This is certainly a radical project, and not some people's cup of tea, but there might be interest here.

I got the chance to shoot Desert Tech bullpups and I think they're pretty fantastic, but the price and everything being proprietary is killer for many consumers.

Enter my project, a drop-in chassis initially for Remington 700 short actions, which I plan to expand. Adjustable length of pull, recoil pad height and cant, cheekpiece adjustment, everything is modular. AICS and AW mag compatibility.

Here's a rendering with an 18" barrel, along with a few pictures of the prototyping process so far. I hope to have a full chassis in around a month in time for deer season!

I guess if that's what you like .

I agree triggers are usually the one issue with bullpup designs. I wonder to about the position of the bolt handle on a bolt action bullpup rifle. Seems to me the bolt handle won't be in a natural position to manipulate, nor will it be conducive to maintaining a good cheek weld during bolt manipulation. The latter I think can be solved with an elevated scope and cheek piece.

Interesting. I wonder how something like this might play in a blued/wood design with a standard 4-round blind magazine.

Thanks for the input guys.

I'll be the first to say a nice wood stocked rifle with deep bluing is fantastic. I can also appreciate a precision rifle with a metallic stock that foregoes warping under different conditions, and shortens the length of a rifle by ten inches, such as this chassis.

For the bolt position, it will function with no modifications, but my partner and I will be offering an extended bolt handle installation service, to put it back in a conventional spot and speed up bolt manipulation.

Our trigger design is unique and patented, and testing is going quite well. It will be one of the best bullpup triggers available, with several options for trigger feel. I don't want to share exactly how it works, but we have very precise machining in the assembly which has shown nothing but smooth operation so far.

Looks to me like it would make running the bolt kind of awkward.

Tyler how much does it weigh? what caliber choices do you expect to make.
Thanks Dave

Wunderbar!!

Nearly 40 years ago I had the privilege of visiting both PO Ackley and John Buhmiller at their shops as a bonus going to visit with Elmer Keith. Mr Buhmiller took his bullpup out that he won Wimbledon with in 1937 (iirc), and let me shoot it. It seems to me, that it was a 1917 Remington with a P-14 bolt in 300 Magnum.

His trigger system was a length of rod, I want to say, with heim style toggles at each and some form of linkage. It had a very nice 4 lb pull, two stage, but very smooth and crisp.

You are to be congratulated for taking this on. It's almost enough to get me shopping for a clean 700 action.

Do please, keep us informed.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Tyler Kemp:
Our trigger design is unique and patented...

How long did it take to get the patent? What's the Pat.#?

Pegleg:

It will function with no bolt modifications, although we will install an extended handle that places the handle in a conventional spot.

Hivelosity:

This is just a chassis. You place your rifle in whatever cartridge you desire in it, as long as it fits in a Rem 700 short action. Long action chassis and other actions to follow

Idaho:

Thanks for the kind words! I am hoping prototyping keeps progressing as it has thusfar, and I can offer a preorder program at a special first offering price in a few months.

ForrestB:

Once I actually sent in the paperwork, they cashed my check within a few weeks. It is a provisional patent that lasts a year, at which point I will be filing a full multi-year patent. Unfortunately I don't have the number yet, awaiting the paperwork back in the mail, and the USPTO hasn't returned my phone calls or answered the multiple times I've called.

Tyler, I'm not an IP attorney but I have paid a lot of money to some good ones over the years. You have a provisional application...it's not a patent. You can use the term "Patent Pending" if it makes you feel better. There's no such thing as a provisional patent. You'll have to file a non-provisional patent application within 12 months. The patent office does nothing in the interim (including returning calls - as you've discovered). It's an expensive proposition for a design patent. You'll have to sell a lot of bullpup triggers to make it worth your while. In any event, I wish you all the luck in the world with with your project.

Forrest

Forrest, have a buddy who helped me with the provisional who is a patent lawyer, which shouldn't need to be changed for the design patent according to him. I'm looking at around $2000 for the design patent as written I'm told, since I did it and the references myself.

Not cheap, but only a few chassis worth of profit covers the cost, and my work.

I am going to start shopping for a 700 barreled action next week.

Do put me on that list for the first one available.

If I may suggest, the Savage short action would be a great second option when you get the time to look at others.

You are putting that college education to good use.

Rich

It could be made on a Lynx or browning accera straghtpull action to have a easyer repeting.

http://lynxrifles.fi/site/lynx-light-hunter/

Cool project! Forestb is correct but the big story is that even if you get a patent and somebody infringes on it you will have to sue in court and that is where the big money comes in. In my experience for us small fries patents are a waste of time and money.

Rich, great news and I returned your PM

Other actions and such are planned, and a straight pull action would be excellent, but require some R&D. Down the road I have thought about designing my own straight pull action, although that would require much more legal protection, etc.

I wish you well on your project, I hope to see more in the future.

There are just some things a guy needs to fill out the vault.

And supporting an early twenties college grad with a great idea like this is one of them. He started out with us here when he was about 14-15 shooting varmints in his parents backyard.

He is a thinker, AND doer; which is rare these days.

I got one on order...

Awesome how life goes, huh Rich? Always wanted to do something innovative in the gun world. Went to school wanting to design new long range bullets, looks like I didn't stray too far off track!

I am almost afraid to say this because I might be channeling Boom-Stick-but

have you considered a pump action bull-pup? that would eliminate the problem of bolt position.

One reoccurring problem with chassis rifles is the area where the grip connects to the chassis. If it pinches, shooters will not be happy with it.

Yours appears to be pinchy!

Neat concept and good looking work......but I ain't real certain that I want my face right there if a case lets go????

How much liability insurance are you carrying?


.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
One reoccurring problem with chassis rifles is the area where the grip connects to the chassis. If it pinches, shooters will not be happy with it.

Yours appears to be pinchy!

Going to use ERGO grips which are more vertical in production models. As is with the A2 grip, theres a whole lot more room than a standard thumbhole stock, I've had people concerned with this exact issue, but after holding the prototype they agree it is no longer a concern.

The compromise is increasing length of pull to add more room, when LOP is already a big confinement when making a Rem 700 into a bullpup

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
Neat concept and good looking work......but I ain't real certain that I want my face right there if a case lets go????

How much liability insurance are you carrying?


.

There will be a nice thick cheekpiece covering the gas port if there is high pressure gas released. If your actual chamber blows up, you did something really wrong when reloading.

Update!

Forend mounting assembly is done, and STRONG. It has a whole lot of clamping surface, and mates with a dowel to ensure it's level, as a rail will ride from the action all along the top.

Trigger testing is also nice as well. The internals are uninstalled in this pic for a small change that will make assembly much easier.

I really admire what you are doing, but I am skeptical when you say that working the bolt won't be an issue. I guess I would want to try myself, or at least see a photo of the completed rifle, shouldered, with the right hand holding the bolt in the full aft position. Good luck with it!

Don't forget, there will be an optional bolt extension that puts it where a standard rifle is. That's the last part I'm going to worry about, as I want this functional for deer season first.

If you're slender like me, I assure you that it is possible to work the bolt as is without breaking a cheekweld, although I'll be the first to admit it isn't optimal without an extension.

I like this idea.
It would be great for storing in you truck without taking a lot of space...tj

UPDATE!

V1 was overall what I would consider a success, there were ergonomic refinements to be made, BUT, the trigger worked great, had a 4oz increase in pull weight with no sacrifice in the "feel" of the trigger.

One of the largest trigger companies around liked my design quite a lot, and we are working to development a custom trigger unit just for this chassis.

Most of all, here is V2. I think it looks awesome for a chassis system:



For those of you who don't like the metal chassis look, I'm also working with a big name in the stock industry to create a more conventional looking thumbhole stock with the functional part of this chassis minimized and molded in, to retain the reduced length as well as a more classic styling.

This is looking better every update. It has been enough to start me looking for a 700 action or barreled action to build from.

