I was reading a recent issue of Rifleman and came across several mentions of this.  To me, it seems the same as a pistol-caliber carbine, or maybe a really short AR variant.

 

Is there a difference?

Maybe not be the technical definition, but a Bullpup has the action in the back behind trigger so to lessen recoil.

Lessening recoil is not the primary reason for the design.

 

The action goes behind the trigger to reduce overall length while retaining the ballistics of a full length barrel.

Lessening recoil is not the primary reason for the design.

 

The action goes behind the trigger to reduce overall length while retaining the ballistics of a full length barrel.

That is correct.

 

If you go into the books on M1903s, there were bullpup variations of the rifle in the inter-war years. Think it was Patton that had a hand in it.

So do people like them?  I'm always interested in a design where I don't have to go through pistol paperwork.

Some do, some don't.

I haven't shot a real one, but have held them and they feel Odd to me. There is no doubt that it is, in theory, a superior design in that you can maintain a full length barrel without the size of a full length rifle.
Try one out; maybe find somewhere you can rent one, and see how you like it. I always thought it'd be odd to try and reload with the mag well being behind the pistol grip. I'd imagine if you got used to it, it could certainly be a fantastic piece.

The TAVOR seems to be fairly popular.

There you go.

The above photos are of a Steyer Aug, these are bull pups.  Cute eh?

 

Here is a review of the Tavor by Jerry Miculak:

 

And Hickok45:

Poor trigger feel (because usually there's some kind of long linkage running from the trigger to the actual hammer/sear) and bad ergonomics for magazine changes are the main criticisms of bullpups.  They also tend to be downright hostile to "wrong-handed" users (bullpup set up for right-handed shooter will discharge brass directly into the face of a left-handed shooter trying to use it).

 

I have a Tavor with "maximum" trigger upgrades - geiselle trigger pack and their "lightning bow" trigger/linkage, and I think the trigger is AWESOME.

Reaching into my armpit with my support hand to effect magazine changes is less awesome though...

I love my MSAR:

 

I have a 2020 sear in the trigger pack and the trigger is as good as my Geissele SSA.

 

I don't have an issue with the reloads. Drop the stock into the crook of your arm. Lift your elbow 6 inches and the mag is right where you need it. Adds maybe 3/4 of a second to my reloads on the timer. I'll take it for a rifle shorter than my issued Colt 11.5" SBR and still retains the ballistics of 5.56 with a 16" barrel.

 

Comparison of my 16" MSAR/AUG and my issued 11.5" Colt:

I love my MSAR:

 

I have a 2020 sear in the trigger pack and the trigger is as good as my Geissele SSA.

 

I don't have an issue with the reloads. Drop the stock into the crook of your arm. Lift your elbow 6 inches and the mag is right where you need it. Adds maybe 3/4 of a second to my reloads on the timer. I'll take it for a rifle shorter than my issued Colt 11.5" SBR and still retains the ballistics of 5.56 with a 16" barrel.

 

Comparison of my 16" MSAR/AUG and my issued 11.5" Colt:

Sort of In the words of Arnold in Predator.... That's one ugly muthafooker.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What's with the mini mag in the commando?

Fits in the safe that way.