Springfield Armory Hellion 5.56: The Modern Bullpup Done Right

Bullpup rifles have always had a loyal but niche following in the U.S., often held back by awkward ergonomics, proprietary controls, or complex maintenance. Springfield Armory’s Hellion 5.56, however, has steadily grown into one of the most respected modern bullpups on the market — and for good reason.

Based on the Croatian VHS-2 service rifle, the Hellion brings a proven military platform into the civilian world with genuine refinement. At its core, the Hellion offers what shooters have always wanted from a bullpup:

• Compact overall length without sacrificing barrel length
• Fully ambidextrous controls
• Soft-shooting gas system
• Backward compatibility with AR-15 magazines

The 16″ barrel stays fully ballistic-efficient while delivering maneuverability closer to a 10.5″ SBR — all without NFA paperwork. Its piston system produces a smooth recoil impulse, and adjustable gas settings allow shooters to run suppressors or tune the rifle for varying conditions.

Where the Hellion really shines is in its attention to user experience. Springfield reworked the charging handle, safety, and ejection system to make the rifle intuitive even for shooters accustomed to AR platforms. The rifle also comes with robust features like a monolithic top rail, integrated QD sockets, and a modular buttpad for length-of-pull adjustment.

In training and field evaluation, the Hellion proved reliable, surprisingly accurate, and genuinely practical — not just a curiosity piece. For shooters wanting a compact 5.56 rifle that maintains full power and reliability, the Hellion represents one of the strongest bullpup offerings in today’s market.