Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to talk about the Springfield Armory Hellion today. Bullpup enthusiasts and service rifle enjoyers in particular have been drawn to the rifle and appreciate its features.
Today we are going to cover the rifle's background, features, use cases, and more. Without further ado, let's talk about the Springfield Armory Hellion.
Who is Springfield Armory?
Springfield Armory Incorporated, often just called Springfield Armory Inc. or Springfield Armory, has been in the firearms business since the mid 1970s. The company purchased the rights to the Springfield Armory name and has notably produced their M1A line of rifles and 1911 handguns for decades.
Besides producing firearms of their own design, the company has also imported firearms of various types from countries across the globe. The company notably has a close relationship with HS Produkt in Croatia.
This allows Springfield Armory to import a wide range of HS Produkt firearms such as the XD line, Hellcat series, and Hellion rifles. In recent years, the company has also branched into the production of AR-15s such as their Saint product line.
Springfield Armory products are offered at many price points and appeal to shooters of various disciplines. This is to say that everyone from law enforcement personnel to competitive shooters, concealed carriers, and casual shooters employ Springfield Armory firearms.
What is the Springfield Armory Hellion?
The Springfield Armory Hellion, like the XD, Echelon, and Hellcat pistols, is imported from Croatia. Initially introduced in 2022, the Springfield Hellion is a semi-automatic 5.56 chambered short stroke piston-driven rifle with unique features.
At its core, the Springfield Armory Hellion is an imported version of the Croatian VHS-2 assault rifle. Beyond making it semi-auto only, some changes were made to the firearm to comply with import laws, namably 922r.
Big changes found on the Americanized rifles include an M-LOK compatible handguard, STANAG compatible magwell, and compatibility with AR-15 grips. The first Hellion model imported to the U.S. was essentially a commercialized version of the VHS-K2, the carbine version of the service rifle.
As a bullpup rifle, the Hellion features a unique appearance which distinguishes itself from the ARs which are commonly found on the American market. The rifle comes equipped with a set of backup iron sights built into the long optic rail atop the firearm.
These metal sights feature a wide range of adjustment and are suitable for various distances and types of shooting. Notably, the rifle also possesses many desirable features such as a suppressor setting and ambidextrous controls.
Springfield Hellion Variants
Currently, the Springfield Hellion comes a variety of configurations. These configurations feature three different barrel lengths and four different colors to choose from.
Barrel length options encompass 16", 18", and 20" offerings while color options include black, gray, desert FDE, and OD green. While the 16" variant of the rifle mirrored the VHS-K2 rifle, the 20" model mirrors the Croatian VHS-D2 rifle. The 20" variant also features a finned barrel and bayonet lug which are present on the issued VHS-D2 rifle.
Bullpup Design
As a bullpup design, the Springfield Hellion's action is located behind its trigger. This is to say that essential components like the magazine, bolt, breech, and action as a whole are located at the rear of the rifle.
This type of layout allows a firearm to be both compact and feature a long barrel. Essentially, shooters can utilize a short firearm with a standard barrel which does not compromise on ballistic performance.
Ambidextrous Operation
The Springfield Hellion notably features an entirely ambidextrous suite of controls. This is to say that all major firearm functions can be accomplished by the left or right hand equally.
Shooters can access the safety, charging handle, bolt release, and magazine release with either hand. This sets the rifle apart from other bullpup designs like the Steyr AUG and X-95 which lack some ambidextrous features.
Like these two designs, the Springfield Hellion can be configured for either left or right handed ejection. In a departure from these designs, the shooter does not need to acquire additional parts or a great deal of work.
One must simply reverse the bolt head 180° and un-pin the desired ejection port and pin the off-hand side. As an ambidextrous rifle, more shooters will be at home with the Springfield Hellion than others.
Adjustable Length of Pull
A unique feature of the Springfield Hellion is its adjustable length of pull. Other contemporary bullpup designs like the Tavor X-95, Steyr AUG, Keltec RFB, and Desert Tech MDR lack a provision for adjusting one's length of pull.
Some rifles, like the Tavor series, can utilize aftermarket buttpads from companies like Manticore Arms to achieve this function, but ultimately lack the function to do so natively. The Springfield Hellion features a prominent tab behind the bolt release at the end of the stock which can be depressed to adjust the length of pull.
