Hellcat

[TomJ]

I picked up a Hellcat during the week and had a chance to shoot it Thursday and yesterday. Springfield has a winner with this one. I don't have time to do a long review, but I'm impressed with it. I put 400 rounds through it over 2 days and had 1 malfunction, a failure to feed with a 124 grain HST round in one of the first magazines I shot. I also shot my reloads and some Tullammo. It's just a solid gun, with a grip that's a little bigger than the P365's. I am changing the sights to TFO's, as it comes with a tritium front sight but no night sight in the back. The only other thing I'd like to change, but won't is the trigger as it's serrated and has a trigger safety which irritates my finger somewhat as it protrudes from the trigger. I'm assuming it's serrated due to import rules, and filed the safety down so it's flush with the face of the trigger which helps with the irritation. It shoots on par with my P365 as far as accuracy and recoil and has replaced my P365 as my primary carry gun.

 

[Bwana John]

You got me excited for a second.

 

[JR24]

Id just black out that rear sight, looks like a nice u notch and bright front without it.

Thanks for the short review, I'd like to handle one as the thicker grip might be nice for my hands, but it's still in that bad place, size wise, for me. Too big for pocket/BUG and too small for belt (I'd rather have a Glock 19 size belt gun).

Glad it shoots well for you!

 

[Garandimal]

Waiting for the 4" G48 slayer.




GR

 

[Old Dog]

Waiting for the 4" G48 slayer.

Here you go:

 

[Jeb Stuart]

I picked up a Hellcat during the week and had a chance to shoot it Thursday and yesterday. Springfield has a winner with this one. I don't have time to do a long review, but I'm impressed with it. I put 400 rounds through it over 2 days and had 1 malfunction, a failure to feed with a 124 grain HST round in one of the first magazines I shot. I also shot my reloads and some Tullammo. It's just a solid gun, with a grip that's a little bigger than the P365's. I am changing the sights to TFO's, as it comes with a tritium front sight but no night sight in the back. The only other thing I'd like to change, but won't is the trigger as it's serrated and has a trigger safety which irritates my finger somewhat as it protrudes from the trigger. I'm assuming it's serrated due to import rules, and filed the safety down so it's flush with the face of the trigger which helps with the irritation. It shoots on par with my P365 as far as accuracy and recoil and has replaced my P365 as my primary carry gun.

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Congrats Tom. I got to handle one yesterday, really nice gun. I also heard form one owner that said his finger protrudes from the trigger. Ironically I found the same thing to be true of the new Nano Apx grip I placed on one of my Nano's. However that is something I think you can adjust to. I really like the gun in all respects. I have a feeling you are not going to get any more failures. Especially after the gun breaks in just a little. The Magazine itself could be a little stiff when new. I usually load up new mags to full capactity and let them take a set for 48 hrs. But that is just me.
Again, Congrats, you deserve a good running gun for what you had to put up with. Did you trade the 365? Or just going to sell it?

Also I do not think these guns need rear night sights. I actually prefer just the front sight. But again, just my personal preference.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I am changing the sights to TFO's, as it comes with a tritium front sight but no night sight in the back.

Cool! And congratulations! Hopefully it serves you well and gives you less trouble than your P365s.

First thing I’d do is change the rear sight too. I’ve never understood the point of a front night sight only. If it’s dark enough you actually need the tritium lamps, only seeing your front sight could be problematic.

 

[Antihero]

I handled one yesterday, I really like the rear sight

 

[SharpDog]

 

[TomJ]

Congrats Tom. I got to handle one yesterday, really nice gun. I also heard form one owner that said his finger protrudes from the trigger. Ironically I found the same thing to be true of the new Nano Apx grip I placed on one of my Nano's. However that is something I think you can adjust to. I really like the gun in all respects. I have a feeling you are not going to get any more failures. Especially after the gun breaks in just a little. The Magazine itself could be a little stiff when new. I usually load up new mags to full capactity and let them take a set for 48 hrs. But that is just me.
Again, Congrats, you deserve a good running gun for what you had to put up with. Did you trade the 365? Or just going to sell it?

Also I do not think these guns need rear night sights. I actually prefer just the front sight. But again, just my personal preference.

Thanks. I had a P365 and an XL that Sig repaired, and I put enough problem free rounds through them that I was comfortable selling them with full disclosure. Sig has my other P365 and XL, and after they send them back and I'm comfortable that they're working I'll sell them as well.

In regards to the rear sight not being a night sight, I did try it in low light conditions and trying to find the front sight through a rear sight that I can't see is difficult for me. All my other guns have 3 dot night sights, so I wanted to keep this one the same.

 

[TomJ]

You got me excited for a second.
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They're a little out of my gun budget.

