Bullpup Design Question

[ChocLab]

As an engineer, my curiosity has gotten the best of me and wondering if someone knowledgeable can answer this question.

Why do many military bullpups have a front guard that encircles the entire hand instead of a normal trigger guard while others do not?

Is there some sort of advantage in the configuration of having a full handguard or is it supposed to act as substitute for a magwell grip :confused:

http://www.famous-guns.com/wp-content/uploads/sa80-small-bullpup.jpg

http://www.famous-guns.com/wp-content/uploads/tavor-titel.jpg

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:8_tAkz9WYnPvTM:http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/F2000.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/AUG_A1_508mm_04.jpg/250px-AUG_A1_508mm_04.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Gewehr_G11_sk.jpg/300px-Gewehr_G11_sk.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/FAMAS-F1_vs_G2.svg/220px-FAMAS-F1_vs_G2.svg.png

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Rifle_Type_95.jpg/300px-Rifle_Type_95.jpg

Thank you.

[Thomas M-4]

For gloves/mittens I would imagine.
But me no bullpup expert neither.

[kal]

I'm positive it has to do with the length of pull. On many bullpups, it is so long, compared to conventional designs, that it would be easier to square your body up when aiming the (bullpup) rifle and keeping your hands closer together with the wrists uncocked.

So some bullpup designs get a pseudo forward grip.


I might be wrong, but it's a theory.

[Cincinnatus]

Maybe one advantage of the whole handguard as opposed to the trigger-guard-only is it may protect smashing your trigger hand against rocks, etc. when hitting the deck in prone--a bullpup design puts the trigger hand farther forward where this is more likely to occur. No expert on this, just speculating.

[SteyrAUG]

With the AUG it has more to do with the QC barrel than anything.

[ChocLab]

With the AUG it has more to do with the QC barrel than anything.

I need to look at the video of field stripping the AUG/MSAR to try to understand. Does QC stand for Quick Change?

Thanks to all so far that have replied. So far the reasons are cold weather/mittens, LOP, grip...

I wonder whether it is cheaper; no trigger guard to pin in the ones that are injection molds but then again the FN2000 does not but the Tavor does :confused:

[SteyrAUG]

I need to look at the video of field stripping the AUG/MSAR to try to understand. Does QC stand for Quick Change?

Thanks to all so far that have replied. So far the reasons are cold weather/mittens, LOP, grip...

I wonder whether it is cheaper; no trigger guard to pin in the ones that are injection molds but then again the FN2000 does not but the Tavor does :confused:

QC is quick change.

When swapping barrels you aren't gonna hit your shooting hand while working in front of it. And basically it just protects the shooting hand. Gotta remember you have a very short weapon that ain't as easy to "catch and grab" should you fumble it.

Also with the AUG, when shooting prone on a rest with the front grip folded, that front guard gives you a solid non shooting hand placement.

[ChocLab]

QC is quick change.

When swapping barrels you aren't gonna hit your shooting hand while working in front of it. And basically it just protects the shooting hand. Gotta remember you have a very short weapon that ain't as easy to "catch and grab" should you fumble it.

Also with the AUG, when shooting prone on a rest with the front grip folded, that front guard gives you a solid non shooting hand placement.

That makes a lot of sense, especially so with the AUG and why it is not on the FN2000.

Thanks!

[SteyrAUG]

That makes a lot of sense, especially so with the AUG and why it is not on the FN2000.

Thanks!

FN doesn't have a QC barrel or folding front grip and already has a hand placement area for your non shooting hand. Same for the SA80.

[pretorian]

In the Tavor system the oversized trigger guard serves a few fuctions:

1. Use as VFG
2. Magwell hold
3. Support hand lean against it (like on the magazine on non bullpup rifles)
4. Magazine supported prone shooting( instead of using the magazine on non bullpup rifles. works with 20 rounders...)
5. Defend firing hand when going prone.
6. Defend firing hand when blocking strikes with the rifle in H2H.
7. Providing a strike surface instead of the magazine in H2H "Magazine Strike"
8. Shooting with gloves/mittens.
9. Supports the shooting hand like a "palm rest"
10. In the Micro Tavor/X95 it chanels the remote cable into the pistol grip.

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aab.sized.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aac.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aad.sized.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aae.sized.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aaf.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aaj.sized.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aal.sized.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aam.sized.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aan.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/Triger-guard/aap.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/TAVOR/acg.sized.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/TAVOR/ach.sized.jpg

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/TAVOR/aci.sized.jpg