While some may feel that the Hellion is long enough in its short configuration, one can extend the buttpad out a fair bit if so desired. This allows the Hellion to be fit to shooters with larger frames.
AR-15 Grip Compatibility
In a departure from other contemporary bullpups, the Springfield Hellion is compatible with AR-15 pattern grips. Traditional bullpups feature grips which are typically not removable or interchangeable.
These grips are typically molded into the plastic stock and are only truly replaceable on select rifles such as the Tavor X95 rifle. However, the X95 is limited in this regard and is only compatible with IWI components such as their traditional pistol grip or the common bullpup "cutlass" grip.
Out of the box, the Springfield Hellion sports a BCM Gunfighter grip which can easily be replaced with your favorite AR grip. One thing to note is that pistol grips on the Springfield Hellion have a slight vertical tilt.
Optimized for Suppressed Use
The Springfield Hellion notably features an adjustable gas system with a provision for suppressed shooting right out of the box. This allows users to affix a suppressor to the rifle and utilize it in the proper setting without worrying about undue, excessive wear.
While other contemporary bullpups may feature adjustable gas settings, the Hellion notably does not require additional tuning or new parts. For example, Steyr AUG rifles require a specific gas regulator component in order to use a traditional suppressor.
Unless a reduced back pressure type suppressor is utilized, one runs the risk of damaging their AUG and causing excessive wear if the right gas plug is not used. With the Hellion, all one must do is simply replace the factory flash hider, properly install a suppressor mount (if not using a direct thread suppressor), switch the setting to "S" for suppressed shooting, and then fire away. No extra parts or tuning needed.
Aftermarket and Industry Support
At this point in time, aftermarket and industry support for the Hellion is growing slowly and steadily. As with all new entries to the market, support comes slowly at first as the product garners attention and becomes more popular.
Of course, it will be hard for any design to match the level of support enjoyed by common firearms like Glock pattern handguns and AR-15s. That being said, there are a number of companies such as Lunartech Designs and The VHS-2 Project who produce Hellion compatible products.
These offerings include handguards, magwells, grips, replacement stocks, and controls like mag releases and bolt releases. In addition to specific components, the Hellion is also compatible with a litany of M-LOK accessories, AR-15 grips, and 1/2×28 threaded muzzle devices. This makes it easy for an end user to affix a light, grip, or muzzle device of their choice to their Hellion.
What is the Springfield Hellion Good For?
Like most semi–automatic rifles chambered in 5.56, the Springfield Hellion can be utilized for a wide range of purposes. An immediate and obvious use case for the rifle is plinking and recreational shooting.
The light recoil and shootability of the rifle makes it well-suited for casual shooting and easygoing range sessions. These traits also allow it to be utilized in both competition and tactical use cases. Of course, the heavier trigger pull found on the Hellion and other bullpup rifles may leave something to be desired for match shooters.
The rifle can also effectively be employed in a defensive or duty role. Traits such as its common caliber, compatibility with AR-15 magazines, and rugged construction make it suitable for this use.
The rifle, especially with longer barrels, can also effectively be employed in some hunting roles. Particularly, the rifle would make a great choice for dispatching coyotes as one can have a handy rifle with a long barrel and in a sufficient caliber. In short, the Hellion is capable of filling many roles.
Conclusion
All in all, the Springfield Hellion is a unique and capable rifle that distinguishes itself from other semi-automatic carbines. The rifle essentially allows shooters to possess a commercialized version of a military rifle which has a variety of desirable features.
As mentioned above, the rifle can easily fill a variety of roles, excelling in both casual and serious use cases alike. While we here at True Shot Ammo do not carry firearms, we do have a wide range of ammo for sale and accessories great for a Springfield Hellion.
Our inventory of ammunition for sale encompasses popular calibers and gauges like 9mm, 5.56, 12 gauge, and .22 LR. Specifically, we have a wide range of both 5.56 and .223 ammo which will pair great with a Hellion rifle.
As far as accessories go, we carry optics, flashlights, and magazines from companies like EOTech, Aimpoint, Surefire, Streamlight, Magpul, and Lancer Systems which are compatible with a Hellion. Whether you want to buy ammo or accessories for a Hellion or wish to buy bulk ammo, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
