Have you ever used a rifle or a shotgun and wished it weren’t as bulky? They can be difficult to travel with when hunting season comes around and can weigh quite a bit. Does this sound familiar at all? If you haven’t heard of bullpup firearms, they just may change the way you use rifles or shotguns from here on out.
Bullpup firearms are unique because they have the action and magazine behind the trigger. They are designed this way so the firearm can more lightweight and shorter without having to sacrifice any of the barrel length or power. These guns are not only shorter but they are easier to travel with for hunting or target practice and easier to use overall.
Bullpup guns are great for beginners or those who consider themselves well-versed with guns. You won’t have to worry about losing any accuracy just because they’re more compact. Whether you’re looking for your first gun ever or you’re looking to try a different style than what you’re used to, there is a shotgun or rifle on this list for you! Here we’re going to show you about the 10 best bullpup rifles and shotguns on the market right now and what makes them the high-quality machines that they are.
STEYR ARMS – AUG A3 M1 223 16″ BLK High Rail
We’ll start off with one of the most popular rifles in the world, Steyr Arms AUG A3 M1 223 16 inch BLK High Rail. This has a classic rifle look to it with all the up-to-date features. It is semi-automatic and is gas operated. If you’re aware of the guns used by the Austrian army in the late 1970’s, this gun is quite similar.
The gun can be used by right or left handed users and still is completely comfortable weighing in just under 9 pounds with a 16 inch long barrel. Overall, this rifle is pretty small with a total length of 28.25 inches and holding 10,30 or 42 rounds depending on the magazine. This rifle has a single stage trigger, safety with two positions in a cross-bolt design that keeps the trigger locked.
The stock on this semi-automatic shotgun is synthetic and the finish is available in blue and black. The BLK High Rail has a quick change barrel with a collapsable forward grip. It may not fold up conveniently but this gun is quite compact as is even if it’s one of the longer guns on this list. As you can tell by the name, there is a high rail to give you the best optics. Lastly, this rifle is chambered in 5.56 NATO or 223 Rem.
FN – PS90 STANDARD 16.04IN 5.7 x 28MM MATTE BLACK 10+1RD
This FN rifle is great for a number of things. It’s not only lightweight but it’s will work well for right or left handed users. You can use this rifle as a form of security, for recreational shooting or in some popular competitions. This bullpup rifle has a reduced coil thanks to the integral muzzle break FN equipped it with.
When you use this rifle, the cases are ejected in a lowered motion so you won’t be bothered by them. Finished in a matte black paint, this rifle comes in at just over 26 inches in length, the removable magazine can hold 10 +1 rounds and the barrel can extend to 16.04 inches while still providing amazing accuracy.
This rifle is gas operated with a rear sight rail. There is no front sight on this bullpup rifle and the stock is synthetic. It’s incredibly lightweight coming in at a total of 6.28 pounds. Whether you use it professionally or just at competitions, this firearm is a great buy!
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IWI US – TAVOR SAR-B16 16.5IN 5.56X45MM NATO FDE 30+1RD
If you find yourself working in small spaces, this is a great bullpup rifle. It’s incredibly compact thanks to it being a bullpup, the center of gravity is brought closer to your body with improves your aim and timing while using it. There is minimal recoil thanks to the non-lubricated long stroke gas piston system IWI put in for this gun with will improve your overall accuracy.
Other than the locking bolt, either right or left handed users are able to comfortably use this rifle including an easy-to-use operating handle ejection. Come in at just over 26 inches with the barrel making up 16 ½ of those inches, this rifle is compact, and pretty lightweight, weighing in at 7.9 pounds. This gun is equipped with a flash compressor, BUIS rear sight, a polymer stock and a removable magazine that can hold 30 rounds. Lastly, it has a flat dark earth finish and has a 5.56 mm NATO cartridge.
Take a moment to also check out our guide to the top surplus rifles you can still buy.
KEL-TEC – KSG 18.5IN 12 GAUGE MATTE BLACK TAN POLYMER 14+1RD
If you’re looking for a reliable pump action bullpup shotgun, this Kel-Tec shotgun may be the next one you add to your collection. Behind the trigger guard, you will find a manual feed side selector lever that can be fed from the right or left side. Both tubes can hold up to 6 shells, holding 12 in total. This bullpup shotgun has two ring sling loops, one in the front and one in the rear.
There are two Picatinny rails, on the bottom and top for you to add on any additional accessories or scopes you might like. There is a rubber butt pad to reduce the recoil and there is a KSG receiver that is incredibly durable thanks to the steel it’s made from. You’ll find that the magazine is welded on while the grip and stock are made from glass and reinforced nylon making it incredibly easy to take apart or put together.
This shotgun is 26.1 inches in total with the barrel taking up 18.5 inches. It is a 12 gauge as you can tell by the name and is incredibly lightweight, weighing in at just .44 pounds. Choosing this gun with up your hunting game this upcoming season.
You will find more quality firearms like this by browsing our list of the top-quality 10mm pistols and handguns.
