Earlier this month, Springfield Armory® announced the release of its two-tone stainless steel Hellcat® and Hellcat® Optical Sight Pistol (OSP™) micro 9mm pistols. The latest options were specially made for the distributor, Sports South.
Sports South is a family-owned sporting goods distributor business and has been the oldest and largest firearm distributor since 1841. On the other hand, since its founding in the 18th century, the Springfield Armory has been supplying arms to Americans, striving to provide high-quality firearms to enable responsible citizens to maintain their right to keep and bear arms in defense of life and liberty.
Both the Hellcat (HC9319S) and the Hellcat OSP (HC9319SOSP) have long “proven themselves to be class-leading concealed carry” firearms. Similar to the other versions, it has a 3″ barreled micro-compact pistol featuring an impressive capacity of 11+1 with the patented magazine and 13+1 with the extended magazine.
The most notable difference between the two is that the OSP option has a removable cover plate, allowing “direct mounting of a micro red dot in the Springfield Micro footprint for the lowest possible profile.”
Check out their individual specs below.
Stainless Hellcat standard model
This Hellcat micro-compact pistol features unique top slide serrations, maximizing your grip on the slide. Like the rest of the Hellcat series, it is equipped with a 9mm caliber, billet machined slide, 3″ hammer-forged steel 1:10 barrel finished, and Tritium/Luminescent Front and Tactical Rack U-Notch Rear. Moreover, it has a black polymer with an adaptive grip texture, giving the user a comfortable handling experience—making it an excellent option for a CCW.
It has an overall length of 6″, a grip width of 1, and a height of 4″ with a flush magazine and 4.5″ with an extended magazine. In addition, it weighs slightly more than the other options at 18.3 oz with a flush mag and 18.6 oz with an extended mag.
It has a full-length guide rod and a dual captive recoil spring system.
Stainless Hellcat OSP model
The OPS model has all the features of the standard model. In addition, this model allows a micro red dot attachment, enabling users to have a “lightning fast engagement and unparalleled situational awareness.”
Vice President of Sales and LE for Springfield Armory, Phil Rawlings, said that both models would make a great option for CCW and self-defense.
“These new Sports South-exclusive Hellcats in stainless steel take everything that made the original Hellcat great and add an eye-catching two-tone look,” Rawlings said.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the standard model is $614, while the OSP model is $649.
NOTE: The Hellcat® pistol, like all firearms, can be dangerous if not handled properly.
Springfield Armory’s Gunfest 2022
The Springfield Armory recently hosted the 3-day inaugural GUNFEST at the renowned Sturgis, South Dakota, 2022 Motorcycle Rally.
During the three-day shooting event, held on August 5-7, attendees had the opportunity to browse, test out, and “purchase some of the latest and greatest Springfield Armory firearms,” from pistols to rifles.
The long gun showcase includes 5.56mm rifles (such as the Hellion bullpup and SAINT Victor carbine, and the 7.62mm M1A SOCOM), the revered 1911, alongside the Operator in .45, the 4.25″ Emissary in 9mm, and 9mm and .45 versions of the Garrison on the line, to name a few. Its latest variant for two-toned stainless Hellcat-the standard and OSP-was also present at the event as well as the XD-M Elite 4.5″ (XDME9459BHC) 9mm.
A little bit about the XD-M Elite 4.5 “: this sophisticated striker-fired pistol features a hammer-forged barrel designed to deliver long-endurance gunfight performance with match-grade accuracy. It is also equipped with a short magwell that offers a combined compact dimension, enabling users to reload fast, and a magazine that can hold up to 20 rounds of 9mm. The CCW weighs around 29 oz with a total length of 7.6″ and a height of 5.75″. The MSRP starts at $609.
“We couldn’t be more proud to host the inaugural GUNFEST at the Sturgis 2022 Motorcycle Rally,” said Steve Kramer, the Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory. “Having the opportunity to shoot an extensive line of Springfield Armory firearms makes this a must-attend event.”
GUNFEST 2022 was co-hosted by Walther Arms, Norma Ammunition, Silencer Central, KELTEC, and Black Hills Ammunition, in collaboration with IWI, Kimber, Boss Shotshells, SIG SAUER, Bullet Safe, Pulsar, Inforce, Sightmark, Kopfjäger, Firefield, Caldwell, Dixie, and Pew Pew Nation.