Springfield’s New Hellcat Micro Compact 13+1 Pistol

For a few weeks now, Springfield Armory has been teasing us with another one of their marketing campaigns, promising us something big–which actually turned out to be quite small, size wise. What they brought us in the form of their press release just this morning, is their new micro compact Hellcat.

The Hellcat is being touted as the highest capacity micro compact currently available on the market.

It comes with two 9mm magazines, one 11-round mag, and one 13-round magazine. It boasts an extended beaver tail, and a rear U notch sight along with a tritium front sight.

The Hellcat series also has as an optics-ready model, milled and ready to accept a red dot that's made for smaller pistols, and, get this, you can leave your rear sight in place (something the XL lacks).

Its dimensions are as follows: 1″ wide, 4″ tall, and 6″ long. It reportedly has a standoff feature that allows you to engage an attacker, with muzzle on body that won't prevent the pistol from returning to battery for follow up shots, with a flatter-looking trigger than you'd usually see on a polymer Springfield pistol.

Sounds like a good little gun and I'm sure we'll be able to get our hands on one to test out at some point.

I'm not gonna lie, while I know for a fact this pistol is meant to compete with SIG's P365 and their newer XL pistol, it sure seems like they're going right after SIG with some of the things they're saying.

They say things like you shouldn't have to sacrifice reliability for capacity which refers back to the original 365 release and the issues they had going back into battery, primer dragging, and a few other issues that have all, for the most part, been worked out.

They also say things like the Hellcat comes with a “non-proprietary” accessory rail–which is something else SIG gets dinged on from some people.

And, while they didn't directly mention it, there's also the issue of the optic plate on the XL. The XL's optic plate must come off to put the red dot on. It seems as though Springfield addressed that, as well.

MSRP for the base model 9mm Hellcat is $599.

Over all, this looks like a home run from the Illinois based gun maker. We'll let you know how it shoots as soon as we get to try one out. You can find more info out on Springfield's website.

P.S.

This news, along with our “save the date” info for SHOT Show's Range Day also coming to us today, I must say that I can't wait for SHOT. It's already looking like it'll be a great year for gun releases. Stay tuned as we enter the time of year when guns are released.

*Updated 9/26/19 at 9:34 am EST to reflect caliber.

About Joshua Gillem

Josh is a lifelong practitioner and student of the gun. He grew up shooting/hunting with his dad, and was given his first gun, a 12 gauge shotgun, when just a small boy. After high school, he joined the Marines where his love for firearms blossomed as he qualified with an M16A2, an M9, and a 240G. Josh has been writing about firearms and tactics for several years, owns the blog Gunners Den, is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, and believes that each individual person has the right to self-defense by any means necessary. Currently residing in gun-friendly NC, he carries a concealed gun on a daily basis, even in his own house.

54 Comments

  1. Eric L. on September 25, 2019 at 6:05 pm

    Why in the world would they name a defensive handgun “Hellcat?” Dumb.

    • Gary Dutch Linick on September 25, 2019 at 6:51 pm

      Yep

    • Jerome Salvaggio on September 25, 2019 at 9:13 pm

      That’s an a$$hole response Eric! When you start manufacturing guns, then you can judge what other vendors are naming their products. Until then, DUMB!

      • James DeLap on September 28, 2019 at 4:15 pm

        Hellcat isn’t that a very fast Dodge?

    • Kerry on September 25, 2019 at 10:35 pm

      How about pussycat, would that help you out.It doesn’t matter what its called its not going to please everyone so probably best ignore the name if you disapprove. Lets just wait and see how it performs being since thats what counts. I will put my 2 cents in on something that’s worth mentioning, why the side arms on the optic ? Seems like it would bend easily. Maybe not that high a quality anyway. Maybe buy one without if you like the firearm and add your own red dot or buy one more rugged. We will just have to see how it performs. I was a 68w (combat medic)- Army for four years , not bragging but on top of first responder skills and able to save lives I’m quite the shot. Started off with a bb gun at 7, pellet gun at 8,, 410 and 20 gauge shotgun at 10 then marlin 60 at 11 and 12 gauge at 12. Then just about every gun I needed was at my disposal between my brother, sister (cop), brother n law (deputy) and my dad I saw 6 times a year for hunting and fishing, the good ol days.Then at age 17 with my moms signature I joined the Army and the fun began. I became a real man. I took basics the summer between 11th and 12th grade. Came home, finished high school and was off to AIT. Been shooting every chance I get. Lots of new firearms coming out soon lets both hope they bring some game changers. Like the hellcats ammo capacity for its size. I agree its not a dbl stack glock but it seems it has adequate fire power when compared to others in the same class. Seems it may make a nice back-up gun. Enjoy the next SHOT exhibition if you are able to go, Kerry

      • dave on September 26, 2019 at 9:38 am

        Kerry- sounds like you’ve lived! Thx for the service.

