When I started thinking about how to open this review, I considered saying something witty, like “We have a new Hellcat, but in 380… so it’s a HellKitty?”, since the original came out in 9mm. However, discretion overtook me, so I only mentioned it…
I wondered how long Springfield Armory (SA) would take to deliberate before issuing the Hellcat in .380. Stepping back in time a bit… when I first received the Hellcat 9mm micro for a review, I remember thinking ‘this would also be great in .380’. The gun is a true micro-9, and because of its small size, it would be a good candidate for the stubby 9, or so I thought.
The new release in .380 means they were thinking that, as well. I doubt if I am the only writer or shooter who wondered about this.
Advantages Of The HellKitty
The Hellcat was always a very small pistol. Some 9mm loads are a bit much in that small gun, with exaggerated recoil. Physics can’t be denied. However, in .380, the gun becomes a bit more tame. Recoil is still present (especially with loads like Black Hills’ HoneyBadger defense rounds), but it is more manageable.
The Hellcat’s size is very small, more in keeping with the .380. I understand that many companies make micro 9s… I owned one of the smallest, the Kahr CW9, once upon a time… and they are great to carry, but not so great to shoot. The .380 is a great compromise between the full-bore 9mm and smaller calibers. (Speaking of smaller calibers, there seems to be a hue & cry for SA to issue the Hellcat in .32… We’ll see.) With modern, defense loads, the .380 becomes a viable caliber for carry. I know plenty of folks who don’t leave home without their .380. I own two of them, a Bersa Thunder Plus and an S&W Bodyguard 2.0. Both are great guns, with a lot to recommend them (especially the Bersa’s 15+1 capacity).
The Hellcat .380 offers a lot, as well. Here is a good place to list its specifications…
- Color Black
- Barrel 3″ Hammer Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, 1:10
- Slide Billet Machined, Melonite® Finish, Optics Ready
- Frame Black Polymer w/ Adaptive Grip Texture
- Sights Tritium/Luminescent Front, Tactical Rack U-Notch Rear
- Recoil System Dual Captive Recoil Spring w/ Full Length Guide Rod
- Grip Width 1″
- Magazines (1) 11-Round, (1) 13-Round Extended
- Weight 16.1 oz w/ Flush Mag, 16.5 oz w/ Extended Mag
- Length 6″
- Height 4″ w/ Flush Mag, 4.5″ w/ Extended Mag
- MSRP $653
Observations
Sights. When I first picked the gun up, I was reminded of my Hellcat’s sights. Up front, you have a Tritium post that glows brightly when ambient lighting is low. Couple that with a U-notch, white-lined rear, and you have a snug setup. The sights just pop… that’s the best way I can describe it.
Optics-Ready. But what if the sights are not your cup of tea? Stick a red dot on it. The footprint is made for an RMSc sight.
Grip Texture. I remember when I first unboxed the 9mm Hellcat, how impressed I was with the grip texturing. I am a shooter who likes very rough grip texturing… I know, maybe I’m a throwback – probable! However, I like a gun to stay put. I once bought a roll of stair tread tape at Rural King to put on a Ruger LC9’s grip – it was too slick. I’ve also gotten good with a soldering iron. I’ve stippled my share of polymer grips, for sure.
The Hellcat doesn’t need either of those fixes. What impresses me about the Hellcat’s grip is what SA calls Adaptive Grip Texture. This system of “roughing up” the grip consists of both short and longer rods molded into the grip. That way, the tighter you grip it, the more it locks itself into your hand. It actually works. Plus, it doesn’t eat your clothing… it isn’t rough, like that stair tread tape was. It just works.
Size & Weight. The gun is barely one inch wide, and weighs all of 16 ounces (16.5, with the extended magazine). Depending on your situation, it is possible to carry it in a pocket. Even with the extended, 13-round magazine, it doesn’t take up much room and is very concealable.
