Springfield Armory Hellion
Springfield Armory, Inc. · Assault Rifle · In Production · 2022
Also known as: Hellion, HL916556B, VHS-2 (parent design)
Overview
The Springfield Armory Hellion is a 5.56x45mm NATO bullpup rifle introduced for 2022 as the U.S.-market civilian, semi-automatic adaptation of the combat-proven HS Produkt VHS-2, the bullpup adopted by the Croatian Armed Forces. Manufactured under Springfield Armory's long-running partnership with Croatian firm HS Produkt (which also produces the XD and Hellcat pistols), the Hellion packs a 16-inch hammer-forged chrome-moly-vanadium barrel into an overall length of just 28.25 inches (about 718mm) thanks to its bullpup layout, where the action and magazine sit behind the trigger group. It employs a two-position adjustable short-stroke gas piston operating system with normal (N) and suppressed (S) settings. The rifle is fully ambidextrous: the case ejection can be reversed between right- and left-hand configurations, and the forward, top-mounted charging handle and controls accommodate either hand. Standard equipment includes flip-up adjustable iron sights integrated into the full-length Picatinny top rail, M-LOK handguard, and a five-position adjustable stock with adjustable cheek riser. The Hellion accepts standard STANAG/AR-15 magazines and ships with the 1:7-inch twist barrel weighing approximately 8 pounds. Barrel-length variants of 16, 18, and 20 inches are offered.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3629 g (128.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 718 mm (28.27") |
| Barrel Length | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke Piston |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 905 m/s (2969 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1640 J (1210 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3600 m (3937 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Polymer |
| Barrel Material | Chrome Moly Vanadium Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Melonite |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56x45mm NATO — also known as 5.56mm NATO, 5.56x45mm, .223 Remington
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector, Ambidextrous Safety
- Features: Bullpup Configuration, 2 Position Adjustable Gas Regulator, Short Stroke Piston, Ambidextrous Controls, Reversible Case Ejection, Forward Charging Handle, Integrated Flip Up Sights, M Lok Handguard, 5 Position Adjustable Stock, Adjustable Cheek Riser, Stanag Magazine Compatible, Hammer Forged Barrel, Picatinny Top Rail
Variants
- Springfield Armory Hellion 16-inch (HL916556B) — Standard
- Springfield Armory Hellion 18-inch — Barrel Length
- Springfield Armory Hellion 20-inch (HL920556B) — Barrel Length
Service history
Operators
- U.S. Civilian Sport Shooters · adopted 2022 · as Hellion
Production
Production years: 2022-present
Manufactured by HS Produkt in Croatia; imported by Springfield Armory
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Notes
MSRP at launch was approximately $1,999. The Hellion is the semi-automatic civilian version of the HS Produkt VHS-2 (Visehnamjenska Hrvatska Streljacka, 'multi-purpose Croatian rifle'), in service with the Croatian Armed Forces. It is manufactured by HS Produkt in Croatia and imported/marketed by Springfield Armory. The two-position gas regulator marked N (normal) and S (suppressed) tunes the short-stroke piston for different conditions. Case ejection is user-reversible for left- or right-handed shooters by swapping the bolt and ejection-port cover. Overall length varies by barrel: roughly 28.25 inches for the 16-inch model. STANAG magazine compatibility means it runs standard AR-15 magazines.
Background
The Hellion descends from the Croatian HS Produkt VHS-2, a bullpup developed through the 1990s and 2000s and adopted by the Croatian Armed Forces. Springfield Armory leveraged its existing HS Produkt partnership, the same one behind the XD and Hellcat pistols, to bring a fully ambidextrous, suppressor-tunable bullpup to the American sporting market.