{"id":845,"date":"2023-03-01T17:43:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T17:43:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=845"},"modified":"2023-03-01T17:43:30","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T17:43:30","slug":"springfield-hellion-review-range-testing-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=845","title":{"rendered":"Springfield Hellion Review: Range Testing and More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"player-inline-wrapper no-margin-top\">\n<div class=\"video-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<iframe class=\"player-inline\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/802271594?h=64fd924af8&amp;api=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"byline\">By <a class=\"byline-author ajax-home\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/author\/paul-carlson\/\">Paul Carlson<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Veteran firearms instructor Paul Carlson gives us this Springfield Hellion review. He gives it a full evaluation with ammo testing, and let\u2019s us know what roles for which it is perfectly suited.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dropcap\">W<\/span>hen it comes to considering a rifle for serious work, there\u2019s no lack of options out there \u2014 especially in the world of 5.56 NATO. But not all of those choices are good. Reliability is paramount (as always,) but since I believe we\u2019re living in the golden age of firearms development, we have options. Today, we can have what we want right along with what we need \u2014 if we make a wise choice.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this Springfield Armory Hellion review, the author put the gun through its paces, including range time with a mounted\u00a0suppressor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Which brings us to the Springfield Armory Hellion, a 5.56mm bullpup that is long on innovation and offers shooters a very unique option. If you haven\u2019t been paying attention to the Hellion rifle from Springfield, let me bring you up to speed.<\/p>\n<p>The Hellion is a semi-automatic \u201cbullpup\u201d chambered in 5.56 NATO. The rifle is built in Croatia by HS Produkt, in one of the most technologically advanced firearms manufacturing facilities in the world. It\u2019s built by the same folks that manufacture the impressive Hellcat family of handguns. Both the Hellion and the Hellcat were developed with input from Springfield Armory engineers for the U.S. market.<\/p>\n<p>Although the Hellion itself is new, its foundation isn\u2019t. The Hellion bullpup is based off of the reliable and proven VHS-2. My research uncovered seven nations that have the VHS-2 in service. Many of these are used in locations with adverse and demanding conditions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"933\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-armory-hellion-bullpup-review.jpg\" alt=\"springfield armory hellion bullpup review\" class=\"wp-image-40231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-armory-hellion-bullpup-review.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-armory-hellion-bullpup-review-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-armory-hellion-bullpup-review-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-armory-hellion-bullpup-review-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-armory-hellion-bullpup-review-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Hellion is a thoroughly modern bullpup rifle. It is fully ambidextrous, designed for use with a sound suppressor and set up to mount an optic right out of the\u00a0box.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Springfield Armory, being who they are, didn\u2019t settle for importing the VHS-2 in its standard form. Instead, they looked for enhancements that specifically benefited the American user. These included some excellent <a class=\"ajax-article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/how-to-use-hellion-iron-sights\/\">flip-up iron sights<\/a> integrated into the top rail, an <a class=\"ajax-article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/what-is-m-lok\/\"><span class=\"nowrap\">M-Lok<\/span> handguard<\/a>, AR mag compatibility and the use of standard AR-pattern pistol grips.<\/p>\n<h2>What\u2019s a Bullpup?<\/h2>\n<p>The most striking aspect of the Hellion 5.56 rifle is its form factor. As I mentioned, the Hellion is a bullpup. Simply explained, a bullpup is a rifle with the action located behind the pistol grip. The result is a firearm with a standard length barrel, yet a very short overall length.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/what-makes-the-hellion-a-bullpup.jpg\" alt=\"what makes the hellion a bullpup\" class=\"wp-image-40232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/what-makes-the-hellion-a-bullpup.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/what-makes-the-hellion-a-bullpup-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/what-makes-the-hellion-a-bullpup-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/what-makes-the-hellion-a-bullpup-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/what-makes-the-hellion-a-bullpup-600x337.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bullpup rifles are distinguished from typical ones by placing the action behind the trigger group. The author demonstrates the location of the action on the\u00a0Hellion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For comparison, a typical <span class=\"nowrap\">AR-15<\/span> like the <a class=\"ajax-article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/review-is-the-saint-victor-duty-grade\/\">Springfield SAINT Victor with a 16\u201d barrel<\/a> comes in at around 32.25\u201d with the stock collapses, while the Hellion measures in at a diminutive 28.25\u201d. This difference may not seem like a lot, but it can make a big difference in the real world.<\/p>\n<p>The Hellion features a hammer-forged 16\u201d barrel with a rugged Melonite coating for durability. The barrel has a 1:7\u201d twist rate to ensure it plays nicely with a wide range of popular bullet weights, particularly the heavier ones.