Finish. The Melonite (ferritic nitrocarburizing) finish is applied to give the gun’s metal greater protection from things or actions that would harm a lesser finish. It is deposited not only on the surface of the metal, but it also penetrates the surface of the metal. This provides protection against corrosion/rust and is hard enough to shrug off minor scratches. It goes by other names, such as Black Nitride, Tenifer, Tufftride, and Ferritic Nitrocarburizing (FNC). This is not a cheap way to finish a gun, but it will last.
The feed ramp is highly polished, which helps feed all types of ammo
Differences
These differences are minimal, but I can see three…
- Lighter. The .380 Hellcat weighs 20.35 ounces with an empty 11-round magazine; the 9mm weighs 23 ounces.
- Narrower. The .380’s slide is barely an inch across the top strap, while the 9mm’s slide is a few hundredths more.
- Recoil. The 9mm Hellcat has snappier (technical term) recoil than its .380 cousin.
Again, no big deal, but some shooters pay close attention to the smallest details, which is why I mentioned these.
Cleaning The Hellcat .380
It’s pretty simple, actually. Here’s the drill…
- Remove the magazine and empty the chamber.
- Lock the slide back with the slide stop.
- Rotate the takedown counterclockwise upwards 90 degrees.
- Release the slide, then pull the trigger.
- Remove the slide from the frame; separate the barrel and spring, and clean.
Putting it back together is easy:
- Put the barrel and spring back in the slide.
- Install the slide on the frame, lining up the frame rails.
- Lock the slide back with the slide stop.
- Rotate the takedown lever back down into position.
- Release the slide; check for function.
Range Time
I grabbed a couple of 380 loads I had on hand and headed to my backyard range. I set targets at 10 yards and proceeded to ventilate them. The gun shot to the right a bit… that would be something I would address if I were going to keep it.
I had some S&B 95-grain FMJ left from previous reviews… sometimes I like to use that to get what I call baseline targets. This is about as plain-jane as any ammo can be, so it makes a decent starting point.
I also shot Black Hills .380 HoneyBadger (no typo, there is no space) ammo, as mentioned above. They supply ammo for my reviews, for which I am grateful. A quick plug… they sell a lot of ammo to the government and to law enforcement agencies, so I feel it is some of the best, most consistent ammo out there. If you’ve never tried Black Hills ammo, pick up a box. I think you won’t be disappointed. You can buy HoneyBadger loads in many calibers, but it really makes the old .380 sit up and bark, to use a phrase. It comes in .380, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45ACP, plus .45-70. It’s worth a look.
Here are a couple of representative targets…
Summing Up
The .380 has been given a new lease on life, with modern bullet technology and load development popularizing this old caliber in a huge way. Many companies have released, or are releasing, new .380 pistols… they wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t an effective self-defense caliber. Although not the 9mm, the .380 has enough going for it that many shooters are carrying it as their primary concealed weapon. Loads such as the HoneyBadger have helped move it into the mainstream of concealed carry.
With the success of S&W’s Bodyguard 2.0 and similar-sized .380s, companies are seeing that micro-sized pistols are going to sell. SA obviously believes that, as well. The Hellcat .380 is a gun built on one of the most popular micro-9s going, the original Hellcat. I think it’s interesting they didn’t rename it, as it is a clone of its 9mm cousin… at first glance, you might have a hard time telling them apart. Hence, the same name as I see it.
If you are looking for a pocket-carry pistol that is built very well, is reliable, and has up to a 13-round capacity, you might want to give the Hellcat .380 a look. SA’s pistol line has proven itself, and this one is no exception.
Links To Items Used In This Review
Black Hills Ammunition
MTM Case-Gard High-Low Shooting Table, $160
Caldwell E-Max Low-Profile Hearing Protectors, $33
Birchwood Casey Shooting Bags Filled, $40
Birchwood Casey Eze-Scorer 8 Inch Bull’s-Eye Target, 26 Targets, $9
Caldwell Ultimate Target Stand, $33
Read the full article here