New for 2021: Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP

by
posted on February 24, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
springfield-armory-hellcat-rdp-pistol-2021-final.jpg
When Springfield Armory introduced its Hellcat pistol, it immediately took a lead spot in the micro-compact pistol market. The gun, with its 11-round flush-fit magazine capacity and 13-round extended magazine, offered capacity in a small package that made it perfect for personal defense. Now, Springfield is upping the capability of this capacious compact with its Hellcat Rapid Defense Package.

Like its sibling, the Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP is built with the same frame and slide dimensions as the original. However, this new design is loaded with a few extra enhancements that make it much easier to handle. One of the most noticeable changes is the addition of a threaded muzzle, which ships with a pre-installed self-indexing compensator. The compensator is machined from anodized aluminum and fits onto the 1/2"-28 TPI threaded muzzle.

When the gun is fired, excess propellant gases are directed upward, which pushes the muzzle of the gun down to mitigate recoil. This ensures that you can keep your pistol on target and recover rapidly for that second follow-up shot. In addition, the compensator blends in with the lines of the Hellcat slide, so it'll fit into open-bottom holsters with ease.

One of the other highlights found on the Springfield Armory Hellcat RXP is the new Springfield Hex Wasp red-dot sight. The Wasp replaces the Shield optics that came on previous models of the Hellcat, and it provides a low-profile, sleek optic that matches the lines and design details found on the gun. The Wasp is built on a 6061-T6 aluminum frame and features a 65,000-hour battery life.

Despite the threaded muzzle, compensator and new red-dot sight, Springfield Armory wasn't finished with enhancements yet on this cutting-edge carry gun. The company also took the opportunity to upgrade the trigger, releasing its Gen 2 configuration on the RDP. The trigger features an all-new contour that provides a more comfortable interface surface between you and the gun. With this trigger, you can stay on the pistol all day and feel your way to fast follow-up shots to shorten up split times easily.

The Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP can also be had with a low-profile thumb safety for those who prefer an added level of security in their CCW pistol. Suggested retail pricing on the Hellcat RDP is $899. To see this new pistol in action on the range, watch Shooting Illustrated's First Shots review here. For more information, visit springfield-armory.com.

Latest

Hearing Healthy
Hearing Healthy

Summer Suppressor Deals On Now

Whether it is a BOGO deal from SIG or free tax stamps from Guns.com and Silencer Central, there's plenty of hearing-safe savings to be had this summer.

Rifleman Report: Defending Freedom For 250 Years

"Anyone who claims not to understand the plain and simple intent of the Second Amendment—especially if that person happens to be a constitutional law professor, Supreme Court justice, congressman, senator or president—is likely hiding nefarious intent: to strip individual liberty from American citizens for the express purpose of making them susceptible to a tyrannical government."

Book Review: 2025 Traveler’s Guide To The Firearms Laws Of The Fifty States

Newly updated for 2025, the 29th edition of the Traveler’s Guide To The Firearm Laws Of The Fifty States is packed with all the need-to-know information for cross-country trekkers seeking to bring their arms along with them and remain legal in all localities.

Springfield Kuna: A PDW For The Masses

Small, yet fierce, the namesake of Springfield Armory’s latest large-format pistol is a revered forest dweller in the land of its Croatian manufacturing partner, HS Produkt. The new Kuna is poised to be just as welcome in America.

The Armed Citizen® June 30, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Book Review: Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers Of Elisha Collier & Artemas Wheeler

The result of a decade of research, Clockwork Basilisk is a comprehensive, two-volume history of the rare revolvers that preceded the development of the well-known Colt guns of the 1830s.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.