bullpup

SRU SRUNA-22 Bullpup Chassis

SRU Precision Sruna-22

10/22 Bullpup Chassis

Review

  If you are into guns, or maybe even if you aren't, you most likely have a Ruger 10/22. If you are like me, you can't leave anything in factory form. To help with that modification addiction, SRU Precision has their SRUNA-22 Bullpup Chassis for the 10/22 rifles and their clones. The Sruna-22 easily converts those 10/22's into a space age bullpup design. 

  I was looking for something different to do with a 10/22 that I had laying around. SRU had asked if I wanted one of the Sruna's to review. After using their SARB-15 AR bullpup kits, and liking it so much, I agreed. The Sruna's come in 3 standard colors: Black, Tan, and OD Green. However they currently have a limited edition White Sruna-22. I decided on the white one because it looks more like a space blaster than the other three. All of the Sruna chassis are the same, except for the color. 

  Now that you have decided on the SRUNA-22, what do you get? To start with, you get a complete exterior chassis that bolts on and around your 10/22. The Sruna separates into, essentially, 3 pieces for assembly and disassembly. You have the main aluminum piece that houses the barrel and receiver. The polymer trigger housing assembly with linkage. Then the rear quick release polymer housing. This rear housing enables you to quickly get to your 10/22’s trigger assembly. Allowing easy access for cleaning and maintenance. 

  The main aluminum housing of the SRUNA is where a lot of the utilitarian features come from. This is the section of the chassis that houses the barrel and receiver. One nice feature on the Sruna is that it will work with almost any 10/22 receiver. This includes billet machined as well as standard style 10/22 receivers. This also includes ones with or without a top pic rail. Plus it works with left hand receivers too. This housing also features a full raised top rail for mounting optics or sights on. I found using standard AR 1.5” mounts put an optic at just the right height. The Sruna chassis does drop down a little where your cheek rests. It also has a padded sticker that makes it more comfortable for your cheek. At the front are 5 M-Lok slots located at each of the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions. These are useful for mounting whatever. SRU also gave the Sruna 2 M-Lok slots, on 45’s, at the very rear of the chassis. Mainly so one can attach something like a QD sling mount. The top housing also has various cut outs to save weight and make it look “cool”. Warning, if you use any barrel length, or combination of muzzle devices and barrel, shorter than 17 inches, the muzzle will be inside the cut outs and M-Lok slots. I am running a 16” Shaw barrel in this one, and you can see in the pictures that it is just a wee bit short.

  The trigger housing section of the SRUNA-22 is what makes this a really good bullpup chassis. SRU uses a sturdy trigger linkage system. This linkage system doesn’t flex much. That gives the user a really decent feeling trigger. The trigger housing system also includes a new trigger and safety. The safety allows you to keep the 10/22’s original push button safety on “fire”, because the Sruna trigger’s safety keeps the trigger from moving. The trigger housing has an extremely large trigger guard that houses SRU’s designed trigger. It is a flat polymer AR style trigger shoe with texture. I like the SRU trigger. The Sruna also uses an AR style safety. It comes supplied with a polymer one that matches the trigger’s style. I switched it out for a normal AR style one. So yes, the Sruna chassis will take most, if not all, AR style safeties. Including ambidextrous and different lever styles. It will also take a number of different style AR trigger shoes. Not drop in style, but the standard style, and just the trigger. Lastly, the Sruna’s trigger housing needs a grip. You have to supply the grip, but any AR style grip will work. I’ve had 3 different styles on this one. I ended up with a fairly vertical grip from Black Collar Arms. The vertical grip just seems to work better for me.

  On the bottom rear of the SRUNA chassis is the quick release section. This section slides over your 10/22’s trigger housing and the Sruna’s trigger linkage. It has a quick release pin at the bottom rear. Just remove this pin and you can slide this piece down and off. Be careful, because the trigger pin might fall out of the linkage. It also houses the rear buttpad and spacers. When it is off, you have access to the original 10/22’s trigger housing so you can remove the whole thing for cleaning. The quick release housing goes on and off smoothly. It does have a little bit of misalignment with the trigger housing when installed. This doesn’t affect anything, it just looks a tiny bit odd.

  The SRUNA chassis also has a few adjustment screws. I thought I would mention these as they align your barrel and receiver with the chassis. In the Sruna kit are these tiny set-screws. There are places on the chassis to install these. They slightly push on the 10/22’s receiver at the front, back, and bottom for alignment. They also help keep the receiver tight in the chassis. I just snugged them down and everything worked fine, I didn’t see any mis-alignment that needed adjusting on this one.

