Why Bullpup's Don't Suck

[@toxicmatrix1337]

Bullpups are a great way to bypass the 16" barrel BS, to get a shorter package, without needing it to be an SBR

[@danielcurtis1434]

Or do an SBR and get stupid short but still decently long barrel?

[@gorosaurs]

Regulations only apply if you get caught.

[@toxicmatrix1337]

@@danielcurtis1434 True, if you can do that in your state. In my state, an SBR isnt an option, it definitely helps me bypass some of that BS.

[@hakimcameldriver]

You still have to have a minimum 16 inch barrel, and there is still minimum overall length regulations..

[@charaznable2379]

Nice now go back and relearn

[@scaldedape6213]

The Marine Corps cringe obsession with marching is such a good point about bull pups lol.

[@rickwalker2]

It still doesn’t explain it IMO. The infantry battalions of the Household Division in the British Army must be among the most drilled units in the world and they’ve made it work well enough.

[@scaldedape6213]

@@rickwalker2 true

[@daruween1398]

Ikr, they could've just use longer barrel or longer stock for march

[@utzius8003]

I loved the AUG in the army. It is very nicely balanced, you can easily sprint with it tucked under one arm, with the other one being free. It is really comfortable to carry.

[@LuiGiBon000]

And the best thing it has absolutely dosghit trigger@@UnleashedDaemon

[@cainmarko335]

Nah I will stick to carbine m4a1

[@tomverfr]

Famas was crazy good as well, tried one this summer, really nice

[@Tusk-ruk]

The way the weight is balanced and not all at the front is the big selling point for me as well.

[@i-tunes2025]

@@Tusk-ruk the weight of my aug with optical sight is 4.8 kg. It is crazy

[@Robespierres_Ghost]

Having a full 16in barrel in a 28 inch ish overall package is a huge advantage.

[@joe125ful]

And that is only advantage what it have...

[@davewolfy2906]

The SA80 has a 20.4 inch barrel.

[@max7971]

And what do you need that advantage for? What problems does it solve?

[@davewolfy2906]

@@max7971 body armour

[@FirstnameLastname-do1px]

@@davewolfy2906Oh please. You can defeat body armor at most combat distances with a 14.5 in M4. Barrel length with 5.56 doesn’t matter unless you’re under 10 inches. Bullpups have other major issues that MAC didn’t really address in the video.

[@voteholyk]

I am sure if you could buy an entry level bullpup for the same price as an entry level AR, they would be much more popular.

[@dimsum1033]

Or a bullpup that you could build from a parts catalog.

[@jarvy251]

Well, when the X95 has been on the market for 60+ years like the AR has and the patents expire, maybe you'll see that. Bullpups are priced like any non-AR15.

[@thomaslee1554]

​@jarvy251 The AUG has been around since the 70's and is still expensive.

[@RCXDerp]

An RDB is 1050 currently but you can get an AR for like 400 too though

[@rogerwood5228]

No doubt, PSA will have an in-house bullpup in the next year, lol.

[@michaellowery928]

Great video. I wish more companies would develop the platform. Carbine size and handiness with full length barrel performance...no brainer! Keep 'em coming!

[@almostontimehero5415]

They do, but you don't buy $3,000 guns. You just literally don't. You say you do, you think you do, but the sales numbers are the cold hard facts. Keep enjoying your Palmetto slop.

[@30rdMAGA-vl9ul]

I second that

[@sainterasmus4545]

As someone who has always been a bullpup fan: it's nice to see a big channel like yours, spreading the gospel.

[@noclass2gun342]

you call it gospel... the rest of us call it propaganda...

[@davidhansen6788]

​@@noclass2gun342why do you call it propaganda?

[@noclass2gun342]

@davidhansen6788 because the bullpup is objectively not as ergonomic or as easy to use as a traditional rifle. And to pretend it is on any level, or worse yet, use a platform as large as Tim's to broadcast to the uneducated masses that its as good as is propaganda... if you like them and think they're cool that's one thing, but that doesn't make them good

[@ReverendMeat51]

@@noclass2gun342 "anything that I disagree with is propaganda"

[@noclass2gun342]

@ReverendMeat51 it's not a matter of agree or disagree... the ar simply is a more ergonomic and user friendly platform. It manages recoil better. It's manual of arms is simpler for new shooters to learn. It's a superior rifle in every respect save one, and thats OAL

[@DownRange556]

I found after having a stroke (muscle weak that will never return) and a neck injury, I can hold a bullpup rifle for longer periods of time without getting muscle fatigue. My Tavor Sar, x95 and Aug have become my go to rifles. I still have ARs and AKs but if SHTF I would grab a bullpup. Great video.

[@theodoreheintz7891]

The AUG trigger is actually adjustable but does not come preset from the factory you have to do it yourself but nobody knows about it. TnSteyr has a good video on it. Also there's some aftermarket trigger solutions that are pretty sweet now.

[@TheAustrianAvenger]

Never heard of it either. Where do I adjust it? In the triggepack?

[@theodoreheintz7891]

@@TheAustrianAvenger look for the TnSteyr video about adjusting the trigger. It's about 18 minutes. Take your stock off the receiver look at the trigger bar and you'll see there's a nut on it. That's where you adjust it.

[@jacqirius]

sorry but saying that a trigger is bad just means one has weak hands in my opinion

[@1whitedan]

@@theodoreheintz7891 damn, i used an original STG 77 A1 for over 5 years and noone ever told me or my comrades about it...well i guess you never stop learning new things lol

[@Randy-lg1qo]

@@jacqirius hahahaha. Tough guy 😂 made me laugh

[@Lungorthin666]

I've always like bullpups. Shorter and more balanced rifle while maintaining the barrel length to give the velocity needed for maximum bullet effectiveness.

[@SoloRenegade]

most of his arguments here FOR the bullpup are cherry picked nonsense

[@polygonalfortress]

@@SoloRenegade any attempts on your part to refute his arguments?

