Bullpup rifles?

[Texfire]

I'm interested in what bullpup rifles are out there. And available to civvies.

One consideration, I'm a southpaw, so a right side ejection bullpup could ruin my whole shooting experience. Any that are top, bottom or left side shuckers?

The only bullpups I've seen are .22s like the bullpup stocks for the 10/22, which would be a plus since I have one, but I've also been told the trigger is pretty rough on them. I've also seen the G22, which can be switched into a lefty by a gunsmith, but I'm only so-so impressed by it.

So what are some recommendations?

 

[MachIVshooter]

The only factory bullpup available to us is the Bushmaster M17. AFAIK, there are no left-side ejecting autoloaders out there besides the Cx4 Storm.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Back in the early 80s I bought a Bullpup stock for my Mini 14. I don't know if they are still offered. Before the "assault weapon" ban, I think Styer offered a Bullpup semi auto in .223. I think it was called the Aug, or something like that.

 

[Zundfolge]

Hawkeye, I think you're talking about the Muzzelite bullpup stock

http://www.gunaccessories.com/MWG/index.asp

 

[Mr Jody Hudson]

I am pretty certain that the ejection port on the FINE Styr Aug can be changed to left handed. The AUG is one of the finest .223 rifles ever made in my opinion and even though VERY expensive is fully reliable and the most accurate .223 I have shot:
http://www.fjvollmer.com/223/4/steyr__aug__black_16.htm

 

[GunGoBoom]

the AUG is switchable to eject to either side, but because of the import ban of 89, it's artificially way-high priced, though a good rifle.

The M17 bullpup won't fly since you're a lefty.

That leaves, realistically, the FN 2000, which ejects the cases out the front of a tube:

http://www.twilightarmouries.ca/SmallArms/AssaultRifles/F2000.htm

Or, a bullpup-converted turnbolt rifle would be lefty-friendly, even if a "right-handed" turnbolt. In fact, in a bullpup config, the bolt MUST be on the right side to be lefty-friendly I would think. So in a bullpup, left is right and right is left when it comes to turnbolts.

 

[beerslurpy]

There are some bullpup kits for the AK that suck.
There is a 10/22 bullpup kit of unknown quality out there as well.

None of the other bullpups are importable at the moment.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

The Walther G22 bullpup switches its ejection port from side to side in about 20 seconds.

The AUG also has a very easy side switch, but they are expensive.

I love bullpups, especiallly AUG's (I don't have an AUG because they run around $3000 minimum these days), but I do have a Norinco 86S, which is a Chinese bullpup AK in 7.62x39. Only about 1000-2000 ever got into the country before the import ban and thus is very rare and expensive - I'm proud to have it in perfect NIB condition.

I don't know much about the BushMaster M17, but they are domestic, which means easy to get, I imagine that someone has come up with a lefty ejection port solution, so that might be a good option. But if you don;t mind waiting, Fn will be releasing the P2000 (5.56) and the P90 (5.7) bullpups onto the civilian market in 2006 and they will be in the $1500 price range and both are fantastic rifles that are as good as the AUG (although I personally think the AUG is the best rifle platform running right now).

 

[Moonclip]

You could get a French FAMAS but good luck finding one of those and it would be quite expensive. Steyr AUG would be easier to find. FAMAS can also be switched around. I do not like bullpups really as they eject too close to the face and the action is right next to your face.

I think Valmet had a bullpup of some sort too.

 

[armoredman]

The Bushy M17 is one I would love to get, but a few people say they have problems. A buddy who owns one is very very happy with it.
The newest bullpup I'd love to try is a new production Mosin Nagant, (!) bullpup made in Russia as a counter sniper rifle.

 

[max popenker]

new production Mosin Nagant, (!) bullpup made in Russia as a counter sniper rifle

If you mean the OTs-48K, then it is NOT new production rifle - it is an OLD Mosin 1891/30 action, seklected from old stocks and fitted with new barrel and stock and trigger.

here's the pic of one of earlier versions:

basically, each of these rifles were hand-made "on order" from few Russian LE users, and i believe very few were actually made; some were fitted with bolt handle extensions bolted to original handle, that added another bolt handle placed forward, above the new pistol grip; you can see such mod at the link above

 

[Texfire]

Thanks for the input. Sounds like everything out there, which isn't much, is going to be out of my price range. I'll check and see if there is a left-hand mod for the M17. I know there is a left-hand version of the AR15, so maybe there's hope.

 

[igor]

Moonclip, it was the Valmet M82. It was a proprietary right-hand design that AFAIK sucked in many ways and deservedly never caught on. A collector's item nowadays.

 

[Dionysusigma]

And yes, they are all modified Ruger 10-22s.

http://www.ironwooddesigns.com/2aprod/11022prod.html

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

One of them is clearly Styer AUG influenced.

 

[hartzpad]

Ahhh....the Valmet 82

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

Those Valmet's are really cool, but you have a 0% chance of getting one.


there are only a few thousand Valmet's in the country at all, and everyone who owns one LOVES it and is totally unwilling to part with it. Same goes for the FAMAS, there are a few thousand semi-auto FAMAS' in the country that came in during the 80's, but they were banned by either Reagan or Bush's import bans and since their owners know that they will never replace their rifle if the sell them, you will never get one.

