With the end of our Ballistic’s Best 2020 Reader’s Choice voting comes the winners. Up next is the winner for “Best Compact Semi-Auto Handgun.”

2020 Reader’s Choice for “Best Compact Semi-Auto Handgun”

And the nominees for our 2020 Reader’s Choice “Best Compact Semi-Auto Handgun” were:

• Beretta APX Carry
• Canik TP9 Elite SC
• FN 503
• Mossberg MC2c
• SCCY CPX-2 RD
• SIG Sauer P365 XL
• Smith & Wesson M&P9 2.0 Compact OR
• Springfield Armory Hellcat
• Taurus G3C

Just as a reminder, here are all of the categories in our 2020 Reader’s Choice voting:

• Full-Size Semi-Auto Handgun — Winner Here
• Compact Semi-Auto Handgun
• 1911 — Winner Here
• Revolver (DA/SA .357 Magnum) — Winner Here
• Tactical Pump Shotgun — Winner Here
• AR-15 Pistol — Winner Here
• Semi-Auto AR-15 Rifle — Winner Here
• Semi-Auto AR-10 Rifle — Winner Here
• Bolt-Action Rifle (6.5 Creedmoor) — Winner Here

In total, there were 13,088 votes for the “Best Compact Semi-Auto Handgun” category. And the winner is the Springfield Armory Hellcat.

Springfield Armory Hellcat Details

Here’s what our experts had to say about the Hellcat in their testing for the 2020 issue of Ballistic’s Best:

“I would say that it was hard work doing this article, but that would be a lie. It’s tough to find a better way to spend a Saturday with friends than shooting guns, eating pizza and talking about our favorite subject. It didn’t hurt to have such an array of fine firearms that performed so well and that promised such good service as a defensive pistol.

“… the Springfield Hellcat received a lot of praise as well. Positive comments like ‘Awesome value,’ ‘Great capacity for size,’ ‘Love the flat trigger,’ and ‘Nice controls’ were the norm—also with no real complaints.”

Springfield Armory Hellcat Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel: 3 inches
• Overall Length: 6 inches
• Overall Weight: 18.3 ounces (empty)
• Grip: Polymer
• Sights: Tritium front, U-dot rear 
• Action: Striker
• Finish: Melonite
• Capacity: 11/13
• MSRP: $569

Also, if you want to see all of the official winners, grab a copy of Ballistic’s Best 2020 magazine. There are both print and digital subscriptions available right now at OutdoorGroupStore.com.