Three inches of barrel and a red-dot cut in a pistol that fits a pocket holster: that is the Hellcat OSP in a few words. This Gear Pac version is a 9mm with a black Melonite finish and a 10+1 capacity.

OSP means Optical Sight Pistol, so the slide is milled for a micro red dot. Many North Carolina permit holders spend more on training than on the gun, and that is money well spent. Store it unloaded and locked when it is not on your body, especially if there are children in the house.

Melonite is a hard coating that resists wear and corrosion, a plus for a pistol that spends all day in a holster. The Hellcat uses a double-stack magazine in a very small frame, so a ten-round magazine is easy to hide.

Carry-sized pistols are hard to shoot well, so spend time at the range. A micro-compact needs a strong grip and a steady practice habit.

Many North Carolina permit holders pick this size for summer, when a larger gun gets uncomfortable. New condition. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer for pickup and the background check.