[Nightcrawler]

I'd really like to mess around with one of these, since we were talking about ambidextrious bullpups (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56587).

They're one of few bullpup designs to get around the issue of not being able to fire from either shoulder on the fly; the rifle ejects forward.

http://www.fnhusa.com/contents/guns_1100px/fn_tw_f2000_grenade.jpg
FN 2000 Image courtesy of FN Herstal USA (http://www.fnhusa.com).

In addition, the weapon system is completely modular. Integrated attachments can be replaced or added on the fly, ranging from air-bursting grenade launchers (with electro-optical sight) to a 12 gauge shotgun attachment (according to FN).

http://world.guns.ru/assault/f2000_3.jpg
FN 2000 Image courtesy World.Guns.Ru. Thanks Max!

Pretty cool. I'd like to get my hands on one to A), figure out how it works, and B), run a few thousand rounds through it to see how it holds up. I could do without the electronic scope and greande launcher, even, though that 12 gauge attachment would be pretty cool.

I do have to wonder if there's any way to observe the chamber, so as to safely clear the weapon.

The only question I'd have with the forward ejection is the possibility of it getting clogged; if you fire the weapon vertically, will the cases get gummed up in the tube?

NOW....if FN would just scale it up to .308, they might REALLY be onto something....:D

(Note that this is NOT the only attempt at an ambidextrious bullpup...
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=683679
(Thanks for the pictures, Max!)

[Spark]

It's such a brick though....

[Nightcrawler]

Another attempt at an ambidextrious bullpup was the Steyr ACR.

http://world.guns.ru/assault/steyr_acr.jpg

Interesting idea, but I have to wonder about the utility of the flechette round it fired. It fires a 9.85 grain carbon steel flechette at about 4,920 feet per second. Steyr says it'll penetrate all known body armor, but will it do much damage to the person behind the armor? A 10 grain projectile at 5,000 feet per second only produces 555 foot-pounds of kinetic energy. I don't know if that's even enough to get the hydrostatic shock effect that most rifle rounds can produce.

http://www.steyr-aug.com/acr1.gif

http://www.steyr-aug.com/acr1page3.jpg
Images courtesy of Steyr Aug.Com (http://www.steyr-aug.com/acr2002.htm).

[Nightcrawler]

A brick? Well, it's chunky, but that's mostly that huge electronic scope dealy, meant to compete with our own ridiculous chunk; the OICW.

With the scope detached it's a lot slimmer. Check it out:
http://world.guns.ru/assault/f2000_1.jpg

Looks like iron sights and a regular Weaver rail under there. You could mount an ACOG, or a reflex sight, or whatever. Save a bit of weight too, I'd imagine.

Also, the FN 2000 seems to have a shorter length of pull than a lot of bullpups.

I'd really like to handle one to see how it balances, though.

[Skunkabilly]

What's the barrel length, and does it have back up irons?

[Nightcrawler]

The barrel length on the current FN2000 is 15.75", for an overall length of a hair over 27". Compared to the M4 carbine with a 14.5" barrel, and an overall length (stock extended) of about 33", and a typical AKM (without muzzle brake) with a barrel length of 16" and an overall length of just under 36". The 20" Barreled M16 has an overall length of 40".

The barrel ought to be longer. They could add five inches of barrel and still have the same overall length as an M4 carbine.

My dream .308 version would, of course, have a barrel of at least 18".

It appears to have iron sights along the rail underneath that big old scope.

[Nightcrawler]

More pictures, courtesy of FN Herstal International (http://www.fnherstal.com).

http://www.fnherstal.com/html/F2000/F2000EJECT.jpg
FN 2000 forward ejection

http://www.fnherstal.com/html/F2000/F2000MODU.jpg
Different attachment options

http://www.fnherstal.com/html/F2000/F2000TIREUR.gif
Weapon in hand; gives a sense of scale. Looks pretty compact.

It's heavier than an M4, due to that big scope. Replace that with an ACOG and you'd probably save two pounds.

I really kind of like that ugly 7.62x39 bullpup. I think one of those'd be a lot of fun to shoot.

[mete]

Nightcrawler, the flechettes operate differently, they are designed primarely to penetrate body armor. I have seen an x-ray of someone who had been shot with flechettes - they went into the body and bent. That was with multiple hits . I don't know how effective a single hit would be . I had heard that the brits experimented with single flechette rounds in desert storm.

[Nightcrawler]

Any chance FN will have one of these on display at the SHOT show or something?

[aquapong]

Pretty cool looking. That pistol grip looks kind of small though.:scrutiny:

[iapetus]

That F2000 does look cool, and very Sci-Fi.

Not so sure about their P90, though. Just... odd.

http://www.fnhusa.com/contents/guns_1100px/fn_tw_p90_r.jpg

[La Pistoletta]

I think the P90 looks cool as well. We'll see if our army gets it. We need to replace our (admittedly well-served) current submachine gun...

[armoredman]

Calling Buck Rodgers - we found your ray gun collection! GAH!:barf: