By Adam Scepaniak<\/a><\/p>\n T<\/span>he highest capacity, micro-compact in the world at its launch, the Springfield Armory Hellcat<\/a> flipped the concealed carry industry on its head. Just a mere five years ago, we had all accepted that single-stack pistols were the best that we could get for deep-cover-carry personal protection. Then, seemingly out of nowhere Springfield unleashed their Hellcat with a staggered magazine body to fit 11 rounds into the same footprint we were used to carrying a single-column of rounds.<\/p>\n Since this marvel hit gun store shelves, we have seen numerous of iterations come forth. Springfield Armory crafts many unique variants of the original Hellcat with varying features and capabilities.<\/p>\n The most recent Hellcat announcement was the Hellcat Pro Comp<\/a> \u2014 the 3.7\u201d barrel model we have come to love, but with an integral compensator built into the barrel. This is a marvelous Hellcat that people view as the culmination of years of shooter-input provided to Springfield. But is it the\u00a0best<\/em>\u00a0Hellcat \u2026 ?<\/p>\n My everyday carry (EDC) is this very pistol, but I would argue there is a \u201csleeper\u201d in the bunch that you might have overlooked.<\/p>\n I can wax poetic about the Hellcat Pro Comp all day long, but what it does best is concealed carry. What about a micro-compact that could be tasked with doing any job imaginable? Those are the shoes the\u00a0best\u00a0<\/em>Hellcat could fill.<\/p>\n So, what are we judging this do-all Hellcat pistol by? I believe the Hellcat Pro OSP Threaded is the answer we\u2019re seeking due to its combination of features, and these are the metrics I have set:<\/p>\n Many of those attributes speak for themselves while others you might think are not necessarily essential, but let me explain. We\u2019re crawling down a hypothetical rabbit hole: if you could only have one Hellcat to do everything, which one would it be? We\u2019d want it to look good (no one wants an ugly sports car), but it also needs to be reliable, a tack-driver and be a chameleon. Thus, the list I have created. Let\u2019s begin.<\/p>\n Being the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP Threaded 9mm was born from the highest capacity, micro-compact in the world, it checks this box. With a flush-fit 15-round magazine and an extended 17-round magazine in the box, you have flush concealability as well as impressive capacity on deck. Additionally, it is a mere 1\u2033 in width and only weighs 22 ounces. This is a pistol you could camp with, carry appendix inside-the-waistband (AIWB), or keep on your nightstand.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll say it again, it is okay to want your handgun to look cool (and admit it, too). This handgun with the optional Desert FDE colorway \u2014 aka Peanut Butter drip \u2014 is sexy to look at, and all the black accents of the trigger, magazine release, takedown lever, slide stop, and guide rod complement its Desert FDE color nicely.<\/p>\n With the day and age that we live in, I am at a tipping point where I don\u2019t want to even entertain carrying a handgun unless it is optics-ready. Fear not, because Springfield Armory has dozens of OSP (Optical Sight Pistol) models that include the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP Threaded \u2014 Desert FDE that I am lauding today. With the slide milled for the Springfield Micro footprint (also compatible with the Shield footprint), the OSP feature of so many people\u2019s Hellcats opens a pantheon of red dot options.<\/p>\n The Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP Threaded \u2014 Desert FDE, as I have kitted it out, has a Dead Air Armament Odessa-9 9mm silencer, a Vortex Optics Defender-CCW micro red dot<\/a>, a Streamlight TLR-1 HL<\/a> weapon light, and one of Springfield\u2019s extended 17 round magazines<\/a>. The pistol looks glorious and it\u2019s more than prepped to put in work on innumerable tasks. The only downside to throwing the\u00a0whole kitchen sink<\/em>\u00a0of accessories at a pistol is it limits your holster compatibility options. Even still, you can remove \u201cholster-inhibiting\u201d accessories like the silencer and opt for a muzzle brake or go sans muzzle device entirely.<\/p>\n Live The Armory Life.<\/strong> The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gun\u00a0giveaways!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of muzzle devices, it is handy that this Hellcat variant has a threaded barrel because it allows the user to decide what is most useful for them. Maybe on one occasion you need a silencer, the next you want a muzzle brake, and the last instance you want it free of muzzle devices to insert the handgun in a holster. The convenience of a threaded barrel without needing to own a second barrel is a nice option.<\/p>\n The nice thing about all Hellcat Pro models is Springfield keeps you amply stocked with ammunition since the flush-fit magazine holds a hefty payload in 15 rounds, and the slightly extended magazines carry 17 rounds: as many as most full-size handguns. So, whether you want to be slightly leaner and sleek, or you want\u00a0all<\/em>\u00a0the ammo, you most definitely have options.<\/p>\n When it comes to concealed carry, home defense or any other use we might deploy a firearm for, there is one metric that we should never compromise on, and that is reliability. This includes durability and the overall ability to always have the utmost confidence in your firearm regardless of how you use it. When it comes to the Hellcat and its dozens of iterations, we can have confidence in droves.<\/p>\n So, do you agree? I firmly believe that the Hellcat Pro Comp is the best dedicated carry option, and I affirm that with my life because it is the gun I use to protect myself. Simultaneously, if someone lays down the gauntlet before me of, \u201cIf you only can own one Hellcat for everything, which one are you picking?\u201d I believe that the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP Threaded \u2014 Desert FDE does everything the best.<\/p>\n If you have found yourself here and you own a Hellcat you are already winning at life, friends. You really can\u2019t go wrong with a Hellcat. But if we are splitting hairs, I\u2019ll make a case for the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP Threaded \u2014 Desert FDE to be dubbed the best of the best. Let me know all your thoughts in the comments section via the forum by the below link! I always appreciate your feedback.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!<\/em><\/p>\n Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n
Threading the Needle<\/h2>\n
![\"Hellcat](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Hellcat-Pro-with-a-threaded-barrel-and-accessories-edited.jpg.webp)
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Can this Pistol Do It All?<\/h2>\n
![\"is](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/is-this-pistol-the-best-of-the-Hellcat-line-edited.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>EDC-Ready<\/h3>\n
Curb Appeal<\/h3>\n
Optics-Ready<\/h3>\n
![\"red](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/red-dot-sight-on-Hellcat-Pro-pistol.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>Aftermarket Accessories<\/h3>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/themes\/thearmorylife\/img\/logo-tal-tm-icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\nSilencer\/Muzzle Brake Compatible<\/h3>\n
![\"suppressor](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/suppressor-on-threaded-barrel-of-Hellcat-Pro-edited.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>Capacity<\/h3>\n
Bulletproof Track Record<\/h3>\n
Is It The Best?<\/h3>\n
![\"is](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/is-this-9mm-pistol-the-best-edited.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n
Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t9mm<\/sup><\/span><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"Hellcat\u00ae](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/HCP9449FTOSP.png.webp\"\/)
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<\/p>\nHellcat\u00ae Pro OSP\u2122 Threaded<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"Dead](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/product-dead-air-odessa-9.jpg.webp\"\/)
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<\/p>\nDead Air Silencers Odessa 9<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"Streamlight](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/product-streamlight-tlr-1-hl.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStreamlight TLR-1 HL<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"Vortex](\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/product-vortex-defender-ccw.jpg.webp\"\/)
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<\/p>\nVortex Defender-CCW Red Dot, 3 MOA<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\n