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"933\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hellion-grip-and-safety-selector.jpg\" alt=\"hellion grip and safety selector\" class=\"wp-image-40233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hellion-grip-and-safety-selector.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hellion-grip-and-safety-selector-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hellion-grip-and-safety-selector-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hellion-grip-and-safety-selector-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hellion-grip-and-safety-selector-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Springfield Armory designed the Hellion to work with AR-compatible pistol grips. Not that the safety selector is ambidextrous \u2014 accessible from both sides of the\u00a0gun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Hellion is a short-stroke, piston-driven rifle. The result is reliable function without the typical fouling that can be expected from a direct impingement gun. A full-length Picatinny rail tops the gun. That rail, along with the <span class=\"nowrap\">M-Lok<\/span>-compatible handguard, ensures that you can accessorize the Hellion rifle with whatever tools you need to achieve your goal.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"933\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rear-sight-on-hellion-rifle.jpg\" alt=\"rear sight on hellion rifle\" class=\"wp-image-40234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rear-sight-on-hellion-rifle.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rear-sight-on-hellion-rifle-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rear-sight-on-hellion-rifle-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rear-sight-on-hellion-rifle-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rear-sight-on-hellion-rifle-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Springfield Armory provides integral pop-up sights on the Hellion. The rear sight, shown here, has five differently sized apertures that are adjustable on the\u00a0fly.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At each end of the top rail is a clever pop-up sight set. A simple press of the button allows you to raise or stow the sights. The front is a fine-tipped cylinder that is adjustable for elevation. The rear sight is one of five different rotating apertures you can select based on your preferred shooting distance and is adjustable for windage.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-40235\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested.jpg.webp 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested-800x533.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested-400x267.jpg.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested-768x512.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested-600x400.jpg.webp 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"933\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested.jpg\" alt=\"front sight on hellion tested\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/front-sight-on-hellion-tested-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The pop-up front sight is easily deployed or stowed with the press of a button. It\u2019s adjustable for elevation with a simple turn of the\u00a0knob.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The rail and sights were wonderfully compatible with my\u00a0Trijicon MRO. I mounted it with Trijicon\u2019s low Picatinny rail mount and was pleased to see a solid co-witness, making the sights practical as back-up irons if you\u2019re running a dot.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-40236\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle.jpg.webp 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle-800x533.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle-400x267.jpg.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle-768x512.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle-600x400.jpg.webp 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"933\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle.jpg\" alt=\"trijicon mro on the hellion rifle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/trijicon-mro-on-the-hellion-rifle-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Hellion features a full-length Picatinny rail on the top of the receiver. This allows you to add a scope or other optic like this Trijicon MRO red dot\u00a0sight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When it comes to running the rifle, the Hellion makes the shooter\u2019s job easy regardless of the situation, featuring fully ambidextrous controls. The gun can even be <a class=\"ajax-article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/how-to-reverse-the-5-56mm-hellion-bullpup-ejection-system\/\">swapped over to left-side ejection<\/a> for those that want to have a lefty-dedicated rifle.<\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter inline\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: none;\" class=\"logo-tal-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/themes\/thearmorylife\/img\/logo-tal-tm-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Live The Armory Life.<\/strong> The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our <a class=\"ajax-giveaways\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/giveaways\/\"><strong>monthly gun\u00a0giveaways!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There are ample QD sling mount points on the Hellion on both sides of the gun. There are two up front, two in the rear, and two at the rear of the full-length top rail. The sling mounts ensure you can set up your sling however you want it, and that\u2019s a good thing as the Hellion bullpup weighs in at eight pounds.<\/p>\n<p>The back end of the Hellion features a collapsible stock to ensure you can set your length of pull for the optimal shooting position.<\/p>\n<p>The Hellion is feature-rich, and it performs accordingly.<\/p>\n<h2>Range\u00a0Testing the Hellion<\/h2>\n<p>I haven\u2019t spent a ton of time with bullpups, as their \u201cquirky\u201d handling characteristics have tended to not mesh well with me. However, the Hellion proved to be the exception to that rule. It was reliable, and both easy and enjoyable to operate and shoot.