Lab4Us
Professional
There’s that. And then there is the fact I don’t care what labels Liberals try to apply.
And the fact I suspect groups like that would buy the cheapest they could find in quantity.
What Do We Think of the Hellion in 2026?
- Thread starter Lab4Us
- Start date
And the fact I suspect groups like that would buy the cheapest they could find in quantity.
Belt Fed
SAINT
Who gives a rats *** if they adopted it,
Belt Fed
SAINT
So did the A team.
Lab4Us
Professional
I do appreciate all the input here. It has certainly given me some things (operationally) to think about. Though I haven’t carried an M16 in decades, I’m pretty sure I could disassemble a bolt carrier group like it was yesterday. I didn’t really research the disassembly process of the Hellion, so I’ll do that today.
I’m not entirely opposed to an AR, I was just looking for something a bit more manageable (ie, a bit shorter, no NFA license required) if needed in close quarters - but I do have plenty of handguns.
The quest continues. I’m also looking at Henry rifles as it would also be nice to use pistol calibers I already have, like .357 Magnum and .45.
Still open to more suggestions. This is certainly not going to be a spontaneous purchase.
I’m not entirely opposed to an AR, I was just looking for something a bit more manageable (ie, a bit shorter, no NFA license required) if needed in close quarters - but I do have plenty of handguns.
The quest continues. I’m also looking at Henry rifles as it would also be nice to use pistol calibers I already have, like .357 Magnum and .45.
Still open to more suggestions. This is certainly not going to be a spontaneous purchase.
Belt Fed
SAINT
Whatever you get, we know Tactical dude is gonna lose more arms.
Lab4Us
Professional
We’ll see
. I’m also researching joining the outdoor range here in town, which I can do with a lifetime membership at $650 (Senior), or $100 (Senior) annual. Benefit would be actual rifle distances to actually zero, pistol bays out to 25 yards (indoor stops at 15), and RSO present when range open (9am-5pm subject to inclement weather). They also have backboards to staple targets to instead of hanging. I suspect it will take me more than a few range trips to leave raggedy holes in Tactical Dude’s shoulders at 100 yards…though I did earn that marksmanship with star award long ago for a reason
.
KillerFord1977
Emissary
I own a hellion, an AUG and many NFA SBR’s w 10.5” barrels.
Love all 3 for diff reasons.
I’d get an AUG if you want bullpup. The US Made Nato version takes AR mags and there is ton of aftermarket support. Fun to shoot and accurate.
SBR with 10.5” barrel suppressed is as long as my AUG, so it handy for mobility.
NFA paperwork is super easy and now its free.
Good news with an SBR permit, you can swap uppers to a 16” barrel if you want to go distance at a range for example, then swap back to a 10.5” for HD. Legal to swap uppers as long as you dont change caliber. Thats not legal, but same caliber as registered is legal.
OldGrunt
Professional
Since you mentioned pistol calibers, maybe you might consider this. It's a .45 Ruger LC Carbine. I keep loaded pistols in just about every room in my house. All my shotguns and rifles stay locked in my gun safe. The only long gun I keep loaded is this Ruger. And it is fun to shoot! I don't think I need anything for longer range around my place for defense. This one stays in a closet near the front door.
PieterCoetzee
Elite
I think it was in the late 1970s when there were limited "assault rifle" options and the PDs and Feds were using AR. At that time the ARs were expensive by todays standards and the Mini 14 was relatively cheap. When the Clan started adopting them, Ruger went ballistic, that may be why Ruger was one of the first companies to push the 10 round mags for civilians
PieterCoetzee
Elite
NO of course not, but it does mean that if theres an incident it WILL come up that a NAZI gun was used. The Edelweiss song written by Rogers and Hammerstein (both Jewish) was called a Nazi song by liberals. Things arent the way they are, they are too often the way they are perceived by the idiot public....and by the way the jury wont be made up of Brain Surgeons.
Massad Ayoob once suggested not to use handguns that had fierce names because a Prosecutor could use that against you: "Sir is your gun a "Pit Bull"? Isnt that the name of a breed of dogs that maul children? Did you shoot that kid with a gun named after a Pit Bull? My point is that stuff like that can be used against you. Another example is AKs. I like AKs and I own AKs; but I wouldnt want to be the guy that runs to his car to get an AK to stop an Active Shooter. No PD uses AKs so someone at an Active Shooter incident with an AK is going to LOOK like a bad guy and be dealt with as a bad guy at least until the incident is over
As for the Hood Rats, well, their use of illegally converted full auto Glocks, got Glock sued, causing Glock to STOP production and redesign there whole line up. See also the AK factor above.
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WellArmed
Custom
Oh give me a break, lol. No one associates the Mini 14 with the KKK. If the left side of the aisle and people overall did think that, the Mini would have been on their ban radar, but, IIRC, the Mini 14 is legal states including anti states. They are usually ignored because they look like regular hunting rifles instead of "evil black assault rifles."