[@SoloRenegade]

@@polygonalfortress yes, i made entire posts on this video. see below for some of them. a bullpup is tiring one handed same as a standard rifle. some are even HEAVIER than their standard rifle counterparts. I find traditional rifles FAR more comfortable to handle. We worked with teh Brits in Afghanistan, and we played with eachother's rifles. They were envious of our M4s, and we were more than happy to give them their SA80s back and continue with our M4s. 10:40 bullsh!t argument. the mags are essentially a few inches apart, not an issue. either can rotate to reload, either can hold level to reload. 11:40 BS argument again. I ran an M4 with 100% ambi controls (other than forward assist) in Afghnaistan. it was awesome from either hand. and making it so took less than 15min to convert any stock M16 or M4 to this config. Bullpups designed in the same era as the M16/M4 also were not ambidextrous. Being ambi has NOTHING to do with being a "bullpup". newer ARs ALSO come out of the box with full ambi controls. wow, it's like magic!. 12:40 sight radius also applies to many optics as well, beleive it or not, namely 1x magnification red dots. the one black bullpup you're using is basically an AR15 with teh pistol grip moved forward of the magazine. the ejector port is basically in teh same position relative to your face as an AR15, maybe 2-3 inches to the rear at best. you gain so little for such a clumsy and bulky rifle design. 14:35 same is true for the AR15-style platforms. all the pathetic gripes you have have been resolved. try doing a fair apples to apples comparison next time and judge modern standard rifles against modern bullpups, and old standard rifles against old bullpups. Stop cherry picking. You also lose stabilization when using a bipod, or when wanting to stretch your nonfiring hand forward. the ergonomics of bullpups suck, they are very uncomfortable to use in my opinion.

[@alexanderp8037]

SA80 is literally the worst bullpup far worse than the AUG. You probably never handled a VHS2 it completely outperforms M4 in french trials it defeated US weapons and took the 2nd place below HK416. The guys in iraq prefer VHS2 instead of M4. The weight and balance argument is nonsense because the weight is better distributed its actually EASIER to handle and gives better recoil control. The 20 inch barrel gives way more accuracy and higher bullet velocity causes more bullet fragmentation on impact creating more penetration and lethal wounds. An AUG with 22 or 24 inch barrel is a huge difference in performance you can create a DMR in a shortpackage especially when its chambered in 308. Even in 556 some people shoot up to 800 meters with high accuracy. The controls just depend on training X95 got AR15 fire controls. I've seen people who are trained change clips and closing the bolt just as fast as normal rifles. I handeled the C7 which is a heavily modernized M16. The length was horrible especially in CQC and dense vegetation. The C8 was slightly better but as not as easy to handle in those situations compared to bullpup. The VHS2 is a really good rifle it fired 6000 rounds without any stoppages and is highly resistent to debris, mud, dust and water. Ukranians said its a good weapon on par with the bren 2

[@SoloRenegade]

@@alexanderp8037 many guys I served with own an AUG. I don't like it. the handling is all wrong, and it limits what I can do with it compared to an M4. I'd never pick a VHS2 over an M4 either. when the weight is rearward, and both hands are forward, how is the balance fixed? the re are few rifles as balanced as an M4. Better recoil control? that has little to do with being a bullpup. just pulling anecdotal personal opinions out of your a$$ doesn't make it true. there are few rifle designs with better recoil mitigation than an M4 due to its layout. I fought overseas and trained stateside with both teh M16 and M4 (both in combat, both in training) and never once had trouble maneuvering in buildings or densely wooded areas. I've lived most of my life in dense forest, so thick you literally can't move through it sometimes. And I still prefer the M4 platform for my personal rifle. I've never had an issue in CQB with an M4, never once came close to not having sufficient space moving through a building. It's all how you do it. if done right, the rifle is never even an issue. And if you think a bullpup is good for CQB, then a handgun is better. and clearly you think shotguns are no good for CQB then too. "Even in 556 some people shoot up to 800 meters with high accuracy." yes, the M16 people can hit as far as 1200m with 5.56, and I've hit 500m in Afghanistan with my M4/Eotech with no difficulty at all.

[@redhead5222]

Nice overview Tim. FYI on the Steyr Aug, the ones that use AR stanag magazines can't be configured to left handed, because the polymer shell doesn't have a cut out, only the ones that take the Aug proprietary mags can be reversed to left hand.

[@danielcurtis1434]

That’s interesting. I never thought about it, but now that I am it makes a lot of sense.

[@FuzedBox]

Yep, they also lack the bolt release button that was added to the A3s, and only have one trigger linkage bar instead of two, meaning their trigger is slightly worse than the base model.

[@tunn3lbutt]

@@FuzedBoxi have an aug the trigger isnt as bad as people make it out to be. Its not any worse than a standard military trigger

[@FuzedBox]

@@tunn3lbutt I have one as well, in standard despite having way too many STANAG mags floating around. The trigger really isn't bad- just long, mushy, and plasticky. I put a Neu-Trigger sear tab in it and it shortened the take up and cleaned up the break. My friend put the Ratworx 20/20 sear in his and it does the same thing, but has almost no take up.

[@jrgaston8891]

Nice bit of info, thanks. I've got a MSAR that uses the NATO mags and it works with the left bolt from Rat Worx.

[@stickfighter1038]

French FAMAS and AUG made tasks such as getting in out of vehicles a lot easier. Had some experiences with them during my time in the Army working with different military forces. Most of the soldiers that I talked to liked their bullpups. The exception was the British SA80 in the early 90s which were hard on magazines etc especially in sandy/dusty middle east/North Africa.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

The original SA80 didn't need adverse conditions for the mags; the originals were dogshit. They deformed really easily (just from handling, though resting the weapon on the mag while prone could easily do the something similar), causing feed problems. Few of the problems with the L85A1 are a direct result of it being a bullpup; a lot of it is top-down mismanagement of the project. In large part, that's why the SA80 wasn't good; it's entirely likely that if that project had resulted in a standard layout rifle, it would have been shitty, too.

