines	(2) 15-Round
Weight	21 oz
Length 6.6″	6.6″
Height 4.8″	4.8″

A decade of Trigger Time

A bit about my relationship with Springfield. Way back—more than a decade at this point—I was writing gun reviews for Guns.com and trying hard to understand how I could take my passion for armed self-defense and turn it into a career. And I was learning everything I could about gun makers.

Around that time, Springfield launched the XD-S. It changed everything in the concealed carry space. It launched in .45 ACP to prove a point, and we all took notice. I carried one for years. While that gun feels out of date now, it changed the entire industry.

After moving through many 1911s, M1As, ARs, and the whole of the XD line, I developed a respect for the company. I’ve penned reviews of all of these and written articles for The Armory Life. And now, in my current position with Safariland, I’m working on holster designs for their guns.

I regularly carried a Hellcat from the day of its announcement up until I moved to the Echelon, which is a natural evolution. I still love the way the Hellcat feels. And there’s something to be said for the familiarity that comes from putting rounds down range and the confidence that those skills provide those of us who carry concealed.

The addition of the Hellcat Pro to the line-up, then, was good news. More grip. And more barrel. More mass to mitigate recoil. These are all good things and are especially good for those of us with enough mass to easily conceal a Desert Eagle.

First Impressions

As this is a larger version of the Hellcat, a lot of the ergonomics will be familiar. The texture that differentiated this gun from the XD line is still present. The forward slide serrations—deep enough to hold but not so deep that they’ll tear up holsters—they’re there. The boxy, but contoured grip…. It is recognizable as a Hellcat. And the little soul-patch of texture above above the trigger guard–I like that, too.

While there’s more mass on the slide and muzzle end, this addition is not enough to tip the balance point. It is larger, but not comically larger. And the additional grip isn’t something I feel at all, as I typically run the extended magazines in my original Hellcat.

The Pro version prefers the longer mags, of course. If you’re hoping your stash of Hellcat mags might transfer cleanly, the 13 and 15-round mags will. But good luck getting that 15^th round in the 15-round mag.

How does the Hellcat Pro shoot?

The Pro shoots like a Hellcat. I have run both, side-by-side, with and without red dots, and the results, for me, are consistent. After spending a few years behind an Echelon and a Prodigy, I will note that Hellcat Pro has pronounced muzzle-flip. Everything in this size range does.

I don’t shoot the Hellcat for one-hole accuracy. Even when I’m trying to put together effective groups and connect the dots, I can’t. But that’s hardly the point.

The sights on the Hellcat series are really good for rapid target acquisition at speed. When you are drawing from concealment, you are likely at a disadvantage. As I have seen first hand, and as I practice it, the threat is likely already present and maybe one step ahead of you. So getting on target fast is everything.

Don’t shoot for groups

And defensive shooting, if we can be both graphic and honest, is rarely about nice, tight groups. The goal is to eliminate the threat. That’s it. Nothing more. Putting two rounds in the same hole is less effective than making two different holes.

The Hellcat’s sights—the bold U-shaped rear and the fat front dot—they’re easy to pick up. Even slight misalignment, at the distance we tend to associate with self-defense, will get you on target.

After that first shot, the Hellcat really shines. Its ergonomics aid in recovery and follow-up shots are easy to place on target. This combination makes the Hellcat a great choice for concealed carry.

The Pro version may feel too big for some really small-framed shooters. I’d argue that it isn’t. The difference, after all, is not so significant. Call it a challenge.

Best Ways to Carry the Hellcat Pro

When I carry the Hellcat strong side, I like OWB. I have no difficulty concealing it because I’m intentional about the clothes I wear. I work from home—so it is not concealed most of the time, but when I go out, I throw on a shirt that I don’t tuck in or a jacket.

In the summer, and when I do have to dress more professionally, I carry it appendix. Both work well. I’ve tried to carry the shorter Hellcat in my front pocket, but it feels too large.

The Pro is an even better contender for appendix carry. As odd as it sounds, I can hide more there than I can OWB, as the added length means I need an even longer shirt tail or jacket. The extra barrel, IWB, just goes deeper in the pants and that’s easy.

Hellcat Reliability

In the last few years, I’ve put several thousand rounds through my original Hellcat. I don’t have a hard count, but I train with it. I’ve run polymer frangible rounds, lots of ball ammo, and a good bit of hot carry ammo. I’ve yet to have a failure I didn’t introduce myself.

Every gun will fail, though. I’ve come to accept that as a reality. These are machines built by machines and people. Sooner or later they’ll shit the bed, and you need to know what to do when it happens (and hope it happens on the range).

What you’ll need to get it ready for EDC.

Start with the gun, of course. Seems logical. Then I’d pick up some ammo. For every new gun I am serious about carrying, I look at 500 rounds +/- of range ammo.

As for what to feed it, you can’t go wrong with what’s become a classic carry ammo: Hornady’s Critical Defense. Check out Ammo to Go for options. These 115 grain bullets have a plug that keeps the hollow point from clogging, while also forcing expansion on contact. It is a compelling carry round.

Critical Defense is great for not clogging up as it passes through clothing. For winter months with the expectation of heavier clothing, Critical Duty runs faster.

The Hellcat extras

And extra magazines. This is a must. While the gun ships with two, that’s hardly enough for a range session, and barely enough for EDC. One in the gun, one in the pocket—at least—but I tend to have at least ten mags for every gun that I adopt.

I’d suggest a solid holster, too. And be sure to check for optic and light compatibility. Crucial Concealment is a solid place to start. Read a review of their Hellcat IWB holster here.

For an OWB holster, you could also look at the Galco Combat Master. Classic leather is ideal for a gun the size of the Hellcat Pro.

Safariland has entered the game, too. They now have a 6354RDSO, and other retention holsters for the Hellcat Pro. And for EDC, there are Incog X holsters.

Optics—as this is optics-ready, I’d pick up a red dot. The Holosun optics are a favorite. For the HC Pro, I’d suggest the HE407C-GR X2.

On the other end, there’s lots of room for a light. The TLR 7 family has been my choice for about a year now. Look to the TLR7 Sub for the Hellcat.

The last concern would be a way to carry a spare magazine. Sticky Holsters makes front-pocket carry easy and hassle-free.