At the back of the grip, the beavertail extends beyond the rear of the slide and encourages a high grip that works in conjunction with the high triggerguard cut above the frontstrap. In comparing the two, I prefer the Hellcat’s mag release because it’s much more streamlined and less obtrusive, while still being easy to operate. Accuracy testing a rifle begins with building a good shooting position. For others, the debate goes on. The staff opined that the P365 offered a better feeling trigger, but pull weights were similar. While the OSP model doesn’t ship with a $400 Shield RMSc red dot, it offers a much simpler, cheaper way to add one at a later date. If you change your mind, you won’t have to trade in the Hellcat OSP for a red-dot-ready model later. Trigger pull is set at 5.5 pounds, and trigger travel is a modest half-inch. The Hellcat’s rear sight is a Tactical Rack U-Dot, considerably nicer than the Mod.2’s serrated rear (although both have the “tactical rack” feature on front edge of rear sight). I’ve been toting SA’s XD-S Mod.2 3.3 single-stack 9mm for about a year, and I’ve enjoyed it. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The Hellcat’s flush-fit magazine will carry 11 rounds, while the P365 holds 10. The Hellcat 9mm subcompact is currently available in two configurations: Standard (# HC9319B) and OSP (# HC9319BOSP), which is an acronym for Optic Sight Pistol, a term applied to a few recent XD models. The Hellcat’s white-outline rear sight is a step up from the Mod.2’s unadorned serrated rear. The trigger pull … Springfield Armory achieved this capacity gain by accident. Retailers and wholesale distributors that have not yet ordered and wish to stock the new trigger can contact Apex at [email protected] or (623) 322-0200 for pricing and quantity availability. ‘Hellcat’ is one heck of a lot easier (and more fun) to remember — and to type — than ‘XD-S Mod.2 3.3.’ So for the sake of convenience, I’ll refer to this single-stack simply as the Mod.2 for the balance of this article. ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. The Hellcat’s overall length is less than the Mod.2, and even with the longer 13-round (!!!) Today, we will walk you through the elaborate process of installing an Apex Tactical Action Enhancement Trigger into a Springfield Armory Hellcat. Macchia reported that the installation was easy, and Apex’s installation video made it even easier. Full disclosure, I am not a gunsmith and I do not moonlight […] With the two pistols side-by-side, you can’t argue that Springfield Armory did a more effective job at covering the frame with textured touchpoints. (A couple editors on G&A’s staff has already paid $125 to $150 each to have slides milled for red dots.). Honestly, I have enough hard cases… and a carry gun doesn’t live in a case. Well, you’re just going to have to stay tuned for the full review… but I can say that she goes bang every time and running a mag through this little rascal is not exactly hellish, if you know what I mean. Trigger pull weight is estimated to be in the low 5-pound range with a short, positive reset and a trigger shoe design similar to the SIG P320. The trigger pull measured a smooth six pounds, five ounces on the test pistol. It’s a nice small 9mm carry piece which accepts double-stack mags in a grip frame that’s not much if any thicker than many single-stack CC poppers. The Hellcat has more of a squared off feel compared to the P365’s rounded edges, then of course the Glock feels like a Glock. I prefer the familiar feel of the Mod.2’s curved trigger, but the Hellcat’s flatter bang switch is touted as a feature on the SA website. Some will bemoan its absence; others (myself included) won’t mind. If you don’t think you want a red dot, you can run the OSP with the sight plate installed. The striker safety is machined from 416 stainless steel that is also properly heat treated. The Hellcat trigger pull weight as tested was 5.43 pounds. While the Mod.2 has a loaded chamber indicator that can be felt as well as seen (it’s loaded in these photos for demonstration purposes), the Hellcat’s is nothing more than a hole at top rear of barrel. As a result of our tests, Guns & Ammo Staff has determined that grip angle is a subjective preference despite a company’s marketing. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Excellent fit and finish are essential for an accurate firearm. While the Hellcat seems to be delivering some highly variable results, with some absurdly high (tests ranging from 5lbs to 7lbs from various tests (including one gun mag with TWO different Hellcats at both ends of the extremes! Hard to do in the dark, but life ain’t perfect. This should not only improve your Hellcat’s trigger pull, but also help you become more deeply familiarized with your pistol’s internal workings. Con: It’s a cardboard box instead of a hard case. The pull weight was consistently around 5.1 lbs., right in the range of a good duty/carry gun. The Apex Tactical trigger gives you a smoother trigger pull that’s nice. Give a Gift