[@ilikelampshades6]

The sa80A2 and SA80a3 are absolutely incredible rifles. I've fired 10,000+ rounds without a single stoppage and the accuracy is perfect. At 300 metres, I couldn't imagine anything in the world beating it for accuracy

[@Catburd641]

@@ilikelampshades6 They're *adequate* rifles. That is, now that the MoD spent more than the original contract should have cost, paying H&K to unfuck them.

[@johntownley9885]

Bullpups definitely have there place and my X95 has ran flawless with thousands of rounds mostly suppressed as a night time thermal gun. I run a MK262 77gr hand load equivalent out of it and never an issue. I would love to see more companies make them and in other calibers like 6.5 Grendel and 7.62x39. I also have the Tavor 7 in .308 and it’s the same as X95 just slightly larger but runs just as good.

[@wilemelliott]

I would love to see a Tavor 7 tested and certified for the new .277/6.8 cartridge...when and if it ever comes to the civilian world. Or even the 6.8 TVC version, again, if it ever gets out into the wild. Too bad barrel makers aren't interested in conversions for it.

[@rayr1642]

The X95 is my go to rifle for HD and competition. Have AR's and AK's but this is the one I've got set up for grab and go. It's also much easier to travel discreetly with it in a case without having to break it down.

[@rayne2714]

Im retired British Army i used the L85 A1 and A2 aswell as HK 416's and M4's in my later years in the Army i loved the L85 it was fantastic in Afghanistan in my opinion be it patrolling on foot or in Vehicles. it is a common misconseption that the L85 jammed like mad but that was not a fault with the rifle it was mainly due to the magazines used, we used American made M4 magazines and the rifle had issues feeding from them one we moved to UK made steel mags the issues went away and we even had a specially designed PMag made by magpul that worked flawlessly in the L85's. having experiance of using different weapon systems in combat they all have there pros and cons and i think its down to training to get the best out of them i am still very happy to take a Bullpup into combat today and would prefer it over the M4 platform mainly due to balancing and length but thats just me its my opinion.

[@zx7-rr486]

Yes, so many people slag off the SA80 who have never even touched one. I was in the cadets in the 1980s and fired the SLR and the SA80. They couldn't be more different rifles, but I did think the SA80 was a really cool concept. Sure the A1 had many documented issues (that really should never have happened) but the HK updated A2 and A3 are definitely good rifles, and the bullpup config has big advantages in confined environments. Some say that "it's shit cos the SAS don't use it" which is pretty dumb logic. Regular infantry is NOT the SAS, and you're talking about a weapon for an entire army, not just 500 guys in special forces!!

[@kansasscout4322]

HK made it a completely different rifle. Improved much. The old one made by Brits sucked bad.

[@masseyhemenway2657]

@@kansasscout4322It takes an American to inform 2 British Soldiers that their rifle sucks. 😂😂😂😂

[@kansasscout4322]

@@masseyhemenway2657 Ha! That L85 is only decent because H&K redid it completely. Its being replaced soon. What?! the AR15 is being replaced too?!! Bullpups are hell on lefties like me. Cheers

[@bigd3104]

Thank you for the timely video. Have been considering adding a bullpup to the collection for some time, but had reservations. You have, for the most part, addressed my concerns. Time to pull the plug and purchase one.

[@bobjohnson1633]

Well, they all cost $2k while a good AR cost half as muchm

[@clintkees6158]

to be fair that is like comparing electric cars to gas... which tech is older? the new tech almost always costs more because it is not as mainstream. hell most new ammo variants coming out now are in the same boat in that they are still being introduced and so cost alot more. @@bobjohnson1633

[@jerry7663]

I bought a Tavor 7 from Copper Custom five weeks ago. Fantastic platform. I'm getting some OTM 175 grainers to try and squeeze more accuracy out of her. Solid with M80 ball standing out to 100 yards. Love my bullpup.

[@W1KAB-9]

My new Tavor 7 should be arriving tomorrow!

[@jerry7663]

@@W1KAB-9 Great trigger out of the box. You shouldn't be disappointed.

[@TavorTuner]

Sounds good! What size of groups are you getting with M80?

[@jerry7663]

@TavorTuner Roughly 3-4 MOA. The Tavor isn't a bench rest target rifle. I was able to keep all shots on an 8 inch target at 200 yards once I was settled in. I'm hoping to get the groups down to 1.5 to 2 MOA with some heavier OTM's. I know it's counter intuitive given the 1/12 twist rate, but other people have gotten better results with higher quality, heavier projo's.

[@TavorTuner]

@@jerry7663 Sounds good. I know what you mean. I have an X95 in 5.56. Thanks!

[@taffdavies35]

I used the L1a1 FN for 20yrs before transitioning to the SA80, the training was very good and found it very easy to use .

[@BangoJay_Official]

My least favorite thing about owning a bullpup is people saying I shouldn't enjoy my bullpup 🥴 Don't tell my ARs that my AUG is the favorite

[@daven953]

IWI Tar 21 had it for years now. Love it. Better trigger gasket for blow back, vortex red dot. I can shred a mandarin orange at 100 yards. I have no AR platform memory (Canadian civillian) so this gun was easy to adapt to for controls and reloads. Short gun so easy to manipulate around in urban and bush enviroments. Thanks Mac good show.

[@elterga6224]

That’s very interesting that your first experience with a fighting rifle is a bullpup, I wonder if you’ll run into the same issues ar users do when transitioning to a different weapon system

[@oteliogarcia1562]

one of the arguments against it is "CQB" where the operator has to keep switching hands as he moves from cover to cover and eventually has to place that ejection port close to his face.

[@kena4977]

That is what made the MDRX forward eject such a compelling option to me. It's a shame that Dssert Tech decided to down grade w/ their newer version.

[@kiwigrunt330]

I used to like the AUG. Very ergonomic with regards to balance and length. Easy to patrol with. Easy to carry with one hand if the other hand has something else to do.

[@barrys4127]

I've had the Tavor TAR 21 for years now. I can't tell you the last time I've used my M4. At least 3 years.

[@jarvy251]

After getting a tavor, my AR sat gathering dust in the safe for a whole year before I finally sold it.

