The explosive growth of the micro-compact pistol market is nothing short of remarkable. One brand that has been making waves is Springfield Armory. Their Hellcat series has quickly become a favorite among concealed carriers for good reason. The basic Springfield Hellcat Micro is a standout in the competitive micro-compact 9mm field. It offers high capacity, a lightweight frame and enhanced accuracy — all crucial factors for a concealed carry or home defense gun.

Newly added to the Hellcat lineup is the Springfield Hellcat RDP (Rapid Defense Package) Micro Compact 9mm. This pistol combines versatility, power and cutting-edge features in a small, easy-to-conceal package. This Hellcat RDP review will take a closer look at what sets this model apart, especially with its 3.8-inch barrel and factory-installed Shield SMSc red dot sight.

Springfield Hellcat RDP Specifications

Caliber: 9mm
Sights: Tritium U-notch rear/Tritium front/Shield SMSc red dot
Frame: Polymer with adaptive grip texture — tightens when squeezed/front end has a molded-in rail
Slide: Billet-machined/ Melonite-coated
Operating system: Dual captive recoil spring with full-length guide rod
Weight: 19.3 ounces with flush-fit 11-round magazine/19.6 ounces with extended 13-round magazine
Barrel: 3.8-inch hammer-forged steel with compensator and Melonite finish
Grip width: 1 inch
Overall length: 7 inches
Safety: Manual 1911-style ambidextrous safety is available in addition to the standard trigger lever safety
Magazine Capacity: One 13-round extended magazine and one 11-round flush-fit magazine included

Hellcat Upgrades on the Rapid Defense Package

Always seeking new heights, Springfield includes new factory installed enhancements on the RDP Hellcat models. A self-indexing muzzle compensator and the Shield SMSc red dot rear sight enhance the Hellcat’s effectiveness in critical and rapidly unfolding self-defense situations.

Springfield’s proprietary compensators are machined from 8082 aluminum and matt black anodized. Special tools aren’t necessary to remove, replace or adjust it, and no additional parts are needed for proper timing. Pistols designed for discreet concealed carry don’t often benefit from a compensator, but it only increases the barrel length of the Hellcat RDP to 4 inches. It still fit perfectly in a Bianchi Shenadoah convertible inside-the-waistband/outside-the-waistband holster designed for the standard Hellcat. Only ¼ inch of the muzzle end protruded from the bottom.

Dating back to 1978, Shield Sights developed and manufactured red dot sights in Great Britain. The Shield Mini Sight compact — SMSc — is designed for single-stack and micro-compact everyday carry guns like the Hellcat. It is constructed of high-strength polymer to save weight and not alter the balance of the handgun, and the lens is made of hard dip acrylic for increased durability. The SMSc has a very low profile to allow easy co-witnessing of the red dot with factory iron sights, particularly the rear.

The SMSc is simple to use with no on/off or dimmer switch. It uses Fast Automatic Brightness to rapidly change the brightness level of the 4MOA red dot based on ambient lighting conditions. An 8MOA dot is also available. There is no need to shake or move the SMSc to activate it.

Shield Sights says the red dot is compatible with night vision devices set on the highest setting and is also visible against the sky in bright daylight. The SMSc is powered by one CR2032 battery. The battery is good for one to three years of use or four years if it is kept in dark storage like with the included rubberized protective hood on. The Shield SMSc sight’s MRSP is a very reasonable $269.99.

Shooting the Hellcat RDP

I went to the range with three 9mm loads provided by Federal Ammunition.

Federal Syntech 150-grain Action Pistol Load: Designed for action pistol shooters, this load is meant to meet the action pistol power factor requirements while assuring target knock down via its truncated cone bullet profile. The eye catching red synthetic coating eliminates lead and copper bore fouling. Muzzle velocity is 890 feet per second. Muzzle energy is 264 foot-pounds of energy.

Federal Premium HST (Hydra-Shok Tactical) 124-grain Personal Defense Load: This load is designed to meet all law enforcement testing protocols for use on the street, giving adequate barrier penetration without the risk of overpenetration. HST is a long-standing self-defense performer that has gone through multiple iterations over the years to improve performance. Muzzle velocity is 1,150 feet per second. Muzzle energy is 364 foot-pounds of energy.

Federal Premium 135-grain Hydra-Shok Deep Personal Defense Load: Hydra-Shok Deep is the latest generation of the Hydra-Shok family of defensive ammo designed for the 21st century. It still maintains a small expansion post in the center, which is the hallmark of Hydra-Shok ammunition. Muzzle velocity is 1,060 feet per second. Muzzle energy is 337 foot-pounds of energy.

From 25 feet on my friend’s outdoor range, we tested the Federal Syntech Action Pistol ammunition first, firing at a B27 PROS silhouette target. Recoil was very manageable and not the least offensive, likely due to the mild manners of the Syntech ammunition and the ventilation of the powder gas via the Hellcat’s compensator. Cycling was flawless. We ran several 10-round magazines through the Hellcat RDP at both the B27 PROS and on a steel silhouette.

We then tested the 124-grain Federal HST ammo. Again, cycling was flawless, but recoil was more noticeable since the HST ammo delivers exactly 100-foot pounds of energy more than the Syntech load. However, it was not objectionable. Shooting was to the point of aim.

The final test load was the 135-grain Hydra-Shok Deep ammo. Recoil was similar to that of the 124-grain HST load. The Hydra-Shok Deep load also shot to the point of aim. This load resulted in an unusual cavity design.

Why the Hellcat RDP Stands Out Among Micro Compacts

I really like the RDP version of the Springfield Armory Hellcat. The white outline u-shaped rear sight and Tritium luminescent front sight draw the eye directly to the red dot in the Shield SMSc sight. This effect is lost with plain black rear sights. Here’s a tip for older folks who understandably want one of these excellent pistols: if you wear progressive no-line trifocals like I do, you’ll notice that using the lower portion of your glasses to focus on the “iron” sights can cause the red dot to distort and appear a bit blurry, although it remains usable. Conversely, if you use the top portion of your glasses to focus on the red dot, making it sharp, the iron sights will blur. I suggest using the rear sight to locate the red dot and then focusing solely on it. Since there is no parallax effect with a red dot sight, if you can see it on your target at any angle, you will hit.

I spent last week carrying the Hellcat RDP concealed in the Bianchi Shenandoah holster. The pistol’s flat profile and the holster’s design kept it from printing against my shirt and vest. It also rode comfortably in an old Bianchi waist pack. With its capacity of up to 14 rounds and an additional 11 rounds in a slightly more concealable spare magazine, the RDP setup should serve you well. The Hellcat RDP is highly effective for all purposes, including as a trail companion. MSRP is $983. MSRP without the Shield SMSc sight is $778.

Sources:

Shield Sights: ShieldSights.com
Bianchi Leather: BianchiLeather.com
Federal Ammunition: FederalPremium.com
Springfield Armory: Springfield-Armory.com