Springfield SA-35 4-Inch and Hellcat Pro Compared as 9mm Carry Guns

A writer for The Armory Life puts two Springfield Armory 9mm carry pistols side by side: the walnut-and-forged-steel SA-35 4" and the polymer, optics-ready Hellcat Pro OSP. The reviewer, who spent nearly 13 years at a high-volume FFL, concludes both work for concealed carry.

Snapshot

The Armory Life comparison weighs the all-metal, single-action 4-inch SA-35 against the lighter, cheaper, optics-ready Hellcat Pro OSP, and reports no malfunctions from either over roughly 100 rounds each. The reviewer found the SA-35's weight kept recoil surprisingly easy to manage, and calls the Hellcat Pro the likely practical pick for many shooters while the SA-35 suits those who want a simple, traditional pistol.

Key points

• SA-35 4": Single-action and hammer-fired, 15 rounds, 4" barrel, 29.8 oz., $799, with a forged-steel slide, frame and barrel, checkered walnut grips, one magazine and no optic cut.
• Hellcat Pro OSP: Striker-fired, 15+1 rounds in a 1"-wide pistol, 3.7" barrel, 21 oz., $670, with an RMSc-pattern optic cut, a Picatinny rail and two magazines.
• Setup: The Hellcat Pro carried a Vortex Defender-CCW red dot. The SA-35 stayed stock except for a spare magazine, which the author says runs $30 to $40.
• Range test: Roughly 100 rounds of 115-gr. CCI Blazer Brass went through each gun with no malfunctions and no cleaning beforehand. Groups were shot at 10 yards with Hornady American Gunner 115-gr. JHP.

Quick take

The reviewer expected the red-dotted Hellcat Pro to shoot well, and it did, but the SA-35 was the bigger surprise: its all-metal build kept recoil very controllable. The author would prefer a thinner front blade on the SA-35 and would like to see an optics-ready version with a light rail. The verdict: the Hellcat Pro may be the practical pick for many, while the SA-35 4" suits shooters who want simplicity and a traditional look.

Read the full story at The Armory Life.