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Work order — Springfield Armory Hellcat

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: high.

Shop difficulty: Tier 1 of 3

45 rows, but 8 are magazine and alternate-base rows: about 37 working parts in a pinned polymer frame (sear housing, trigger, locking block) and a striker slide. Captive recoil spring under tension and a striker that must not be snapped forward are the only cautions Springfield prints. 45 parts (Standard Hellcat 'Slide Parts List' (p. 32) + 'Frame Parts List' (p. 36), incl. 11- and 13-round magazine rows and an extended base; OSP lists omitted.). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~15 min, rebuild ~25 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• dovetail sight pusher (or brass drift and padded vise) — Removing and refitting dovetailed sights for coating

Watch for:

• The recoil spring is a captive unit under tension. (both; Springfield Armory, Inc.)
• Letting the striker snap forward with the slide off damages the striker pin safety. (both; Springfield Armory, Inc.)
• Springfield says anything past the field strip is for Springfield or a pistolsmith. (both; Springfield Armory, Inc.)

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Press the magazine release and remove the magazine.
3. Retract the slide fully to eject any chambered round and lock it open.
4. Visually inspect the chamber and magazine well, then physically feel the chamber to confirm it is empty.
   Warning: Look and feel. Both, every time.
5. Remove all live ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Manufacturer's video: Springfield Armory® Workbench: Hellcat (SPRINGFIELD ARMORY)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehp-ULSfaDo

Field Strip

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure and put on eye protection. The manual requires it.
2. Lock the slide open by pushing up the slide stop lever.
   Tip: If that is awkward, put an EMPTY magazine in the magwell, retract the slide until it locks back, then remove the magazine. Confirm the magazine is empty first or you will chamber a round.
3. Visually inspect the chamber again to confirm the pistol is unloaded.
4. Rotate the disassembly lever clockwise to a vertical 12 o'clock position. It will not rotate with a magazine inserted.
   Tip: Clockwise and up to vertical, not down.
5. Pull the slide slightly to the rear to release the slide stop lever, then, gripping the slide firmly, let it move forward slowly until the spring tension is released.
   Warning: The slide is under spring tension. Keep control of it and do not grip it at the muzzle or over the ejection port.
6. While holding the slide, point the pistol in a safe direction and pull the trigger to fully unlock the slide from the frame.
   Warning: This pistol cannot be field stripped without pulling the trigger. Only do this on a chamber you have just verified empty.
7. Leave the trigger where it is. It will not reset and stays in its rearmost position.
   Warning: Do not retract and release the striker, and do not push the trigger forward. If you move the trigger forward you cannot reassemble the pistol, and snapping the striker forward can damage the striker pin safety.
8. Move the complete slide assembly forward and off the frame.
9. Remove the recoil system from the slide.
   Warning: It is a captive recoil spring system but the spring is still under tension. Maintain control.
10. Remove the barrel from the slide. The pistol is now field stripped.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

The manufacturer's full parts list (45 parts) is on the reference page.

4. Reassemble

Manufacturer's video: Springfield Armory® Workbench: Hellcat (SPRINGFIELD ARMORY)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehp-ULSfaDo

Reassembly

1. Set the barrel into the inverted slide and seat it fully forward.
2. Seat the recoil system in the cut in the barrel lug and press it down into the slide channel.
3. Check that the trigger is still in its rearmost position before the slide goes back on.
   Warning: A forward trigger prevents reassembly. Do not force the slide.
4. Set the slide onto the frame rails and run it rearward until it seats.
5. Rotate the disassembly lever counter-clockwise back to its horizontal locked position.
6. Rack the slide several times and perform the function check.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Reported by other sources — not the manufacturer

Notes: The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: "Step 3: If you chose to use thread locker, use sparingly and on screws only. DO NOT apply thread locker to threaded holes in OSP pocket (Figure 27-4)." (Hellcat Operation & Safety Manual, p. 30 (OSP Optics Installation))

Fit or check on rebuild

• Function check: trigger reset, sear/striker engagement, safeties — Standard post-reassembly check on any pistol whose fire-control parts were removed; a mis-seated spring shows up here, not on the bench

6. Function check

• Verify the pistol is unloaded with no magazine inserted before each check.
• Rack the slide and press the trigger. The striker should release cleanly.
• Hold the trigger to the rear, rack the slide, then release slowly and confirm the reset.
• Press the trigger again to confirm the striker releases.
• Confirm the slide locks open on an empty magazine and the magazine drops free.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Sources

1. Hellcat Operation & Safety Manual — Springfield Armory, Inc. primary
   https://www.springfield-armory.com/wp-content/uploads/Hellcat-Manual.pdf
2. Adapter plate compatible with Holosun 407K/507K for Glock 43X 48 MOS & Hellcat OSP (product page) — HOLOSUN Europe (holosun.eu, operated by Picotronic GmbH, HOLOSUN European distributor) secondary
   https://www.holosun.eu/en/p/70189490
3. Hellcat® 3" Micro-Compact 9mm Handgun - HC9319B - Springfield Armory (Specs) — Springfield Armory, Inc. primary
   https://www.springfield-armory.com/hellcat-series-handguns/hellcat-3-micro-compact-handguns/hellcat-3-micro-compact-9mm-handgun/
4. Trijicon RMR / SRO, Holosun 407c / 507c Sight Mount Adapter for Springfield Hellcat Optics Ready (EGW product page, installation instructions section) — Evolution Gun Works (EGW) secondary
   https://egwguns.com/trijicon-rmr-sro-holosun-407c-507c-sight-mount-adapter-for-springfield-hellcat-optics-ready
5. Springfield Hellcat Red Dot Plate | EGW Fits Venom & FastFire (EGW product page, installation instructions section) — Evolution Gun Works (EGW) secondary
   https://egwguns.com/vortex-viper-venom-springfield-hellcat-optics-ready-sight-mount-adapter-fits-burris-fastfire-and-docter
6. Trijicon RMR / SRO, Holosun 407c / 507c Mount for Springfield XD, XDM (EGW product page, installation instructions section) — Evolution Gun Works (EGW) secondary
   https://egwguns.com/trijicon-rmr-sro-holosun-407c-507c-mount-for-springfield-xd-xdm
7. Springfield Armory® Patents — Springfield Armory (patent-marking site linked as "Patents" from the springfield-armory.com footer) primary
   https://www.sa-ip.com/

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.