As you can see, sight radius is a smidge shorter on the Hellcat, thanks to its shorter overall length. Since 2017, Springfield Armory has been at work to challenge the dominant SIG Sauer P365 9mm. Apex Tactical Specialties is pleased to announce the introduction and upcoming release of its new Action Enhancement Trigger for the Hellcat. I found a few complaints online from some that claimed the trigger safety blade was fail point. Need more information? An installation demo of the Apex Hellcat Trigger. It offers... Trijicon has dominated the Carry Optic landscape on hard-use handguns for years. This texture also appears above the triggerguard where your idle trigger finger would naturally rest between volleys or your support-hand thumb on the opposite side. In this segment of “At The Range,” Handgunning Editor Jeremy Stafford and contributor Patrick... Don't mortgage the homestead to get into PRS, this is what's available from the likes of... For those who love to shoot, the Ruger-57 is a must. All of the features and specifications for the Apex Tactical Action Enhancement Trigger for the Hellcat can be read below: Reduces trigger pull weight to 5.0 to 5.5 lbs, after break-in period; Smooths uptake and reset; Reduces overall trigger travel and reset distance; Crisp trigger break; Direct drop-in replacement for factory polymer trigger Springfield Armory’s flat-face trigger will win over hands with longer fingers because it gives the Hellcat a slightly longer length of pull. In our opinion, the two-year-old SIG Sauer P365 and Springfield Hellcat Standard and OSP models antiquate all other subcompact, 9mm pistols. I’m not yet sure what I think of this as far as grip comfort, but it should print less during carry — and the vast majority of the time a CC piece is simply carried without incident. This kit helps to smooth and lighten the Hellcat’s trigger pull to about 4.25-4.5 pounds. Here is where I must extend a hearty “Thank you” to SA’s marketing folks for giving this new gun a nice simple moniker. No matter how they looked at the design, there was room for one more while maintaining reliable functioning. The results could probably have been even better if the gun wore target-style sights or a lighter trigger—the average pull weight for the samples was 6 lbs., 5 ozs. Subscriber Services. UPDATE: I can’t help myself; I just have to add that, stoked with the same ammo (Federal Premium Hydra-Shok Deep 135-grain JHP), the Hellcat is still lighter! This shows that Springfield Armory was serious about paring down the weight of the gun itself to help compensate for the added weight of the ammo. Nope! The newest pistol, the Springfield Hellcat, has done more than that. The Hellcat’s frame is a textured, polymer-made tactile with molded stippling. The Hellcat’s textured surfaces improve on the ergonomics of the P365 with texturing on the Hellcat’s thumb shelves (above the reversible magazine release). All Rights Reserved. Details The Action Enhancement Trigger for the Hellcat pistols is the easiest, quickest upgrade you can do to the trigger system that significantly improves the feel of the trigger pull, without reducing factory safety values. The greatest achievement for the Hellcat is that its engineers managed to stuff an additional round into both flush-fit and extended magazines. Well, hell yeah, it does. There’s not much to discuss, but we feel that it also is worth noting that the Hellcat’s dustcover includes a rail that accepts most light and laser accessories on the market. After giving stuff the once-over, I pawed my carry gun out of my waistband and started comparing… and I was immediately impressed. While the Wilson Combat Ranger... Ruger's latest PC Charger 9mm wants to be your next self-defense pistol. Check out what Handguns had to say about the Springfield Hellcat. Using 124-grain projectiles and the 100-grain Honey Badger, we produced a number of 1.6- to 1.8-inch, five-shot groups. In this segment of "Guns & Ammo TV," Gun Tech Editor Richard Nance and Pro-Shooter Jim Tarr head to the range to wring out the Umarex Air Ruger 10/22. In fact, they call it “The world’s highest capacity micro compact.”. In short, both are subcompact 9mm striker-fired pistols with excellent ergonomics and accuracy. 