Within days of the launch of the Springfield Hellion Bullpup, Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons posted this video with the Hellion at a 2-Gun Action Challenge match. Considering that it’s a bullpup, we would expect it to be very compact and good in close quarters, and that’s just the case as his first shots take place from inside a Ford Bronco.
The Springfield Hellion
The video goes a long way in showcasing the maneuverability of the Springfield Bullpup, which appears to be outstanding. Ian changes positions several times, including shooting out the driver’s side window, inside from the driver’s seat, from the passenger seat, and finally, out the passenger’s side window, including a magazine change. The short nature of this carbine makes all of this maneuvering inside a vehicle about as easy as we could expect from any weapon.
Testing the Springfield Bullpup
Aside from shooting from inside the vehicle, there is also a healthy portion of shooting around and under barricades, further showcasing how maneuverable the little bullpup is.
Throughout the video, there is a good deal of shooting, so we viewers get a good idea of how this weapon handles and behaves. One thing that becomes immediately apparent is that the Hellion does not recoil very much and that the recoil is directed straight back.
Ian says that the weapon is heavier toward the rear, and not perfectly balanced at the grip. The front end is light, which he says is good for handling at close range, but not optimal for engaging targets at longer ranges. A heavier front end would keep the sights stabilized better.
Difficulties that Arose in the Springfield Bullpup
He describes the trigger as a bit “squishy,” although this does not seem to be an issue for him throughout the video. He does have a difficult time hitting a Texas Star target at distance, though this might have partially been because he was shooting offhand, and the targets were relatively small. Perhaps a more stable shooting position would have yielded better results.
In the video, the Springfield Hellion is set up for ejection from the left side, but it can also be set up to eject from the right side. It’s worth noting that, regardless of the position he shot from, Ian says he never was hit by brass in the face. The rest of the controls are also ambidextrous. Further, he notes that it’s a very good bullpup and that the cheek rest is good. There is also a generous rail for optics, lasers, lights, a can opener, a kitchen sink, and any other accouterments that a shooter might wish to bolt onto the weapon.
While the video is great for digging into the meat and potatoes of how this bullpup shoots and how it behaves on the range, it doesn’t go into the technical specifications of the weapon. As such, I did some looking and came up with some here.
Springfield Hellion Specifications
- Overall length: 28.25 inches.
- Barrel: 16 inches.
- Caliber: 5.56mm NATO (or .223 REM)
- Quick detachable sling points on both sides.
- Gas system: Adjustable for either Suppressed or Normal modes, depending on ammunition.
- Color: Black.
- Sights: Front flip-up, elevation adjustable. Back flip-up 5-position aperture, adjustable for windage.
- Stock: 5-position adjustable.
- Flash suppressor: 4-prong.
- Weight: 8 pounds.
- MSRP: $1,999.
The charging handle and safety are ambidextrous, and the ejection port can be adjusted for either side. The magazines are compatible with the AR-15/M-16 series and supplied by MagPul.
All in all, the Springfield Hellion appears to be a solid bullpup design and Ian does a great job showing the attributes of the carbine, as well as pointing out some of his less favorite aspects. I’d say this is a good video to watch to get a realistic picture of how this firearm can be expected to perform.
Watch the video:
