This was part of my "accuracy thread" but it went a little off topic so, I decided to give it its own thread.
This is something I've been thinking about for quite a while. A “bullpup” weapon, by definition, has a design where the action is located behind the trigger group. The action is built into the buttstock, thus significantly reducing the overall length of the weapon while maintaining the same full-length barrel of a conventional rifle or shotgun.
Yeah, ok. That's a great definition. Lets look at it from some different point of views...
From the hunters perspective, the bullpup lends itself to ease of mobility while retaining power when compared to a traditional rifle.
Lets look at it from the long range shooter point of view. The bullpup lends itself to instability and mechanical disadvantages when compared to a traditional rifle. Huh?
Why then, would competitive shooters use them in a competition that classifies as "long range" for air rifles? Could it be that those competitive shooters have become so comfortable with their rifle that it is now the most accurate for them regardless of what tradition says?
Why am I beating up on the bullpups? That's not my intention, in fact it's quite the opposite.
As we collectively use bullpups in a way that they are not intended to be used, does it stand to reason that we are becoming better shooters overall because of the bullpups? Would that bullpup shooter have an advantage over a traditional style rifle shooter because he's made a design work in a way it was not intended to in order to be competitive in an event where the design of traditional style rifles gives them an advantage?
If we could take that bullpup stock off a shooters rifle (that primarily shoots bullpups) and replace it with a traditional stock. Then get that same shooter, from an alternative universe where bullpups don't exist and get them side by side. Which one would be the better, more accurate, shooter?
Are bullpups making us all better, more skilled, and therefore more accurate shooters?
What do you guys think?
Tom
This is something I've been thinking about for quite a while. A “bullpup” weapon, by definition, has a design where the action is located behind the trigger group. The action is built into the buttstock, thus significantly reducing the overall length of the weapon while maintaining the same full-length barrel of a conventional rifle or shotgun.
Yeah, ok. That's a great definition. Lets look at it from some different point of views...
From the hunters perspective, the bullpup lends itself to ease of mobility while retaining power when compared to a traditional rifle.
Lets look at it from the long range shooter point of view. The bullpup lends itself to instability and mechanical disadvantages when compared to a traditional rifle. Huh?
Why then, would competitive shooters use them in a competition that classifies as "long range" for air rifles? Could it be that those competitive shooters have become so comfortable with their rifle that it is now the most accurate for them regardless of what tradition says?
Why am I beating up on the bullpups? That's not my intention, in fact it's quite the opposite.
As we collectively use bullpups in a way that they are not intended to be used, does it stand to reason that we are becoming better shooters overall because of the bullpups? Would that bullpup shooter have an advantage over a traditional style rifle shooter because he's made a design work in a way it was not intended to in order to be competitive in an event where the design of traditional style rifles gives them an advantage?
If we could take that bullpup stock off a shooters rifle (that primarily shoots bullpups) and replace it with a traditional stock. Then get that same shooter, from an alternative universe where bullpups don't exist and get them side by side. Which one would be the better, more accurate, shooter?
Are bullpups making us all better, more skilled, and therefore more accurate shooters?
What do you guys think?
Tom
) and also used my Verminator for 25yd. So, they are out there competing and sometimes winning or placing. Well, I guess the Verminator technically doesn't count as a bullpup but, it sure does have the feel of one to me, anyway. 
