Editor’s Note: The author does not advocate carrying, storing or displaying a gun in any place it is prohibited by statutory law. As a fully sworn law enforcement officer, the author may legally employ a firearm in places that might otherwise be prohibited. Please understand and follow all pertinent federal, state and local laws. Some of the products from Hornady, MagPul and Vertx were provided to the author for review. Products from Nightforce, Inforce and all other products were purchased by the author.
Prudent people carry a sidearm. People who take their personal safety even more seriously might carry a rifle in their vehicle (check the legality of doing this in your area before doing so). A semi-automatic rifle, while larger and heavier than a pistol, provides the armed citizen with increased capabilities.
A 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, fired out of a subcompact pistol such as a Hellcat, leaves the muzzle at about 1,070 feet per second (FPS). With a .223 Remington or 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, a bullet fired from a rifle like the bullpup-configured Hellion leaves the muzzle at almost three times that velocity — about 3,000 feet per second. While the weight of a .223 projectile is typically less than that of the 9mm, the significantly faster bullet typically translates into more of the nebulous concept many call stopping power.
Longer Range
While a rifle also gives you the ability to accurately hit targets at a longer range than you could with a pistol, legally armed citizens must be able to properly identify a target and be able to explain why the person they shot at (or pointed a firearm at) posed a lethal threat.
As distance increases, two things become more difficult: the ability to identify a threat and to explain why a person at a distance posed a lethal threat. This means that most engagements, even with a rife, will take place within relatively short distances. But, the capabilities of a rifle — even at abbreviated distances — are notable.
Vertx VTAC Rifle Scabbard
I keep my defensive rifle in a Vertx VTAC Rifle Scabbard, which has ample space for extra magazines, a tourniquet and other gear. This particular case can be dropped into the car’s trunk or secured to the headrest of the passenger seat so that the rifle is readily accessible. The Vertx case does not look tactical; in fact, it looks more like a bag for carrying athletic gear than a firearm.
The rifle is always stored inside the Vertx Scabbard with a full magazine locked in place under an empty chamber. This is the safest way to store and transport a rifle in a vehicle, and it is how police officers generally carry defensive rifles. (As noted, check your state and local laws before carrying a loaded rifle in a vehicle.)
Springfield Armory Hellion
In my opinion, the 16”-barreled Springfield Hellion is the perfect vehicle-based rifle. The Hellion is more than 6” shorter than a SAINT AR-type rifle with a 16” barrel with both stocks fully extended. Even with the Hellion stock fully extended, it is still over 3” shorter than a SAINT with the stock collapsed. Despite its short overall length, the Hellion’s 16” barrel means it is not subject to the National Firearms Act (NFA).
I love the SAINT series of AR-type rifles, but the Hellion is a specialized tool and is ideal for use in the confined space of an automobile. The Hellion is a modern, fully ambidextrous, 21st century design.
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The Hellion features integral folding iron sights, and the rear sight has five apertures for the operator to select from based on the estimated distance to the target. I leave the rifle set at the zero (0) mark because any type of self-defense encounter will probably occur at a distance much less than 100 yards. Both the front and rear Hellion sights are adjustable without the use of tools or even the tip of a cartridge.
[Be sure to read Paul Carlson’s Springfield Hellion review for more information on these semi-automatic rifles.]
Nightforce Optics NX8 1-8x Scope
On a serious rifle, optics give the armed citizen a huge advantage. Fortunately, mounting optics on the Hellion is relatively simple due to its full-length, metal Picatinny rail.
I selected a Nightforce Optics NX8 1-8 scope with a first focal plane Milliradian reticle (for range estimation at any magnification) and an illuminated red dot center. This particular scope gives me options. At low magnifications, the scope functions similarly to a non-magnified red dot optic (the NX8 1-8 is a true 1X). At higher magnifications, the scope aids in clearly identifying threats. I used a Nightforce one piece mount to mount the optic.
I zero both the optic and iron sights at 50 yards, which places shots less than one half inch above point of aim at 100 yards and about one half inch below at 25 yards.
[Don’t miss our Nightforce NX8 1-8 review on this impressive rifle scope.]
Additional Accessories
Any rifle intended for serious use must have a sling. For my Hellion car rifle, I selected a Magpul MS1 QDM Sling. First, the QDM quick-release swivels mate nicely with the female QD mounts on the Hellion. Second, the MS1 sling has a quick-adjust tab that allows the operator to use one hand to quickly tighten the rifle against the body so it doesn’t bounce around when running. And third, the MS1 sling is made in America, which is important to me.
Because many self-defense situations occur in low light, I attached an Inforce WMLx Gen2 weapon light to the forend of the Hellion.
Hornady Critical Defense Rifle Ammunition
A defensive rifle should be loaded with ammunition designed and intended for self-defense use. Consequently, I keep my Hellion loaded with Hornady Critical Defense rifle ammunition.
This cartridge is loaded with a 55-gr. FTX bullet. This bullet’s polymer tip will not clog as it goes through barriers, but will expand on target. This bullet is less likely to over-penetrate than other bullet types. However, it does not relieve the defensive carbine user from identifying their target and what is beyond it.
Furthermore, Critical Defense rifle ammunition has nickel-plated cases that feed smoothly and are more visible for chamber checks in low-light conditions. And because this ammunition is designed and intended for defensive use, Hornady blends additives into the propellant to reduce muzzle flash so you can maintain your night vision.
In testing, the Hellion/Hornady combination was able to produce a five-shot group at 100 yards that held within 1”, with three of those shots in about 0.5”. Average velocities of five- and 10-shot groups, measured with a Garmin XERO, were 2,982 and 2,969 fps, respectively. Hornady told me they use 24” test barrels and the load leaves the muzzle at 3,240 fps — they said a 16” barrel would cause a loss of about 200 fps, and my measured velocities — using a Garmin Xero Chronograph — were within 29 fps of what Hornady said they would be.
Medical Gear
In addition to carrying a rifle in a vehicle for self-defense, it’s also a good idea to carry emergency medical equipment such as a tourniquet, quick clot and bandages.
In addition to cases, Vertx also makes accessories that will hold a spare magazine or a tourniquet inside the Rifle Scabbard. Some folks will probably want to set up an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK). I’m not an Emergency Medical Technician and would advise The Armory Life readers to seek out expert advice on what to include in an IFAK.
Final Thoughts
You’ve probably heard the saying “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” No one can accurately predict the future. However, history should be a good guide of what can happen.
You should have a plan for what to do if you encounter a threat while on the road. That plan should include communications and alternative routes to get out of the area and get home.
Depending on your needs, capabilities and state laws, a firearm may be part of that planning process. If it is consider your choices carefully and get good training.
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