Desert Tactical Arms

[LRRPF52]

As best I can tell, the only "real world" situation where weak-side shooting actually matters is competition. This seems to be like speed reloading -- immensely valuable in matches, but rarely practiced on the battlefield.

In the multitude of combat videos I've watched on YouTube, there was only one instance of a soldier switching his carbine to the left shoulder for firing around the corner of a building. In all other instances, the troops continued to shoot around corners from the right shoulder even though it meant exposing more of their bodies.

Correct, like good marksmanship, shooting around a RH corner is rarely practiced by most soldiers, since they have never been trained to do it, just like they have never been trained to hit targets from anything other than the severely dumbed down Train Fire system from the foxhole supported, or prone unsupported positions. Usually, they are just making do with whatever improvisation comes to them at the moment.

I've trained with both techniques, so I have both tools in the box.

I think you're greatly overstating the issue. I've watched videos of Aussie, Brit, and other bullpup-armed soldiers doing combat mag changes in the prone position, but don't recall any showing such problems as you describe.

I've done it for real. It's a legitimate consideration. Mitigating debris, especially dirt, is important for a combatant while dealing with the feed system of a mechanical device. I do like that bullpups keep the mag well close to your body, so you just rotate the weapon over 90 degrees and insert the mag close to your body, whereas a traditional mag well and weapon with any weight to the front is often difficult to lift up while changing mags in the prone, especially with an underslung grenade launcher attached.

The point is that it is easier if you can drop the mag with your firing hand as you reach for the fresh mag. You're going to get it done with the weapon you have, but any added advantage helps.

I have drafted out some bullpup designs over the years, and they all have magazine change and bolt catch features that can be operated by the firing hand while holding the pistol grip. The biggest area that always proved problematic for me was ejection. DTA seems to have found a very promising solution to that, that is rather simple.