  The SRUNA-22 bullpup chassis is fun. It shortens up a 10/22 and moves the weight toward the rear. This makes it easier to support because the bulk of the weight is between your hand and your shoulder. It also makes it swing faster between targets. I put a bunch of rounds through it and it does have a few flaws, but they are minor. If you run a larger charging handle on your 10/22, it may interfere with the Sruna chassis’ ejection port cutout. The stock charging handle works fine, but it sits in a little farther, making it harder to use. One with a longer handle, but similar profile should work best. I filed down a larger round handle to fit. The other flaw is that the return spring for the trigger linkage adds close to 1.5 pounds to the trigger pull weight. So it makes a good trigger not quite as good. I also wasn't keen on the chassis pieces not lining up. Now for good stuff. The accuracy out of the Sruna is just as good as your 10/22 was before sticking it in the Sruna. This chassis also takes some AR parts, making it customizable to some extent. I enjoyed my experience shooting the Sruna, plus it looks awesome. 

  If you are in the market for something different in the 10/22 world, the SRU SRUNA-22 Bullpup Chassis might be worth looking into. It does everything a bullpup should do, like shortening the overall length while still giving performance. It doesn't add a bunch of weight and it is just something you don't see everyday. Head on over to SRU Precision and check out the SRUNA-22 kit. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

10/22 bullpup chassis system 

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a bullpup style 10/22

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Compatible with all 10/22 variants except take down version

  • M-Lok slots at 3, 6, & 9 o’clock

  • Full top rail

  • Overall Length: 26.3” - 26.7” (With an additional butt pad, extends to 27.1”)

  • Length of Pull: 14.3” - 14.75” (With an additional butt pad, extends to 15.1”)

  • Chassis Weight: 1090g (38.5oz) (Ruger 10/22 wood chassis is approx. 950g)

  • Handguard Inner Width Compatible with suppressors or muzzle devices up to 1.299” in diameter

  • Upper Handguard: 6061 CNC Aluminum

  • Lower Frame material: PA66 Polymer

  • Trigger Linkage: SUS304 Metal Sheet Stamping

  • Butt Pad material: TPU

  • Cheek Pad material: EVA

  • Quick release chassis system 

  • Uses standard AR grips

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black, Tan, and OD Green 

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found on Real Steel version (10/22 not airsoft)

Price point:

MSRP = $399 - $419

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

SRU Precision

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Good design

  • Takes standard AR grips

  • Works with left hand eject

  • Works with any 10/22 receiver 

  • M-Lok slots

  • Full top pic rail

Cons:

  • Misalignment between two parts

  • Increases trigger pull weight 

  • Screw height of top clamping screws

  • Some larger bolt handles may not work

Score: 7.00 Good

Favorite Link:  SARB-15 Bullpup Chassis Review 

SRU SARB-15 Bullpup Chassis

SRU Bullpup Chassis

Review

  SRU Precision has brought out some pretty nice AR bullpup conversion kits. If you have been thinking about getting a bullpup, the SRU kit might be the way to go. The SRU AR15 bullpup chassis comes in a number of configurations to help you choose the right system for you.

  To sum up the SRU Bullpup Chassis, it is a 2 piece shell that wraps around an AR15. Not the full AR, just a mil-spec receiver and an upper. There is a stipulation on the style, or type, of upper receiver you use. A standard one can be used, but you will need to get a short recoil system. If you do not want to go this route, any bufferless upper should work. These include the Jakl, BRN-180, or what I used, the Foxtrot Mike Gen 2. The 2 piece shell is made from a carbon fiber infused polymer, which gives it extra strength and rigidity. 

  Installation of the SRU chassis can be time consuming. There are a lot of screws and pieces that hold the SRU Chassis around the AR lower receiver. Using the Foxtrot Mike upper made it a little bit easier. Luckily SRU has some detailed online instructions. Let’s just say that this is not the easiest kit to assemble. First, you have to take out most of the SRU Chassis’ screws. Then you will have both sides apart to start putting in the parts. Next install the short buffer tube into your lower receiver with the proper parts for your chosen upper. Then install the lower receiver assembly into the chassis. Make sure you have removed the trigger guard from the bottom of your receiver, or the SRU chassis will not work. Adjust the trigger travel screw. The SRU chassis uses a trigger linkage, which is why it needs adjustment. There is also a QD forward mount that needs to be installed and adjusted. This forward mount holds the bottom of the upper receiver in-line with the chassis. Now you can reassemble the two halves. Trust me, I simplified this for the review. I probably had the chassis apart 3 or 4 times to get all the parts adjusted correctly.

  The trigger system is what really makes the SRU Bullpup Chassis shine. Since the SRU kit uses an aluminum trigger linkage, you get a good trigger. Bullpups are notorious for having bad trigger pulls, but SRU seemed to solve this problem. Another advantage to the SRU kit is that you can choose any AR15 trigger to install. That is because the trigger is actually in your AR receiver at the rear of the bullpup. The SRU kit does add about 1 pound to the total trigger pull weight. I used a Black Talon Tactical 3.5 pound trigger and it ended up right at 4.5 pounds. SRU made the chassis with a flat trigger and a single sided safety. These are pretty decent. If you do not like them, you can change them out for any mil-spec trigger shoe or any AR safety that you like, including ambi ones. You can also take the triggers pre-travel out by shimming it, the instructions just don't explain how to keep the shim in place. 

