In my recent review of the Springfield Hellcat OSP, I said this at the end: “Is it worth it to go from 25 rounds to 21 if the 21 is in a gun you’re better with? Interesting thought exercise there.”
I said that because, for some reason, I had trouble getting a handle on the Springfield. I’m still not as good with it as I am with the Sig P365 or the original M&P Shield. I was, at one point, not comfortable carrying it. I want to make sure I’m clear on this: I had trouble with it. My son could shoot it fine. The issue was with me, not the gun.
If you’re expecting answers here, you’re going to be disappointed. As I said: thought exercise, but I think it’s a useful one.
Table of Contents
The Cult of Capacity
That’s my pithy little phrase for all the people who think Capacity is King. The idea of carrying a J-frame just confuses them no end.
Don’t get me wrong. All else being equal, higher capacity is better. But all else is rarely equal, is it? There are days I can’t carry a Glock 19 or a Sig SP 2022.
On those days it’s possible the Smith 360 PD is the right answer. Or even the Beretta Pico.
In between the small ones or the 15-round ones, though, we have this class of micro-compact 9mm autoloaders that have seven to 13 round magazines.
Yes, I know the capacities are changing.
I just checked Sig’s site; they currently show 12, 15, and even 17 round magazines for the P365, up from the 10 round ones I have.
Springfield lists 15 round magazines for the Hellcat. That’s for the regular model; the Pro is larger and comes with 15 rounds standard, rather than the 11 and 13 mine came with.
The catch is, those larger capacity magazines are physically larger. Because physics or something.
That impacts their concealability, which starts to reduce their advantage over the larger guns.
The capacity comes in increased grip length, rather than width. Or gun height, if you’re looking at it that way. Two pictures below; the first is my original M&P Shield with its seven and eight round capacity. The second is the Hellcat, with 11 and 13 round magazines.
I also checked my P365 and my shiny, new M&P Equalizer. Both in the 1″ range.
So what am I getting at?
Look at the picture below. This is from a while back and I’m better with the Hellcat now. But at the time, this is where I was. Top target is the P365. Under and to the left is the Hellcat. To the right of the Hellcat is the Shield.
Keep in mind that this was at five yards. At 10 it was pretty much what you’d expect, except that the Shield stayed pretty tight.
Until I got better, I wouldn’t carry the Hellcat. That just wasn’t acceptable accuracy.
I’m still better with the original Shield than I am with either of the other two. Keep in mind that this gun was considered to have a “crappy trigger.” I know know; maybe it ruined me and I don’t know what to do with a better one.
Anyway, how much does this matter? Picture below was from last weekend with the Hellcat. Five yards.
I don’t have a picture, but the thing is, I’m still better with the other two as the ranges get longer.
Does that really matter? I’m more inclined to think any defensive pistol usage will be at close range. I don’t expect to have a lot of time to line up my sights and carefully squeeze the trigger.
However, we have Greenwood, IN. I’ll tell you right now I’m really unlikely to try to shoot 40 yards with the Hellcat.
Where does that leave us?
My last heading is normally, “Conclusion.” Not today, since I don’t really have any. As I said at the top, this is a post about questions more than answers.
While a lot goes into determining what gun you’re going to carry, my experience prior to the Hellcat is that I had more or less the same proficiency with most guns I picked up. A little better with the larger ones, as expected. But certainly good enough with the micro-compacts.
In my case, I’m likely to stay with the Sig for now. The proficiency is a big deal, and so is the fact that it has night sights on both the front and back. I’m giving up four rounds between both magazines. I can live with that.
The real question is, should I still be carrying the Shield? That would be 16 rounds in a gun that I’m better with. Giving up five to the Sig, and nine to the Hellcat.
Hopefully I’ve given you food for thought.
