Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD – Superb Black Bullpup Rifle

Description

The Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD packs a full 16 inch barrel into a rifle just over 28 inches long. That is the whole argument for a bullpup: carbine ballistics from a package shorter than most pistol caliber carbines, without the paperwork or the muzzle blast that comes with chopping a barrel down. This is the ten round configuration, built for shooters in states where standard capacity magazines are not an option.

How The Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD Works

Springfield built the Hellion bullpup rifle on a two position adjustable short stroke piston system rather than direct impingement. Gas and fouling stay forward of the chamber instead of being routed back into the receiver, which matters more in a bullpup because the action sits right beside your face. The second gas setting opens the port up for suppressed shooting or for dirty ammunition.

The feature that sells most people on the Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD is reversible case ejection. A left handed shooter can convert the rifle without a trip to a gunsmith, which historically was the single biggest reason bullpups stayed a niche. The ambidextrous charging handle is non reciprocating and can be run from either side, and the safety is mirrored on both sides of the receiver.

Sights are built in rather than bolted on. Both the front and rear flip up out of the top rail, the front adjusts for elevation and the rear offers a five position aperture with windage adjustment. If you mount an optic the sights fold flat underneath it, so the Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD arrives ready to shoot without buying anything else.

Living With The Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD

Overall length runs from 28.25 to 29.75 inches across the five stock positions, and the cheek riser adjusts separately. At 8 pounds the rifle is no lighter than a comparable AR, but the weight sits between your hands rather than out front, so it points quickly and holds steady offhand far better than the number suggests. Vehicle work, tight interiors and blind hunting are where the Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD earns its shape.

The handguard is polymer with M-Lok slots, and there are QD sling points on both sides of the rifle so a two point sling can be set up for either shoulder. The BCMGUNFIGHTER Mod 3 grip is the same one plenty of people fit to their AR as an upgrade, so it is a component you are unlikely to want to change.

Be realistic about the trigger. Every bullpup routes the trigger through a linkage bar running back to the sear, and the Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD is no exception. It is a good bullpup trigger, but it is heavier and less crisp than a decent AR trigger, and there is no drop in aftermarket cassette to fix that.

Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD Specifications

• Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO (223 Remington)
• Barrel: 16 inch CMV with Melonite finish, 1:7 twist
• Muzzle device: Four prong flash hider
• Operating system: Two position adjustable short stroke piston
• Bolt carrier: Proprietary, Melonite finished
• Front sight: Integrated flip up, adjustable for elevation
• Rear sight: Integrated flip up, five position aperture, adjustable for windage
• Charging handle: Ambidextrous, non reciprocating
• Safety: Ambidextrous
• Grip: BCMGUNFIGHTER Mod 3
• Stock: Five position adjustable with cheek riser
• Handguard: Polymer with M-Lok slots
• Ejection: Reversible for left or right handed shooters
• Overall length: 28.25 to 29.75 inches
• Weight: 8 pounds
• Magazine: One ten round magazine included
• Model number: HL916556BLC
• UPC: 706397958206

A padded rifle case is included in the box with every Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD.

Why Buyers Choose The Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD

Bullpups have a reputation for being awkward, and most of that reputation was earned by designs that could not be run left handed and had triggers nobody wanted. Springfield addressed both directly. The Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD converts for left side ejection with hand tools, and every control that matters is mirrored.

The piston system is the other thing worth paying for. In a bullpup the chamber sits inches from your cheek, so keeping gas and carbon forward is a comfort issue as much as a maintenance one. Running suppressed on the second gas setting, the Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD stays noticeably cleaner than a direct impingement rifle in the same role.

There are real trade offs. Magazine changes happen behind your firing hand, which feels wrong for anyone with years of AR muscle memory and takes deliberate practice to get quick. Balance is rearward, so shooting from a bipod or a bag is less natural than with a conventional rifle. And the ten round magazine that ships with the Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD is there for legal compliance, so check your own state rules before buying anything larger.

Parts support is also thinner than the AR world. Springfield sells magazines and spares, but you will not find the aftermarket depth that a standard AR pattern rifle enjoys, and a handguard or stock swap is not on the menu.

Who Should Buy The Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD

The Springfield Hellion 5.56 16 Inch 10RD makes sense for a truck rifle, a home defence rifle in a tight house, or anyone who wants a full length barrel in a package that fits a short case. Left handed shooters should take a particularly close look, because reversible ejection makes this one of the few bullpups genuinely built for them. If you shoot competitively or want to build the rifle out with aftermarket parts, a conventional AR will serve you better and cost less.

Learn more about this bullpup rifle from the manufacturer, or see more firearms available at MAG5 Firearms.