Another question from an inquisitive hack - I saw this website www.bullpup.de while surfing the net and wondered if anyone here hunted (or had any experience hunting with) a bullpup rifle. There seem to be a number of manufacturers, nearly all European,of bolt action bullpup rifles based on the Mauser 98, Heym SR 30 and Blaser 93.

How do these rifles handle, how do they shoot etc?

Good shooting.

Mehul, this seems to be an idea that never caught on. I have seen very few such rifles and I have NEVER seen anyone hunt with one.

I never liked the idea much of having my head that close to the action...but probably the bullpup design DOES have some merits in a properly outfitted rifle. Like I say, it just never caught on that I am aware of.

German hunter Dr. Reinald von Meurers has more than one bullpup rifle, which he uses on his solo hunting trips in the Cameroons. One of them is a .460 Weatherby, another is a .375 H&H, I believe. I think he talks about them in his book "Buffalo, Elephant, and Bongo: Alone in the Savannahs and Rain Forests of the Cameroons" (Safari Press, 1999).

Pecos,

It's strange some ultra high tech American 50 cal rifles are bullpup designs but there are hardly any hunting rifles made with this configuration in the US. I was just wondering, whether the fact that the world's armies' moving towards bullpup designs has had any parallel in hunting guns.

Slingster,

Thank you for recommending the book - I'll just have to order it now, won't I?

Good shooting!

You have to get used to bullpup rifles. They handle different to "normal" style rifles. What you notice first is the different balance, bullpups are heavier towards your shoulder, that's the main difference. My experience is limited to a SO "shorty" rifle, with match barrel, which shoots very well.

[ 12-10-2002, 00:20: Message edited by: bullpup ]

An old friend used to hunt exclusively with Bullpups. He loved them. They were great in the dark timber because of their short length. I haven't seen a Bullpup other than European in over 20 years.

Bullpup and JD,

My presumptions are only theoretical since I have not even seen a bullpup rifle leave alone shooting one, but Bullpup's Sommer und Ockenfuss should be relatively easy to reload and shoot since it has a pistol grip that works in a forward and back sliding motion. I was, however, intrigued by pictures of bolt action rifles which had the bolt behind where the shooter's head would be. I thought it would be extremely cumbersome to reload one of these, hence the question to anyone who had any experience shooting one of these.

Thanks, everyone, for the info.

Good shooting!

I used the SA80 in 5.56 for 3 years and IMHO it's a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

The disadvantages are that the scope has to be mounted higher above the barrel axis and the chamber lies next to your throat/side of head.

I could not shoot it as well as a standard stalking rifle.

IMO bullpup rifles will only be used by few hunters who like them, or some who benefit of shorter overall length. The Pfeifer gun is intended for hunting in the mountains, to put the gun into your backpack, yes you can go hunting in the mountains with a normal gun, but some may think it is better. I never hunted in mountains, but Austria has enough, I believe they know what they do. Interesting maybe are those special guns like the bullpup shotgun neostead, i read some articles about it (not english) and like the design. For military applications a bullpup P90 is the most interesting weapon, but only for suppotting units and bodyguards, tiny gun. Sorry for my english, I habe to polish it a bit.

mehulkamdar: The friend that used bullpups made them himself. They were bolt actions. I never saw him need a second shot but don't remember him being encumbered by it. He let me shoot one, and it was a little strange for me. I've thought seriously about making one for myself.

Never used a bullpup to hunt with, but like 1894, I have used the SA80. Although i am not a big fan of the SA80 itself, I think a bullpup design design has a lot of merit and I always found it excellent for snap shooting and more formal range work. I would prefer something more traditional for hunting, but i am sure the basic concept is a sound idea.

JD,

If you make a bullpup hunting rifle, don't forget to post pictures here. I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in seeing what your gun looks like. Good shooting!

Pete E,

Thanks for the info. Hope you didn't mind my ribbing on the politics forum - we can have differences of opinion and still be civil to each other.

mehulkamdar,

No problem with that at all, just be prepared to get as good you give!

Regards

Pete

Pete E,

You're welcome.

Let's keep scores.