Police officers carry a gun as part of their sworn duties to protect and serve.
I think an off-duty pistol should always be carried.
If Im wearing clothing, Im carrying a gun.
Few guns approach the Springfield Armory Hellcat’s ease of concealment and carry. None offer the same combination of excellent sights and grip texture, as well as impressive capacity and accuracy.
Sometimes that means a lesser caliber and a small pistol, but Im never unarmed.
Sizing It Up
Police duty pistols are large, full-size guns that can be hard to conceal.
Many folks believe that they should have one gun and learn how to use it well.
Shown here is an Aholster pocket holster with the author’s Springfield Armory Hellcat pistol. A spare magazine is attached to a NeoMag pocket magazine holder.
That sounds great in theory but as people go about their daily lives it just doesnt make sense.
Many people struggle to learn defensive shooting skills with smaller guns.
Climate, clothing choice and location also all play a role in gun and holster selection.
For optimal safety, insert the gun into the pocket holster first. Then slide the entire CCW package into your pocket.
Mypreferred carry gun is a 1911.
A heavy gun is more likely to become exposed.
However, when I visit places where an exposed gun is an issue, it can be a problem.
Some concealment rigs include a spare magazine holder. Shown here is an inside-the-waistband rig carried in the appendix position.
The Hellcat is the gun I carry when Im not carrying a gun.
Pocket carry has advantages such as deep concealment and quick access to the gun.
However, it is loose enough so that the holster remains in the pocket when the gun is drawn.
The author has his Benchmade Auto Adamas clipped to upper pocket and a spare magazine in a Neo Mag holder clipped to the lower, cargo pocket. It appears as if these are two knives or a knife and a pen.
Aholsters are molded for left- or right-side carry to aid in comfort and concealment.
Pocket carry works best when wearing loose-fitting cargo shorts.
The shirt covers the pistol, and all that is visible is the clip.
The Tarnkappe Gear shirt has hidden snaps instead of buttons so that the shirt can be easily pulled away to provide an efficient draw.
The drawstroke is different because the shirt must be pulled up first.
With practice it becomes natural.
If I tuck a shirt in over a pistol, I use a NeoMag to carry a spare magazine.
The Muddy River Tactical IWB holster is shown with the author’s Hellcat. A spare magazine is shown in a belt holder from CYA Supply.
Tarnkappe Gear sent me one of their excellent concealed carry shirts to evaluate.
This shirt, when paired with the Muddy River Tactical holster, provides excellent concealment for the Hellcat.
In this case of an untucked shirt, I use a belt-mounted Kydex magazine pouch from CYA Supply.
The author believes the Springfield Armory Hellcat semi-automatic pistol is one of the best handguns available for concealed carry. Image: David Sullivan
Fuel For It
A pistol intended for self-defense should be loaded with ammunition designed for self-defense.
(Dont miss ourFederal Punch 9mm review.)
Federal says that the 124-gr.
When a firearm and ammunition manufacturer collaborate on cartridge development it benefits gun owners.
Springfield Armory and Federal Cartridge have created a winning combination.
As a firearms instructor, I recommend training with the same bullet weight as your defensive load.
Ideally, your training and defensive ammunition should be made by the same manufacturer, e.g., 124-gr.
Federal American Eagle andFederal Syntech.
Are both affordable training options.
The Hellcat is very controllable despite its diminutive size.
I fired about 300 cartridges for this article with no malfunctions.
Also, the Hellcat comes standard with one flush-fit 11-rounder mag and one extended 13-round mag.
Because of this feature, some may just decide to make the Hellcat their do all self-defense pistol.
The life you save may be your own!