[@wink5792]

I started with x95, added a mdr,then keltec, then hellion, then 9mm x95 and last but not least the 13” sbr x95. I have all the other ar’s but they gather dust bullpups or sbr’s only for me. Great video for beginners

[@azmaddog6]

The FN FS2000 is an excellent vehicle rifle due to the forward ejection that just drops the brass so it is not thrown violently and bouncing around the inside of the cab.

[@joshcarlson9352]

doesn't need to be so complicated though, look at the simplicity of the keltec RDB.

[@gifthorse3675]

I love mine and baby it.

[@al_rebel_7021]

The most underrated bullpup in my opinion is the keltec rdb, no one on KZbin ever brings it up, but in my opinion, especially when factoring in price, it is one of the best options out there. I have had one for 4 or 5 years now and it has always been reliable and accurate, the downward ejection eliminates the issue of right and left handed shooting issues and it is a fairly simple rifle to field strip. It also has a pretty decent trigger out of the box.

[@vanya3935]

I have pullpups purely for utility. I love hunting with them and love having them when patroling. They also store better when working on projects in rural areas. They are very easy to carry in most vehicles. I am surprised more people do not use them.

[@kerrynisbet1514]

Ex NZDF, used the Steyr during my time. Drill was fine, that was one of the complants when it was first introduced but drill was quickly modified to suit. SLRs were still used for more formal drill anyway. The Steyrs we had didnt use the two stage trigger instead used a push through on the safety for your selector. I did witness a guy doing a mag dump into the air after tripping on the range during live fire when forgetting which way was safe and which way was auto. I was in before optics were so ubiquitous and having an optic even a 2.5 was great for observation, the foregrip could be used as a fair monopod especially prone. Overall really enjoyed the Steyr and still have fond memories of using it.

[@DesertCoyotes]

Probably be good to demonstrate how you can shoot the X95 and hellion Weakside, and how the brass will still be ejected forward. Seems a lot of bullpup haters don't understand this and think if a piece of brass touches your face, you'll die instantly. Might be good to address why some countries are moving to the M4 or copies rifles, and why special forces use M4s, usually having more to do with cross training with other countries, parts, cost, and such, and much less to do with the claimed awkward reload or some other made up excuse. the M4 is sort of a universal rifle for many units whereas most bullpups are unique from each other. Maybe you can get in contact with some ex special forces and interview about why the M4 is so universal. I have a few bullpups and they are my favorite rifles, especially the X95 and Tavor 7. A 13" X95 is incredibly compact, and makes SBR AR15s feel incredibly long. The X95 and T7, as my friend and I have found out, at first it can be weird coming from an AR15, but once you run it in drills and all that, over time it just starts making sense and becomes very natural to run. One drill we have run before is having to carry stuff with one hand and the rifle in the other while you run around, most places you see you set the rifle down, then carry a thing, but that is silly, and being able to comfortably hold and, if necessary, aim with one hand effectively is a big win. Also try to open a door while using a 16" AR15 or 16" X95, the AR is too long and you have to point it way down or up, where the X95 you can keep pointed forward as you open a door. Not a tactic used per se by entry teams, but if you are a one man show defending your house, it makes more sense.

[@ethanguerami1162]

I'm a huge bullpup fan. Makes so much sense in all the important areas such as control in close quarters (opening doors, vehicles, etc.), weight toward the rear, i like the reload process now, side charging clearing process... its just a more modern (use every inch for a purpose). X95 is great, but Tavor 7 is my favorite.

[@max7971]

It’s such an advantage, that anti terror units (who are the only ones who actually care about CQB) don’t use them

[@ethanguerami1162]

@@max7971 yeah, seems like military culture can be stubborn even when better solutions are so clear. I heard one resistance point is formation drills can't be done with a bullpup because it is so short so some old army dudes with medals for best formation performance poo poo rhe bullpup. Lol

[@bnsobott]

Thanks for the great video. One issue, that's really important to me, is to be to fire the rifle from both shoulders. More specifically, I don't mean to adjust for left or right-handed use, but to be able to switch shoulders on the fly based on situation. It takes a little training, but it's a huge advantage when working from behind cover or when stalking game and picking shoulder based on the conditions for the next shot. To me, that means all the controls need to be mirrored as well as the ejection not going sideways. The only rifles that come to mind, that'll do that, is first of all the Desert Tech MDR as well as to some extend the FN F2000 and Keltec RDC / RFB. Given that 308 / 6.5 Creedmoor will cleanly take down any game walking around in Europe and the controls / ejection is absolutely ingenious, the MDR is my choice. Mine is 16" in 308 and I absolutely love it.

[@mrglsjr]

This is really important to me too. I only knew about the RFB - thank you for mentioning the others. I now have some research to do.

[@surfinoperator]

Best video on KZbin in a long long time, congrats🤘In the military we would/ could choose our weapons for every special mission.... As a civilian the bullpup in 308 is the ultimate weapon system. You can use it for long range shooting or urban environments or CQB or hunting or as home defense system.....

[@surfinoperator]

Danke!

[@Militaryarmschannel]

Thank you!!!

[@TavorTuner]

I figured out a way to tune the X95 gas system with interchangeable jets. My X95 works so perfectly now. Over-gassed is a thing of the past! No more gas in the face, and less felt recoil too. I'm thinking of offering it as a service. I need to make a video about it. The gas jet installation should work on the Tavor SAR and Tavor 7 also. Anyone interested?

[@cheehoileong]

Tim, love this advocacy for the bullpup!! I was in the Singapore Armed Forces who completely phased out the M16 toward the bullpup SAR 21. The next gen bullpup BR18 is currently in development. Interesting to see such a large scale bullpup adoption against the tide of conventional M4 designs.

[@SoloRenegade]

most of his arguments here FOR the bullpup are cherry picked nonsense. most of his claims are not specific to the bullpup at all.

