Frag Out! Magazine

the bullpup msbs fired the first shots already in win- ter, but the recent presentation was its public premiere. con- forming to the MSBS guidelines, it shares a complete upper receiver with the already well known MSBS-5,56k. Most of the differences are limited to the lower receiver with repositioned pistol grip and some of the mechanical parts. Despite that, the parts exchangeability is said to reach as high as 80%. the bullpup rifle has controls as closely patterned after the classic rifle, as physically possible. the only control that is really differ- ent from the previous itineration is the hold open device, which continues to be placed behind the magazine well, to conform the bolt-carrier position in the upper receiver. the hold open release is now operated with a thumb of the hand loading a magazine, not with trigger finger as in the k. it still is a very comfortable arrangement, demanding however a degree of self-control from the shooter, as it is as easy to release the bolt before the magazine is inserted all the way down and the top round is presented to the bolt for chambering. During the shooting, in both semi and fully automatic mode, the weapon is remarkably stable, owing to the in-line design layout and the effective muzzle device. the balance is quite comfortable, if a bit butt-heavy, with a center of balance moved behind the pistol grip. the msbs-5,56b works, and works fine at that, surpris- ingly well for not even a prototype, but a working model stage with 3D-printed polymer parts. i rate it amongst the very best of bullpups that i was ever able to handle – if not the best. the superb ergonomics of the rifle were created by a design- er team encompassing not only the Wat or FB employees, as it used to be, but skilled professionals from the outside world as well. an equally new feature of this rifle system design process was its (almost) full transparency and constant direct contact with the members of the trade media – which led to the early elimination of several possible dead ends in the project. to stress the exchangeability of the receivers, both bullpups demonstrated were based on classical rifle prototypes uppers (note k in serial numbers). this is the first time ever that such a design feature was incorporated in a rifle – or at least, aFaik. Bullpups had their lowers based on 3D-printed polymer components – the rifle is deemed to be at a too early a stage of development to risk manufacturing dies for injecting the polymer parts.

• Cover