FN 509 Compact 9mm vs Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP 9mm

Both are compact striker-fired 9mms with 3.7" barrels, 5.5 lb triggers and two magazines, so barrel length and trigger weight are a wash. Everything about the footprint favors the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP 9mm: it is 0.35" narrower (1.0" vs 1.35"), 4.5 oz lighter (21.0 oz vs 25.5 oz), 0.2" shorter overall (6.6" vs 6.8") and 0.2" lower (4.8" vs 5.0"), and it carries 15 rounds to the FN 509 Compact 9mm's 12. It also ships optic-ready with tritium/luminescent front and Tactical Rack U-Dot rear sights. The FN is not optic-ready, and it lists $31 less ($639 vs $670).

Pick the FN 509 Compact if:

• You want interchangeable backstraps to fit the grip to your hand
• You want a Hi-Viz front sight over a published 5.6" sight radius
• You value the layered safety set — trigger safety, striker block, drop safety and trigger disconnect — and the $639 MSRP

Pick the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP if:

• You carry daily and want 0.35" less width and 4.5 oz less weight
• You want three more rounds, 15 vs 12, in a shorter package
• You intend to run a red dot from day one — it is optic-ready and the 509 Compact is not

For the same barrel length and the same trigger weight, the Hellcat Pro is smaller, lighter, higher-capacity and optic-ready for $31 more. The 509 Compact's case rests on grip fit via backstraps and its sight and safety specification.