[@jaxfernandez3684]

@@SoloRenegadefound the fudd

[@SoloRenegade]

@@jaxfernandez3684 not in the slightest. read and learn. a bullpup is tiring one handed same as a standard rifle. some are even HEAVIER than their standard rifle counterparts. I find traditional rifles FAR more comfortable to handle. We worked with teh Brits in Afghanistan, and we played with eachother's rifles. They were envious of our M4s, and we were more than happy to give them their SA80s back and continue with our M4s. 10:40 bullsh!t argument. the mags are essentially a few inches apart, not an issue. either can rotate to reload, either can hold level to reload. 11:40 BS argument again. I ran an M4 with 100% ambi controls (other than forward assist) in Afghnaistan. it was awesome from either hand. and making it so took less than 15min to convert any stock M16 or M4 to this config. Bullpups designed in the same era as the M16/M4 also were not ambidextrous. Being ambi has NOTHING to do with being a "bullpup". newer ARs ALSO come out of the box with full ambi controls. wow, it's like magic!. 12:40 sight radius also applies to many optics as well, beleive it or not, namely 1x magnification red dots. the one black bullpup you're using is basically an AR15 with teh pistol grip moved forward of the magazine. the ejector port is basically in teh same position relative to your face as an AR15, maybe 2-3 inches to the rear at best. you gain so little for such a clumsy and bulky rifle design. 14:35 same is true for the AR15-style platforms. all the pathetic gripes you have have been resolved. try doing a fair apples to apples comparison next time and judge modern standard rifles against modern bullpups, and old standard rifles against old bullpups. Stop cherry picking. You also lose stabilization when using a bipod, or when wanting to stretch your nonfiring hand forward. the ergonomics of bullpups suck, they are very uncomfortable to use in my opinion.

[@FateBringsMe2U]

@@SoloRenegadethis is funny, just above this comment is a comment of a brit talking about how much he loved the SA80 when he served. Also it looks really cool copy pasting your argument as a reply to every comment. Is this what american vets do in their free time after giving their bodies to big oil and killing 14th century goat herders for 20 years and still losing the war?

[@SoloRenegade]

@@FateBringsMe2U So, what is the current battle rifle of the British today? Is it the SA80? What is the current battle rifle of most militaries in the world? An M16/M4 or knockoff. If the SA80 is so great, why was it so much heavier than the M4 yet couldn't do anything extra to justify the weight? If it's so great then why doesn't anyone use it like they do the M4 or variants of the AR15? The SA80 was heavy, about as heavy as our M-249 SAW, and uncomfortable to handle. Just because some Brits liked the only weapon they really knew and were comfortable with, doesn't make it a good weapon. Unlike the Brits, US soldiers OWNED their own guns at home such as the FN2000, Streyr AUG, M4, AK-47, etc. and so we were able to compare these weapons all the time when not on deployment. Brits don't have the luxury of getting such exposure to other weapons on a regular basis.

[@michaelb02007]

Interesting video. I deal with arthritic shoulders so I picked up a Steyr AUG to shift the weight close to my body. What a difference. Still enjoy other platforms, but a bullpup is more of what I need.

[@petesheppard1709]

What a coincidence!! I'm about to take my X95 to the range! My gripe about the ejection is that while I normally shoot right-handed, there may be times when going to my left shoulder may be desirable, and the 'case deflector' is a joke. The first time I shot it lefty, brass cut my chin, even though I tried to position my face well back from the port. I don't have a problem flicking the safety with the knuckles of my left trigger finger, either. Sight radius with the back ups is actually about the same as the AR carbine's., though I normally run a Primary Arms 3x microprism. Overall, a good, thoughtful video--thanks!

[@Tiocian]

Hey Tim. I still have my Tavor SAR (which I purchased thru Copper Custom thank you very much) and with many after market add on's pretty much have it where I want it. Add on's include 1: 2" Savvy Sniper Sling (say that 3 times fast) 2: A Podium TAR Z1 under grip Bipod (which works amazingly well) 3: MI foregrip extension and under barrel light kit -w- left side switch (which is to large and I want to switch out for something smaller of to one side so that I can switch out the A2 Birdcage with a better flash sup. and the ability to use my can on it). 4: an MI upper rail which extends the height and length along with Magpul M-Bus sights front and rear which co-witness perfectly with my Aimpoint PRO and Vortex VMX-3T magnifier. 5: Super Sabra trigger system. plus a few other things I have forgotten about probably and after many thousands of rounds (of which it does not like the 223 ammunition and really only really starts to shine with 556 62 grain and above ammunition). In closing....I LOVE THE FARG'N THING but,would also love to get the X95 asd it solves so many short comings of the Tavor SAR. Just my opinion so take it for what it's worth. ;)

[@Robespierres_Ghost]

I prefer the SAR over the x95

[@MostlyPennyCat]

7:50 Not quite: SA80 = Small Arms for 1980 L85 = The soldier's Individual Weapon L85A2 = The version we fixed. L85A3 = What you showed in the photo L86 = the SAW L22 = 12" barrel carbine L98 = Cadet rifle

[@ACOGguy]

The controls are what get me. That said, I think Keltec’s solution for magazine changes on the RDB makes it a non issue. Unfortunately Keltec doesn’t build them to be as robust as the others. If they did it would be the clear winner.

[@aeorling]

Bullpups are my jam. As a leftie, my Tavor 7 is my favorite 'long' gun. Great overview!

[@CGa2887]

Working at Glock and having dealt with a decent amount of Austrians who were issued the AUG, I’ve never met any Austrian that called it the A. U. G. All have just called it the Aug just like us.

[@TheAustrianAvenger]

The majority still calls it the "Stg 77" or "77er" for short. Soldiers and police officers alike.

[@jacqirius]

never heard anyone call it the "Aug" in german, it's abreviation after all

[@garygcrook]

On the 25th of April 1951 the British army officially adopted the EM-2 Bullpup design as its official weapon. It was later un-adopted due to using an intermediate round which was rejected by the U.S. when NATO moved to its system of commonality of rounds for its member states. The EM-2 predates the Steyr AUG by over 25 years.

