When the time comes -
you can order the Prime Radian here -
Virginia Needs to order these ASAP
17 Round Mags - this one isnt an affiliate link
SCS Carry - For the PRIME
Need a Weapon Mounted Ligh?
North Coast Tactical makes a great holster(not a sponsor)
In 2022 I published a video about my favorite Everyday Carry. Over 3 years later, a few of these items have been discontinued or upgraded. Here is an updated link list for many of the items discussed in the video
The Ready Pack 2.0 has been upgraded to the Vertx Ready Pack X Black Ready Pack F1.
The Ready Pack has always been an amazing and well-designed bag at a premium but fair price.
The Neomag has been updated to the NEOMAG 2.0, a much better version of the original with a few of the frustrations trimmed out.
Recently I've been ordering my holsters from Northcoast Tactical. I've moved away from the sidecar style and switched to an individual appendix system with a wing and metal belt clip.
I continue to use Nexbelts. I have more in my closet than I did before, some for professional use, some for EDC. The best EDC Nexbelt would be the NEXBELT SUPREME EDC.
The specific dagger shown in the video is not available anymore, but check out the G10 dagger from the G10 kings, the VZ Grips Executive Dagger.
The Surefire Stiletto Pro saw a hefty upgrade with the Stiletto Pro II—in my experience, it is MUCH more powerful and effective. Top-tier premium personal light.
The Streamlight Wedge XT is the follow-up we love to see from Streamlight. It is a bit smaller and even less expensive, although slightly less powerful. That is a welcome trade-off in my opinion as this light is very easy to use with the tailswitch addition.
My favorite knife from Regiment Blades has been the folder, and how I carry the fixed blade. Not much has changed, but they do have some more premium options.
Product Links
The original Springfield Hellcat is one of the original micro-compact double-stack 9mms. Coming out directly on the heels of the original Sig P365, Springfield seemed to directly challenge Sig with a 1.5-stack style magazine, offering the end users a hefty 11+1 round capacity. This capacity seemed magical at the time as the original Glock 43, one of the more popular micro-compacts of that time, only carried 6+1 rounds of 9mm. One might question the reason you might carry a Glock 43 over a revolver when a Glock 19 carried 15+1.
It should be noted that the overall platform became even more potent when the Hellcat Pro came out with the same ultra-concealable slim profile, but with a 15+1 capacity. I carried that version for over 1 year as my primary EDC. The Pro comes with a native optics mounting area that, unlike the P365, was not compatible with the Holosun K design for pistol red dots. This meant adding even more parts to the gun and hoping everything worked out.
Regarding performance—both firearms are capable of great accuracy within 15 yards with enough practice. The original HC was on the snappy side, but featured an incredible grip texture that was gentle on your skin but locked into your grip with the right pressure applied. The Hellcat Pro did have a certain overall low-axis punch into the center of your palm vs. more of a flip, but with a longer grip and barrel you encounter less punishment from 9mm.
Upgrades? - I spent the first year or 2 trying parts from multiple brands and I've found some options I personally like:
Hellcat (Original/OSP)
The first thing you might invest in is a reliable mag extension or extended magazine as the 11 or 13-round mag is great, but for the range or preference, 15+1 is always better and does not create tremendous issues while carrying. I would get OEM 15-Round Mags.
I would personally recommend going with the Holosun SCS Carry. I've used that optic for over 1 year and I think it might be best in class. The SCS Carry is small, enclosed to block fog, lint, and other elements while also having a solid auto-adjust brightness system. You will need an Optics Plate to use that optic, but it is worth it.
Hellcat Pro
I have tried a few different things with the Hellcat Pro. The best upgrade I made was getting the OEM 17-round mags. Easily the best choice for more fun at the range.
I ran the SMSC optic for multiple years and I felt it was lacking in overall features, but it held up for the entire duration and the battery lasted for about 2 years without issue. I would tell you to opt for the SCS Carry with the Optics Plate.
The internal upgrades we tried and enjoyed for a long time came from Apex Tactical. We tried the full kit. We eventually tested the Tyrant CNC flat profile trigger, but given the overall quality and included parts with the Apex, I would recommend that option. I'll list them below.
