At the beginning of this year, Springfield Armory unveiled the compact, capacity-rich Hellcat Pro pistol chambered in 9 mm Luger. With an overall length of 6.6”, height of 4.8”, width of just 1” and unloaded weight of 21 ozs., the Hellcat Pro has a profile similar to other subcompact handguns, yet offers a magazine capacity of 15 rounds, on par with many larger 9 mm handguns. A striker-fired design, the Hellcat Pro features a polymer frame with a slide catch located on the left side of the frame and a blade-in-shoe safety included on the trigger.

The polymer frame also includes textured areas on the grip which are not overly aggressive, yet offer increased purchase on the handgun, which is further aided by the extra length needed to house the 15-round magazines. In that regard, the Hellcat Pro offers plenty of room with its grip for full hand contact, even for those with slightly larger hands. The steel slide features serrations at the front and rear, as well as Springfield’s own set of sights, consisting of a tritium-illuminated front and Tactical Rack U-notch rear. Also included on the slide, just behind the chamber, is a milled section with Springfield Armory’s Micro Optical Sight Pistol (OSP) mounting spot for micro red-dot optics.

Now, Springfield Armory is offering the Hellcat Pro in a new package deal paired with a Shield SMSc 4 m.o.a. micro red-dot optic. The Shield SMSc weighs in at just 0.5 oz., and is powered by a single CR2032 battery, which gives the micro optic years of runtime without the need to swap the battery. It has an automated brightness control, negating the need for the user to manually adjust the dot brightness. It fits the OSP slide cut perfectly without overhang and allows for a clear sight picture with the U-dot iron sights through the optic window.

As said by Springfield Armory Vice President of Marketing Steve Kramer: “This is a pistol that shoots like a much larger handgun while still being extremely easy to conceal, yet offering red-dot optics capability with the included Shield SMSc.” The Hellcat Pro and Shield SMSc package has a suggested retail price of $840, with two 15-round magazines included. For more information on the Hellcat Pro packaged with the Shield SMSc micro red-dot optic, visit springfield-armory.com.

Article by AMERICAN RIFLEMAN STAFF