AO Review: Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB Holster – Springfield Hellcat
Adam Scepaniak 11.06.20
When it comes to concealed carry pistols in the market today there is a silent revolution going on. It was all started by SIG Sauer roughly 4 years ago with their model P365. Their self-dubbed “Micro-Compact” was a first of its kind to carry more rounds in a frame smaller than most single-stack handguns. Quick off the heels of the unveiling of the SIG Sauer P365 came the Springfield Armory Hellcat which did even one better. It is officially the world’s high-capacity micro-compact on the market carry 13+1 rounds in its factory extended magazine. Those two aforementioned firearms are so nice I went out and bought both of them, but in this AllOutdoor Review we take a look at the Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB (Outside the Waistband) Holster specifically for a Springfield Armory Hellcat. Let’s dive in!
Specifications: Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB Holster
When it comes to holsters your first thought might be, “How involved can they actually be?” That is a fair assumption for most consumers to make, but we simply are not aware of the depth of thought and care that goes into producing a high-quality reliable holster for our weapons. Fortunately for us, a company like Bravo Concealment does, in fact, put a lot of methodical design into such a simple product. All of the specifications for the BCA 3.0 OWB (Outside-the-Waistband) holster can be read below as presented by Bravo Concealment:
- New Polymer Injection Mold
- New Adjustable Retention
- Outside the waistband carry
- Solid locking retention
- 10° forward cant
- 1.50” injection mold belt loops
- Rounded edges for comfort
- Belt Clips convert holster to IWB carry
- Holster design to fit the contours of body
- Holster can be adjusted to desired cant with standard belt loops on our 2.0 Kydex holsters or Pancake loops 3.0 on our 3.0 polymer holsters
The nice thing about this holster is if you doctored up your pistol with a threaded barrel it will actually fit. That is pretty rare for most holsters. Also, you are covered by the Bravo Concealment Guarantee with an Unlimited Lifetime Warranty in the rare event that you holster should ever need service. The current MSRP is $52.99 for the BCA 3.0 OWB holster for a Springfield Armory Hellcat.
“With the Springfield Armory standing at just 4” tall and barely one inch thick, it is constantly being referred to as the “world’s highest capacity micro compact,” and for good reason. It weighs less than 19 ounces unloaded while boosting an overall length of no more than 6 inches. It can be easily concealed because of its very impressive dimensions. Oh, and let’s not forget, super comfortable in our BCA OWB gun holster.
The Springfield Armory Hellcat and the Bravo Concealment BCA OWB gun holster… 2 great products that come together for the best concealed carry experience.“
Fit: Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB Holster
This is probably the 4th or 5th holster I either own or have tested from Bravo Concealment over the years (I genuinely forget because their tenure of quality keeps bringing me back for more). This BCA 3.0 OWB holster for the Springfield Armory Hellcat is constructed to the same high standards as all of their previous products that I have seen. The molding is a tight and secure fit to the shape and geometry of the firearm. As always, there is room for adjustment depending on just how tight or loose of a draw you prefer for your firearm.
Something else that I also appreciated in the BCA 3.0 OWB Holster is that it will accommodate a threaded barrel and a miniature red dot (if your Hellcat is outfitted with those components). The Springfield Armory Hellcat that I own is a standard version, but I am actually looking to add one of the new Trijicon RMRcc micro red dots to it. Once that happens my pistol will still fit the BCA 3.0 OWB holster, and so will all of the Hellcat OSP owners as well. I have no ambitions to suppress my Hellcat, but again, it is nice that Bravo Concealment accounts for that so no customers are left behind.
Carry Time: Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB Holster
While carrying my Springfield Armory Hellcat with the Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB holster I had 2 different options to choose from for Outside-the-Waistband carry: Open or Concealed. My day job is managing a gun store so many days I would open carry with this holster on my hip. For continuity and because I live inside a “small world” (only go to work and the gas station most days), I would open carry 100% of the time during my day. No one is going to think twice when you are open carrying in a gun store and the gas station attendants in my small town know me as well. Dressing cleanly, being respectful, and being hyper-aware goes a long way while open carrying, too.
I would often find myself in seated positions – either driving to work in a vehicle or on a stool behind the gun counter at work. The holster would bend within my belt line and remain on the point of my hip in whatever position I contorted myself to always remaining readily available to draw if need be. I never felt the holster bind or grip my body funny like some inferior holsters often can. It was always comfortable, accessible, and extremely lightweight. I could feel the weight of my sidearm on my side, but the holster was so light it felt as though it added no meaningful weight to what I was burdened with carrying everyday.
For curiosity’s sake, some days I would carry concealed with only a light T-shirt to cover up my Hellcat and the BCA 3.0 OWB holster. While I always thought I was sneaky carrying concealed, that is simply my bias showing. So, to test how well this holster package does/doesn’t print under clothing, I would engage in long conversations with customers and after awhile ask them if they thought I was carrying a gun that day. Every single person I asked reported back that if they had to go by appearances alone they would say no.
Success! That is the ultimate stamp of approval if strangers, who are gun owners and have more keen eyes to look for printing firearms, cannot see your sidearm then it is truly hidden well. Now again, I did not go out and buy special blue jeans, a premium tactical flannel shirt, or some other gimmick to support hiding a handgun. I simply wore my normal attire, carried my sidearm of choice (Springfield Armory Hellcat), and deployed a Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB holster. Simple as that.
Final Thoughts: Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB Holster
The Springfield Armory Hellcat has been one of the best-selling handguns in the firearms industry in the last year, but there is a surprising lack of molded holster options for it. With the Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB holster being one strong exception, concealed carry advocates do not need to look much further. It displayed a good fit of the firearm for me, easy access on the belt line, easy to conceal under clothing, and it punches in at an affordable price-point of $52.99 at full retail. For anyone who is looking for an OWB holster for their Hellcat, I would definitely recommend the Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB holster.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Bravo Concealment for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out one of their BCA 3.0 OWB holsters for a Springfield Armory Hellcat. That is always greatly appreciated. The last question that remains is what do you think? Is the Bravo Concealment BCA 3.0 OWB holster something you would be willing to invest your money in? Would you use this holster for home defense? EDC? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