There are plenty of AUG's around, and I have been dying to get one, but they start at abou $2,800-$3000 for the most common plastic and go up to $15000 for the very rare colored stocks (a desert camo I think...).

 

[Domino]

The Valmet 82 looks like an incredibly interesting weapon, wish we could get one.

Texfire, maybe you could fashion a "shell deflector" on a stock M17s? I have had good results with my M17 and I would certainly recommend one. You should look at KKF to see some of the more popular modifications to M17 rifles. Mine is 100% stock and I do not feel the need to add or change anything, if I was left-handed than I suppose a shell-deflector would be in order.

 

[Commissar Gribb]

SKSMAN.com is selling AK bullpup kits.

anyone have any experience with these? I'd like to get one someday. Something about a full size AK condensed into a tiny package like this appeals to me.

 

[gopguy]

I used to have the Valmet, the draw back was the fiberglass stocks tended to develop stress cracks and once that started there was no stopping it from eventually going altogether. The AUG is excellent. I have seven. A mix of green and black with either 20 or 16 inch barrels. They are easy to change from left to right hand operation. You just need a leftie bolt head. Gun South had them, but they are gone with a bit of looking you can find one. Then you just pry off the plastic dust cover and switch it to the other side. Here in Ohio the last time I saw a Green AUG '20 incher for sale it was over $4000. If you can't afford it don't shoot one, they are addicting. Just ask my wife. Luckily she loves me. lol

The FAMAS from France is really rare. Less than 100 were brought in prior to the 1989 ban . Harris publcations put out a magazine called "The Complete Book of Assault Rifles" in 1989. Pages 64-67 had an article by Richard Savino called "The Gallic Bullpup" which reviewed the semiauto FAMAS. Projected retail was $800. They mention the rifles were capabable of being converted to left hand fire. Importer was Century Arms. I remember talking to a buddy of mine who was in the gun business from Kansas who briefly had one at a show in 1991. He paid $4000 for it then, which cleaned him out of operating funds for the show. He sold it at a hefty profit shortly thereafter. I must admit I was disappointed he did not contact me first. I would hate to venture a guess at what one would command now they are so scarce. Tim

 

[english kanigit]

One of them is clearly Styer AUG influenced.

"Experience the ergonomics of an actual AUG, with the warm feel of hand finished Walnut.
Enjoy shooting one of the most natural pointing rifle designs in history, at pennies per round."

I just have to say, "Duh!"

 

[Texfire]

Normally I would think a shell deflector might work, but with a bullpup I'd end up with a shirt pocket full of brass with anything short of a shell catcher arrangement. And that would raise concerns of jamming.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

GOP- I had no idea it was less than 100 FAMAS' actually came in - I knew it was low, but I hoped it wasn;t THAT low. I've always held out hope that one day I would find one on an off chance and perhaps have the money to buy it, but I have a feeling you couldn't get your hands on one for $7000 today.

To be honest I've never even seen a semi-auto civilian FAMAS picture, much less one in person, so my hope isn;t going that well yet.

You have seven AUG's? You have so much while I have so little. I've been dying to get an AUG for years, and while I suppose I could have gotten one when I took the jump and bought my 86S, I still stand by that decision even though I am dying to get my hands on an AUG.

Any chance that the civlian models will actually come on the retail market in '06?

 

[gopguy]

Grand Inquisitor, Yeah, I have seven AUGs, I guess the only thing about getting older was I was there in the good old days when you could buy little black guns at reasonable prices, they seemed a little high then but in 20/20 hindsight I wish I had bought all of them. I bought my first AUG in 1986 for the unbelievable price of $500 out the door. A little gun shop had 5 of them and they were not selling, I guess to radical looking at the time. Anyway I will never forget the guy saying I could have all 5 for $500 and he would throw in all the extra goodies he had for them. Extra magazines, a heavy barrel with bipod..... I had just gotten out of college a few months before, I had the money but thought I had better conserve it...Still kicking myself. If only we had time machines. lol I can guarantee you I paid much more for the AUGs I got later.....much more. I made the mistake of selling that first one in 1990 at a nice profit to help pay for a car I wanted to buy....6 months later I had to have another AUG...I have bought every "reasonable" one I have found in good shape since. That was if they were under $3000. However at 7 the wife has made me agree to stop, not a problem since I have not seen one for less than $3000 since my last one. DSA bought the rights to build the AUG in the US. However in an email I got some time back from a quiry I made to them, they have no plans to make one yet.

A call to Century Arms might solve the exact number of FAMAS rifles in the US. The only civilian one I have seen is in the article in the magazine I mentioned. The one my buddy from Kansas had briefly,had been stripped of the bipod for some reason... He thought the owner took it off. He still made a killing on it back then. I would have loved to at least held it to look it over. This same buddy also turned me on to the Holloway HAC 7. Less than 350 completed rifles there. I have two of those. Tim

 

[gopguy]

I forgot to mention I have a 86S too. Pretty much LNIB. I only shot her once less than 30 rounds. Annoyed at how the cleaning kit falls out of the little clamp when you fire it. I remember it landing on my foot. Cleaned her and put her away. There are not many of those over here either, however they don't compare to the AUG very well in handling. Tim