I was examining a FAL parts kit when I had this wicked idea. 
You would need to manufacture some new parts, but I don't think it would be that hard for a decent manufacturing operation.
You would need to swap out the buffer spring and rod (it extends into the stock) for the style used in the folding stocked versions. Ditch the lower receiver (thats legal, because it isn't the gun unlike the AR). Remove the dustcover. Remove the swivel pin. Remove the handguards. Remove the carry handle. All you have is a barreled receiver, with the operating internals.
Now imagine a 2 piece bullpup assembly. The first is a tube that extends over the barrel with a sight rail, conected to a trigger group, and pistol grip. It slides over the barrel, locking into place on top of the receiver. The top of this assembly replaces the dustcover. It has an attachment hole where the usual swivel pin goes.
The 2nd piece is the buttstock, it attaches onto the back of the gun, and goes over the first piece at the point with the swivel pin (sorry if I don't know the correct term. The buttstock would have the hammer assembly in it. Insert a new (have to be longer swivel pin). The buttstock would have the standard style FAL takedown lever on it, push that, the butt folds down, and out comes the bolt.
You would need to design a new trigger, hammer, safety, and sear assembly. But that shouldn't be to hard. It would have to have a long trigger bar like on all bullpups, but it would also need to detach and reatach from the hammer assembly automatically whenever the butt stock was opened for disassembly or cleaning. The butt would lock into the the receiver the same way that the lower receiver locks in right now.
I would want to have a ceramic plate of somekind installed in the upper assembly that would go over the action to protect the shooters face incase of catestrophic failure. (like on the new SAR 21).
I figure that this would be pretty simple, and cheap because of the availible parts. Plus there wouldn't be a need for a whole lot of R&D investment to get the actual operating system to work. It would be the most compact .308 battle rifle ever. Short little beast.
The cocking handle would now be in a sucky place, but you could probably make a longer one that was easier to reach. Have a cut in the side of the upper housing so it would fit right in. And the gun would get kind of thick in the middle where all 3 parts come together. But that part is going to be in your armpit anyway so who cares. It wouldn't have to be any heavier than a regular FAL, of course if you used good polymers or plastics for the assemblys.
Ok, so not counting the usual negatives of bullpups, (sorry lefties, muzzle blast closer to face) am I missing something here, or is this a good idea.
And the final question: Why?
Hell, I don't know, but I would want one.
You would need to manufacture some new parts, but I don't think it would be that hard for a decent manufacturing operation.You would need to swap out the buffer spring and rod (it extends into the stock) for the style used in the folding stocked versions. Ditch the lower receiver (thats legal, because it isn't the gun unlike the AR). Remove the dustcover. Remove the swivel pin. Remove the handguards. Remove the carry handle. All you have is a barreled receiver, with the operating internals.
Now imagine a 2 piece bullpup assembly. The first is a tube that extends over the barrel with a sight rail, conected to a trigger group, and pistol grip. It slides over the barrel, locking into place on top of the receiver. The top of this assembly replaces the dustcover. It has an attachment hole where the usual swivel pin goes.
The 2nd piece is the buttstock, it attaches onto the back of the gun, and goes over the first piece at the point with the swivel pin (sorry if I don't know the correct term. The buttstock would have the hammer assembly in it. Insert a new (have to be longer swivel pin). The buttstock would have the standard style FAL takedown lever on it, push that, the butt folds down, and out comes the bolt.
You would need to design a new trigger, hammer, safety, and sear assembly. But that shouldn't be to hard. It would have to have a long trigger bar like on all bullpups, but it would also need to detach and reatach from the hammer assembly automatically whenever the butt stock was opened for disassembly or cleaning. The butt would lock into the the receiver the same way that the lower receiver locks in right now.
I would want to have a ceramic plate of somekind installed in the upper assembly that would go over the action to protect the shooters face incase of catestrophic failure. (like on the new SAR 21).
I figure that this would be pretty simple, and cheap because of the availible parts. Plus there wouldn't be a need for a whole lot of R&D investment to get the actual operating system to work. It would be the most compact .308 battle rifle ever. Short little beast.
The cocking handle would now be in a sucky place, but you could probably make a longer one that was easier to reach. Have a cut in the side of the upper housing so it would fit right in. And the gun would get kind of thick in the middle where all 3 parts come together. But that part is going to be in your armpit anyway so who cares. It wouldn't have to be any heavier than a regular FAL, of course if you used good polymers or plastics for the assemblys.
Ok, so not counting the usual negatives of bullpups, (sorry lefties, muzzle blast closer to face) am I missing something here, or is this a good idea.
And the final question: Why?
Hell, I don't know, but I would want one.
