Hellcat? Yes or no?

[defjon]

Owned 2 hellcats and the 365.

Not a fan of the 365 trigger, not so accurate for me.

First hellcat was amazing, shot steel at 30 yards no issues.

Someone offered me a 586 so I had to make that trade.

Second hellcat didn't shoot like the first. I guess every gun is unique. Hang on to the ones that'll shoot one hole.

I'd like to try again, but I want a safety and prefer a stainless slide. I see the safety osp models for 575 and I think about it.

I like the ec9 as well.

 

[defjon]

Somewhere did a 10k round continuous torture test I believe, so they should be pretty durable. The dry fire breakage mentioned above is surprising .

Another thing the hc has is a stand off function, it will still fire pressed into someone's ribs or against a door etc. Lot of guns won't do that. Fights can go to the ground, so I valued that feature .

 

[jmr40]

I don't dislike the Hellcat. But the very similar Sig 365 comes with a 1911 style safety. That made the decision for me. I'm OK with no safety as long as the gun is carried in a secure holster that covers the trigger. But my 365 is often carried or stored loaded in a way where a holster isn't a viable option.

 

[KMO]

I had a Springfield XDS in .45acp, and loved it for its reliability. I never had a single failure with it, but the capacity was my reason for selling it and replacing it with the Hellcat. Two of my buddies already had Hellcats, so I had a chance to try out this model. They both had praises for the pistol's reliability, so even though the market is crowded with subcompact 9mm's, I decided on the Hellcat too. Right out of the box it proved to be a good decision for me. I did opt for a trigger upgrade, the https://www.mcarbo.com/springfield-hellcat-flat-trigger-all-aluminum-upgrade.aspx . I'm pleased with the Hellcat, and also with the improved trigger from M-Carbo.

 

[Buckeye63]

I was one of the very early adopters of the HS Produkt handguns buying a version 1 HS2K when they first hit the market.

View attachment 1113864

Since I like having manual thumb safeties on my pistols the Hellcat is one that I keep coming back to consider but ...

I really really really hate the name for a handgun today.
I really really really hate rails and optics ready stuff that has to be covered up but is never really hidden.
I really really really wish it was in 45acp.

I could probably ignore the first two issues if there was a 45acp version.

I owned the HS2000
Great pistol
I went with the Taurus GX4 … but the Hellcat is a great pistol …
Canik has rolled out with a micro double stack nine that can use the larger models mags…
It is Shield Plus size but has a larger capacity with same footprint…
I honestly carry my 27, 23 & 19 more in cooler weather…
I think the Canik will be a huge success
Im actually waiting on a 15+1 model

 

[jar]

I owned the HS2000
Great pistol
I went with the Taurus GX4 … but the Hellcat is a great pistol …
Canik has rolled out with a micro double stack nine that can use the larger models mags…
It is Shield Plus size but has a larger capacity with same footprint…
I honestly carry my 27, 23 & 19 more in cooler weather…
I think the Canik will be a huge success
Im actually waiting on a 15+1 model

The Turkish Caniks, SARs, Tisas, Stoeger and even Girsan are turning out some really nice reliable guns these days.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I have one. Shoots fine. Would do the job.

It's my plastic beater carry gun.

 

[Capybara]

A friend of mine carries the Hellcat, I carry the Shield. He let me try out his Hellcat. A big pass for me, the grip is made for Hobbits. If you have tiny hands (my friend does), you might like the Hellcat.
Springfield/HS Produkt make good guns, loved the sights and it's solid and reliable, but shoot one before buying. If I bought one, I would have sold it after the first range trip. I don't have
large hands but I do have long fingers and the Hellcat is a bit too small for me to get a good purchase on it.

The Shield with the extended mag is good for grip length but a very thin gun so I have to compensate by gripped deliberately and using past my distal joint on my trigger finger to compensate for the
thinness so I don't pull all my shots left. Really all of these subcompacts, you have to do some funky things to shoot them accurately compared to a full sized pistol. The SIG P365 and the
Hellcat grips are too tiny for me, but I have never tried the Macro/XL/Pro versions. Perhaps they fit better if you have longer fingers or bigger hands?

 

[WheelGunMan]

Never have owned or shot a Hellcat...but I have owned a P365 and did not care for it. Grip was to small and uncomfortable.. even with a Hogue Handall. The grip on the Hellcat appears to be the same size. I sold the P 365 and purchased a Micro 9.. like it just wish it was a little more capacity. Bought a Shield Plus and really, really like it.. but I also picked up a CSX and finally have found my holy grail firearm. I like the way it fits, the way it shoots and has all the appurtenant functions that matter to me.

 

[Reinz]

No complaints with mine.

The 365 edges it out a bit better for me with the Wilson Combat grip module which has palm swells, giving more meat to hang on to without increasing size.