Apex Tactical
Tyrant CNC Parts
Ruger RXM is a great option for anyone looking for a compact firearm. I do not recommend making any major changes to the internals of a firearm if you plan on carrying or relying on that tool as a personal defense weapon. Here is a breakdown of how things went from a performance standpoint:
Reliability. I personally had zero issues with 2 different units of the RXM compact. I ran several hundred rounds through the stock trigger and with factory magazines. My friend who owned the first RXM I went hands-on with reported issues with using Glock OEM mags and reported that the recoil spring was broken when he purchased it from the store, brand new. This is a huge concern and a reminder of why we should put rounds downrange with any new firearm as you never know if a firearm will function properly with your preferred carry ammo or even be in good working order.
Things I changed and why
Optics:
I tried a few optics as this firearm has a versatile optic mounting solution. The Pin System works like a charm. 10/10 will try again.
I tried the Meprolight MPO Pro (rmr), it sat reliably on the handgun, but I felt it sat very high, and I did not prefer it.
I tried the Gideon Storm - I recommend this due to the price and overall performance and brightness of the dot. Many budget dots don’t quite get as bright in my experience, and this is no problem for the Storm. The only issue being that it uses the Delta Point Pro native footprint, and that is something of a limited footprint, being many brands opt for the RMR footprint. But if you own a few guns that use DPP, it's a worthy pick-up for the money.
Cyelee Wolf EDG - This optic was actually very good. Enclosed optics using RMR cut are still rare at the time of writing this, so finding one at this price feels like a win. I had no issues with the dot on this gun, and I still use it on my Mantis Titan X laser training gun.
Holosun 507 Comp - I ended up sticking with the Holosun 507 Competition. This optic is king of big optics as it provided an RMR footprint, massive glass window, multiple reticles, and an extremely bright emitter while providing large controls. The only thing we would have loved to see is an enclosed option, but I’m not too sad about this current set up. It really works. It might be overkill.
Trigger: We tried the stock trigger and thought it could be much better.
We installed the Timney Apha RMX and found the installation to be more involved than advertised, but after one email to customer support, the trigger was running like a top and providing an amazing experience. I hope they release a version of this trigger that is more suited to everyday carry with a pull weight to match.
Comp: We added a comp because they are cool, and many of my firearms have them either OEM or aftermarket. I noticed the RXM recoil to be slightly more aggressive than I felt it should be, so I was excited to try and take some fo the edge off for faster follow-up shots and a perhaps 20-30% more pleasant shooting experience.
Herrington Arms HARMX: I was not blown away by this comp. I will say after shooting the firearm for some months, taking a break and shooting other guns, and then returning, it sort of provided a palate cleanser. It made me appreciate the comp and how it takes a bit of the edge off each round. I do think the impact is more dramatic at higher pressure rounds. And that is typically backed up by science as the comp is able to work harder with more pressure. But like I said in my official review, I would not start my upgrade tree with this perk. I would start with optics first.
Lights:
I have tried multiple lights on compact pistols. Unfortunately, pistol lights are still a hotly debated subject. In my humble opinion, they are very helpful in your darkest moment. They aren’t for seeing everything, and that’s where people get it wrong. For the RXM in a carry configuration, it’s essential, and at the very least, it makes the gun look cool.
The winner: The TLR7-X is the gold standard for the compact firearm.
X300Turbo is a great option for the purist with money to spend. I've run one on my duty Glock-45 for some time and might. I would say the X-300T is more ideal for a full-sized RXM or an extended firearm such as a compact RXM with a compensator adding additional length to the overall build; the X-300T fits well without disrupting the balance.
Holster: This is an essential part of firearms ownership, even if you do not plan on carrying every day. A bucket for your gun is super helpful. Thankfully, the RXM is a Glock 19 at heart and can fit a strong majority of holsters for the G19. The only issue is the obvious: once you add a comp or light, you need a more specific set up. Thankfully, our friends at North Coast Tactical accepted our custom order. Unfortuanatly i requested a holster that fits the demensions of the Radian Comp , leaving just a touch of Comp exposed outside of the holster. Not super appealing, but with the right information, the guys at NTC could have crafted the perfect holster.
Conclusion: The RXM is a great pick-up for practical use or a fun weekend project. I don't see any reason why you should not grab one on sale, or even full price, and start tinkering. I would say you should inspect it for any defect, especially around the recoil spring. Hope this helps.
- Aaron