Interesting concept Tyler. IMHO, a bull pup works best in an automatic, but I'd be interested in seeing the bolt extension.

I'm not a big Model 700 fan, but the good news is this design necessitates replacing the trigger.

quote:

Originally posted by just-a-hunter:
Keep up the good work and keep keeping us posted. I really admire what you are doing.

What price point are you trying to hit with this?

Todd

Hi Todd,

Looking to be in the $1200-$1500 range. A significant investment, but at the same price range you will not find anything remotely similar.

Not to be a naysayer, but the firearms industry has in reality over the years been one of many failures financially. The product you are considering to make a viable financial venture is bucking very strong market headwinds. Browning, Winchester, etc., etc., have not been able to remain an independent mfg. and no question they have market acceptance. Forced to combine under international ownership with deep Governmental backing-FNH. Can't count the number of long established mfg.'s now under financial control of venture capitalists. Only industry that is worse from return on investment/assets would be the airline industry.
I understand the passion and yes, love for the product and firearms in general, but it is a very hard core business issue, feelings have no place in business even though we all like to think that it does. As mentioned, forget about the Patent approach, that is defeated on almost a daily basis and to defend against infringement is cost prohibitive other than to largest of deep pocket corporations. Have no idea as to what discipline you studied in college/university, but seek out someone in the Business Division and discuss for his/her opinions. Better still seek sound, but often harsh reality, advise from senior banking officer of major banking firm(bankers have no heart, but they can add and subtract quite well.)Ask yourself, how many "bullpup" designs/firearms are considered high volume sellers in the marketplace?? I am 72 years old and can't recall of one to date. I admire your spirit and innovative thinking, but bottom line is that the enterprise must be able to buy ink for the printer, paper, phone, lights, heat, and water, facilities, taxes, fees, cost of money/Int., etc. and a return on investment of time and capital-profit. If you feel in your mind, not your heart, that you can overcome all of these obstacles, God's Speed to you.

Instructor,

I totally understand your opinion and advice. In regards to the education portion, I dual majored in Business, Marketing and Sales. Consumer research is one of my main areas of study, and precision/long range shooting is one of my biggest hobbies. Through school I've made my own internships and continuing work in the firearms world.

You are dead on that no one besides Desert Tech (formerly Desert Tactical Arms) has had a successful bolt action bullpup. Maybe that's because no one wants them. Or, as Desert Tech showed, maybe it's because no one approached the design constraints of the bullpup layout in a way that satisfied precision shooters.

What I do know is Desert Tech is WELL over $6000 for a complete rifle, whereas with this chassis you will have the same quality trigger, a better magazine system, better adjustability and ergonomics, along with lower weight and the ability to use your existing barreled action...for well under half the price.

Perhaps this will flop tremendously, and quitting my full time job just a few years out of college is going to be a massive mistake. But I'm young, not married, and have always wanted to do something innovative in the firearms field. With the help of others and through my own experiences I think I've found a niche that I can expand to try and do something fairly revolutionary.

Tyler is at the right time in his life to try and make something different/better. NO family, or other concerns. If this does not work out, and I am really hoping it will, he can always go back to the grind.

If he did not try this, he would spend the rest of his life wishing he had had the cojones and discipline to take a shot at it...

V2 to be completed this week

waiting for that show and tell...

I am really quite excited for this project. The pix and updates are great!

The idea of this being housed in a thumbhole laminate or fiberglass stock is really, really intriguing.

Looks really interesting and great for a mountain rifle or a moderated rifle. In the Uk moderators are now very popular but really unbalance the rifle. A bull pup would make perfect sense.

Please make the stock ambidextrous so that it can easily accommodate left hand actions. There are not that many options for lefties out there and it's 10% of the market. Next on list of actions should be Tikka T3 - that would be a really nice and popular option. Don't forget that the Brits and French service rifles are bill pups and many Brits would love a bull pup for range and deer work.

I'm working up to the order. Bought a pair of new 700 ADL complete short actions last wee.

check your PM's.

Rich