365 on left
vvvv

 

[unclenunzie]

I like the Hellcat platform enough to make it my EDC for a while. My experience was mostly positive and I would not hesitate use either of mine for carry again. My first one came with the WASP RDS. The WASP worked fine. I had been dry firing the hellcat extensively with snap caps and a laser cartridge. Low and behold during one such session the striker broke in half in the middle. Replaced the striker but over time I started having fail to feeds with multiple varieties of quality defensive ammo. After attempts to fix it with SA I had 1200 rounds through it and at that point I gave up and requested a replacement or refund, which they did (refund). During this period I bought and still have and trust 2 more of them, one with the optics plate and one without. Both work perfect and have about 1000 between them, most on the non-optics version.

Later on I realized I liked shooting the P365XL better, and came to prefer it for carry, and upgraded with the Wilson Combat module with the weights. I have two of them now. The modularity really changes things I think. But either works fine.

 

[ms6852]

I've been thinking when the time comes to downgrading to a 9mm because of arthritis in my hands that the Hellcat would be on my list amongst others.

 

[Terry G]

It's in the Vey Good to Excellent class for this type of pistol. My Wife bought me this one for Christmas because it was "cute" and I didn't have one like that. I'm very pleased with it.

 

[Tcruse]

They are good. With a hellcat Pro, if it’s anything like my 365xl, it’ll replace that 19 most of the time.

Shoot almost as good and so much easier to carry (and the 19 ain’t hard to carry).

Well, the P365XL is by far a better choice in my opinion. Tried all of the small firearms (with Optical red dot sight), found the P365XL best, runner up was Ruger Max, and the Hellcat last. (did not try the S&W shield that day)

 

[Captains1911]

The SA Hellcat and Sig P365 are almost identical in practical size and weight. As a Glock shooter, to me the Hellcat feels a bit closer to a Glock in terms of grip angle, it just seems to point a little better, and the grip feels just a bit thicker and wider. It’s really a toss up though, both are great guns for what they are.

I should also add that I much prefer the feel of the P365 with the Wilson Combat frame, it adds just a bit more front to back grip width and thickness, bringing it closer to the Hellcat.

 

[bnolsen]

Went with a gx4. I have a shield 1.0 and am still seriously considering a shield plus. For me the p365 grip is way too small. I don't lie my fingenails digging into my palm. i was seriously considering the hellcat until the gx4 came along. Best feeling of the smallest pistols, it has a quality feel, and I shoot it very, very well.

 

[JR24]

Well, the P365XL is by far a better choice in my opinion. Tried all of the small firearms (with Optical red dot sight), found the P365XL best, runner up was Ruger Max, and the Hellcat last. (did not try the S&W shield that day)

We certainly all have our own opinions, I also tried them all and my top two were actually the hellcat pro and Glock 48, but chose the 365xl for availability and ease of mounting my preferred optic (Holosun 507k in green).

I like it a lot, but also really liked the Hellcat.

 

[Buck Smith]

My friend asked if I knew anything about them. I only saw a few small things. Who Carry’s one? Do you love it? He is a Glock 19 carrier at current ? Would you make that switch?

Had the Hellcat Pro and tried 365, Shield Plus, 43X etc I'd say Hellcat Pro for the win. Would still have it if I could have had it with the Safety.

 

[Targa]

I like both the Hellcat and 365 so much that I bought the one that they had in the LGS at the time which was the Hellcat. If the 365 was the one in stock instead of the Hellcat I would have the 365. To me, they really are so close that I could flip a quarter to pick one and be happy either way.

 

[Styx]

I have the Hellcat and Shield Plus. The Shield Plus isn't a micro 9mm IMHO or a pocket gun.

The P365 is okay, but not worth the $600-$700+ premium they are asking for the optic ready version. That's overpriced for what it is, and the Hellcat and others on the market are much cheaper. I got 4 free additional mags on rebate with my Hellcat, and 5 mags, a bag, and a small first aid kit with my night sights and optic cut Shield Plus for only $450...

The Shield feels better in hand, and shoots like a fullsize gun, but it sucks for pocket or deep carry.

 

[Spats McGee]

....The Shield Plus isn't a micro 9mm IMHO or a pocket gun....

I completely agree.

....I got 4 free additional mags on rebate with my Hellcat, and 5 mags, a bag, and a small first aid kit with my night sights and optic cut Shield Plus for only $450...

You shopped victoriously!

 

[tdbmd]

My friend asked if I knew anything about them. I only saw a few small things. Who Carry’s one? Do you love it? He is a Glock 19 carrier at current ? Would you make that switch?

I have the Hellcat Pro and really like it. It has replaced, for the most part, my other carry guns.

 

[Joezilla]

I'm thinking about going another way. I am getting the Glock 26 for three reasons. 1. It has been manufactured since 1995 or so. 2. It is a Glock. 3. I will be able to share magazines from my 19X. I think the sharing of magazines will be the biggest feature.

Joe

 

[JCooperfan1911]

The P365 is a much better pistol than the Hellcat. I owned a Hellcat briefly. That was more than enough for me.

 

[Styx]

The P365 is a much better pistol than the Hellcat. I owned a Hellcat briefly. That was more than enough for me.

How so in your opinion other than it's modular? Having owned two Hellcats and having handled the P365, the differences outside of being modular are all personal preference. Whether one or the other is better isn't a definitive black and white fact, but rather a person preference for the owner. They're both great guns that are reliable IMHO.