I think I should start this post by saying, “My name is Michelle Cerino, and I am a Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro addict.” I’ve acquired a few over the years, and they always arrive through my local FFL. Sometimes there’s a little snicker as the guys behind the counter ask questions like, “Do you really need a version in Desert FDE? Don’t you already have the same gun in black?” or “Are you really going to shoot that suppressed?” They were stumped recently when the latest Hellcat Pro from Springfield Armory arrived. Nothing stood out right away that appeared different until they looked down the top of the slide. Yep, the Hellcat Pro Comp was definitely something new.
But first, as I mentioned above, I am fond of all the versions of the Hellcat Pro. Just like the others, the Hellcat Pro has the following features:
The Hellcat Pros arrive with these items:
So what’s all the excitement about the Hellcat Pro Comp? Well, if you look closely down the top of the slide, you will notice that this new version of the Hellcat Pro is integrally compensated through a single port at the top of the barrel (and slide). And why would you want that? This ported barrel allows gasses to escape upwards, out of the port, reducing the felt recoil and muzzle rise. This, in turn, will enable you to get your sights (the front sight is behind the compensator) back on target quicker for faster follow-up shots. All with no added weight to your handgun!
As I gathered everything to head out to the range, I decided to make things easier and avoid confusion by bringing my Hellcat Pro in Desert FDE to compare it to the new Hellcat Pro Comp. (See, there is a reason to have firearms in different colors.)
I spent my first 50 or so rounds shooting a target while paying close attention to the recoil and speed at which the sights realigned. I shot at different distances up to 11 yards, taking turns shooting from an original Hellcat Pro and then switching to the Hellcat Pro Comp. Shooting at a slow speed while taking time to feel the gun and watch the rise and fall of the muzzle didn’t really allow me to notice a big difference between the two.
The next part of my testing consisted of shooting a rhythm or cadence drill. I shot the drill two times with the Hellcat Pro Comp and one time in between those two with the original Hellcat Pro. In the first round, I shot at 7, 12 and 17 feet. For the second round, I moved the target back to 7, 16 and 25 feet because it seemed like I could have increased the speed of my original cadence, and I wanted to push myself a little.
For accuracy testing, I shot the gun offhand (unsupported standing) at seven yards. The test results below are in inches from two groups of five shots per type/brand of ammo.
New Republic 9mm Lugar, 115 grain, full metal jacket: largest group – 1.37; smallest group – .125; average – .75
Remington USMC 9mm Lugar, 115 grain, full metal jacket: full metal jacket: largest group – 1.5; smallest group – .187; average – .84
After spending time on the range shooting different drills, I find that the speed at which I can get my sights lined up does increase with the Hellcat Pro Comp. Full disclosure: I struggle with my close-up vision and have difficulty seeing the sights. The next time I head out to the range I’m going to add a red dot optic to the Hellcat Pro Comp and find out how fast and accurate I can really shoot.
Springfield Armory’s Hellcat Pro Comp is currently available in three versions with the same MSRP of $699:
Read more about the Hellcat Pro Comp OSP here.
Check out the entire line of Springfield Armory’s Hellcat Pros here.
Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and FASTER Saves Lives. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