There's nothing wrong with modern Mini 14s. They aren't target rifles. They are ranch and defensive rifles with more than enough accuracy to put round on target at any distance any of us would need for self defense purposes.
WellArmed
Custom
So, what would you suggest that a mythical prosecutor wouldn't use against you when you have to defend yourself in court because you defended yourself against someone who broke into your home or is actively shooting people?
Lab4Us
Professional
So I’ve wasted (is a day spent ogling rifles actually wasted?) a day reviewing lots of things and I have yet another question.
These “pinned” and “welded” barrels that allow a barrel <16 inches to not be NFA controlled, are they reliable? I came across one AR type that had a 14.something pinned barrel that also allowed for a switch to a suppressor? If it’s pinned/welded, how do you switch it to suppressor? Or is that company playing with semantics?
I know a few of you here have mentioned to avoid the Hellion, but several multiple reviews of “best AR15 of 2025” have it listed as best new model?
At this point I’ve still got a Hellion near top of my list, but am also considering this…(and yes, I realize that is a very high price for an AR15 rifle). I am also seriously considering an SBR (though I haven’t researched models yet) as, as mentioned from some of you, NFA seems pretty easy these days. I do worry about the hassles of passing an NFA to my grandson when that inevitable day comes…
Almost forgot, any thoughts on 5.56 vs .300 blackout?
These “pinned” and “welded” barrels that allow a barrel <16 inches to not be NFA controlled, are they reliable? I came across one AR type that had a 14.something pinned barrel that also allowed for a switch to a suppressor? If it’s pinned/welded, how do you switch it to suppressor? Or is that company playing with semantics?
I know a few of you here have mentioned to avoid the Hellion, but several multiple reviews of “best AR15 of 2025” have it listed as best new model?
At this point I’ve still got a Hellion near top of my list, but am also considering this…(and yes, I realize that is a very high price for an AR15 rifle). I am also seriously considering an SBR (though I haven’t researched models yet) as, as mentioned from some of you, NFA seems pretty easy these days. I do worry about the hassles of passing an NFA to my grandson when that inevitable day comes…
Almost forgot, any thoughts on 5.56 vs .300 blackout?
PieterCoetzee
Elite
Well first tell the truth. Something made you realize you needed to shoot. EXPLAIN that. NOt knowing you, Ill make this up. Im 65 years old with a heart condition. I cant run across the room let alone across the parking lot and I certainly cant fight a 16 year old... He came up to me while I was pumping gas and demanded my wallet. I gave him money but he wanted my wedding ring from my deceased wife. I tried to tell him I couldnt get it off anymore since I broke my finger but he threatened to kill me. I kept hoping someone in the gas station would see what was happening but he was standing right there and I guess he was blocked from their view. I wanted to scream but I was afraid hed shoot me. Then he hit me and I fell. I just knew he was gonna kill me.....
WellArmed
Custom
So you what do you carry? What would you defend yourself with, if you could, in that situation?
Jfal
Hellcat
Your case is tragic....sounds like better situational awareness could have helped. When pumping gas I am giving everyone the stink eye and spinning around like a dreidel (exaggerated, but you get the point). I hate gas stations for this. Too many vertical sight barriers around the pumps.
PieterCoetzee
Elite
It depends on the situation. I attended a formal event over the holidays and wore a PPK in 32acp because it was a low threat situation. Other times Ive carried Single actions in 45 Colt, or a Glock or a Beretta in 9mm. If Im going somewhere that Im concerned about bad guys wearing armor (or a vehicle assault), then its a FN 5.7. At times Ive carried a SBS'd SxS shotgun....
Yes some guns may require additional explanation; but ultimately a good shoot is a good shoot and a bad one is well, bad... Sure the prosecutor could make something of my choices, and yes it might be simpler if I had chosen ______ but either I made the right decision to shoot OR I didnt. Then its a question of how I articulated the events.
If a bad guy breaks into my house and I defend myself with a Viking Axe is he any less a lethal threat then if I gave him a burst from a MP5? His THREAT is why you defend yourself.
PieterCoetzee
Elite
To be clear that was fiction, to articulate how to explain the events.
Honestly if it was me, the first thing Id do would be to give the bad guy a good spray of UNLEADED If that didnt stop him, then Id step back while he discovered what happens when you add the spark of a gun shot to gasoline fumes.... It would be worth $3.00 a gallon to see that....and "Officer he attacked me and all I could do was try to step away. Im sorry the gas was still pumping as I stepped back. Hes the one that shot, not me. I guess he didnt pay attention in high school science class"
Jfal
Hellcat
I just re-read and picked up up on the, "I'll make this up". Sorry....