[@riskyflash6812]

The compactness is worth the tradeoffs IMO; my Hellion with a 16” barrel and Turbo K is the same size as my 10.5” SCAR 16 with an RC2 on it. You get way better ballistics out a package essentially the same size.

[@csjrogerson2377]

I used the SA80 (L85A1 and L85A2) from 1988-99. Despite its initial problems, I shot about the same as when I previously used the SLR (L1A1) when using iron sights, but the SUSAT was a great improvement. The trigger was the worst aspect - more creep than a sniper in a ghillie suit. A few points: the SA80 was offered as an ambidextrous rifle but the MOD refused the option; it was always designated as the L85, but came in 2 upgrades to the initial L85A1, ie A2 and A3.

[@Anzrul]

I'd love to see a video more focused on the evolution of the bullpup and specific fixes made to the design to make it as good or better than a conventional rifle design.

[@zombieapocalipse2020]

If you look at forgotten weapons on the sa80 series and evolution and original issues, it will pretty much sum up the progression for you.

[@johntrottier1162]

I'm having a great time with my MDRX. Glad to see more channels explaining just how many advantages thee bullpup has.

[@mitchkamp8429]

I love my Tavor 7 . Great all around battle/hunting rifle!

[@kennethbaker5223]

I've been considering a bullpup for a while, and didn't know that they came in 308. You definitely covered my concerns about the platform. Great stuff! Thanks!

[@gld1010]

KM M17s, Tavor 7, RFB, MDR all have have 308 models.

[@IslandTimeLeather]

I love the bullpup design, but the biggest hurdle for most is the pricetag...

[@joe125ful]

And low amount of gun mods,sometimes trigger and ergonomics.

[@KwyattCreations]

Literally just sent my Aug in because it just so happened to be a part of a bad batch that were very prone to cracking the stock/chassis. Not bulpup related, but I also sent in a stery bolt gun because the stock cracked (from being leaned up against the truck and it slid down to the ground) broke the stock right at the bolt and trigger. Way bigger than the cracks in the Aug, but the Aug cracked from just shooting. Hopefully the new one they send in will be alright cause it’s pretty fun

[@Gshock25able]

as an ex Australian infantry soldier ..the F88 AUG was great rifle .. some hated it ..but as the years past they fixed the main issues .. the one thing that got me was knocking the safety into fire, when slinging the rifle ..some times it happened ..

[@lachlanbowden1323]

I remember that as it's biggest flaw too; think it was a byproduct of it originally being an Austrian design (& operation of the weapon in heavy winter gloves being a core requirement.)

[@Gshock25able]

@@lachlanbowden1323 absolutely..

[@weeznaz8195]

What you said about the manual of arms during parades and drills, while I’ve never thought of that before, and that insight is interesting, if true, would be the dumbest reason to not switch over. Progress should not be limited by tradition.

[@troylindstrand9619]

It's also why the M4 has the 141/2 barrel. With a carbine gas system It's the length needed to properly mount existing bayonets.

[@andyinva1098]

I love my Tavor SAR and Tavor 7. While I have other rifles, those are my go to rifles. The 7 shoots like a dream suppressed. I can't imagine going back to order style rifles.

[@chris993361]

I have never gotten an opportunity to shoot a bullpup, but I have always thought the advantages in a modern one very much outweigh any disadvantages. My next rifle will likely be a bullpup.

[@bpbp8597]

Mine are these. I like them for large building security that has a few large open spaces. Kel-Tec RDB Panzer BP12

[@marine6680]

Despite the limitations of the AUG, I really like that rifle. Very smooth shooting. My lady loves it, and has laid claim to it. I find that bullpups, are very good rifles for females. The weight balance works better for them. This also applies to new shooters as well. That tendency to lean backwards in an effort to counterbalance the weight of the rifle is reduced due to the rear weight bias of the bullpup design. I also picked up one of those VHS2 bullpups, and I do like that one a good bit as well. Though the AUG feels more refined while firing. The AUG trigger in new production trigger packs are not too bad considering. Though, the NATO stock version trigger is significantly worse, the single trigger bar makes the forces unbalanced, and you can feel some binding. The new reduced weight springs available from Steyr work well, and the 3rd party replacement aluminum sear is also nice. Don’t use both of them in a standard AUG, significantly reduced drop safety from my testing. The combination isn’t as bad in the NATO stock, due to the already heavier trigger.

[@pq7185]

I love bullpups. The only disadvantages I have with them are difficulty making long shots from poorly supported positions because the muzzle moves more with a rear center of gravity. You really have to brace hard to get stable in a bad position. The other issue is the work area for the magazine reload can interfere with a chest rig/tactical belly. I do appreciate how many I can fit into a single case on a range trip. Something to be weary of is buying the latest and newest bullpup tech. I have had to send both my bolt action and semi Desert Techs back to the factory to repair manufacturing defects I have seen photos of PS90s thermally disassembling near the person's face but it was always due to removing the thin enamel layer off reloaded 5.7x28 brass and having a case head separation at peak pressure when the case shoulder was supposed to bump out at peak pressure (sort of like a nagant revolver case maintaining a gas seal).

[@TAVAAR7]

I love the idea of a bullpup, and they've come a long way in the issues you mentioned. So aside from training a different manual of arms the biggest 2 things I see against bullpups are: 1- interoperability (which could be solved if whole groups adopt them and they become more common in an AR dominated market...assuming they have a standardized baseline for parts similar to a "mil spec" AR). 2-the rail length can leave you cramped for space if you need to add things like lights, lasers, IR, NV/thermal mounts etc and still have room for a grip and manipulating them (which could arguably be solved by just going with a longer barrel to get that extra rail space and have the side effect of *shocker* better velocity for a 5.56) so its kind of an argument FOR bullpups

[@DareDevilMB44]

Adjustable Length of Pull is a feature missing on most Bulpups, that I am aware of. One major advantage of the AR15/M4 platform is the ability to move the stock for a better or more comfortable position.

[@Militaryarmschannel]

The Hellion (aka VHS) shown in this video has an adjustable length of pull.

