{"id":2938,"date":"2025-01-24T19:58:03","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T19:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2938"},"modified":"2025-01-24T19:58:03","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T19:58:03","slug":"springfield-hellcat-pro-bb-gun-review-red-dot-ready-air-pistol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2938","title":{"rendered":"Springfield Hellcat Pro BB Gun Review \u2014 Red Dot Ready Air Pistol"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Clayton Walker<\/a><\/p>\n

There tends to be a great deal of interest in air gun replicas of popular defensive firearms. In today\u2019s review, Clayton Walker tests the Hellcat Pro BB gun. Made by Air Venturi, the air pistol looks the part and Walker gets it on the range to see how it performs. The Hellcat Pro BB gun was provided by Springfield Armory for this review.<\/em><\/p>\n

B<\/span>y the time you read this, we\u2019ve just come out of the holiday season, which means a variety of TV channels will have aired \u201cA Christmas Story\u201d almost non-stop. Just about every adult marksman can relate to young Ralphie and his hope of finding a BB gun under the Christmas tree. Indeed, I would bet a good number of us look back on our first BB gun with fond memories and recognize it as a rite of passage \u2014 a warm handshake that welcomed us to adolescence and a new world of (fun) responsibility.<\/p>\n

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The BB gun version of the Hellcat Pro is shown here with CO2 cartridges, .177 BBs and a Hellcat Pro holster. Image:\u00a0Michael Anschuetz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s a good number of shooters, of course, who feel they\u2019ve \u201coutgrown\u201d the BB gun now that they can send 9mm- and .308-sized bullets in the direction of where they want them to go. For marksman of this ilk, a BB gun is much like training wheels on a bicycle: something to be discarded once you\u2019ve got your bearings.\u00a0Kid\u2019s stuff<\/em>, right?<\/p>\n

Wrong<\/em>, I\u2019d argue. The BB gun is unfairly denigrated, and for proof positive of that assertion, I\u2019d point to Springfield Armory\u2019s CO2-powered, .177 version of its famous Hellcat Pro produced by Air Venturi. Available in black or Desert FDE, this air pistol is no mere toy. Not only is this a great way to develop and perfect several elements of marksmanship, but it\u2019s a next-level training tool for CCW, and especially so for owners of its big brother.<\/p>\n

The Details<\/h2>\n

As someone who does indeed have a Hellcat Pro in his collection, I can say for certain that from five paces away, this air pistol is quite indistinguishable from the real thing. More importantly, however, it\u00a0feels\u00a0<\/em>like the real thing.<\/p>\n

\"Hellcat\n<\/picture>
Can you tell which one\u2019s the air pistol and which one\u2019s the 9mm Hellcat Pro? Clearly, great pains have been taken to make the BB gun as close to the real deal as possible. Spoiler alert: The BB gun is at top.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like its center-fire predecessor, the .177 Hellcat has a polymer frame along with a steel barrel and slide. For comparison, I weighed my Hellcat and its BB clone, both unloaded: the Hellcat Pro clocked in at 20.47 oz., while the BB gun has a weight of 19.82 oz. That\u2019s pretty dead on.<\/p>\n

Sights mirror the actual Hellcat. Though the air pistol doesn\u2019t feature a tritium insert, it does have the same white outline U-notch with a white dot front sight. As on my 9mm Hellcat Pro, I really like these sights. They\u2019re square at the top and can be aligned for precise target work, but the dot-and-U interface allows everything to be aligned quickly at speed for not much accuracy loss.<\/p>\n

[Interested in learning more about the original gun? Read Massad Ayoob\u2019s Hellcat Pro review<\/a>.]<\/em><\/p>\n

Additionally \u2014 and this is a biggie \u2014 the .177 Hellcat Pro air pistol is also red dot capable. Like its big brother, the optic plate just forward of the rear sight can be removed, and a red dot sight (RDS) made by Air Venturi can be mounted in its place. I found the unit to be eminently functional. It mounts securely, has adjustments for windage and elevation, and it even has two different brightness settings. A switch on the side is intuitive and the unit is powered by a single CR1632 battery.<\/p>\n

\"Hellcat\n<\/picture>
The .177 Hellcat Pro\u2019s magazines are released by a familiar mag release button and hold 17 BBs. Mag changes are quick and intuitive, as is filling them to capacity thanks to a follower that releases spring tension.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Operation of the Hellcat Pro air pistol comes from the use of readily available and inexpensive 12g CO2 cartridges. The air pistol is ingeniously designed such that the backstrap hides a retractable Allen key so you\u2019re never hunting for a tool to swap propellant in or out. The .177 Hellcat Pro air pistol will hold 17 steel BBs in its mag, and I found that each 12g powerlet was good for several full magazines without degradation of accuracy.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s also talk about what\u2019s arguably the most important control on the air pistol: the trigger. Here, I\u2019m happy to report this feels pretty similar to the actual Hellcat. While the air pistol has a manual safety underneath the accessory rail (unique to the airgun, and unlike its big brother), its trigger does have a hinged piece that mimics the real deal. And, like the 9mm Hellcat Pro, the airgun\u2019s trigger has a distinct \u201cwall\u201d of resistance after a period of travel, along with a tactile and audible reset.<\/p>\n