 

[sparkyv]

A Hellcat is on "the List" as a backup reserve to the P365 should it ever need servicing.

 

[George P]

I preferred to just get another P365.
SO, the OP had a malfunction, has to replace the sights and filing the safety down. How is that better than a gun you don't have to do that to?

OP, enjoy your new gun; hope it works out for you.

 

[TomJ]

I preferred to just get another P365.
SO, the OP had a malfunction, has to replace the sights and filing the safety down. How is that better than a gun you don't have to do that to?

OP, enjoy your new gun; hope it works out for you.

George,

I understand that many P365 owners have had good experiences, and I’m glad to hear that. Mine have been unreliable, which is the reason I made the change. We’ll see how the Hellcat does, but we’re off to a good start.

Tom

 

[George P]

Hope all goes well for you!

 

[FL-NC]

I like what I have read about it, but I don't think I will part with my $250 shield 9.

 

[WYO]

I hope it works out well, but there is no way I would deactivate the trigger safety. The manufacturer put it there for a reason, even if I don't know what that reason is.

 

[pblanc]

I suspect the OP is not talking about disabling the trigger tab safety, which is a drop safety by the way. But if the Hellcat trigger safety tab is like that of the Glock, the tab still sticks out from the face of the trigger blade a bit even when it is fully depressed and the safety is deactivated.

I know Glock owners who have sanded or filed down the trigger tab safety on their pistols until they are flush with the trigger blade when fully depressed.

 

[TomJ]

I hope it works out well, but there is no way I would deactivate the trigger safety. The manufacturer put it there for a reason, even if I don't know what that reason is.

I didn’t deactivate it as I agree that may lead to consequences I want to avoid. I just filed it down slightly so when it’s depressed it’s flush with the face of the trigger as opposed to protruding from it. As pblanc mentioned I do this with my Glocks as well. I do test it to make sure it’s functional by pressing on the trigger without pressing the safety.

 

[WYO]

OK. I still wouldn't do it.

 

[JohnC001]

I am changing the sights to TFO's, as it comes with a tritium front sight but no night sight in the back.

I've had my Hellcat for a little over a month. I would like to replace the rear sight with night a sight, however after much searching, I've been unable to locate any rear night sights for this pistol. Were you or anyone else in this forum able to locate rear night sights for the Hellcat (I would be willing to purchase the front sight also to get the rear)? If so, please provide a link.

 

[jonb32248]

I've had my Hellcat for a little over a month. I would like to replace the rear sight with night a sight, however after much searching, I've been unable to locate any rear night sights for this pistol. Were you or anyone else in this forum able to locate rear night sights for the Hellcat (I would be willing to purchase the front sight also to get the rear)? If so, please provide a link.

Maybe SA has them. Call them.

 

[TomJ]

I've had my Hellcat for a little over a month. I would like to replace the rear sight with night a sight, however after much searching, I've been unable to locate any rear night sights for this pistol. Were you or anyone else in this forum able to locate rear night sights for the Hellcat (I would be willing to purchase the front sight also to get the rear)? If so, please provide a link.

I put Truglo TFO sights on them. I replaced the front and back. The model number is:
TG131XT TG131XTY Springfield® XD Series (XD, XDS, XDE, XDM excluding 5.25" Comp Series)

The link to their website is:
http://www.truglo.com/firearms-hand...en.asp?catid=E5FDB84FE8F74C239330C1841BDD3D5E

Per SA's customer service, the Hellcat takes the same sights as the XD series.

 

[JohnC001]

I put Truglo TFO sights on them. I replaced the front and back. The model number is:
TG131XT TG131XTY Springfield® XD Series (XD, XDS, XDE, XDM excluding 5.25" Comp Series)

The link to their website is:
http://www.truglo.com/firearms-hand...en.asp?catid=E5FDB84FE8F74C239330C1841BDD3D5E

Per SA's customer service, the Hellcat takes the same sights as the XD series.

I made the mistake of calling the SA website customer service number and they said they didn't know of anything that would fit the Hellcat profile and when I checked all the night sight manufacture's sites, none of them advertised for the Hellcat. I'm also replacing both with the Truglo. Thanks for your response.

 

[Trey Veston]

Stopped by an LGS in Idaho to see if they happened to have a Hellcat in stock. They actually had one, the non RDS model, for $499. Same price as the P365 next to it.

Clerk said they are having trouble keeping them in stock and that they have every configuration of the P365 available as demand has dropped significantly.

I fondled both extensively with all magazines and the Hellcat felt slightly better than the P365, but both were fine. If I really wanted a micro 9mm (and compared to my G19 Gen 5 MOS, they are tiny) I would probably go for the Hellcat.