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-40237\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer.jpg.webp 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer-800x450.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer-400x225.jpg.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer-768x432.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer-600x337.jpg.webp 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer.jpg\" alt=\"shooting the hellion bullpup with a silencer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shooting-the-hellion-bullpup-with-a-silencer-600x337.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Hellion is a feature-rich bullpup. Its balanced short length makes the rifle a perfect host for your favorite sound\u00a0suppressor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The short-stroke, piston operation ran like a dream, and the recoil impulse was soft and felt like a direct push to the rear. It was easy to control and recover for follow-up shots.<\/p>\n<p>There are two \u201cproblem\u201d areas that people tend to point out when it comes to bullpups: the manual of arms and the trigger. The Hellion didn\u2019t leave me wanting much in these areas. Let\u2019s talk about triggers first.<\/p>\n<p>With the action located behind the grip in a bullpup, a quality trigger pull can be difficult to achieve (due to the necessary trigger linkage design). The typical result of the distance from the trigger to the action is a long, sloppy and gritty trigger press.<\/p>\n<p>That isn\u2019t the case with the Springfield Hellion rifle. The trigger press begins with a decent amount of smooth take up, then with each press I reliably hit the wall and was able to press through with a clean break. Overtravel was minimal and the reset was reasonable in distance. All in all, the trigger was just plain good. This is no easy feat for a bullpup.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-40238\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment.jpg.webp 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment-800x450.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment-400x225.jpg.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment-768x432.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment-600x337.jpg.webp 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment.jpg\" alt=\"springfield hellion gas adjustment\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-gas-adjustment-600x337.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It doesn\u2019t matter if you are running the Hellion loud or suppressed. The rifle is equipped with a two-position gas system. Simply push in and rotate the\u00a0knob.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The trigger pull weight averaged out at 7 lbs., 5 oz. While this might seem heavy for a carbine, that number was a surprise to me. I thought it felt lighter in practice. Also, this weight is likely, again, a side-effect of the trigger linkage required in a bullpup design.<\/p>\n<p>Running the rifle is the other beef folks like to point out when disparaging bullpup rifles. This always makes me chuckle a bit. It\u2019s like they are implying that the manual of arms of an <span class=\"nowrap\">AR-15<\/span> is simple. It isn\u2019t. Instead, we are simply used to it. Spend a couple of weekends training with the Hellion, and you will run the gun efficiently. The fully ambidextrous controls also help out significantly.<\/p>\n<p>My only gripe about the Springfield Armory Hellion is the lack of a bolt catch lever. It would be nice to have, but it can be worked around easily with an empty mag or a finger inserted into the mag well to lift the internal catch while pulling the bolt to the rear with the charging handle. It\u2019s a little thing, but it is a thing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-testing-on-the-range.jpg\" alt=\"springfield hellion testing on the range\" class=\"wp-image-40229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-testing-on-the-range.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-testing-on-the-range-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-testing-on-the-range-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-testing-on-the-range-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/springfield-hellion-testing-on-the-range-600x337.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The recoil impulse of the Hellion is a straight, gentle push. The author found follow-up shots were easy to make with either the flash hider or a suppressor\u00a0attached.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My favorite aspect of the Hellion\u2019s performance is the balance of the rifle. The Hellion 5.56 rifle is heavier than the typical AR, but you don\u2019t know it when you\u2019re shooting. The location of the action behind the grip places the center of the gun\u2019s mass pretty close to the grip itself; this makes the gun easier to point, maneuver and shoot even with only one hand on the gun. That balanced weight also does a great job of absorbing recoil. Springfield\u2019s Hellion is truly pleasant to shoot.<\/p>\n<h2>Hellion Shooting Results<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table no-bold full-width\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>\u00a0Ammunition<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Velocity<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Energy<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Group<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>American Eagle 62 gr FMJ<\/td>\n<td>2,958 fps<\/td>\n<td>1,204 ft-lbs<\/td>\n<td>2.2\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hornady 55 gr GMX<\/td>\n<td>2,988 fps<\/td>\n<td>1,090 ft-lbs<\/td>\n<td>1.9\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Federal Gold Medal MatchKing 69 gr BTHP<\/td>\n<td>2,912 fps<\/td>\n<td>1,299 ft-lbs<\/td>\n<td>1.7\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Group size is measured in inches and is best of three-shot groups and fired from a sandbag rest at 100 yards. Velocity in feet per second and is the average of five rounds at 15 ft. fired across a Competition Electronics ProChrono chronograph.