  The SRU Chassis does not come with a pistol grip. This is not a big deal. I installed a Thril pistol grip because I like them. Even though it worked well, I soon realized that a more vertical grip would work much better. This is because there is not much room between the pistol grip and where the chassis drops down to accommodate the magazine, and the magazine itself. It is pretty minor, and I still have the Thril grip on it. I also found the length of pull to be long. SRU states 15.3 inches, which seems about right. If you have short arms, it might be harder to reach the trigger than with a standard AR. 

  I should probably mention a few differences when using the SRU chassis. The mag release comes to mind first. It uses a lever style behind the magazine, similar to an AK style. It works well for me, but it did take some getting used to. Another thing to note is that you may need a higher than usual optics mount. This is because your cheek rests on top of the receiver, on the little pic rail cover SRU supplies. First I mounted up a red dot. Then I went to the ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-8 in a standard cantilever mount with a riser. Lastly, a 1.93 Geissele mount was added. It put the scope up high enough to use without a riser. 

  Foxtrot Mike was kind enough to send me the upper for the SRU Bullpup. That way I could just drop in the upper and not have to worry about short stroke kits. The upper Foxtrot sent is their brand new monolithic style upper receiver. It uses their forward charging system and a built-in buffer/spring recoil system. This particular monolithic system uses a 1 piece barrel, gas block, and barrel extension. It also uses a 308 size bolt for more strength. The Foxtrot upper has a full 16 barrel and comes with a threaded on A2 flash hider. This system with the SRU chassis made a really nice bullpup. The barrel sticks out just far enough so that you do not feel like you are going to shoot your hand off. 

  Now it is time for the love-hate experience. Okay, more love than hate. I was not sure how I would like this bullpup in the beginning. It surprised me. I really like how compact it is. The forward charging upper with the SRU kit makes it easy to cycle with the gun up on your shoulder or while running the gun. Magazine changes are fairly quick, even if I can do an AR mag change faster. The whole thing weighs 7.25 pounds without a mag or optics. So it handled pretty decently for me. Plus the weight is toward the rear, so you are not trying to swing a heavy weight back and forth between targets. Since I did not shim the trigger, there is a bit of take up before you get to the trigger's break. I just did not want to take it apart again to shim the trigger. You will also notice in the pictures that the scope mount is turned around backwards. This was done on purpose so that the physical mount would not get in the way of the forward charging handle. You can turn it around to the normal position and it will work. I just didn’t like my hand rubbing on the mount. 

  If you like bullpups, or maybe just want to try one out, the SRU Bullpup Chassis kit may be a good fit. The quality of the kit is top notch. It probably has one of the best bullpup trigger systems around, at least in how it feels. The polymer chassis feels good and not cheap. I ended up really liking the SRU bullpup chassis. Head over to SRU and check it out.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Bullpup conversion for AR15 rifles

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a top quality bullpup 

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • LOP: 15.3”

  • OAL with 16” barrel AR15: 26”-29”

  • Kit OAL: 20” (without handguard) / 25” (with handguard)

  • Weight: 980g (without handguard) / 1320g (with handguard)

  • Shell: PA66+CARBON FIBER injection molded

  • Trigger Linkage System: 6061 T6 CNC machined

  • Short Buffer / Sling Mount Endplate: 6061 T6 CNC machined

  • Trigger / Safety Selector / Mag Latch / Rail & Front Adaptor: Metal Polymer

  • Stock Recoil Pad & Cheek Pad: TPU

  • Optional Front Handguard: Steel stamping

  • AR-15 Lower Receiver: Mil-Spec only

  • AR-15 Upper Receivers:

    • Bufferless complete upper, e.g., BRN-180 / FM-15 / JAKL

    • Mil-Spec Upper + short buffer BCG, e.g., DFA MCS 2.5” BUFFER / LAW TACTICAL ARIC / CMMG 5.56 to .22 conversion BCG

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black, Tan, with or without handguard

What others are saying?:

Nothing notable as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Recoil Web  

Price point:

MSRP = $429.99

Retail = same

I need it now! Availability:

SRU Precision

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Uses mil-spec AR lower receivers

  • Uses any AR15 trigger

  • Trigger system is top notch

  • Compact

  • Decent design

Cons:

  • Assembly can be tedious

  • Needs tall optics mount

  • Long length of pull

  • Extra safety selector at rear of rifle

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Foxtrot Mike FM-15 review