Gun Review: The New Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro Comp OSP

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Making a pistol wider, longer, taller and heavier is often not a terrific concept, particularly in an EDC gun. However that’s precisely what Springfield Armory did to the unique Hellcat to create the Hellcat Professional, a pistol that improved on the performance of the unique Hellcat. The bigger dimension Hellcat Professional—bigger by mere fractions of an inch—tweaked the usability by offering extra grip and extra slide for higher recoil administration, in addition to a bigger 15+1 spherical capability. The most recent variant, the Hellcat Professional Comp OSP, straight addresses muzzle flip with an integral compensator. Much less flip equals quicker observe ups.

A Barrel With Two Holes

The Hellcat Professional Comp OSP options an rectangular gap within the barrel close to the muzzle that strains up with an identical slot milled into the slide. The physics are simple to know. Whereas a fired spherical leaves the barrel, the slide cycles to chamber the following spherical, the barrel flips up. In small barrel pistols like micro nines, there’s not a whole lot of barrel or slide, so the slide motion is snappy and the muzzle flips up. The port within the barrel helps push down on the barrel and the muzzle of the pistol when the shot is fired so there’s much less muzzle flip. Shoot with each eyes open, and you will note a lick of burning gasses flare up from the port. However does it work? Sure.

The rectangular slot on the prime of the barrel diverts gasoline as much as cut back muzzle flip. Robert Sadowski Photograph

The compromise with the compensated barrel is the sight radius is barely decreased when utilizing the massive dot and U-shaped notch iron sights. When utilizing a crimson dot just like the Protect SMSc, there isn’t a compromise. SA might have gone the route of the Hellcat RDP and screwed a compensator onto the muzzle, however that might have elevated the Professional’s size. Porting the barrel is a good suggestion to raised handle muzzle flip with out rising the size.

A Few Months And A Few Hundred Rounds

I’ve expertise with the unique, nonported Hellcat Professional and most well-liked how the Professional cycled in comparison with the mor base Hellcat. I additionally just like the Professional’s longer grip, which make all of the distinction in management and quick observe up photographs. Firing up the Professional Comp, I seen an instantaneous distinction. There was noticeably much less muzzle flip. Operating the Mozambique Drill, I discovered the 2 photographs to heart of mass had been quick and grouped tight. The one shot to the top is surgical, and I attribute that to the Protect SMSc crimson dot. Dumping a full journal as quick as I might in an 8-inch round goal, the Professional Comp supplied extra recoil management.

Capturing the Springfield Armory Hellcat Professional Comp OSP revealed it was correct and did certainly cut back muzzle flip. Robert Sadowski Photograph

Only for the report, I fired the Professional Comp for accuracy at 15 yards. I loaded up with practice and protection ammo; on the sunshine facet with Armscor with a 115-grain FMF, within the center was Streak Ammo with a 124-grain TMC bullet and on the heavy finish was Remington HTP with a 147-grain JHP. No points in any respect from any of the masses. The Professional Comp chewed by ammo similar to you’d need it to. One of the best group was a tie between the Streak and Armscor at 1.7 inches for 5 photographs. The Remington had a finest of two.3 inches for 5 photographs. The typical group dimension throughout all ammo was a good 2.1 inches. Mix that with correct and quick observe ups; signal me up.

I rotated the Hellcat Professional Comp OSP into my conceal carry routine and carried it solely for the previous few months utilizing a CYA Provide Co. Base IWB Kydex holster. The cant of the holster is adjustable, as is the retention, and it’s appropriate with crimson dots. The holster has easy edges and a sweat guard, which is useful now that the warmth is on down right here south of the Mason-Dixon Line. I carry appendix and sitting in a automobile or behind the important thing board, the Hellcat Professional Comp and CYA Base holster are snug. The Hellcat safely clicks in place when inserted into the holster and the holster appears to spit the pistol out on draw. The draw is slick and quick with minimal friction.

Is The New Hellcat Professional Comp Price It?

For those who like the unique Hellcat Professional and need much less muzzle flip, the Professional Comp is an efficient choice. The one actual competitor the Professional Comp has is the SIG P365XL Comp fashions, however the Springfield Hellcat Professional Comp has a leg up with a 15+1 spherical capability compered to the SIG’s 12+1 capability. It’s also possible to get two Hellcat Professional Comps for the value of the SIG.

The Hellcat Professional Comp OSP noticeably reduces muzzle flip, and that’s a very good factor when it’s essential to shoot quick and a number of instances. Robert Sadowski Photograph

Micro nines are notoriously snappy shooters with loads of muzzle flip. The Hellcat Professional Comp OSP noticeably reduces muzzle flip, and that’s a very good factor when it’s essential to shoot quick and a number of instances. So, the query it’s essential to ask your self is: To comp or not? Given the selection, go along with the comp.

Rankings

Notes: Typical SA high quality and end, which interprets to good.

Notes: Delivers on reliability—load and go—and recoil was noticeably improved for quicker observe up photographs.

Notes: Though that is an upsized micro 9 with a crimson dot it’s simple to hold.

Notes: At 6.2 kilos it’s heavy however is it easy and constant and a very good serviceable set off for self-defense. I’ll take a 2-inch group at 15 yards from a micro-nine any day.

Notes: Handles nice, wonderful grip angle and texture, an undercut the place you want it, good accuracy and now higher recoil administration.