REVIEW: Springfield Hellcat OSP

JT

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Forgive me, I tried. I really did. And I failed.

I stayed away from my LGS on purpose when they got the Springfield Hellcats in, and they sold out right away.

But then, in a couple of weeks, they got more ... but they were the standard, not the OSP, so I was able to fight off the urge.

Then, just a few days later, they got OSPs in on a Friday.

Still I resisted.

But Tuesday I went in, thinking all I would do is wrap my mitts around one, find it too small for my hands, and be saved. But no. It fit my hand just fine -- no extra room, but I could get my strong hand around the grip as long as I used the 13 round mag, which is all I would use anyway, duh!

So, of course, I bought one, brought it home, familiarized myself with its features, operation, and maintenance, field-stripped it, examined the internals, and found it all pretty good.

Then, I took it to the range, full of fear that I would not be able to shoot the little sub-compact well enough. Here again, I failed. I rang steel without the least bit of trouble, and could hit a 6" disc reliably out to 25 yds. From ten yards in, it was almost effortless to ring my little 3" disc with ease.

I am going to say that early on, this Hellcat may be the pistol I shoot most accurately at this point in my life. Is it perfection? Of course not, and neither is anything else I can afford. Is it going to become my EDC CCW? Yes. It already is.

Time will tell if I continue to feel the same way. But right now, I am more than just satisfied; I am overjoyed!
 
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Time will tell
PLEASE, keep me posted on this. I trust you completely as to reliability. Thanks for saving me a few Hunnys. I will take your first hand report to pass along to our folks. Billy...…...If you have any probs, please let me what ammo was in use.
 
Ya know something Millie, you might just have it made around all these guys allowing you to play with their toys.

Good for you!
The guys/girls have been spectacular! lol.
I get to shoot some cool guns that I never could afford. I get to try out guns that I may want to buy one day.

I can't even count how many guns I've had my hands on since I joined up here. lol.
 
I can't even count how many guns I've had my hands on since I joined up here. lol.
Just post a list and I’ll count ‘em for ya. ;)
 
I'm glad you found "The One"......lol.
Have fun, and let me shoot it soon!
I don't know about "The One". I love my other two, but each has different strong points.
 
PLEASE, keep me posted on this. ...

A few early data points from the first shooting session - many of which might well change over the first few hundred rounds:
  1. The trigger is pretty nice for a striker-fired poly. It has a noticeable amount of stack, but is not gritty or uneven; the break is nice and clean and can surprise you right well; the reset is not something I notice because I don't shoot to reset, but in dryfire testing it seems short and crisp
  2. The sights are superb for me - a nice bright luminescent green ring with tritium dot up front, and a white-rimmed "U" rear; target acquisition is quite good and the short sight radius seems not to be a problem
  3. Recoil impulse is not a problem for me, at least shooting 115gr Blazer bulk range ammo; I heard some reports that it was 'whippy', but I did not find it particularly so
  4. The frame configuration is good, but there is just enough room for a solid two-handed grip for my average-large man-hands, and that requires the 13rd mag for the strong-hand pinkie; the forward index point really works well in stabilizing the offhand grip; the textured portions are quite grippy, but not abrasive; the mag/magwell gap nibbled at my pinkie a little bit a few times, but nothing serious and did not persist
  5. The slide lock/release on mine is a little 'finicky', but I'm hoping that it will work in - time will tell
  6. The takedown hardware is unique (at least to my experience), but easily mastered and quite efficient once you get used to it
  7. The mags are very interesting - the staggered stack that allows the large round capacity is noticeable when loading, but seems solid and well-engineered
That's enough for first impressions; I'll update as events unfold, if the group is interested.
 
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I'll update as events unfold, if the group is interested.
How can you even ask if we're interested! It's about guns.....I'm interested! lol.
 
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Sounds like the glass slipper fits. Hope you two live happily ever after.
 
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Sounds like the glass slipper fits. Hope you two live happily ever after.
Only time will tell. I never thought I'd own another micro; I sold my last one because I could not shoot it well any more. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised with my ability to shoot this one. And man, does it make a big difference in concealed carry - and that over a G19 (which I believed was the perfect CCW for me), for crying out loud!
 
UPDATE: ammo/mag function test

I ran four different loads through the HC while also function-testing my new OEM 13rd mags:

Speer Lawman 147gr FMJ flat nose
Fiocchi 115 gr FMJ round nose
Federal HST micro 150gr petalled hollowpoint
Underwood Xtreme Defender 90gr solid copper "Philips head" nose

This seemed a pretty representative set for testing feed, shooting performance, recoil, and 'accuracy'.

All four brands functioned flawlessly, and all four were good on a 3" steel disc at ten yards, which is really all I ask.
 

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