The FN F2000

Introduction:

Favored among mid 2000's video game developers and Libyan rebels alike, the F2000 rifle is one of the most unique looking rifles of the last few decades. The F2000 is a 5.56 NATO, short-stroke gas piston driven rifle with a bullpup design. Sometimes referred to as the 'tactical tuna' for it's unique design, the F2000 joins the ranks of the AUG and the Famas as one of few fairly successful bullpup designs. The smooth lines and pronounced shroud over the scope really set the F2000 apart and make it easily identifiable. Mechanically, the F2000 is also pretty unique, borrowing features seen in some WWI/WWII heavy machineguns, as well as modern assault rifles.

Details:

Like many modern assault rifles, the F2000's bolt takes some design ques from the M16/AR-15 familiy of rifles. It is a multi-lug rotating bolt with a cam pin and looks very reminiscent of the FN SCAR. What does NOT look reminiscent of the SCAR or any other design, is the bolt carrier itself.

The F2000's bolt carrier group has a spring for everything, there is a captive spring on the firing pin, a spring located behind the bolt, and a spring loaded anti pre-engagement lever that keeps the bolt from rotating before it gets to the locking surfaces. Unlike some other designs with more AR-18 style bolt carrier groups, the F2000 utilizes an interesting design that is well adapted to a bullpup configuration. One of the most striking features though, is the big polymer piece toward the front of the bolt carrier. This is used in of the the F2000's most unique features, the forward ejection.

In the above video you can see this in action. This is where that large plastic piece on the bolt carrier comes into play. This piece actually intercepts the spent cartridge on its way out of the chamber after firing. It then pushes the casing up and to the right, and then forward down the ejection shoot as the bolt rides forward. This creates the effect as shown in the video, wherein casings stack up within the ejection shoot before spilling out the front of the rifle.

The hammer mechanism is almost identical to that of the Steyr AUG. It is a self-contained unit in the rear of the rifle, and uses polymer components. In a short-stroke gas-piston rifle, heat is largely contained in the front. This is because the hot gasses from firing are vented out after only moving the piston a small amount rearward. This means that a polymer hammer can actually work as it won't be subjected to high heat. 

One last interesting feature of the F2000 is that the iconic scope shroud on top is entirely aesthetic. There is just a small, 1.6x magnification scope mounted on a picatinny rail under the shroud. This can just be removed to reveal a normal picatinny rail for mounting whatever is needed.

Conclusion:

A very famous case of the F2000 in use was in the hands of Libyan rebels in the early 2010's. A few of the couple hundred rifles delivered in 2009 found their way into the hands of various armed groups during the conflict. Conflict watchers around the world were taken aback by these low-tech insurgents with these futuristic looking rifles kitted out with suppressors and grenade launchers. Now, these rifles were entirely 'status' guns that really had no greater functional use than an M16 or something during the conflict, but their presence was interesting to those watching the conflict unfold.

For The F2000's limited success, there is definitely some solid engineering that went in to these. For a rifle to reliably extract and eject into a tube if a solid accomplishment. This does spell some pretty big issues though should something go wrong. The only chamber access is through a 'toilet seat' cover right above the magazine. This is not nearly as accessible to quickly clear malfunctions as something like an AK or AR. This is something almost all bullpups struggle with, but the F2000 is particularly difficult. Overall the F2000 remains iconic, even for its limited success in sales. It works and it works well overall, and it comes from one of the world's most premiere firearms manufacturers.