HIGH TOWER ARMORY – RUGER 10/22 STOCK BULLPUP
This U.S.A made bullpup stock from High Tower Armory is easy to balance and surprisingly comfortable to use. The overall length is 26 ½ inches which is over the federally required minimum so no worries there. There is a unique CNC machined monolithic aluminum Picatinny optic rail and a polymer stock giving impressive durability. It takes 10 round magazines and can fit on barrels that are 18 inches or over.
It does come with a safety extension to help you not only activate the original factory safety and they conveniently added the safety near the trigger for easy access. The magazine is extended and the bolt release is automatic so you can quickly change any controls you need to. Upon purchase you will also receive a dummy suppressor that you can remove, two Picatinny rails that can be mounted on the sides and one storage container to hold your ammunition when you’re not using it.
If you are interested in reliable shotguns for home defense, check out our selection of the most popular ones on the market.
DESERT TECH – MDR 223 WYLDE 16″
If you’re looking for better accuracy, this Desert Tech 16 inch carbine bullpup rifle may be for you. There are a number of things that make this rifle stand out from its competitors including the fact that it has caliber-conversion capabilities that will help you to pick between a variety of well-liked cartridges. There is a 16 inch button-rifled barrel on this 26.2 inch gun that will give you better accuracy and it is gas-powered making the rifle able to shoot quickly, shot after shot.
The Desert Tech bullpup rifle is available in two finishes: flat dark earth or all-black. The removable magazine can hold 30 shells in a round and ejects the used shells forward so they won’t interfere with your hands and get in your way. This ambidextrous rifle comes in at 8.67 pounds which is fairly lightweight and easy to travel with when hunting season comes around.
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IWI US – TAVOR X95 18IN 5.56X45MM NATO FDE 30+1RD
Another high-quality bullpup firearm on this list is the IWI Tavor X95 that has many amazing features. It is 27.6 inches long, the barrel taking up 18 inches of that and this gun weighs in at just 8.2 pounds making it pretty lightweight. The removable magazine can hold 30 rounds at a time and a unique thing about this gun is that you can switch out the Tavor style grip for a different one if you find it more comfortable or need a smaller release button.
A new thing about this Tavor X95 that makes it different from similar guns like the XB95 or B16 is that it comes with a fire control pack that has a trigger pull weighing in at around 5 pounds, Picatinny rails that are in the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions, along with rail covers that are removable so you can adjust the charging handle to give you better accuracy with the shots you take.
This is a direct impingement firearm with a Tritium front sight, BUIS rear sight, a polymer stock and a flash suppressor muzzle. The IWI Tavor X95 is only available in a flat dark earth finish.
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PANZER ARMS – BP-12 BULLPUP 12 GAUGE
Panzer Arms made a great bullpup firearm for people who aren’t quite used to using larger guns. This 12 gauge gas powered bullpup is fairly lightweight, coming in at 9 pounds with an overall length of 29 ½ inches, the barrel taking up 18 ½ of those inches. It has an innovative design but doesn’t sacrifice any power or tactical settings. Both of the sights conveniently flip up and this gun can be used by right or left-handed individuals thanks to all of the levers and handles that are operational in three directions.
The upper receiver is made from aluminum, including the Picatinny rails while the stock is made from low impact-resistant polymer and is incredibly comfortable to hold. There is a cheek pad that can be adjusted, a front and rear sight, a removable grip, cleaning kit and warranty that are included. The gun has a slick black finish design while the muzzles are left plain. The removable magazine can hold 2 x 5 rounds which keeps you from having to reload it a lot.
For more quality options like this, check out our guide to the best 1911 pistols.
DESERT TECH – MDR 308 WINCHESTER 16″
Another great Desert Tech bullpup option is their MDR 308 Winchester 16 inch rifle. It has a caliber-conversion capability that is unique to Desert Tech and you won’t find it from other brands. This firearm is not only a gas-operated semi-automatic but the configuration is shorter so you get a shot with a lot more torque behind it. As you can tell by the name, the barrel is 16 inches with the rifle coming in at 26.2 inches overall and weigh 8.67 pounds.
You’re able to get this bullpup rifle in an all-black finish or a flat dark earth finish. This is an ambidextrous gun and you won’t have to worry about empty shells getting in your way as they are ejected out forward. The one removable magazine it comes with can hold 20 rounds and the barrel on this bullpup gun is threaded and is button-rifled.
This gun can be used by law enforcement and the public.
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IWI US – TAVOR XB95 16.5IN 5.56X45MM NATO FDE 30+1RD
This IWI bullpup designed firearm is 26.1 inches long with the barrel making up 16 ½ of those inches and only weighs 7.95 pounds. The removable magazine can hold up to 30 rounds and the stock is made out of polymer, making it quite durable. On the Picatinny rail, there are three rail covers that are not only vented but they’re also removable giving this gun a slick, up-to-date design.
When using this gun, it will feel family and comfortable no matter if you are right-handed or left-handed. You can quickly convert the tavor styled trigger guard to a trigger guard with a more classic style if you want to. To compliment the bullpup design, IWI decided to put the charging handle more towards the center to help users shoot with better accuracy.
This firearm has a flat dark earth finish, a BUIS rear sight and a flash suppressor muzzle. It has a 5.56mm NATO cartridge and a Tritium Front front sight. It’s a great option whether you’re just learning or if you professionally work in law enforcement!
