If you're looking to buy a small handgun, consider the subcompact category. The Springfield Hellcat and Glock 43X stand out as popular choices in this field. One is a single stack 9mm and the other is a double stack in a small package.
This guide presents a comparison between the factory Springfield Hellcat and Glock 43X before any upgrades, shedding light on their features to help you decide which one to purchase. It highlights their differences and similarities, aiding you in making an informed decision.
Glock 43X VS Springfield Hellcat - Side By Side Comparison
Physical Dimensions
Glock 43X
- Length: 6.5 in
- Height: 5.04"
- Width: 1.1"
- Weight: 18.7 oz empty magazine
- Capacity: 10 + 1
- Trigger:
Springfield Hellcat
- Length: 6.0 in
- Height: 4"
- Width: 1"
- Weight: 17.9 oz empty magazine
- Capacity: 11, 13, 15 (+1)
- Trigger
Glock 43X Deals
Factory Barrel Specs
Glock 43X
- Length: 3.41 in
- Type: Match Grade GLOCK Marksman Barrel
Springfield Hellcat
- Length: 3 in
Springfield Hellcat Deals
Optic Footprint
Glock 43X
- RMSc
Springfield Hellcat
- RMSc
Grip Comparison
Springfield Hellcat has a slightly better grip texture and 1911 style grip angle than the Glock 43X. This allows the shooter to acquire the sight picture much faster with natural line of sight.
The Glock 43X is the full grip length version of the standard Glock 43. The grip features the same serrated texture and grip angle as other factory Glock Gen 5 models, where the user has a default high tang grip and the line of sight requires a slight tilt to get on target.
The complaint that most Glock users have is that they need to do extra work to modify the grip to fit in the hand better. Such as the trigger guard groove filing and backstrap reduction.
Both guns are very easy to carry, but the Hellcat is a bit smaller even though it's a double stack 9mm.
Factory Trigger Performance
Both firearms ship with fantastic factory trigger performance, but the Glock 43X trigger feels slightly better and smooth compared to the Hellcat. The Glock 43X factory trigger has pretravel, but the break is crisp and definitive. Shooter can break the shot and reset fairly comfortably.
Glock 43X Trigger
Both handguns feature trigger safety, and they are easy to disengage regardless the finger placement angle on the trigger shoe.
Hellcat Trigger
The Hellcat trigger works, but the trigger bow is angled further out which naturally demands the shooter to position the finger further out. This may increase shot split time and slightly increase the felt trigger pull weight. Based on our range session experience, the Springfield Hellcat trigger tends to numb (or feel tingly) the shooter's finger after each shot. We believe an aluminum trigger shoe can eliminate this experience.
Internals
Both handguns feature high quality factory internal components such as the firing pin, trigger sear, magazine release button, trigger spring and others.
The Glock 43X feature no thumb safety, and it's a perfectly drop safe handgun with triple reductant safety feature. The Springfield Hellcat has the same.
Slide Serration
The Glock 43X slide features standard front and rear serration cuts. They are simple and all Gen 5 Glocks feature it. The front serration cuts allows some users to perform press check easily without spending extra money for custom shop work. The same goes for the Springfield Hellcat for good slide racking performance.
One thing that makes the Hellcat stands out from the Glock 43X is the angled serration cuts. It has a better aesthetics and they both allow the user to grip the slide better without slipping.
Ergonomics
Both handguns feature great ergonomics once the user is familiar with them. Both of them are designed for right handed shooters, so left handed shooters may find these two sub compact handguns' ergonomics unfavorable.
No magazine release on the right side nor as slide release lever.
If you are an right handed shooter, every switch and critical contact surfaces from these two handguns are within reach for normal shooting.
One thing to note is that the Hellcat's handling is much better with the extended magazine to get a full purchase on the grip when shooting.
Sights
The civilian version of the Glock 43X comes with plastic iron sights, and the Springfield Hellcat comes with metal night sights with a U notch as the rear sight.
Most Glock users will switch out the sights with aftermarket night sights.
For red dot shooters, please check out the Glock 43X MOS or the Hellcat OSP models.
Overall Shooting Performance
The overall shooting performance of these two handguns in the subcompact category is expected to be snappy. As far as accuracy goes, both handgun perform the best for shooting within 3 - 15 yards.
Assuming the shooter has good shooting fundamentals, the Glock 43X tend to have a faster follow up due to the high tang grip angle. The Springfield Hellcat tends to make the shooter's finger tip and hand feel tingly after shooting a full magazine.
We understand that subcompact pistols are designed for concealed carry, and their compact size are prone to snappy recoil like shooting a 40SW.
Aftermarket Parts Support
At the time of writing this comparison guide, Glock 43X has the most amount of aftermarket upgrades than the Springfield Hellcat. The Glock 43X has the most amount of aftermarket trigger, slide, recoil spring guide, optic plates and grip module upgrades.