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