Next up is the Hellcat RDP package that includes a HEX Wasp red-dot unit and a self-indexing compensator. The HEX Wasp features a sturdy housing made from 6061-T6 aluminum and incorporates a 3.5-MOA red dot. With a battery life of over 65,000 hours, the HEX Wasp’s red dot is powered on constantly and uses an auto-dimming feature to adjust dot brightness to ambient conditions. If not your cup of tea, Springfield Armory also offers the Hellcat RDP with the Shield SMSC red-dot unit.
The iron sights are fantastic and the primary reason the Hellcat is one of my favorite stock micro-compacts. There’s a white “U” outline at the rear with a high-visibility yellow sight up front that includes a tritium insert for low-light work. The Hellcat also offers a class-leading capacity of 11+1 rounds with its standard, flush-fitting magazine with an extended 13-round magazine as an option.
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The front and rear cocking serrations on the slide are fairly minimal though the texturing on the frame is quite good. It has a sandy, skateboard-tape feel to it and extends to the memory pads at the front of the triggerguard. Like many micro-compacts, the Hellcat has an accessory rail as well as a reversible magazine release.
While at the range, a couple of the guys felt the Hellcat RDP wasn’t exceptionally accurate but that could have just been the ammunition we were using. Each gun has its preference. I’ve had extensive time with the pistol for other articles and have shot one-hole groups with it at 7 and 10 yards, so it’s more than capable of dead-nuts accurate shot placement.
But where I did agree with most of them was on the trigger. It was a bit heavy and just felt stiff. My digital gauge registered the break at an average of 5.75 pounds. While this might be a good break weight for a stock pocket pistol, I just can’t help wishing the break was a bit lighter at around 4.5 pounds. The upside to the Hellcat RDP is that it’s ready out of the box to host a suppressor. Just remove the comp and you’re good to go!
