In todays review, Clayton Walker tests the Hellcat Pro BB gun.
The Hellcat Pro BB gun was provided by Springfield Armory for this review.
Wrong, Id argue.
The BB gun version of the Hellcat Pro is shown here with CO2 cartridges, .177 BBs and a Hellcat Pro holster. Image: Michael Anschuetz
Available in black or Desert FDE, this air pistol is no mere toy.
More importantly, however, itfeelslike the real thing.
Like its center-fire predecessor, the .177 Hellcat has a polymer frame along with a steel barrel and slide.
Can you tell which one’s the air pistol and which one’s the 9mm Hellcat Pro? Clearly, great pains have been taken to make the BB gun as close to the real deal as possible. Spoiler alert: The BB gun is at top.
Thats pretty dead on.
Sights mirror the actual Hellcat.
As on my 9mm Hellcat Pro, I really like these sights.
The .177 Hellcat Pro’s magazines are released by a familiar mag release button and hold 17 BBs. Mag changes are quick and intuitive, as is filling them to capacity thanks to a follower that releases spring tension.
[Interested in learning more about the original gun?
Read Massad AyoobsHellcat Pro review.]
Additionally and this is a biggie the .177 Hellcat Pro air pistol is also red dot capable.
If you’ve never spent much time with a quality BB gun, you might be surprised how well they can shoot. Shown is a target from the author’s testing of the air pistol.
I found the unit to be eminently functional.
It mounts securely, has adjustments for windage and elevation, and it even has two different brightness controls.
A switch on the side is intuitive and the unit is powered by a single CR1632 battery.
Many look down on the humble BB. The reality is that it’s helped teach (and sharpen) marksmanship skills for more than a century, and remains indispensable even today.
Operation of the Hellcat Pro air pistol comes from the use of readily available and inexpensive 12g CO2 cartridges.
Lets also talk about whats arguably the most important control on the air pistol: the trigger.
Here, Im happy to report this feels pretty similar to the actual Hellcat.
Air Venturi also manufactures a red dot specifically for the .177 Hellcat Pro air pistol. The unit was easy to install and adjust.
Another cool thing: the airgun loads very much like its big brother.
And, when the magazine runs empty, guess what?
The slide locks back, giving the user a visual and tactile clue that the firearm must be reloaded.
A thoughtful touch: the removable backstrap hides an Allen key required to swap CO2 cartridges in and out.
This is a kind way of saying I did not expect it to group worth a hoot.
that didnt hit where the sights were pointed.
Based on some backyard testing, thats enough energy to penetrate four pieces of corrugated cardboard.
For a relaxing afternoon in the backyard or as a training tool, the Hellcat Pro BB gun is a great value. The air pistol is offered in black or Desert FDE. Image: Michael Anschuetz
Suffice it to say that this should indeed be treated as a real firearm.
Wearing eye protection is a must when operating the air gun.
As for the group sizes themselves, I came away from testing impressed.
When a shot is discharged, the slide reciprocates backwards and the CO2 cartridge generates an audible report.
This, I will argue, is a good thing.
Training Options
Ill begin with the benefits to the novice and intermediate shooter.
No surprise they flinch when they want their shots to count!
Ill put this into clearer terms.
The gulf between theory and practice is greatly reduced!
Oh, this is a lot like the Hellcat BB gun, they might say.
Now lets talk about the intermediates and experts.
A BB gun offers up the possibility of practicinghardtasks cheaply and more often.
Consider that you could buy 2,500 BBs through the Springfield Armory web store for a whopping $6.99.
Who gives a hoot if your shot goes a little wide?
Closing Thoughts
As the old refrain goes, theres no such thing as a free lunch.
A BB gun opens up more safe practice venues, but not an infinite number of them.
Only then can you be reasonably sure theyll make the jump into real world contexts.