[@DareDevilMB44]

fair enough. I did say Most, not all. The Hellion is the only one that I know of that does. Personally, I always loved the Bulpup design. I would love to have a Tavor and a FN FS2000. @@Militaryarmschannel

[@Crackthud23]

Length of pull is inherently long for bullpups due to the mechanism. I don't understand why the VHS-2 has adjustment to make it even longer. I would have preferred no adjustment and following the keep it simple stupid rule.

[@deanebrownfield6866]

I think the bull pup comes into its own into ways. It gives you a 16” barrel in a short CQ package but it really comes into its own in .308. You can get a 20 inch sniper rifle that is shorter than a 16 inch AR but the balance to the rear is much better for shooting. For me the perfect battle rifle is an 18 inch pool pump in 308 Winchester.

[@swiss_luri8151]

Ever seen any sass bulpubs? Yeah me neither.

[@cmbaker83]

No shout out for the PS90? Please help me justify my purchase. I named it James Yeager! 🙂

[@devildog8768]

With the ATF bunting, the pistol brace rule into the grand stand. I think maybe the Bullpups will get a little more attention in the civilian world. Military as far as boot camp your right Tim manual of arms will be very difficult without the use of a full size traditional rifle.

[@SF7PAKISTAN]

Or the US could just alter the drill a bit just like the Brits did. Mind you they've been doing it for a lot longer than America has been and they're even more bent on keeping traditions than the US, but still they made it work. The US not willing to work on this is just arrogant indifference

[@muskett4108]

Rest the magazine in the prone. Gets you low and makes a stable platform especially with a bullpup. The likelihood that resting the mag might get a malfunction/jam is remote. Loads of good reason to shoot a bullpup. Great content again, thank you.

[@Anotsu01]

The UK are ditching the L85 incrementally. UKSF never used it. Marine Commandos have used the Colt for a while and now both the Commandos and new Ranger regiment will get the Knights KS-1. This will likely be followed by the other regiments. L85 will stay with logistics core and territorial forces after that. I had thought they were sitting on the fence to see where the new US cartridge went. But 5.56 is showing itself plenty capable against “near pears”. Plus 7.62 does the job when needing something heavier. Like the LMT DMR.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Basically because 556 in an AR gun is cheap. That's it. Although thankfully they are not adopting carbines, which is dumb.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Also I bet America will walk back the M5 too. Turns out there never was any pure Stallinium or Chinesium body armour to deal with Although they do need to solve their carbine problem as the M4 was a serious liability.

[@boxcarbandit2098]

"Just a space for m&m's and crayons"? Sir i do not know how you think the marines can fight without crayons! Ooh-rah!

[@shoottothrillphotoWI]

If you had to use a FAMAS everyday- you'd switch to a conventional platform, too.

[@1nfamyX]

Switching to your baguette is faster than reloading.

[@Menaceblue3]

Solid Snake used one in Shadow Moses island.... He was an extraordinary soldier!

[@quakethedoombringer]

Honestly except for the ammo issue (cannot take normal NATO brass ammo), the gun is fine. The main problem is that MAS closed its last factory in 2002. The adoption of the HK416 is just a marriage of political convenience, since one of the competitors, the bullpup VHS rifle is just as capable as the HK416 but doesn't have the benefit of being Germany

[@brentwinkelman1990]

Iwi got it right with the tavor and x95...still love my tavor and would love an x95 someday.

[@22leggedsasquatch]

One has to look at today's AUG.. with the upgrades available for it. And don't forget, it is designed to work in extreme cold alpine weather. Greetings from Austria 🇦🇹 😀 Update 2024: just picked up the latest version of the AUG which comes with a handguard and 2-level top rail, deflector. Added the latest Elcan 1-4 Spectre and..an extra barrel in. 300 blackout 😊 Got 4 shot group into 1cm² at 50m, fired in less than 2 seconds.

[@AnonEMus-cp2mn]

We are very fortunate that Steyr USA is importing aftermarket upgrades from Austrian companies in recent years.

[@bobjohnson1633]

Austria. Your favorite politician of all time has me discount your country forever.

[@firearmsaficionado7587]

One issue that wasn't addressed is switching from one shoulder to the other during an engagement. Although a right hander would have no trouble shooting a bullpup set up for right-hand ejection from the right shoulder, he or she would get brass in the face when switching to firing from the left shoulder. The FS2000 provided the best solution for this problem in my opinion at the cost of added complexity. As for bullpups in military adoption, none seem to address this issue. The HS product bullpup uses an excessively long length of pull to attempt to address this issue, but that kind of defeats some of the advantages of the bullpup. Some suggest holding the rifle off the shoulder when shooting from the "off" or "weak" side, but this reduces accuracy obviously.

[@Slai47]

I do feel the current selections of bull pups feel primed for new next generation. The bufferless ARs and chassis for those fix a major issue for most bullpups these days. Their weight. Now those aren't perfect and not ready to replace these. But I feel we will soon see that next generation of bullpups come in with the modularity of ARs and lower weight overall. Senex Arms, FM-15s and a few more are just on their first generation but if they can make them even more reliable over time, bullpups will start becoming a preference rather than a choice. I could seriously see the MCX upper with a front charger like the FM-15, being a hugely popular bullpup with the reaper bullpup chassis.

[@Warspite03]

In the 1980s all NATO rifles required a 20 inch barrel to make the new standard rounds to work as advertised. The length of the rifle was a real issue. One only needs to refer to the criticisms of the M16 being too long to wield inside vehicles. That was enough for the US to adopt the M4. Which was criticised in Afghanistan for lacking the necessary punch at longer ranges. Thus the M855A1 development to work out of a shorter barrel. It will be interesting to see if bullpups once again come into fashion once suppressors become more widespread and once again the length of the rifle becomes an issue.

[@corkydukeII5898]

Huh?! But they DO suck. Most militaries can't wait to replace 'em 🤥😑

[@dabears52501]

I love bullpups in concept and functionality. I only have a 10mm carbine conversion bullpup right now but plan on getting more!! 👍

[@theCANaDiAN1987]

Big fan of bull pups too! My Tavor TAR-21 feels just as natural to me as any other rifle. Time and training on the weapon is all it takes

[@thudable]

THANKS. Very interesting post. Much appreciated.

