Bullpups - Sinclair C5 of the future discuss ?

[Shed tuner]

I generally find the balance too far back for a stable shot, but a heavy moderator helps.
The compactness when shooting from a hide or vehicle is great though, and if you have a rested position, the crap balance is a non issue.

[Daryll]

I love bullpups...!!

I've never tried an airgun BP (although I plan to remedy that in the near future) but I loved the balance and handling of the L85 (despite its other problems) and I own a Steyr AUG which is my favorite gun to shoot.

[The Squire]

I sold a ‘project’ C5 we found in my late father in law’s shed. You would not believe the amount of people queuing up to pay very good money for it.

[rancidtom]

If we were allowed full auto airguns then maybe, but why would people need a full auto airgun? Bullpups were designed for close quarter warfare against humans, not rats or squirrels etc. The idea behind the bullpup was based on "spray and pray" while you jump through a doorway shouting the obligatory "Hut! Hut! Hut!" in an American accent....
The airsoft brigade have them for placcy BB's, which for me tells me all I need to know.

[Unframed Dave]

Yuk!

Dave

[angrybear]

While I really don't like the appearance of 99% of bullpups, a compact rifle has advantages in overgrown woods & in/around farm buildings.
because all the weight is in tight to your body they can be very well balanced & appear lighter to carry.

I'm sure when the first Rapids came out people hated the bottle & said it's a fad, no one will buy them in 6 months

[rancidtom]

Another thing to consider, especially for a close quarters gun is the sight line to barrel distance, totally the wrong way to go.

[Shed tuner]

Another thing to consider, especially for a close quarters gun is the sight line to barrel distance, totally the wrong way to go.

100%, but the flipside is a scope 3-4" above the bore really helps flatten out the trajectory (vs sightline) in the 30-40 yard range, so that's a bonus, espcially with a .22 (25-35 yards though)



Both are .177, 11.5 FP, shooting JSB.
The red line is the regular rifle, sight 2" above bore. The green line is the bullpup, sight 3.5" above bore.

The KZ is 0.5", so each of the purple lines are + or - 0.25" - i.e. not enough to worry about.

Both rilfes are zeroed so the pellet doesn't rise above the 0.25" mark.

As you can see, the regular rifle has a PBR of 14-36 yards (aim dead on at those ranges, and your pellet will hit within 0.25")
The bullpup however has a PBR of 21-42 yards - much more useful in an open hunting situation, but crap for close range.

*note the numbers may not be 100% accurate, but they are close and they illustrate the difference....

Horses for courses...

[JerryD]

100%, but the flipside is a scope 3-4" above the bore really helps flatten out the trajectory (vs sightline) in the 30-40 yard range, so that's a bonus, espcially with a .22 (25-35 yards though)



Both are .177, 11.5 FP, shooting JSB.
The red line is the regular rifle, sight 2" above bore. The green line is the bullpup, sight 3.5" above bore.

The KZ is 0.5", so each of the purple lines are + or - 0.25" - i.e. not enough to worry about.

Both rilfes are zeroed so the pellet doesn't rise above the 0.25" mark.

As you can see, the regular rifle has a PBR of 14-36 yards (aim dead on at those ranges, and your pellet will hit within 0.25")
The bullpup however has a PBR of 21-42 yards - much more useful in an open hunting situation, but crap for close range.

*note the numbers may not be 100% accurate, but they are close and they illustrate the difference....

Horses for courses...

Great summary of the benefits of the higher sightline, but these aren't just bullpup specific: as long as you have a high enough cheekpiece this can be done with any gun and a tall bridge rail. FT shooters use this regularly, as it increases the tolerance on ranging error for longer distances.


.

[rancidtom]

While I really don't like the appearance of 99% of bullpups, a compact rifle has advantages in overgrown woods & in/around farm buildings.
because all the weight is in tight to your body they can be very well balanced & appear lighter to carry.

I'm sure when the first Rapids came out people hated the bottle & said it's a fad, no one will buy them in 6 months

Personally I think they are another gimmick, entirely the product of advertising to the "wanna be Action Man". Now as every advertiser knows there's a new crop of mugs queueing with their wallets flapping every time they open this month's "PopGun News" so this is why they are still selling. As we well know Daystate depend on these people, they survive by selling "limited edition" models to the fashion victims. Of course we also see the same with the other manufacturers, the major ones who hadn't joined the DullPup fashion parade quickly adopted them in fear of losing a good percentage of the marketplace, BSA and Weihrauch were late to the feeding frenzy but they have now followed the trend.

[les allam]

I got a fx Wildcat mk1 after having a shoot with one at my old Ft club.
It was different enough to be interesting and I liked the look of it.
Like others have said, the weight and balance is unusual ,for me it’s to light at the barrel end for unsupported shooting.
I am used to shooting big heavy springers and my bull pup is a different beast altogether.
I need to shoot it a bit more to gel with it.
Les..

[clipper]

For shooting in limited spaces I think they have a niche, and if I had nothing else would probably get used to the compromised hold for everywhere else

[EricP]

I used to have this “bullpups are crap” prejudice even though I used to shoot a Steyr AUG armalite in Oman in the eighties, and remember it fondly.
When I went to air rifles I found lovely highly regarded rifles that I did not get on with and others I did. I shoot well with Walthers and Anschutz, crap with Air Arms, OK with Weihrauch. Just had to find the ones that suited me best.
Thought I would never use a bullpup again.
Then I got a Zbroia Kozak for my 60th birthday and again it fitted me. I have two PCPs (the other is a full rifle) and out of the two I like the Zbroia more, and shoot it more. In spite of the opinions voiced on this thread, at the age of 64 I have no pretensions to being Action Man, do not wear Camo in polite society and have not been known to say “Hut, Hut, Hut” even under my breath.
So to sum up, anyone who says “bullpups are crap” is in the same camp as one who says “rifles are crap” or “pistols are crap” what they are really saying is “I prefer to voice my prejudices rather than check to see whether a gun fits me regardless of the form factor”.
Bullpups are not a “fad” that will disappear, there are too many, they have been around too long and are too popular.

[Cannon Fodder]

If we were allowed full auto airguns then maybe, but why would people need a full auto airgun? Bullpups were designed for close quarter warfare against humans, not rats or squirrels etc. The idea behind the bullpup was based on "spray and pray" while you jump through a doorway shouting the obligatory "Hut! Hut! Hut!" in an American accent....
The airsoft brigade have them for placcy BB's, which for me tells me all I need to know.

Not quite, the idea behind a bullpup wasn't spray and pray, it was to allow a longer barrel in a shorter platform resulting in more power from the same cartridge allowing a longer effective range.

[where's it gone]

The airgun market is fuelled by the restrictions of gun ownership in this country. So called 'action man' stigma given to some is a bit unfair. Are car drivers wannabe F1 driver's by driving a car with manufacturers specifications, ie low profile tyres, bigger rims etc ?
Look at the airgun pistol market. What a plethora of lookalikes!
Restrictions make any items more desirable. Bullpups in air rifles has yet to be refined to fulfillment, in my view. Development will progress but this cost money. Are shooters willing to pay ? Sell figures will tell.