Hellcat II – Best .380 Auto in the World

As I.O., Inc., one of our goals has been to manufacture the best .380 automatic handgun in the world and to make it right here in America.

With our predecessor company, Interordnance of America, LP, we began as licensed firearms importers. As we traveled the world, looking for the best firearms products for our customers, we noticed the need for a high-quality .380 auto that was reliable, accurate, and inexpensive. We couldn’t find one. So, we decided to build it ourselves.

In April, 2010, we introduced the original I.O. Hellcat .380. It was a big hit with our customers and it got great reviews, like these by Jeff Quinn of GunBlast.com. Since its introduction, we have sold 10,000 Hellcats. Now, the Hellcat II raises the bar again.

I.O., Inc. – Always Improving our Firearms Products

At I.O., Inc., we are always looking for ways to improve our firearm products. So, in the summer of 2011, we looked at how we could improve the Hellcat .380. We re-examined everything, including

• Engineering and Design,
• Manufacturing Techniques and Processes, and
• Quality Control.

Recently, Jason Dover, the Head of Engineering at I.O., Inc. went over several of the key improvements we have made in these areas.

Improved Engineering and Design

Key upgrades include

1. Design changes to the trigger bar and trigger cam, making the action even smoother and more consistent;
2. Upgrading materials for the Hellcat extractor, ensuring durability and functionality for every round fired; and
3. Fine-tooling the frame’s design, to provide a relief area around the magazine, to ensure reliable ammunition feed.

Best Manufacturing Processes

In addition to the Hellcat’s improved engineering and design, we also made our manufacturing even better. The Hellcat is still 100% made in America. In fact, for the parts we make ourselves in-house in Monroe, North Carolina, even the manufacturing machines we use are made in the USA. Even so, we are always looking to improve. One of the manufacturing improvements for the Hellcat .380 was to use specific heat treatments to quench and temper the barrel and to case harden the slide. Another key improvement was to change to a machined extractor. So, you get an even more reliable and durable .380 automatic which is guaranteed to work for life.

Ensuring you get the Highest-Quality .380 Auto in the World

Quality is key. Getting our customers the highest-quality .380 auto in the world was the reason we started manufacturing the Hellcat .380. These are just some of the actual steps we take every day to make sure we continue to make the best .380 automatic:

• Three I.O. employees inspect every Hellcat for visual points, looking to make sure that the firearm looks right and to check for any obvious problems.
• Two I.O. employees check every Hellcat for functionality, test-firing each weapon on our in-house firing range.
• Every 100th Hellcat produced goes through an extensive testing phase, in which the firearm is shot more than 30 times. (See the video below.)

If a Hellcat doesn’t pass, it is completely stripped down and rebuilt using all new parts.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

VIDEO: Test-firing each Hellcat .380 to ensure you get the highest quality .380 auto in the world.

Find a Hellcat Dealer

If you are here, chances are the Hellcat .380 has caught your attention. It’s a great gun. We guarantee it. For information on how to purchase one, you should click here.

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Free Email Updates!

You can now get free updates by email. That way, every time we publish a post, you get an email update with a brief description of the post and a direct link, so that you can go read the post and keep up to date on the I.O., Inc. Hellcat .380 II.

Recently, we have seen a lot of interest in our Hellcat .380 ACP. Some folks have asked us,

 ”Why is the Hellcat .380 superior to other firearms in its class?”

Over and over, our customers tell us they are impressed because the I.O. Hellcat .380

1. has a life-time warranty,
2. is made in America,
3. comes with excellent customer service, and
4. is not just easy to use, but is also very accurate.

Making the best .380 ACP in the world right here at home

How do we do it?  First, we evaluated what was currently on the market before we designed our pistol. Then, we built the best .380 auto out of the best materials with the best manufacturing processes.

Here are just a couple of the critical differences between our Hellcat .380 and other .380 automatics manufactured elsewhere:

• We machine our own slides in-house out of a solid 4140 steel 1″ x 1″ billet, not 3/4″ billet. That lets us give you the highest quality .380 auto with a real line of sight with front and rear sights which are a bit heavier and reduce recoil. Plus, we have a proprietary design for the internal shape of the slide which makes it easy to cock.

• Our frames are manufactured from T6 aircraft aluminum and also CNC machined in-house, right here in Monroe, North Carolina. Our plastic parts are manufactured from state of the art polymer material.

• Our plastic frame is wider and allows proper fit for your hands, which also reduces recoil.

Hellcat .380 is Easy to fire with great accuracy

Our Hellcat .380 is easy to cock, has minimum recoil, and is very controllable. Plus, we have real front and rear sights, so the accuracy is great. At 10-15 yards you can still hold a 2-3” group.

Find a Hellcat .380 Dealer

Please go take a look for yourself and let us know what you think of our Hellcat .380. To find a dealer near you, you should click here.

Hellcat .380 at 2012 SHOT Show

This week, January 17-20, 2012, we will be exhibiting our Hellcat .380 ACP and many other I.O. products , at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

The SHOT show is the largest firearms industry trade show in the world.  It is held at the Sands Expo which is a part of the Venetian Hotel complex. Usually over 100,000 visitors come to SHOT from all around the world, including law enforcement representatives.  Again this year, I.O., Inc. and all other major firearms manufacturers and outdoors companies will be at SHOT.

