September 2010

Bullpup Showdown: Steyr AUG Vs. MSAR and the FN FS2000

These carbines are famous for their fast-handling qualities, but they take some getting used to, our team said. Is one of these $2,000 5.56x45mm rifles a good buy for you? Perhaps.

There are certainly some aspects of the bullpup rifle that make sense. For instance, the shorter overall length of the bullpup, gained by having the action and magazine located behind the trigger in the buttstock, improves maneuverability and reduces weight. Overall, a bullpup is about three-quarters the length of other battle rifles and is often lighter, two attributes many firearms

The Microtech Small Arms Research (MSAR) STG-556, $1750, was the best value in this shootout against big European-name guns, the Steyr AUG/A3 SA, $2000, and the FN FS2000 Tactical $1995. Right, it shot this best-of-test 10-shot group with Federal bulk-pack ammo on the upside-down Caldwell target. All in, however, our staff would have a hard time recommending that you buy any of these firearms, unless you just have to have a bullpup for fun.

consumers want. The Steyr AUG, one of the best-known bullpups, is 28 inches long, just 10 inches longer than its 18.4-inch barrel. In a more conventional rifle, such as the Ruger Mini-Thirty, a standard semiauto action housing an 18-inch-long barrel makes the gun's OAL 37.5 inches. On an M4-length AR-15,…

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