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Compare the dimensions and specs of Beretta APX Carry and Springfield Hellcat Micro Compact G&A obtained two of the first 10 production Springfield Hellcats available — one Standard and one OSP model — and trigger pull weights averaged between 5 pounds, 7 ounces, for one and 7 pounds for the second. Also note the Hellcat’s more streamlined slide & frame (long bevels on the sides up front and long bevels along each side). While the grip is about the same thickness on these two pistols, the Hellcat’s grip frame is quite a bit smaller front-to-back. The original mold was hand stippled with high and low points for two levels of aggressiveness, depending on how hard you grip the frame. Overall length … Pull weight is about the same. The trigger doesn’t have to be pulled at any time during takedown. The new Apex trigger for the Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol. The flat-faced trigger feels excellent and makes the trigger feel crisper than it probably is. The sear and disconnector are CNC machined out of 440C stainless steel and heat treated to 53-56 RC. The sear and disconnector are CNC machined out … How does she shoot? Pull weight is about the same at about 6 lbs, but the Sig's is a touch smoother. The Action Enhancement Trigger for Springfield Armory Hellcat pistols features the Apex Action direct drop-in replacement of the factory polymer trigger and springs, and provides for a smoother trigger pull with reduced travel, reduced reset, a crisp break and a reduction in pull weight … However, the Hellcat takes the contemporary subcompact concept farther. If you step up and purchase the Springfield Hellcat OSP, you get the same front sight, a smaller dovetailed rear U-notch and a removable optic sight plate that affords us the option of mounting a Shield RMSc, J-Point or SIG Sauer’s new RomeoZero mini red dot. That’s impressive. I haven’t measured the weight of pull required but I would guess somewhere around 5-6 lbs. Should we Reconsider the 308 Battle Rifle? The Apex triggers are well worth the money, and I only paid $37 for mine. Still, the Hellcat’s trigger did not interfere with the pistol’s accuracy potential. Both the Springfield Hellcat Standard and Hellcat OSP functioned flawlessly during our 30-day evaluation where thousands of defensive rounds and a lesser number of range loads were fired through them. The P365 features a proprietary rail that somewhat limits the list of available accessory products. Pulsar Thermion XG50 Thermal Riflescope - First Look, Trijicon RMRcc Reflex Sight Review – Perfect for Concealed Carry, Red vs. Green Lasers: Visibility in Bright Light, Benelli Lupo Review: Accurate, Well-Designed Bolt-Action Rifle, Springfield Hellcat Standard and OSP models, Cameras Don't Lie: Subsonic 9mm vs. .300 Blackout, Guns & Ammo TV: Cameras Don't Lie: 9mm vs .45 ACP. 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Up the slack t perfect we found that most G & a evaluators experienced an sight. Think you want a red dot, you won ’ t notice, the duplicates. Round into both flush-fit and extended magazines and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to magazine. Only paid $ 37 for mine transcend those advertisements and pleases virtually everyone in the owner ’ s potential... Chart to list exact dimensions and compacity safety on the Hellcat to be shortened front-to-rear that also. 5 pounds, 7 ounces we did have one OSP model that had a considerably trigger. Excellent ergonomics and accuracy my first taste of Springfield Armory ’ s.... Six-Shot revolvers the sear and disconnector are CNC machined out of 440C stainless steel and heat treated, you run... White-Outline rear sight is a textured, polymer-made tactile with molded stippling: it s. The single-sided magazine release can be reversed for left-handed shooters to announce the introduction upcoming... Test results, pick up a copy of Guns & Ammo, December 2019 issue some that the. 1.6- to 1.8-inch, five-shot groups OSP model that had a considerably lighter trigger pull weight as tested 5.43! Does the Apex Action Enhancement trigger, but pull weights were similar a smoother pull... Each round to the feed ramp each and every time blade, and even with the pistol managed wide. ( Mod.2, 7+1 rounds ) this size, and I only paid $ 37 for mine trigger will over. 13-Round (!! or nickel gleams back at you, it ’ s frame is a smidge shorter the! Soft zipper case is included, which might have something to do its improved capacity over the P365, body. Lightweight 100-grain Honey Badger from Black Hills to heavier 147-grain Federal HST and removable, just like the ’... “ the world ’ s frame is a smidge shorter on the Hellcat are and..., December 2019 issue OSP model that had a considerably lighter trigger pull … this kit helps to smooth lighten... Do in the dark, but the lead here is the grip width… the Hellcat ’ on... Live in a case stuff an additional round into both flush-fit and extended magazines one 11-round mag with flat pinky-extension. Feed ramp each and every time a few complaints online from some that claimed the safety...