      • Gary on September 26, 2019 at 8:20 pm

        Thank you for your wisdom and service

      • William Boltz on September 27, 2019 at 12:14 pm

        Excellent post, Kerry. Very informative and I totally agree to reserve judgement till it’s been tested. I love the name of it actually.

    • Mike Jones on September 26, 2019 at 3:56 pm

      Eric L. Do you know who the WW2 “Hellcats” were? Learn the history of the “Hellcats” and you’ll know why it’s a great name….

    • Wm. Parker Roop on September 29, 2019 at 5:00 pm

      They designed it
      They own it
      Seems to me they can name it anything they want

    • R.Cabrera on November 12, 2019 at 5:58 pm

      The Hellcat was the Grumman F6 carrier based fighter that became the dominant weapon against the Jap Zero during the second half of the WWII conflict in the Pacific theatre. This Hellcat with 13 rounds could most likely fix a dirtbag’s ass in similar fashion defending one’s home or loved one.

  2. Oscar on September 25, 2019 at 6:10 pm

    U never mentioned what cal. the hellcat was?????

    • Bill on September 25, 2019 at 8:12 pm

      Blow pic up, believe it says 9

    • Rahel on September 25, 2019 at 10:46 pm

      My question too.

    • Kevin Johnson on September 26, 2019 at 5:56 am

      How much does the hellcat cost and what’s it’s caliber it comes in

      • Joshua Gillem on September 26, 2019 at 7:35 am

        9mm. $599.

    • Tim Barnhart on September 26, 2019 at 11:23 am

      The article says “msrp for 9mm Hellcat $599” and also states it comes with 11 & 13 rnd 9mm mags! I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet it, quite possibly, is a 9mm!

    • Dave on September 26, 2019 at 4:21 pm

      Says right in the story 9mm

    • Wade on September 26, 2019 at 8:24 pm

      Why did somebody name U Eric??? Get my hint!

    • Paul on November 18, 2019 at 9:46 am

      Love the name and Good history behind it. I want one

      • Paul on November 18, 2019 at 9:48 am

        Wish it had a grip safty. If I weight a year or two will they come with it?

  3. Scott Schwartz on September 25, 2019 at 6:42 pm

    Hellcat in my pocket ,Scorpion on my thigh …

  4. Vincent Lambrecht on September 25, 2019 at 7:45 pm

    What cal. Assuming 9mm but I’d rather be told.

  5. Tim on September 25, 2019 at 7:47 pm

    Gun looks awsome, however I wish it had the Springfield grip safety and the protruding loaded chamber indicator. Stick to your guns with those great safety features.

  6. Steve on September 25, 2019 at 8:16 pm

    It’s not a home run until a lot of people have put a lot of rounds through it.

  7. Casey on September 25, 2019 at 8:53 pm

    There is always the “Yeet Canon”

    • James DeLap on September 28, 2019 at 4:19 pm

      Remember the Chevy Nova they made in Mexico?

    • James DeLap on September 28, 2019 at 4:22 pm

      Is 3″ too short to beat the better XL?

  8. Marcie Loffredo on September 25, 2019 at 10:57 pm

    Yes please confirm the ammo. I am not going to assume it’s 9mm since it was compared to the Sig P365 which is 9 mm

    Thank you

    • Joshua Gillem on September 26, 2019 at 7:37 am

      Yes 9mm. Thank you.

    • Richard on September 26, 2019 at 11:37 am

      Read the article if you can, It plainly states the Caliber!!! Jeez

  9. Stanley Harold on September 25, 2019 at 11:14 pm

    What’s the caliber?

    • Joshua Gillem on September 26, 2019 at 7:36 am

      9mm.

  10. Mike on September 26, 2019 at 6:50 am

    CALIBER?

    • Joshua Gillem on September 26, 2019 at 7:32 am

      9mm, and I can’t believe I didn’t include that in the article. I’ll edit that in right now. Thanks

      Josh

    • James DeLap on September 28, 2019 at 4:25 pm

      Taurus. . .G2C

      Beats “HELLCAT”. . .HAHAHA.. .

  11. Walter Beard III on September 26, 2019 at 8:22 am

    The passage read “it comes with two 9mm mags.”

  12. J Fox on September 26, 2019 at 9:18 am

    Except if you support companies like Springfield Armory you are directly backing anti gun legislation and the politicians that Springfield has be proven to donate funds to. Why would anyone support a company that would do that to their own community? No thanks.

