SHOT Show Recap: Springfield Hellion

  • Jack Collins
The VHS rifle that the Hellion is based on. Photo Courtesy of REMOV.

If you’re a fan of the Halo series, you’re going to love this gun. Springfield Armory, best known for their aesthetically pleasing M1As and sturdy series of 1911s, made some significant waves with their big reveal at SHOT Show 2022. Their new rifle, dubbed the “Hellion,” has taken the firearms world by storm over the last few weeks. We’ll take a closer look at this rifle in this post.

What is the Springfield Armory Hellion?

The Hellion is the result of a collaboration between Springfield and Croatian arms company HS Produkt. They’re the ones responsible for equipping the Croatian army with their rifles, known as the VHS (an acronym that’s short for “Multifunctional Croatian Machine Gun.” HS Product first released their original VHS design in 2007. In 2013, they released the updated VHS-2.

But the VHS-2 was a military-grade machine gun. That meant Springfield had to spend several years working to make it legal for civilian use. The rifle utilizes a bullpup design to make it more compact and easier to maneuver. Think of it as Springfield’s answer to the Tavor.

What really makes the Hellion stand out to me, though, is its resemblance to the Battle Rifle from the Halo series. From its bullpup design to the cutout between the barrel and the rail, this thing is obviously one of the inspirations for the Halo gun. As a result, it’s probably one of the best ways to build a Battle Rifle replica and fulfill all of your Master Chief fantasies.

Photo Courtesy of Commorancy

Springfield Armory Hellion Specs

    • Caliber: 5.56×45 (.223 is good to go).
  • Action: Rotating bolt short-stroke gas piston.
  • Barrel: 16.25” cold hammer-forged steel coated in melonite. 
  • Capacity: 30 rounds.
  • Trigger Pull: 6 lb., 8 oz.
  • Sights: integrated iron sights with picatinny optics rail.
  • Weight: 8 lb. unloaded.
  • MSRP: $1,999

If you want to check out more of our highlights from this year’s SHOT Show? Check out parts one and two.

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