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Another cool thing: the airgun loads very much like its big brother. With CO2 powerlet in place and a full magazine inserted, the user pulls the slide back and releases to ready the gun to fire. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s \u201cchambering\u201d a round as much as the gun is priming the trigger, but the manual of arms is familiar. And, when the magazine runs empty, guess what? The slide locks back, giving the user a visual and tactile clue that the firearm must be reloaded. Press the magazine release to drop the empty mag, insert a new mag and drop the slide (either by slingshotting the slide or via the slide release), and you\u2019re once again ready to rock and roll.<\/p>\n

Performance<\/h2>\n

I think most of my thoughts in this section can be put under one general umbrella:\u00a0color me surprised!<\/em><\/p>\n

Having dabbled with some airsoft pistols in my teens and early twenties, I was expecting the .177 Hellcat Pro to follow suit as an unrifled\u00a0kinda sorta<\/em>\u00a0gun firing spherical projectiles. This is a kind way of saying I did not expect it to group worth a hoot. I did a lot of my accuracy testing at 5 yards, figuring this was a charitable distance to test a BB pistol.<\/p>\n

\"Springfield\n<\/picture>
If you\u2019ve never spent much time with a quality BB gun, you might be surprised how well they can shoot. Shown is a target from the author\u2019s testing of the air pistol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first surprise: though neither the front nor the rear sights are adjustable, my sights on both the FDE and the black Hellcat Pro air pistol hit to point of aim. I don\u2019t know how Air Venturi does it, but clearly they\u2019ve got their manufacturing process dialed in to make sure there\u2019s little POA\/POI difference, even at indoor ranges. This might seem like a given, but I\u2019ve shot a number of fixed-sight\u00a0firearms<\/em>\u00a0(from reputable manufacturers, no less!) that didn\u2019t hit where the sights were pointed. That a BB gun priced at $79.99 accomplished this was one more mark of quality, and one of those things that separates \u201ctool\u201d from \u201ctoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking of \u201cnot a toy:\u201d from a full CO2 charge, the .177 Hellcat Pro will spit a BB at a velocity of 380 fps. Based on some backyard testing, that\u2019s enough energy to penetrate four pieces of corrugated cardboard. Suffice it to say that this should indeed be treated as a real firearm. Wearing eye protection is a must when operating the air gun.<\/p>\n

\"Hellcat\n<\/picture>
Many look down on the humble BB. The reality is that it\u2019s helped teach (and sharpen) marksmanship skills for more than a century, and remains indispensable even today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As for the group sizes themselves, I came away from testing impressed. As soon as I really learned how to work the trigger on the Hellcat Pro air pistol, my groups went from the size of silver dollars, then to quarters, then to dimes if I did my part. My best of a day\u2019s worth of accuracy was 10 shots into 1.2\u201d and my best five (shot separately) into a scant 0.27\u201d.<\/p>\n

I will also say this: although the Hellcat Pro air pistol is not classified as a firearm, it is a remarkably gun-like\u00a0thing\u00a0<\/em>as far as the experience goes. When a shot is discharged, the slide reciprocates backwards and the CO2 cartridge generates an audible report. Quite honestly, shooting the Hellcat Pro air pistol without ear protection generated more\u00a0perceived\u00a0<\/em>noise than when I shoot my 9mm Hellcat with a set of foam plugs.<\/p>\n

This, I will argue, is a good thing.<\/p>\n

Training Options<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ll begin with the benefits to the novice and intermediate shooter.<\/p>\n

One of my main criticisms of several dry-fire \u201csystems\u201d is that they omit two core components of the shooting experience: noise and recoil. Shooters will master a perfect \u201cclick\u201d of a trigger pull that doesn\u2019t cause any disruption to the sights, then head to the range where they have to contend with a loud noise and a gun that moves in their hands. No surprise they flinch when they want their shots to count!<\/p>\n

\"Air\n<\/picture>
Air Venturi also manufactures a red dot specifically for the .177 Hellcat Pro air pistol. The unit was easy to install and adjust.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the contrary, the Hellcat Pro air pistol can be employed as a firearms simulator that\u00a0does something<\/em>\u00a0when the trigger is pulled. The sensory disruption is gentle enough not to cause even the smallest and most frail of shooters pain or discomfort, but it\u2019s on the level of firing a .22 LR pistol at the shooting range. If you\u2019re shooting purely to obtain the smallest groups possible, the air pistol is a challenging but fair teacher. It will provide its mentees with a level of stress inoculation that just isn\u2019t possible with dry firing, laser systems or airsoft.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll put this into clearer terms. If you have someone you want to get into the shooting sports, this offering from Springfield Armory is a great first step. With a makeshift backstop in one\u2019s garage or backyard, you can safely teach a loved one the ABC\u2019s of shooting in a way that\u2019s fun and rewarding.<\/p>\n

However, on the basis of practice with the Hellcat Pro air pistol, you can put a real-deal .22 or 9mm in their hand later on, and they\u2019ll have a good idea of what to expect on the basis of bark and bite. The gulf between theory and practice is greatly reduced! \u201cOh, this is a lot like the Hellcat BB gun,\u201d they might say. Or, if you make the jump to a .22 rifle, they\u2019ll say, \u201cThe BB gun kicks more than this!\u201d<\/p>\n

Now let\u2019s talk about the intermediates and experts.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think it\u2019s coincidence that Springfield Armory and Air Venturi developed a 1-to-1 scale clone with almost an identical weight and similar trigger pull to the actual Hellcat.<\/p>\n

\"CO2\n<\/picture>
A thoughtful touch: the removable backstrap hides an Allen key required to swap CO2 cartridges in and out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where I think the Hellcat Pro .177 version excels is in allowing users to address skills they may not be\u00a0comfortable\u00a0<\/em>practicing with a live gun in their hand. For example: point shooting, weak-hand shooting, making a first-round hit as quickly as possible from deep concealment, and shooting on the move.<\/p>\n

A BB gun offers up the possibility of practicing\u00a0hard<\/em>\u00a0tasks cheaply and more often. For almost all of us, it\u2019s easier to shut our garage door than it is to drive to our local range to facilitate a practice session. We\u2019re also less apt to train if we fall into the cognitive trap of thinking it\u2019s \u201ca waste of ammo.\u201d Consider that you can buy 2,500 BBs through the Springfield Armory web store for a whopping $6.99. Who gives a hoot if your shot goes a little wide?<\/p>\n

\"Air\n<\/picture>
For a relaxing afternoon in the backyard or as a training tool, the Hellcat Pro BB gun is a great value. The air pistol is offered in black or Desert FDE. Image:\u00a0Michael Anschuetz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prior to owning my .177 Hellcat, I didn\u2019t know how accurate I was making a 3-yard instinctive shot, or how fast I could get two shots into the center of an IDPA target with the gun indexed against my hip. Now I do! You\u2019ll never establish a personal baseline of these defensive skill sets unless you try, and this particular BB gun makes it easier than ever.<\/p>\n

Closing Thoughts<\/h2>\n

As the old refrain goes, there\u2019s no such thing as a free lunch. First, a number of state and municipal ordinances may have stipulations with respect to where and when you can shoot even a BB gun: naturally, it\u2019s our policy here at\u00a0The Armory Life<\/em>\u00a0that you remain in compliance with all applicable laws. A BB gun opens up more safe practice venues, but not an infinite number of them.<\/p>\n

Additionally, while the .177 Hellcat Pro air gun makes an excellent understudy, it\u2019s certainly not a replacement to training with your defensive firearm and live ammo. Even if you own the .177 Hellcat\u2019s big brother, in order to get the most out of this tool, you\u2019ll need to test the skills you\u2019ve learned at the shooting range. Only then can you be reasonably sure they\u2019ll make the jump into \u201creal world\u201d contexts.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, this air pistol clone of the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro wildly exceeded my expectations of not only what a BB gun can do, but what utility it can offer even dyed-in-the-wool shooters. For not very much money, I think it will endear itself to you just as it did to me!<\/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

Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n

Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n

Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n

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Air Venturi Hellcat\u00ae Pro C02 Blowback .177 BB Air Pistol<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Air Venturi Red Dot Sight for Hellcat\u00ae Pro C02 Air Pistol<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Air Venturi Steel BB’s .177 cal 5.1 gr., 2500 count<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Hellcat\u00ae Pro OSP\u2122<\/span><\/h3>\n


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By Clayton Walker There tends to be a great deal of interest in air gun replicas of popular defensive firearms. In today\u2019s review, Clayton Walker tests the Hellcat Pro BB gun. Made by Air Venturi, the air pistol looks the part and Walker gets it on the range to see how it performs. The Hellcat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2939,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2938","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2938"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2938\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}