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The Sweet Spot<\/h2>\n<p>Not every gun fills a niche well, but the Hellion certainly does. That sweet spot is for someone that\u2019s looking for a well-balanced, compact rifle. Remember the overall length of the Hellion? That\u2019s right, 28.25\u201d fully collapsed. This is about 4\u201d shorter than a typical AR at its shortest with a 16\u201d barrel. That difference means either more maneuverability, or the ability to add muzzle devices without significant overall length. That makes the Hellion a perfect host for your favorite can.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-40239\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review.jpg.webp 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review-800x533.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review-400x267.jpg.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review-768x512.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review-600x400.jpg.webp 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"933\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review.jpg\" alt=\"evaluation of the springfield hellion review\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evaluation-of-the-springfield-hellion-review-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ambidextrous controls, including the selector lever, make the Hellion easy to operate. Its accuracy, gentle recoil and reliability make it a great defensive\u00a0rifle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I typically run a SAINT Victor SBR with a suppressor. That extra weight out front can really become cumbersome after a few hours of work. The length and balance of the Hellion would be a significant fatigue reducer. In addition, there is no trade-off for the reduction in length. The 16\u201d barrel will still give the ballistic performance you need well beyond the capability of the typical SBR, but with a similar overall length.<\/p>\n<h2>Hellion Review Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>The Springfield Armory Hellion is a very capable rifle in a small package. If you are looking for a reliable rifle in a small, balanced package, the Hellion is exactly what you need. This is especially true if you\u2019re looking to run a suppressor.<\/p>\n<p>Springfield Armory set the MSRP for the Hellion at a reasonable $1,999, but I\u2019ve seen street prices closer to $1,750. Considering the reliability and the feature set of the Hellion, that\u2019s a true value.<\/p>\n<p>Bottom line? I\u2019m a fan.<\/p>\n<p><em>Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!<\/em><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading heading-forum-thread hide-share\"><span>Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"forum-thread-button-wrapper hide-share\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/forum\/threads\/14324\/\">Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading heading-featured hide-share\"><span>Featured in this video<\/span><\/h5>\n<section class=\"featured hide-share grid-three\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"product series-hellion \" href=\"https:\/\/www.springfield-armory.com\/hellion-series\/hellion-rifles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caliber\"><span class=\"cal-556nato\">556<sup>NATO<\/sup><\/span><\/span>&#13;\n\t\t\t\t\t<picture loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.1rem;\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/HL916556B.png.webp\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/HL916556B.png\" alt=\"Hellion\u2122 Series\"\/>\n<\/picture>\n&#13;<\/p>\n<h3>Hellion\u2122 <span>Series<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"product series-saint \" href=\"https:\/\/www.springfield-armory.com\/saint-series\/saint-victor-ar-15-rifles\/saint-victor-556-ar-15-rifle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caliber\"><span class=\"cal-556nato\">556<sup>NATO<\/sup><\/span><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin-bottom: .5rem;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/STV916556B.png\" alt=\"SAINT\u00ae Victor\"\/>&#13;<\/p>\n<h3>SAINT\u00ae <span>Victor<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"product series-saint \" href=\"https:\/\/www.springfield-armory.com\/saint-series\/saint-victor-ar-15-rifles\/saint-victor-sbr-556-ar-15-rifle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caliber\"><span class=\"cal-556nato\">556<sup>NATO<\/sup><\/span><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1.1rem;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/STV9115556B.png\" alt=\"SAINT\u00ae Victor SBR\"\/>&#13;<\/p>\n<h3>SAINT\u00ae <span>Victor SBR<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"product series-other \" href=\"https:\/\/www.trijicon.com\/products\/product-family\/trijicon-mro-red-dot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caliber\"><span class=\"cal-\"\/><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"max-width: 84%; margin-top: 0.8rem;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/project-trijicon-mro-c-2200004.jpg\" alt=\"Trijicon MRO Red Dot\"\/>&#13;<\/p>\n<h3>Trijicon <span>MRO Red Dot<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"product series-hellcat \" href=\"https:\/\/www.springfield-armory.com\/hellcat-series-handguns\/hellcat-3-micro-compact-handguns\/hellcat-3-micro-compact-9mm-handgun\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caliber\"><span class=\"cal-9mm\">9<sup>mm<\/sup><\/span><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/HC9319B.png\" alt=\"Hellcat\u00ae 3&quot;\"\/>&#13;<\/p>\n<h3>Hellcat\u00ae <span>3&#8243;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/springfield-hellion-review\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Paul Carlson Veteran firearms instructor Paul Carlson gives us this Springfield Hellion review. He gives it a full evaluation with ammo testing, and let\u2019s us know what roles for which it is perfectly suited. When it comes to considering a rifle for serious work, there\u2019s no lack of options out there \u2014 especially in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/845\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}