    • Jacob Paulsen on September 26, 2019 at 12:23 pm

      J that is an oversimplification of reality. Once, just once, Springfield failed to step up to actively fight against some legislation that was supported by a trade association they belong to. They didn’t lobby for that bill. They didn’t actively choose to not fight it. They didn’t know about it or that it was in part supported by an association to which they belong until after the fact. They have apologized and since worked hard to fight against that piece of legislation. They have never “donated funds” to anything anti-gun. I think you need to research the facts more thoroughly in that situation.

      • PM on September 29, 2019 at 10:55 pm

        Jacob the bill was an anti-gun legislation that neither Springfield (IL) or Rock Island (IL) stood against because it made life difficult for manufacturers outside of the Land of Silly Noise but didn’t impact them. They both sought to make money at the expense of gun rights and the ability of gun owners to easily get access to other manufacturers products. They can apologize all they want but we still need to keep an eye on them!

  13. Mr Mopar on September 26, 2019 at 9:33 am

    Hey folks, if you read the article you know it’s a 9mm. Check the 3rd paragraph. If you can’t pay no more attention than that,perhaps you don’t need to own a weapon. Just saying. I am pretty sure this will be a great weapon. I have been a long time fan of the Springfield line up and I will own one of these as soon as it comes in. God bless America!

  14. Jerry Apodaca on September 26, 2019 at 11:05 am

    First line of the third paragraph….✅

  15. mike on September 26, 2019 at 8:19 pm

    all you people making comments on the name and asking what caliber it is obviously don’t pay attention and probably shouldn’t own let alone carry!!!………

  16. Gary on September 26, 2019 at 8:23 pm

    What is the cal,Just kidding

  17. Daniel on September 27, 2019 at 4:52 am

    I like the looks of it but I’ll wait to see how it performs before I buy it

  18. Carl E. Welte on September 27, 2019 at 8:33 am

    A pistol’s “name” is psychologically important. A series of letters and numbers gives a strictly functional “no nonsense” government ordnance or “mil-spec” impression, e.g., PPS M2 or P365. That’s the impression you want in our “gun control” era…a name with no emotional pull. I can just see the prosecutor holding my pistol up to an impressionable jury and referring to it constantly as a “hellcat.” No thanks. Plus, there was a cheap .380 made a few years ago by Inter Ordnance named “hellcat.” It just sounds like a name for a cheap pistol.

  19. Greg on September 27, 2019 at 11:28 am

    Crybaby’s, Let me break it all down. it is a Springfield 365

  20. Steven on September 27, 2019 at 11:33 am

    When are they going to name a firearm Warthog as in the A-10 lol too funny guys!!! If

  21. samcolt on September 28, 2019 at 3:36 pm

    Wow, what a hornets nest of unimportant questions.
    Great idea Steven, how about Puff mini Dragon.
    I wonder how many could figure that one out.

  22. Eric (not *that* one! LOL) on September 30, 2019 at 4:15 am

    So many silly comments having nothing to do with the purpose of the weapon! I took one look at the photo and recognized it as 9mm. Actually a pretty little thing backed by one of the great names in firearms. I’m looking forward to actually holding one. Love the capacity.

  23. OneWouldThink on October 6, 2019 at 4:16 am

    Looks like a very nice compact CC piece, making it an attractive feature for the female persuation and being a 9mm, plenty of rounds and hit power to get er done, if need be.
    Holding off on the final judgement until I can hold it, fire a few mags and smell the burnt powder in the air. (love that smell)

  24. Chaz on October 12, 2019 at 9:49 pm

    Love the gun, cant carry it because of the name. Yep… they can name it anything they want… might as well name it “Soul reaper”, the “head popper” or “The Springfield Demon” oh wait! How about “The Springfield murder weapon” no, doesnt have the ring…. hmmm… “springfield slayer” naw…
    “Springfield slaughtercat” eh, maybe the hellcat is evil sounding enough.

  25. Zack on December 28, 2019 at 11:03 am

    Is this sold in ct?

  26. Justin Wilson on February 26, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    idk how it’s got more capacity than either of the SiG 365s because you can run a 15+1 extended grip mag on either of them so 13+1 isn’t more capacity idk where their math went but that’s 2 less than either 365 can hold not to mention that you can also get a 30rd drum for either as well(which I know is overkill for a micro…& not concealable on someone). I’ll stick with my Sigs any day before i went for a springfield yet i do like that it’s got the optic plate ready something only the 365XL X series has factory & which in my opinion is the only upside to getting the Hellcat other than the rail differences the hellcats is definitely more compatible with more lights, lasers, &/or combos although it’s not a bad looking gun either but in my opinion the reliability of Sigs striker fire & extended grip mags are just more for me!

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