| Tango01 | 16 Jan 2019 8:58 p.m. PST |
"It's quite likely that in the next few years, a new infantry rifle will end the half-century run of the M16 and its descendant, the M4A1. So, it's time we look at a design whose time seems to have come—the bullpup. A bullpup is a rifle whose trigger is placed ahead of the action and almost always, ahead of the magazine….."
Main page link
Amicalement
Armand
|
| skipper John | 17 Jan 2019 7:55 a.m. PST |
Interesting… I had no idea. |
Oberlindes Sol LIC  | 17 Jan 2019 9:27 a.m. PST |
As with all things, there is a trade-off: short means easier to transport and use, especially indoors and other cramped settings, but bullpup magazine placement makes reloading from a prone firing position more time-consuming. |
| Tango01 | 17 Jan 2019 11:30 a.m. PST |
A votre service mon ami!. (smile)
Amicalement
Armand
|
| andysyk | 17 Jan 2019 12:26 p.m. PST |
Next war? I guess this "Gun Nut" has never heard of EM2. Adopted in 1951 (although consequently shelved for political reasons)Steyr,(Ok its in the article) FAMAS, SA80 obviously never fired in anger? |
 Dentatus   | 17 Jan 2019 2:08 p.m. PST |
I like the IMI Tavor. There's one in the rental shop at the local gun range. It's comfortable to shoot in a controlled situation. I imagine it'll take some simple technique and lots of drilling to address the clumsy, prone position magazine re-load concerns. |
 javelin98 | 18 Jan 2019 10:54 a.m. PST |
I'm a fan of the Tavor as well. I did have my Ruger Mini-14 in a bullpup stock before I sold it. I think the SA80 and FAMAS have definitely proven that the concept works just fine. |
| Balthazar Marduk | 18 Jan 2019 10:54 p.m. PST |
Considering France has adopted the HK416 along with Germany, Norway, and probably more nations soon enough… I'm not so sure the bullpup is up for a comeback. The design is is best suited for mass deployment in large conscript armies. |
| Thresher01 | 19 Jan 2019 10:10 a.m. PST |
This "theory" has been put forth for 40+ years. I see some nations have adopted them, but not many. Perhaps they need better marketing people……….. |
| Lion in the Stars | 19 Jan 2019 3:52 p.m. PST |
Had an airsoft FAMAS F1, it was quite nice and easy to handle. But when the French are going to the HK416 instead of a 3rd-gen FAMAS, well… I can't see the Brits finding enough money to replace their L85s, but the special ops community has transitioned to M4s or HK416s. Same with the Aussies. |
| SouthernPhantom | 21 Jan 2019 3:03 p.m. PST |
Not going to happen. See France and New Zealand replacing their FAMAS and AUG rifles with AR-pattern rifles, and the widespread adoption of AR-pattern rifles by SOF worldwide. The secondary draw of bullpups -- reduction in overall length while maintaining barrel length may have been worthwhile when using M855 and/or M193-type 5.56 loadings optimized for longer barrels. Mk 262 and M855A1, as well as numerous specialty rounds developed for the civilian and LE markets, use faster-burning powders to ensure near-complete powder burn even in shorter barrels. The end effect is that outstanding performance is possible out of short-barreled conventional rifles without the ergonomic deficiencies posed by bullpups. I've worked with bullpups, mainly TAR-21 Tavor derivatives, and was not impressed. The mechanical trigger linkage results in a trigger pull worse than a GI AR/M4 trigger, let alone something like a Larue MBT-2S or Geissele SSF. Accuracy was acceptable but not impressive; the shooter and optic are the biggest factors in the practical accuracy of a service rifle. I like the rearward weight distribution and accompanying ease of one-handed manipulation, but nothing else. Bullpups do look cool, though! |
