AO Review – Springfield Hellcat Threaded Barrel w/ Self-Indexing Comp

Throughout the years, we have seen many iterations of the now widely-respected and widely-used Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm. You have the standard model with a 3″ barrel that kicked it all off. You also have the RDP (Rapid Defense Package) sporting Springfield’s Self-Indexing Compensator mated to a threaded barrel. There are also OSP (Optical Sight Pistol) versions and even the near full-frame Hellcat Pro with more capacity than ever in a carry gun. The one thing most Hellcat owners wanted was to get that RDP barrel goodness for their standard model Hellcats; self-indexing compensator and all. Now, Springfield Armory has heard our murmuring cries and offer a Hellcat Threaded Barrel with their Self-Indexing Compensator as a standalone accessory item. We are going to take that product to the range today, get it dirty, feed it some lead, and see how it performs when dropped into my well-fed (and now semi-old) Hellcat. Let’s dive in!

Springfield Armory Coverage on AllOutdoor

Specifications – Springfield Armory Hellcat Threaded Barrel w/ Self-Indexing Compensator

The Springfield Armory Hellcat Threaded Barrel with their Self-Indexing Compensator is made to the same discerning quality as the Hellcat that it drops into. You get a Melonite barrel finish that is resistant to the dirt and grime we are going to subject it to, a clever self-indexing design to lock the compensator in place in a perfectly timed position, and the pair of barrel and compensator mitigate recoil for faster, more enjoyable shooting. All of the essential specifications can be read below as presented by Springfield Armory:

Barrel Finish: Melonite®
Compensator Material: 8082 Aluminum
Compensator Finish: Anodized Matte Black
Twist Rate: 1 in 10″
Barrel Length: 3.8″
Barrel Weight: 2.72 Oz
Compensator Weight: 0.7 Oz
Thread Protector Weight: 0.195 Oz
Thread Size: 1/2″ x 28 TPI

Compact & Capable – The included compensator is machined from 8082 aluminum and anodized matte black. The patent-pending self indexing design makes installation or removal easy and does not require shims or additional parts for proper timing.
Thread Protector Included – A thread protector is included to protect the barrel threads when a muzzle device is not installed.
Reduces Muzzle Rise – The compensator vents gasses upward, putting downward pressure on the muzzle and greatly reducing muzzle rise for better control and faster follow up shots.
Self Indexing Design – No additional shims or parts for proper timing needed. The patent-pending design of the compensator ensures it is properly timed in seconds.

Now available for the ever-popular Hellcat micro 9mm EDC pistol is a 3.8” Threaded Barrel w/ Self-Indexing Compensator kit. This drop-in system is designed to work with any standard configuration Hellcat 9mm pistol and features a black Melonite finish for rust-resistance and lubricity as well as 1/2×28 threading. The compensator, included with the threaded barrel, helps reduce muzzle rise and perceived recoil.

The MSRP for the Springfield Armory Hellcat Threaded Barrel with their Self-Indexing Compensator is set at $199.99. This puts it in affordable territory when you compare it to aftermarket threaded barrels plus the cost of a decent quality muzzle brake. The Hellcat Threaded Barrel option should prove to be your best bet since you are coupling a Springfield threaded barrel with a Springfield handgun. Like products always mate up the best together.

For use in any 3″ Hellcat pistol configuration.
WILL NOT FIT THE HELLCAT PRO! FOR USE WITH STANDARD HELLCAT CONFIGURATIONS ONLY!
Sales of threaded barrels are restricted and/or prohibited in the following states: CA, CT, DC, IL, MA, NY, WA. Please check your state and local regulations regarding restrictions.

Field Use – Springfield Armory Hellcat Threaded Barrel w/ Self-Indexing Compensator

For shooting the Springfield Armory Hellcat Threaded Barrel with their Self-Indexing Compensator at the range, I dropped it into my personal 3″ Hellcat which I have had since 2019. My handgun has been well-fed and not cleaned much so it would serve as a good host to test out this new Hellcat Threaded Barrel. When I popped the barrel out of the cardboard tube it comes in – spoiler alert – Tootsie Rolls did not spill out as well (but doesn’t that cardboard tube packaging look exactly like the Tootsie Roll tubes we got as kids?…).

I threaded the Self-Indexing Compensator off of the Threaded Barrel and then dropped the barrel into my Hellcat; it fit like a glove. To test the threaded barrel’s concentricity (the quality of the barrel’s threads having the same center as the exact center of the barrel), I put my Dead Air Armament Odessa-9 9mm silencer on it. A concentricity test in more simple terms is an alignment test.

The Hellcat Threaded Barrel when completing the super-scientific eye-ball test appeared to be properly aligned and concentric, but only shooting it would truly tell. So, we did exactly that. I recruited my neighbor, Alex – military veteran, firearm aficionado – and we shot probably ~200+ rounds of Federal Syntech ammunition through this barrel suppressed and unsuppressed.

An enormous thank you to Federal Premium for providing ammunition for this review. All of the ammo detonated perfectly (never a misfire), was incredibly clean shooting, and the Syntech line specifically provided a great opportunity for our concentricity/alignment test. If the Hellcat Threaded Barrel was not aligned, red shavings from the bullet’s coating would have been present and easy to spot.

With a good volume of this ammunition deposited in the berm, we never witnessed any red shavings from the bullet’s coating I alluded to. So, the Hellcat Threaded Barrel passed our test with flying colors. Additionally, we used my Odessa-9 9mm silencer in its K configuration (compact) and full-size layout as well with no concentricity or alignment issues whatsoever.

Over the course of a couple hours and 200+ rounds of Federal Syntech, we saw a marginal amount of wear on the barrel’s finish, but nothing to be concerned about. This is the exact amount of wear I see on nearly all firearms with this volume of shooting through them in such a short period of time.

We also shot a few magazines with the Self-Indexing Compensator installed and it performed exactly as advertised. Alex and I did not expend a lot of ammo shooting the Self-Indexing Compensator because I have owned a Hellcat RDP since they came out and am intimately familiar with how those should function and work as well. This standalone product works identically to the factory-configured Hellcat RDP.

Final Thoughts – Springfield Armory Hellcat Threaded Barrel w/ Self-Indexing Compensator

So, what are my final thoughts on the Springfield Armory Hellcat Threaded Barrel with their Self-Indexing Compensator?… Overall, it functioned and performed flawlessly. It was identical to shooting a factory-configured Hellcat RDP which is all we could hope for. At an MSRP of $199.99, you get a lot of value because you aren’t getting just a threaded barrel for your Hellcat, but also a perfectly-timed compensator, too. If anyone is in the market for a threaded barrel for their Hellcat handgun, we highly recommend this add-on accessory.

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 Threaded Barrel with a Self-Indexing Compensator. 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 Threaded Barrel with a Self-Indexing Compensator is 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.

Adam Scepaniak