[@Militaryarmschannel]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Robin6512]

im shooting a Steyr aug a1 since 15 years and still very happy with it.

[@jeffkenway8919]

The only reason why I own AR's over bull pumps is because, CMMG 22 conversion kit. I'm not rich I can't afford to shoot 556 every time I go to the range but training with 22 conversion kit is awesome.

[@SierraBravo347]

I've always been a fan of the Kraut Space magic rifle since the first time I saw it MANY MANY moons ago.

[@othnielbendavid9777]

Great commentary. I like it. Thank you!

[@SolFireYT]

My 16” AUG is shorter than my friend’s 11.5 sbr it’s great I get all the benefits with only minor negatives that training will fix

[@thedavidleveraction1776]

I've got a Desert Tech MDRX in 6.5CR. It's a great rifle that addresses all the issues mentioned here. The only issue I have with it is that Pmags don't fully lock in, so they eject themselves after every shot. Metal mags work fine.

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

Solid, well-rounded video. Nice job.

[@toddj1432]

Love my pups! But you are right, there is training and manual of arms you need to accommodate yourself to operate efficiently. Once my friends got used to it, they like them too. Thanks for the video Tim.

[@Militaryarmschannel]

Totally agree!

[@corneliuswowbagger]

Left handed bull-pup enthusiast here. I have several including a modernized AUG switched to left handed.

[@AnthonyScott_Little_Black_Duck]

I switched from a Windham MPC to a KelTEc RDB17 and have not looked back. I still use irons also. The bullpup for me as a smaller stature guy is ideal.

[@tedbaxter5234]

A suppressor is a must for a bullpup - brings it closer to Brown Bess lengths the AR crowd so loves.

[@catfishsiegel30]

I am a Bull pup fan I own 12 of them plus 2 trek 22s kits I just bought need to assemble. First one was and aug last one is favor x95 in 9mm to match my .556 x95 also have several mossberg mavericks 😊😊😊

[@rvail136]

I'm a huge fan of bullpups. I'm a jarhead and have never understood why the USMC never adopted one's it would bee very easy to field, whether you're exiting a truck, amtrack, helicopter or landing craft. The commands idiotic desire to hang onto the ar15 bases systems is mind boggling. Adopting a 7.62x51 design would immediately eliminate all the issues with the 5.56mm round. No on can dispute the penetration of the .308 round. Butt the shortsighted command structure of the US military can never be underrated.

[@Fei8lo]

I love the form factor of bull pups. Though, I am not a fan of the trigger on the Tavor X95 I fired. Maybe with an upgrade or more time on the rifle I could grow to like it.

[@one-metallica4156]

I think Bullpups are amazing in design and functionality. The only thing that I see different about them is that reloading look a little more difficult since your hand that holds the fore grip has to reach behind not where the mag is on a traditional assault rifle. The other down side that I see is when you have to get in close combat, they don’t possess the tough parts like an Ak47 to smack the heck out of someone.

[@callum563]

Love Bullpups, literally used them all my life from the Army Cadets to the British Army.

[@stevethekiwi9468]

The NZ Aug had a 3 position safety, Safe - Semi - Semi/auto, when in Semi/auto you could easily fire semi, to go full auto required a firm trigger pull to the rear. There are also stories of the Paras snaging the sling on descent that pulled the rear sling attachment point out which would cause the trigger group to get to the ground before you did . . .

[@skipsmith9692]

I love Bullpups and I came from the same thought process as you but a few years earlier…raised on iron sights, transitioned to optics and never looked back.

[@cliffordwilkinson9354]

Great video. I have an X95 and shoot it better than I expected. One issue that I have heard but not really experienced is that it can be a bit gassy in the face when firing suppressed. I live in an area where suppressors are not allowed but some have complained that the gas spraying your face can be annoying. In any event, please keep making great videos.

[@TavorTuner]

I figured out a way to tune my X95 gas system with interchangeable jets. It works so perfectly now. Over-gassed is a thing of the past! No more gas in the face, and less felt recoil too. I'm thinking of offering it as a service. I need to make a video about it. Interested?

[@mattmaffett5879]

Or...you could just purchase an OSS free-flow suppressor, and problem solved.

[@TavorTuner]

@@mattmaffett5879 That's probably the best choice for a suppressor, but the X95, IMHO, is over-gassed even without a suppressor. I cut the gas by 1/3 on my unsuppressed X95 to get it to function perfectly with less felt recoil, less fouling inside of it to clean, and less wear on the action. Tuned gas system + OSS can = bliss!

[@mattmaffett5879]

​@@TavorTunermy bad, I was referring specifically to the Tavor 7

[@TavorTuner]

@@mattmaffett5879 no worries. I don't have experience with the 7. Does it seem properly gassed from the factory?

[@TsunTzu]

Adore my MDRX. After a bit of teething related to gassing at the start (just had to turn it down) it's been perfect. Thing has a shorter OAL than a MK18. Great for self defense and indoors- tight spaces.

[@dude126]

Found the same issues in reverse, going from the L85A1, A2 to the C8, with weapons drills.

[@ryanfaulkner183]

Excellent points mate. I’d also like to say that the ability to have a rifle with a 20 inch barrel that is seamlessly efficient in long range open outdoors and tight urban environments is a godsend. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the newest Aussie iteration of the Steyr - the F90 (in civilian markets). Chalk and cheese compared to the OG f88 you had on this video.

[@stevenmiller184]

I have to wonder if the ban on pistol braces will increase the interest in these short bullpups as a way to posses a compact rifle. I have a Keltec RDBs which I really enjoy. It is very very short. It is light. It has an excellent trigger, it has been reliable. The ambi concerns are rendered mute by the downward ejection design.

[@jeromemorgan4928]

Don't forget the type 97 Norinco Chinese military rifle in 5.56. We have it here in Canada to own and use.