First Look: Desert Flat Dark Earth Hellcat Pro

Threaded barrel, optics-ready and now with a slick new appearance.

by
posted on November 25, 2023
Springfield FDE Hellcat Pro

Springfield Armory has just added another member to the Hellcat Pro handgun product family: the new Springfield Armory Desert FDE Hellcat Pro OSP pistol. 

“The Hellcat Pro OSP has proven itself to be a highly capable EDC pistol that combines full-size pistol performance with class-leading concealability,” says Steve Kramer, Springfield Armory’s Vice President of Marketing. “With the new Desert FDE version of the Hellcat Pro OSP Threaded, shooters have an eye-catching and capable new option for their CCW needs.”

Although this new gun is part of Springfield Armory’s “slimline” Hellcat Pro lineup, it was designed to handle like a full-size duty pistol, with a 4.4-inch threaded barrel and 15-round magazine capacity. The barrel of this new Desert FDE Hellcat Pro OSP, like the original, is made from hammer-forged steel with a black Melonite finish that sets off nicely against the Cerakoted Desert FDE (Flat Dark Earth) slide. The barrel has a 1:10-inch twist rate that stabilizes virtually all modern defensive 9mm loads, while the thread dimensions themselves are industry standard ½ x 28 tpi.

With all these feature, the Hellcat Pro is still slimmer and smaller than the typical duty sized pistol. The new 9mm Springfield FDE Hellcat Pro OSP is feature rich and comes with a slide that is optics ready and compatible with popular “slimline” micro red dot footprints like the Shield RMS-c or Holosun-K. In addition to this, the Desert FDE Hellcat Pro OSP pistol includes Springfield’s signature U-Dot back up iron sights that co-witness with most micro red dots and have a luminescent front sight. The bottom side of the Desert FDE Hellcat Pro OSP features a railed dust cover making the attachment of any accessories such as lights a breeze too. 

MSRP for the Desert Flat Dark Earth Hellcat Pro is $710, and the pistol ships with one 15-round magazine and one 17-round magazine with a Desert FDE extended base pad. For more information on these pistols or other products from Springfield Armory, please visit springfield-armory.com.

Latest

 G9 Defense 126 Grain Subsonic 9mm Ammunition
 G9 Defense 126 Grain Subsonic 9mm Ammunition

First Look: G9 Defense 126 Grain Subsonic 9mm Ammunition

Built with an external hollow point bullet for improved penetration.

Straight Talk: Looking Back

The origins of some gear and techniques may surprise you.

First Look: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

The brainchild of a new "skunk works" branch of Wilson Combat.

Near to Far Marksmanship Practice

We won't get to choose the distance a lethal force encounter.

I Carry: Heritage Roscoe .38 Special Revolver in a Tulster RATH Holster

In this week's episode of "I Carry," we have a Heritage Manufacturing Roscoe revolver with a 3-inch barrel carried in a Tulster RATH AIWB holster along with a Browning Branded Tanto pocketknife.

First Look: HSGI NVG Pouch

Stow your low-light gear where it will be safe and easy to access.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Illustrated delivered to your inbox.