I.O. Booth 2661 at SHOT 2012

So, whether you are in law enforcement or the firearms or outdoors trades, please come visit with us at our booth, where you can handle and inspect the new and re-engineered Hellcat .380.

This year, IO is in Booth Number 2661.  To see our booth location on the SHOT show map, you should click here.

Hellcat .380 slide milled in-house from 4140 steel billet

Big Demand, but No Good Supply of High-Quality .380 ACP

The idea of the Hellcat came up during a lunch meeting with a distributor friend.

In 2009 there was a strong demand for a sub compact pistol in caliber .380. We researched what was available on the market and combined the best features of all products into the Hellcat.

Hellcat combines Best Engineering, Design and Manufacturing of .380 Auto

In order to ensure that we made the best .380 automatic in the world, we focused on key things:

• We had our engineers draw up the original gun plans.
• We bought new, specialized CNC equipment to manufacture our own frames and other other components.
• We had our engineers totally redesign the Hellcat to make it the most reliable subcompact .380 auto.
• We now manufacture all major components in-house, with everything made in the USA.

Completely Re-Designed Hellcat is Backed by a Life-Time Warranty

The Hellcat one was developed within 4 month from the idea to the first production sample. We were not happy with the quality of our suppliers and therefore we bought more CNC equipment to manufacture more parts in house, including the slide.

In May, 2011, we hired a mechanical engineer who totally redesigned our Hellcat to make it the most reliable subcompact .380 in its class.

The Hellcat is the only handgun in its class to incorporate a real line of sight, with both a rear and florescent front sight.

We proudly back the Hellcat with a life-time warranty, and we guarantee the function of the Hellcat with most factory ammunition on the market.

Go see the Hellcat for Yourself

We make the Hellcat with the highest quality materials, parts, engineering, and manufacturing.  See for yourself at your local gun store, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shop or visit us online at www.ioinc.us.  Or to find a retailer near you, you should click here.

Recent Hellcat .380 Customer Service Testimonial

"Best Customer Service Ever" - Johnny

At I.O., Inc., we pride ourselves on manufacturing the highest quality firearms right here in America. We also proudly stand behind every product we make. Recently, we had the opportunity to help one of our customers, named Johnny, who had a problem with a particular Hellcat .380. Johnny was kind enough to let us share his comments with you here:

“First off I bought the Hellcat because I liked the the look and feel of the pistol and it was made in my home state of North Carolina. I had a problem with a broken extractor, sent it back to I.O.INC on a Sunday and got it back on Wednesday 4 days later.

Received an email from Uli Wiegand stating they stand behind their product and I.O.INC would take care of my problem.

A 4 day turn around is without a doubt THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE I have ever seen from any company!

I have put 50 rounds thru the Hellcat without a problem with one! I love this little pocket pistol, fun to shoot and a great all day carry pistol. I would and have recommend the Hellcat and I.O.INC to everyone who is looking for a good pistol and a company that stands behind their product with the best customer service ever! Also would like to thank Jason Dover, an engineer from I.O.INC that called me to talk to me about my broken extractor.

Uli thank you and pleased feel free to put any of this on your website and to tell your people I said thank you for their help and services.”

– Johnny

If You Ever Have a Problem, Just Contact Us

If you ever have a problem with an I.O., Inc. Hellcat 380, please contact us, so that we can address it immediately. To contact I.O., Inc., you should click here. Also, you can always email the President, Uli Wiegand, directly through his personal contact page at Contact Uli.

Watch the Video Review

Video Review of Hellcat .380 ACP

Back in August, 2010, Jeff Quinn of GunBlast.com tested the I.O., Inc. Hellcat .380 ACP on camera. Jeff put a video review up on YouTube of the original Hellcat. Since then, the Hellcat  has been completely re-engineered and upgraded, and it now comes with a pistol pouch and one 1 x 6 rd magazine. To see Jeff’s video, you should click here.

Written Review of Hellcat .380 ACP

In addition to his video review of the Hellcat, Jeff also posted a written review of the Hellcat, complete with photos, on GunBlast.com. Again, this was the original Hellcat,which has since been re-engineered and improved.  Here are a few, key excerpts from Jeff’s review:

“Upon examining the Hellcat 380, it is apparent that it is built of quality materials, and the pistol shows no machining marks, inside nor out.”

“The Hellcat has a pronounced curve to the back of the grip, and is very comfortable in my hand.”

“The I.O. Hellcat was easy to control, even when using the high performance ammunition from Cor-Bon and Buffalo Bore…. Every type of ammunition tested performed flawlessly.”

“I.O. provides the extra magazine in the box. All you need is ammo, and the Hellcat is ready to go to work.”

“The Hellcat 380 is a pistol well-suited to personal defense. It is small enough and light enough to always be within reach.”

To read the Jeff’s whole review of the Hellcat, including his report on testing 8 types of .380 ammunition with the Hellcat, you should click here.