| The next generation of small arms coming to the | | | | optics) limited sight radius. There is also a practical |
| top, a lot are using a bull pup configuration. Since it | | | | limit to conventional magazine length without going to |
| utilizes a rifle length barrel (about 18-20") in a carbine | | | | an unconventional design parallel to the bore line like |
| sized package (about 28-35" give or take) no | | | | the Calico-series, FN P90, or HK G11. This means, in |
| performance or accuracy is lost in compacting the | | | | most weapons, the inability to use a high capacity |
| size of the rifle. However, this design is not as | | | | drum for use in the AR/SAW roles. |
| perfect as it sounds. | | | | Belt feed is actually less problematic in bullpup or |
| With the exception of the FN F2000, bullpups can | | | | semi-bullpup designs because it makes it easier to put |
| only be fired from one shoulder safely because of | | | | the ammunition closer to the point of balance (like |
| the ejection next to the user's head. Also, many are | | | | the M60/M60E3, MG42, and some of the Colt LMG |
| back-heavy and it is more difficult to balance than a | | | | prototypes.) |
| standard setup. Also, it is reportedly slower in | | | | Modularity seems to suffer on many designs because |
| magazine change time, and it is a lot more awkward. | | | | of a combination of decreased mounting spaces |
| Overall, there's a reason that most special ops units | | | | (ergonomic requirements and competition with |
| from countries whose conventional forces use a | | | | necessary optics) and balance issues from adding |
| bullpup, instead chose a standard rifle and/or carbine. | | | | mass forward of the trigger. |
| The SAS uses the M4 or the C8, GIGN (though | | | | Many bullpups have the ability to have their ejection |
| occasionally using the FAMAS) often operates with | | | | port switched between sides simply and quickly. |
| the SIG 551, and the Australian SASR also utilizes the | | | | Examples are the FA MAS-series and the Steyr AUG. |
| M4. | | | | A select few eject straight down and are essentially |
| Depending on the means of attaching the sight and | | | | ambidextrous like the FN 2000, FN P90, and the |
| the optic employed, the bullpup design has the | | | | Calico-series of pistol/machine pistols. A few designs, |
| potential of being more mechanically accurate than a | | | | like the L85/L85 series and the Bushmaster M17S's |
| conventional weapon the same length because of | | | | are exclusively right handed. It's not terribly |
| barrel length and the potential for added barrel rigidity | | | | reasonable to expect to halt combat to reconfigure |
| (For example the Walther WA-2000 and Bushmaster | | | | your ejection port. This limits even these platforms |
| M17S). | | | | to shooting from one side or the other. Not a big |
| Additional problems are practical accuracy for most | | | | deal for all, to me, it's one strike against the bullpup |
| designs because of extended trigger linkages, greater | | | | that I don't have to worry about with a conventional |
| difficulty creating an ergonomic stock, and (without | | | | rifle. |