Ok, Ok - I just gotta know

Subject Bullpups

Hello you airgun owners
I have never held a bullpup or even seen an actual bullpup....
I like the design and looks of them, and see the accuracy others have with these guns.... but,
I notice some people complaining that a bullpup can't be benched easily...
Is this true.....?

Bench shooting takes up about 80 percent of my shooting time, the rest is hunting with an air gun.
I have to admit that Vulcan sure seems like one hell of a gun..... but, there are so many regular rifles out there also.
I just have a feeling that maybe I am missing out on something by not owning a bullpup....

I am open to any thoughts of others about bullpups....

 
I didn't understand the lure of bullpups either. This was till I got my hands on the cricket and the bobcat. After using these 2, I don't think I am ever going back to the rifle design. Reasons why I prefer the bullpup over the standard design:::

1. They shoulder more easily than a rifle 
2. The weight of the bullpup is towards the back and makes them better balanced for handheld shooting
3. Easily manuverable in the field. 
4. Lighter than a rifle 
5. More compact, more tactical 
6. Makes for a good benchrest shooter as well so I get the best of both worlds. 
7. Can be tuned more easily as compared to a rifle. (Just basis my experience) 
8. Can be easily concealed and carried around. 
 
I only have a Bobcat and a .25 Marauder but I always go for my Bobcat, it's not that I don't like the marauder, it's just I like the feel of Bobcat better. I'm sure with more capable hands it could shot better than the marauder but I think for me they're both very accurate. 

Although the Bobcat is more carbine than bullpup if you ask me, and I would compare it to shouldering an M4 with a telescopic stock, fully collapsed, but with much better weight distribution.(not as front heavy)

I think both can be benchrested well, it just comes down to comfort.
 
I just received my Vulcan so I haven't handled it enough to comment on it much. It feels nice and compact, very good for close quarters maneuverability and quick point-and-shoot. It is very accurate.

Remember that bullpups are specifically designed to move around in a small area but not give up rifle-like barrel length.
Yes they can also be benched, but it is not the ideal form factor for it. Yes they can also be shot accurately offhand, but know that match shooters hang weights far ahead of the trigger to stabilize and slow down muzzle movement before the shot.

If you do 80% bench rest shooting and are fine with a normal length rifle for the remaining 20% of the time when you hunt, I would say stick with rifles.
If you are curious what a bullpup is like, wish for a shorter weapon regularly, and are willing to make some possible concessions because it is such a short and compact design, then order a bullpup like I did. :D
 
When i got my Vulcan i had never held a bullpub either. The reason i got the bullpub is because its compact and it is easy to maneuver around. Also I don't do any competitive shooting on the bench but i saw what other groups people where getting with there bullpubs' so i thought if i want to put it on the bench i can. and this gun is definitely accurate enough to be put up against a bench gun in my opinion. But the gun does jump a little so if you can master that then it's not bad. The design of the bullpub for me wasn't hard at all to adapt to I've heard of other people who just hate the design but it's personal preference.
 
What I like most about my new Vulcan is the portability. It's compact, and easy to carry. It also feels a little more durable for riding around in the backseat of my truck. It's more convenient to keep the gun with me in the truck while at the ranch.

I admit... Shooting the Vulcan on the bench is not as easy as my FX Boss. Shooting 75 yards from the bench is much easier with the long gun... but the Boss is a PAIN IN THE BUTT to carry around while hunting! and, its so beautiful, that I'm a nervous wreck about scratching it :)
 
I had the Wildcat and it was a great offhand shoulder gun in fact I may eventually buy another one. I did not like it for a bench gun I had high rings on it and I had a hard time getting a good sight picture I had to force my cheek into the gun to see through the scope from the bench I did not have that issue offhand but it felt small for me I am 6'5". If I would have kept the gun I would have looked into extending the stock with some sort of butt pad or extension. I did love the balance of the gun. My Wildcat was a quality built gun but I think they could have done a few things to make it even better.

Mike
 
My FX Bobcat (should be renamed FX Whale) is the first bull pup I have ever handled. The cheek weld was awkward at first ,but didn't take long to get used to it. It may not be as natural on the bench as traditional rifle design ,but I think it shoots on the bench great and just takes a little time and patience to get used to the bull pup design. 
 
I'd like to add that to bench my bobcat I have to move my scope back and use the edge of the stock as a kisser, for me it makes it more comfortable to be behind the rifle on the bench, but for any hunting/offhand shooting I need to move it forward and use a typical cheek weld which I agree is sorta awkward(I don't use the cheek rest didn't like it)
 
I had 2 crickets and have shot a few other bullpups and just don't care for them. Yes, they carry and point extremely well, but I don't like the overall feel of shouldering one and much prefer a traditional rifle stock. I also find the triggers a bit lacking due to the linkage. They can be shot to extremely good accuracy from a bench, but a traditional rifle will always be better suited to BR shooting. I do alot of shooting from the prone position and that just wasn't working for me with a pup either. In the end, they just don't suit my needs.



 
With the FX Bobcat, I don't experience anything weird with trigger feel with the extra linkages from trigger to sear. By weird I guess I mean extra play because of the additional linkage components. Maybe I was just lucky and got a good rifle, but that's my experience with mine. In fact, also in my experience, the Bobcat trigger is the best trigger my finger has ever had a chance to squeeze.