Bullpup .223

Norse

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Looking for a non-restricted bullpup .223 and have heard a lot of mixed reviews on quality, especially for everything but than the Tavor. The Tavor looks great, but is pretty pricey. Any thoughts or recommendations? I'd be using it for varminting/ plinking in the back 40.
 
I use to own a type 97. Great gun for the money.
I never had any issues with it. I upgraded the lower with a T97 aluminum lower. Found it made a great difference.
 
There are great deals to be had on a Tavor these days. I've never owned a T97, but the Tavor is a first rate firearm. I'd save up and spend the money on a Tavor.
 
I have an RDB, have put something like 600 rounds through it without issue. Completely happy with it so far. I'm not a black rifle guy generally, don't compete; this is strictly a plinker and coyote rifle, and it excels in both roles. It's about a 2MOA gun with loads it likes. I've shot a Tavor and much prefer the RDB, mainly for its superior trigger.
 
I’ve seen sub-$2k Tavors that look to be in pretty good shape recently on the EE. For a NR bullpup it’d be my first choice. I’m also have a soft spot for the FS2000, but they are now hard to come by, especially NR ones.
 
Tavor seems to have become the dominant bullpup in the Canadian market. Lot of aftermarket support for them too. I've used one a number of times, and I've been pretty impressed with it. Ergonomics are better than the T97.

If you're seriously considering it, I'd save up for the Tavor.
 
I had an RDB and it was a fun gun. Can't attest to long term reliability but the time I had it I had 0 failures. I may get another one this summer

Yeah I think I'm torn between the RDB and the Tavor. With the difference in price-point, the RDB is pretty attractive. How did you find it quality wise? I mean the explosions are happening basically right under my face, I'd like to be confident things are going to stay together.
 
I’ve seen sub-$2k Tavors that look to be in pretty good shape recently on the EE. For a NR bullpup it’d be my first choice. I’m also have a soft spot for the FS2000, but they are now hard to come by, especially NR ones.

Sub $2k eh? That's really closing the gap on the RDB. I'll have to keep my eyes open.
 
Another non-restricted option is the Bushmaster M17S or K&M Arms M17556. I have the older Bushmaster model and it's treated me great after I bought some doo-dads to modernize it. They're basically an AR 180 inside. The new K&M Arms rifles come eqipped with an Elftman trigger in them so they defeat the Tavor out of the box in that regard. You'll have to buy from IRunGuns as they import them.
 
If you want quality get the Tavor. You don't get to pick the cheapest one and still expect quality. I used to own a Tavor, for whatever reason it didn't make me smile like shooting some of my other rifles do so I sold it. I would watch the EE and pick one up for under $2000 if a bullpup is what you want.
Type-97 is a toy, made in China with no warranty and no parts support, I wouldn't waste my time hoping to get one that works.
The other options? Who knows, there aren't enough of them available to really know what your going to get or what the support will be like in the future. The FN is probably the only real competition for the Tavor but price is high on them.

Is there any reason you actually want a bullpup or is it just something new to try thinking that the shorter overall length is going to make it some magical solution to carrying your rifle into the field?
I found the Tavor to be just like any other rifle, it might be shorter but other than for jumping in and out of the side by side I didn't find it any different. The advantages are there but it's like having a heated steering wheel, pretty nice the odd time you need it but most of the time it's just a feature you're not using, you're still lugging around an 8 pound rifle regardless of it's length.

If you're on a budget and want a new semi auto Coyote rig I would suggest having a look at the WK180-C, I don't think you can go wrong with one for $1200 new. With Wolverine and Kodiak behind it at least you don't have to worry about getting stuck with one with problems. Both those companies have great customer service.

In all honesty though, if you want your new gun for coyote hunting the best coyote rig out there will be a $700 22-250 bolt action with a $1000 scope. There isn't a semi auto available that will be as light, as accurate, or as reliable. Plus you would have money left over for a pile of ammo and you'd still spend less than buying a used Tavor that would still need an optic and ammo.
 
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I was so excited to hear about the RDB, until I saw the price tag on the thing. IMo, either the Tavor or the RDB (or both) are priced way too high. With them being within a few hundred bucks of each other, it makes it hard to justify buying the RDB. Too bad, because if they had priced it right, they would have sold a million of the damn things.

I find the Tavor a bit too heavy and bulky (just imo). It's the Kim Kardashian of the 5.56 world (too much bulky weight in the azz...like there's double the material there that there needs to be :)). IMo, still the best option out there, I guess.


T-97 looks like a good deal, but only when it's priced around $600.


Canadian offerings of bullpups all seem to be pretty inaccurate though; at least that's my own perception of them.
 
I was so excited to hear about the RDB, until I saw the price tag on the thing. IMo, either the Tavor or the RDB (or both) are priced way too high. With them being within a few hundred bucks of each other, it makes it hard to justify buying the RDB. Too bad, because if they had priced it right, they would have sold a million of the damn things.

I find the Tavor a bit too heavy and bulky (just imo). It's the Kim Kardashian of the 5.56 world (too much bulky weight in the azz...like there's double the material there that there needs to be :)). IMo, still the best option out there, I guess.


T-97 looks like a good deal, but only when it's priced around $600.


Canadian offerings of bullpups all seem to be pretty inaccurate though; at least that's my own perception of them.

Semi auto bullpups are typically less accurate because the barrel is the spine of the rifle that everything hangs from, this messes with barrel harmonics. Plus the short length makes them harder to shoot, the short length amplifies your poor shooting techniques and lazy form. As a previous owner of a Desert Tech SRS in 338 Lapua I can attest to them being harder to shoot. My DT was capable of shooting sub 1/2 moa when I was doing everything right but it was very hard to be consistent, any flaw in your shooting form is magnified by the short length of the rifle.

How much did the RDB end up retailing for?
I used to own an RFB and at the $2200 or whatever it was I paid I felt that the quality was there and didn't feel like I paid too much. I thought the RDB was supposed to be around $1500 which seems reasonable as long as the quality is there.
With all the new options coming to market though these $2000+ non restricted rifles better up their game if they expect to keep selling.

It didn't take long for the bullpup phase to pass through me, I'm glad it did.
I don't have any reason to think that the few little advantages a bullpup has over a conventional rifle are worth the drawbacks they have. I have no problems carrying my ACR around and it will outshoot pretty much every option available to us right now other than a quality ATRS MS or MDI SLR build.

When it comes to hunting coyotes I don't see any advantage to having a bullpup. Once you're in the field you're just sitting there anyway. And getting there usually involves a quad or side by side and less than a 1km walk. I just use a good sling just like any other gun. I use a bolt action these days though, when you hit the first shot you don't need a fast follow-up and if there's more than one I can cycle the bolt while finding my next target.
 
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