Images by the author
When is a Hellcat not a Hellcat? When it’s a BB gun. I almost hear your reaction… huh? Since when did Springfield sell BB guns? Ever since they hired Air Venturi to manufacture them to their specifications. They not only make BB Hellcats, but also other pistols and rifles – see below.
Why in the world would you want a Hellcat BB gun?
In a word, training. This gun is the same weight and size, and has the same controls as a real Hellcat. I had a Hellcat RDP and gave it to one of our sons… This gun is amazingly similar to it.
Similarities
This BB gun is, as I just said, basically the twin of the real deal. From the textured grip to a free-falling magazine to the sights to… well, everything else … you have a very close copy of the 9mm Hellcat. Here are a few photos…
Anyway, you get it. I handed this gun to a good friend who is a former deputy and Hellcat owner, and he was blown away by how much it felt like the real thing. They’ve really captured the essence of the 9mm or .380 Hellcat here.
How It Works
Well, in a word, air. It is a BB gun, pure and simple. A CO2 – powered BB gun.
You have your BBs and your CO2 cartridges. That’s it. Of course, 99.999% of readers will be familiar with that setup. The clever bit is how they made the magazine emulate that on the real Hellcat. Here is the 18-round magazine:
…and here is the baseplate:
Notice in the magazine the line of BBs therein and the notched plunger lever at their base. You pull down on this lever to load the mag… be darn sure to keep your index finger around the back of the mag over the hole, as the loading hole goes all the way through in order to feed the BBs into the chamber. If you don’t cover it, BBs will just go straight through onto the floor. Also, keep tension on the plunger. Trust me…
This is all explained in the manual that comes with the gun.
In order to load the gas cartridges, you unscrew this hex-head plug in the base of the grip:
This unseals the old cartridge and, when tightened on a new one, breaks the seal and allows the gas into the operating space. They thought things out pretty well… except for the loading procedure. I found out the hard way, as Ralphie’s old man told him in the Christmas classic movie A Christmas Story, “they run all over”… and that they do. At least I didn’t shoot my eye out…
Another way that Springfield Armory wants this to emulate the real thing is in recoil. Of course, it’s a BB gun, so it’s not going to have the recoil that a 9mm or .380 Hellcat would have, but the slide does come back, and the gun moves in your hand. All of my friends and family who’ve shot it commented on that. Springfield really does want you to use this as a trainer.
Another use for this gun is as a first handgun for young shooters. Our oldest grandson (we have 12 granddies total) has held it and knows that, as soon as I can, I will get it to his dad for him to use. Dad wants to be able to put it away when it’s not being shot, as it bears such a close resemblance to his real Hellcat RDP… the only difference is that the BB gun doesn’t have a muzzle compensator. Red dot, check… it comes with the red dot. I thought that was pretty cool.
What if you want a long gun, something like what Springfield Armory sells, in BB format? No problem. They make an M1A in both .177 and .22, and an M1 carbine look-alike in .177. In terms. Heck, you can even get a wood-stocked underlever M1A for $245. Here’s a link to all three long guns.
Want a pistol other than a Hellcat? Look here for some choices… pistols (not including the Hellcat) include two 1911s, two XDs, and the red dot. Prices start at about $90… check the links for further details. You can also order BBs and gas cartridges here, too. I wanted to get the carbine to try as well as the Hellcat, but their supply was very tight, so I couldn’t. Talk about a great way to start someone out, or to get some practice time in for yourself – nice!
If you are looking for something a bit different that you can shoot at home and that won’t break the bank, check out Springfield Armory’s line of air guns. You have a choice of .177 or .22 calibers, and either rifles or pistols. I could see having one of each. Not only do they make great training/practice/plinking guns, but your kids or grandkids could benefit from shooting them, as well. I know that for a fact. Once your jaw “un-drops” when someone hands you one of these, and you’ve shot it, you’ll be a believer. This is one very nice-shooting BB gun… and it also happens to be a double for that Hellcat in your safe. A win-win!
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