I.O. Inc. showed the Hellcat .380 ACP pistol at the 2010 NRA Meeting. The Hellcat is a lightweight, semi-auto pistol in the same vein as the Kel-Tec P3AT and Ruger LCP. Lightweight and compact, the Hellcat fits into the pocket- and backup- gun categories.
The Hellcat weighs only 9.4 ounces (empty) and comes with two six-round magazines. The Hellcat is a thin gun, measuring only 0.82″ at the widest point.
MSRP is $349.95, and I have seen the Hellcat selling for about $249 on some of the gun auction sites.
Other articles that will amaze you:
- Ruger LCP Pistol in .380 ACP: The “Lightweight Compact Pistol” for Concealed Carry from Sturm Ruger & Co.
- Taurus 738 TCP: .380 ACP Pistol Takes Aim at the Ruger LCP
- Kahr P380 Pistol: Kahr’s New .380 ACP Pistol
- Kel-Tec Offers 9-Round Mag for P3AT Pistol
- Sig Sauer P238 Subcompact: Single Action .380 ACP Pistol
Those who are interested should visit http://www.ioinc.us or http://www.royaltiger imports.com
I.O. INC makes the best American made AK-47,AK-pistols, and other AK-style weapons. These rifles are very high quality and extremely accurate.
I just purchased the Hellcat .380 handgun from Cabelas, I took it out to fire it this weekend, and every time I fire it the magazine drops out. In fact, every time I take it out of the pocket holster, the magazine is disengaged from the gun. The next thing that I noticed was that after 2 or 3 rounds the main retaining pin that holds the gun together had to be pushed back into place so that the gun did not fall apart. I’m very disappointed in this purchase and will take it back to return this to Cabelas. I’m going to go with the Ruger or the Keltec.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like you definitely got a bad pistol. I’ve not bought guns from Cabelas before, but they may not take a return on it. They might have you send it back to the manufacturer for repairs. If you send it back for service, would you comment back here with your experiences with their customer service department?
Thanks,
Richard
I bought my Hellcat .380 about a month ago and have shot around 60 rounds through it. Now it will not chamber at all. I have called I.O. Inc. atleast 5 times and left messages. It has been three weeks and still no response. I will never buy another I.O. weapon again and have already advised my freinds the same. This company has the worst customer support I have ever experienced.
I had the same problem with calling them until I found out I was calling the wrong number. Once I got the right number the service was great and quick. Unfortunately I don’t remember the right number, but I found it on the internet somehow.
Mike, I had the same problem. Cabela’s wouldn’t take mine back so I sent it off for repairs. After getting it back I ran it through as rough of a test as I could and it is working perfectly. I was dissappointed too, but don’t lose hope just yet. Once the bugs are worked out it will make spending $100 more on the Ruger or Keltec seem rediculous.
i bout my hellcat 380 took it home cleaned it it was from the factory dry so i cleaned it and oiled it inside and out and i have shot 300 rounds throu it with not one problem i love the gun granit it kicks harder than my 40 but its reliable to me u just need to oil it good and keep it cleaan like ur soposted to with every gun
I’ve had my Hellcat for 6 months now and have put around 200 rounds through it. No malfunctions for failures of any kind. I carry it everywhere. When I can’t have my Glock 23 on me I still have my Hellcat in my front pocket of my jeans or shorts. I load it with the best most powerful hollowpoint loads on the market. The kick is nasty but if you have to use it you won’t be noticing the kick.
I picked up a 380 hellcat today picked this one over the others
Because it had a shorter and lighter trigger pull also it felt better in my hand
I picked up a super fly pocket holster and have had it in my back pocket all day and cant even tell its there. Very comfortable! Now for the downside i got it home stripped it down and cleaned it took it out and put 106 rounds through it. It jammed 19 times out of 100 rounds of cci and at one point the assembly pin was hanging half way out so I had to push back in so gun wouldnt fall apart. I thought the jamming issue was due to the inexpensive ammo so I loaded it up with hornady critical defense but unfortunatly it jammed all 6 rounds. The last one I had to diassemble the gun to get the casing out.
to be fair I went on there website and they do reccomend using brass ammo and nothing I put through it today was. Almost all of the jams were due to the empty casings being pushed halfway back into the clip. May be as simple as an adjustment to the extractor. Am going to try a few differmt types of ammo before I send it back. Im hoping this geys straightened out because when the gun shoots like it is suppose to I really like it.
I got a hellcat 380, and after about 15 to 20 rounds extractor broke.I have it sent back in, and it took about 3 weeks to get it backI have sent them an email and they have yet to respond. I haven’t had a chance fire it agian due to a broken hand, but on the high note they did send the extra mag with it since I did’nt get it with the purchase. Now my issue is I can’t find a place that sells a paddle holster for it. No accesories seem to be avialable for it.
Not to impressed so far. Hopefully that changes.
One other thing if you try to chamber a round with the gun pointing down at any degree past parallel the slide will hang on the barrel and lock open.
I bought a Hellcat 380 3 months ago and have put 250 rounds thru it. Only had 3 jams withinn the first 50. BUT, the button for the magazine is out so far it releases the magazine all the time in my pocket. I now have a hard leather wallet holster and still happens from time to time. I called I.O. and keep getting a recording and have left 2 messages and not a word back. Customer service???
Brew, there are two phone numbers out there for them and one of them nobody ever checks, but the other is good. To elininate the magazine release problem I bought a Houge Jr grip and put in on mine. I did some trimming to make it contour perfectly and used a drimmel tool to make the cut edges look factory. I haven’t had a single problem since.
fired 500 rounds fmj brass ammo, no pro blem o, but i am afraid do to all the bad press, will not use it for back up, just for plinking,maybe i will hear better news, made in USA ,hopeful
I bought the nickel plated IO Hellcat with extruded magazine bottom.I have shot 24 rds and all is great except they seem to let only one company sell their magazines and holsters.This company is located next to them in NC and charges $16 to ship a $20 magazine 60mi to me in NC?No I don’t want any more of their products if they choose to rip people off!