AO Review – Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro 17-Round 9mm Magazines
Adam Scepaniak 09.14.23
We are in a renaissance period of concealed carry handguns because the offerings manufacturers are conjuring up from their mystical factories seem like pure wizardry. We have more handguns available to us than ever before… that are smaller than previously imagined… with ironically more rounds than some of our legacy, full-size pistols. “What a time to be alive,” indeed! This most assuredly applies to one of the most popular concealed carry pistol series on the market today in the Springfield Armory Hellcat. Over the last 4 years, what started out as the world’s highest capacity micro-compact, is now a full family of handguns. From ones with compensators to those reminiscent of a full-size handgun yet boasting CCW dimensions in the Hellcat Pro, there is something for everyone in the Hellcat family. Today, we are going to focus on the big brother of this family in the Hellcat Pro. Moreover, Springfield has debuted some extended magazines for it that now have 17-rounds of 9mm on board. Let’s take a look at the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro 17-Round 9mm magazines to see how they fare.
Springfield Armory Coverage on AllOutdoor
The Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro 17-Round 9mm magazines have an MSRP of $42.99 (SKU: HCP5917) putting them in similar territory price-wise to other magazines that Springfield sells. Just like the flush-fit, factory 15-round magazines you can expect a high polish magazine body, witness holes to always know your round count, and a textured basepad for the best dexterity possible. All of the finite details for the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro 17-Round 9mm magazines can be read below as presented by Springfield:
The 17-round magazine for the Hellcat Pro shares the same magazine body as the proven 15-round magazine. Featuring stainless steel construction, numbered witness holes and a polymer follower these premium magazines are the heart of the Hellcat Pro’s unwavering reliability.
When it comes to magazines – whether it is for rifles or handguns – there are only a couple bars a magazine needs to clear in order for it to be good in my book: positively feeding, reliable, and smoothly inserts/removes from a magwell. That’s it. Magazines are one of those accessories that they should be automatic. We, the shooter, are incredibly fallible so we want something as simple as a magazine to operate at near 100% reliability (because there is much more that can go wrong in my own shooting prowess if we discount inanimate objects like magazines).
So, it was no surprise to myself, but these new Hellcat Pro 17-Round 9mm magazines have worked flawlessly. The only other question most shooters might have is… why step up to the 17-round magazines when the flush-fit hold an ample 15-rounds? In my mind – as long as you’re still able to comfortably conceal carry your pistol – you should carry as many rounds as possible. I have no premonitions that I am going to get in a shootout next to grandma at the gas station, but what about other hypotheticals?
I do a lot of hunting, ranching, and hiking in Minnesota. Most of this is what I would call in “wolf infested” territory. I have gone scouting for whitetail deer to only be followed by a pack wolves back to my truck. I have also been stalked/followed by a skunk that maybe had rabies (sad situation because the lil’ guy was sick). I have also been walking my corgis and watched a coyote “shadow us” or follow us from 100 yards out; patiently waiting for an opportunity to eat my dog. In those “1 in a million situations,” I want 17 rounds as opposed to 15, if possible.
I do all of the “smart gun guy moves” like being situationally aware in public, avoid being out at night, avoid bad areas/parts of large cities, deescalate, and flat out run away from bad scenarios. When I am out in the woods or tending cattle though, there is no running. There is only stand your ground and protect yourself (or my dogs, pigs, livestock, etc). So, yes, given the option I will gladly take the bonus 2 rounds Springfield is affording all of us in their new Hellcat Pro 17-Round 9mm magazines.
So, what are my final thoughts on the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro 17-Round 9mm magazines?… Overall, if you want those extra 2 rounds just like I do, “dive one in, the water is fine.” I like that Springfield offers these because it translates into more range fun, it pushes the envelope of your EDC pistol being capable of competing with full-size handguns, and you just might need those 2 extra rounds. A lot of people carry a 2nd magazine on themselves on the daily. So, why not look to carry more rounds in every mag?
In closing, I want to say thank you to Springfield Armory for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro 17-Round 9mm magazines. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro 17-Round 9mm magazines are something worth spending your money on for competition, recreation, or concealed carry? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
