The Firearm Blog

I read about Short Rifle Stock Systems (SRSS) new M14/M1A bullpup stock, the BullDog 762, at Defense Review. I suppose the designers said to themselves “just about about everything has a bullpup conversion, why not the M14?”

The stock comes in a synthetic model (SRSS-1421SM, $749) and an aluminum model (SRSS-1421BA, $999) and is available in Black, Olive Drab, Tan and Aluminum finish.

From the FAQ:

What does the SRSS kit consist of?

The SRSS stock system comes with main beam (stock) panels = Cheek rest and right panel, optics rail and all hardware, allen wrenches to mount scope rail which replaces the M14 /M1A hand guard. Simple tools like a screwdriver is all you need to install your M1A or the M-14 into the SRSS. OPTICS are not included. See our site for Optics available.

Do I need to machine any part of my rifle?

No. You will need to remove the hand guard and install the optics rail and you will need to remove the rear sight assembly, just hang on to it you may want to put it all back together or leave the SRSS together and build another M1A.

Can you describe the trigger action ? I understand that one of the weakness of bullpup stocks is their softness or lack of tactile feedback of the trigger when pulled.

Our trigger was designed to eliminate all the problems that bullpup’s have. The trigger/transfer rod is submerged in the stock and to some degree floats and is carried by the rear/original trigger. The safety is just above the pistol grip for your right hand and can be turned off and on by the right thumb. Our trigger rod adds 1/2 pound to whatever your trigger pressure is on your rifle. It feels like your original two stage trigger.

Later this year or next year SRSS will be offering this stock system for other rifles. My guess is that a Mini-14 model will be offered.

Fitted with the SRSS Mini Paladin Muzzle Brake ($200)

UPDATE: Daniel E. Watters, who is very knowledgeable, points out in the comments that there have been other bullpup stocks for the M14.
More photos after the jump. Continue Reading »

Also on display at MSPO 2008 were the Alex bullpup bolt action rifles. They look awesome. As far as I know they come in three models. The Alex762 (7.62×51mm), Alex -338 (8.6×70mm / .338 Magnum Lapua) and the Alex Sports Tactical (7.62×51mm).

Alex-762

Alex Sports Tactical


Alex-338

Very compact

It is so pretty I could not help posting another photo

The Alex-338 weights 6.5 kg without scope and 7.3 kg with the scope, 0.4 kg more than the Alex-762. It has a 5 round magazine. I can’t read Polish and I am unable to find more useful information on the rifles.

Earlier this year US firm Desert Tactical Arms launched a bolt action bullpup rifle at SHOT.

More information here, here and here.

I have done my best to find accurate information about this firearm on the Polish MSPO 2008 website. I do not speak or read Polish so I had to rely on Google Translate. If I got something wrong, please correct me in the comments.

CenterFire Systems sell a Bullpup stock kit for AKs:

The AK-47 Bullpup Stock has an overall length of 27″ and weighs 7 lbs. when installed on a rifle

Chibajoe at saiga-12.com installed it on his 20 gauge Saiga Shotgun.

Click to expand.

Very cool.

Those lucky Canadians will be able to purchase the Norinco Type 97 later this year.

Type 97A. Click to expand.

The Type 97 is the civilian export version of the QBZ-97 rifle, which in turn is the export version of the 5.8×42mm QBZ-95. It is chambered in 5.56×45mm and takes STANAG magazines. Looking at the photo I think it has a 20″ barrel.

According to CanadaAmmo it will be available in December 2008 and will sell for $849.00.

QBZ-95 rifle

The above photo shows Chinese UN peacekeepers performing during a medal ceremony in Lebanon. It is interesting to see how they hold the bullpup to use the bayonet.

Hat Tip: MP.net

Kel-Tec displayed their new RFB 7.62×51mm (.308) bullpup rifle at SHOT Show. SMGLee took some great photos.

With suppressor, nice!

Wikipedia has this to say about the rifle:

The Kel-Tec RFB High Efficiency Rifle (Rifle, Forward-ejection, Bullpup) is a gas-operated semi-automatic rifle with a tilting breechblock locking mechanism, manufactured by Kel-Tec Industries of Florida. It loads the 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) cartridge and uses metric FAL magazines. The rifle uses a patented forward-ejection system via a tube placed over the barrel that ejects the spent case forwards, over the handguard of the rifle.

The rifle is a forward ejecting semi-automatic firearm chambered in 7.62 mm NATO (.308 Winchester), utilizing a short-stroke gas piston. To avoid the sloppy trigger pull typical of bullpup style firearms, the RFB utilizes a floating linkage bar between the sear and the hammer, allowing the sear to remain above the trigger. The weapon is fully ambidextrous, much in the style of the French FAMAS bullpup assault rifle. The RFB accepts FN FAL style magazines, and is delivered without iron sights. A mil-spec Picatinny rail is standard.

Here is a video of the rifle, clearly showing the forward ejection.

Kel-Tec plans to offer three different four versions each with a different barrel length:

• Carbine (18″),
• Sporter (24″),
• Target (32″ heavy barrel, or 26″ stainless steel barrel)

The rifle is expected this quarter (1st quarter 2008) in the forth quarter, see the comments by dogon1013.

More images after the jump.

Continue Reading »

At SHOT Desert Tactical Arms announced their Stealth Recon Scout (DT SRS) sniper weapon system. It is a bolt action bullpup rifle.

It features

* 1/2 MOA accuracy is standard
* 11 inches shorter than conventional rifles
* Quick Caliber conversion between 243 win, 308 win, 300 win, and 338 LM
* Rugged, it was designed and built to be as tough as any other system out there.
* Adjustable trigger 1-5 lbs and you can also enable or disable the second stage on the trigger, as well you can reduce your trigger pull length to whatever you want.

The 338LM pictured below (with bipod, scope mount, sling, and S&B 5-25x) is 15.75 lbs and has an overall length of 37.5″. The 308 WIN (22″ fluted barrel) is approx 3 lbs lighter with an overall length of 31.5″, making it the shortest sniper rifle in the world to my knowledge, yet you can still mount the bipod the same distance forward on the rifle that you can on a standard McMillan stock.

We actually beefed up the barrel and bolt camming area up by 39% over the original DSR-1. Every operational sniper that has handled the rifles have said they are the most comfortable rifles they have ever handled.

The trigger is excellent, I can assure everyone of that and those going to the shot show will get to try it.

Postal, your hilarious, no black eyes with this gun. The bolt has a 60 degree lift and six lugs. The bolt manipulation is about 2-3 inches rearward of a normal bolt gun, It feels very natural and you don’t loose your cheek weld during operation. Your technique changes slightly but it is very accommodating. If you shoot the SRS left handed then you have to roll your head over slightly to manipulate the bolt.

We won’t be making a lefty, at least not for a while, sorry.

.338 LM with 26″ barrel+muzzlebrake next to an M4

Some more photos (rifle chambered in .338 LM)

Prices:

Shot Show Prices will be (Tentative):
SRS 338LM $3585 (26″ fluted barrel includes DTA muzzlebrake)
SRS 300WIN $3450 (26″ fluted barrel no brake)
SRS 243WIN $3275 (24″ fluted barrel)
SRS 308WIN $3275 (22″ fluted barrel)

Conversion kits (includes bolt, barrel, barrel ext, and magazine)
338LM $1480 (includes DTA Muzzlebrake)
300WIN $1265
243WIN $1205 (if you already have a 308win bolt you can deduct $300)
308WIN $1155

Some more photos

Desert Tactical Arms have not website, this information was gathered from googleing (this thread and this thread).

Hopefully an official website will be put online. If you are from Desert Tactical Arms, please email me with your website address.

I came across some nice Steyr AUG photos at MilitaryPhotos.net.

More here.

GunPorn wrote a post on this very interesting shotgun. It is a reverse pump action bullpup shotgun invented by a South African company.

From what appears to be the official website.

Neostead Features

* Selectable twin tube magazine
* 13 shot capacity
* Overall length is 27 inches with full length barrel of 22.5 inches
* Totally ambidextrous as all controls are centrally mounted
* Pump action is reversed
* Straight line stock with magazines above barrel
* Negligible muzzle lift
* Intergral carry handle houses ghost ring sights
* High stength polymers for main external components
* Boltless design
* Sling swivels on top

Safety Features

* Trigger safety locks trigger positively
* Pump handle operates trigger disconnector
* Pump lock
* Firing pin positive return
* Out of battery firing prevention
* Reversed pump action

Wikipedia has this to say

The NeoStead 2000 (NS2000) is a type of shotgun developed by the South African company NeoStead. Along with the Pancor Jackhammer, it is considered one of the most technologically advanced shotguns ever created. The NS2000 has been used in trial runs for a few years by special forces like the British SAS and there are hopes at NeoStead that larger weapons manufacturers will license the production rights. Production of the shotgun began in 2001 and the first models were made available in October of that year.

The NS2000 is a 12-gauge pump action shotgun weighing in at just over 3kg, designed primarily for security and civil disturbance situations.

The firearm includes a 22.5 inch (572mm) barrel despite the overall weapon length of just 27 inches (686mm). The short length makes the weapon easier to handle in close quarter situations however, unlike most firearms of this type, it can still remain accurate at relatively long ranges. The long barrel length is achieved by using a bullpup configuration, with a rear-fed tubular magazine.

Another aspect of the NS2000 is its dual six round magazines. The selector switch can be set to left, right, or alternating. For example in riot conditions less-lethal flexible baton rounds can be used with standard rounds in reserve.

A possible production variant of the NS2000 has an 18 inch barrel in a weapon with an overall length of 22 inches. The shorter length reduced the magazine capacity to 5+5 rounds and makes the weapon easier to import or license in many countries.

Its pump mechanism operates in a forward-back motion, due to its rear-load configuration. This is different from conventional pump methods as the pump action is achieved by shifting the hand forward-back, as opposed to the standard back-forward motion of the non-trigger hand.

Some more photos

This photo makes it look a bit like a side by side shotgun. The two cylinders next to each other on the top are the magazines.

Patent application drawings:

This shows how the magazines are inserted: