[PeteyPete]

I've noticed that just about every military abroad has started utilizing bullpup design rifles...eg. Tavor, SAR-21, Enfield SA-80, Norinco QBZ-95.

Is there any real benefit over standard rifles like the M16?

[nemesis]

Shorter, more compact but with the same or longer barrel. The Brits were pushing NATO to adopt a bull-pup FAL variant in the early fifties. About the same time, they were promoting a sub-caliber, integral carrying handle, raised sighting plane combat carbine. Ever see anything that looked like that?

[Deadman]

The shorter length of bullpups mean that everything is easier, whether it be navigating obstacles, climbing in and out of vehicles or storage.
Plus with the Aug it is very easy to hold (and fire) one handed due to the more centralized weight distribution.
Plus there is no compromise in projectile velocity due to the longer barrel (ie 5.56 from a 14 inch M4 vs 20 inch bullpup barrel).

[Andrew Wyatt]

of course, you also end up with a gun that is not left hand friendly by any stretch, is difficult to clear, and has counterintuitive magazine changes.


and in most cases, a crappy trigger.

[Coronach]

They CAN be lefty-friendly. IIRC, at least one uses bottom ejection.

The mag change issue, I think (having zero expereince with them, so FWIW), would be mostly because we're not used to that motion. I'm not sure how much having trained user decreases the load time for bullpups.

The trigger issue, however, seems to be nearly omnipresent.

Mike

[Kobun]

I have said this before,
but I have had a new type of trigger spring made for the AUG, that reduces the trigger pull to about 5lbs.

If anyone needs one, just contact me. :)

[Art Eatman]

Changing emphasis to hunting rifles for a moment, the bullpup idea attracted a following back around 1950. They were great for hunting varmints from a truck. However, nobody then ever came up with a really good trigger linkage system that was reliable without being spongy.

Art

[Andrew Wyatt]

They CAN be lefty-friendly. IIRC, at least one uses bottom ejection.


with a bullpup, you can't have it both ways, unfortunately. you can have an ambidextrous bullpup, or you can have a bullpup you can clear stoppages on.

[CWL]

Bullpups make great sense for the military because they are smaller & lighter, this saves $$ in manufacture, storage and deployment. Upon issuance, there have been many function issues.

One great reason they have not taken off in civilian market as readily is -as pointed out - is crappy trigger. Sportsmen and collectors have a higher expectation of performance.

[Correia]

If you look at something like the M4 carbine, it is really popular due to its length and handiness. Especially if you need to get in or out of something like a Bradley in a hurry. However you are giving up barrel length which gives up velocity.

As for counter-intuitive mag changes, with a little practice you can become very quick with a bullpup mag change. I have practiced on mine a bit, and I can do it faster than your average shooter can reload a standard rifle. I can still load a standard rifle faster, but it isn't that great of a difference.

They are not lefty friendly, and the trigger pulls are spongy. Hey nothing is perfect.

[4v50 Gary]

Look at Brophy's The Springfield 1903 Rifles and on page 85 is a bull pup version of that bolt action rifle. It was made on 3/27/40.