Bullpups Are Futuristic: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

A "bullpup" rifle is one where the action is behind the trigger. This allows for a longer barrel (which means more accuracy, range and bullet velocity) with shorter overall length and weight, but increases the complexity adding to manufacturing time/cost as well as increasing the chance of malfunction and making maintenance more difficult. Further, in most cases this means the rifle can't be ambidextrous without making it eject spent brass downward (adding further complexity). As the British, French and Australian armies have discovered this is also an issue for right handed users as it prohibits shooting left of cover which is a major disadvantage in today's close range, urban combat.

{{examples}}

== Anime and Manga ==

* The fictional Colt M72A1 bullpup is the Earth Federation's primary small arm in ''[[Gundam]]'''s ''Universal Century'' timeline. While it's never named outside of production or supplemental materials (due to the franchise's focus on [[Mecha]] and not small arms), the design has been consistent since at least ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket]]'' where the production art merely refers to it as the "Earth Federation Forces Official Assault Rifle".

** From a production point of view its downwards ejection greatly simplifies actor placement (no need to worry about ejecting brass onto someone), its ambidextrous controls make it usable by any actor and the light weight is also appreciated by actors who have to hold the thing.

* ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'', among the many variations from vintage wooden rifles to blocky things with folding stock, has bullpup-configured lasguns. The Elysian Drop Troops (space paratroopers) are equipped with these (Accatran pattern), so that their weapons are shorter, lighter, and more maneuverable. It makes them look more advanced and modern, in comparison to the very archaic and [[Used Future]] look of typical regiments. There's no engineering reason that all lasguns shouldn't be this way, since they don't shoot physical bullets and so there's no additional complexity to the design - it's just a matter of routing the power to the middle of the weapon versus the back. Possibly because the Guard often uses bayonets, and that's where total length is a good thing.

** ''[[Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay]]'' has a good assortment. So there are generic Bullpup Lasgun (stats between a common lasgun and lascarbine without advantages of either), Accatran MkIV lasgun used by the Elysians (like a common lasgun, but with bonus on "who's first" opposed tests and range reduced almost to carbine's) and Roth “Lightning” lasgun (long-barreled version with longer range than common, but the same weight).

{{reflist}}