I recently spent a day in Illinois with other enthusiasts of bullpup rifles—guns with a compact design in which the trigger and pistol grip are in front of the magazine well—and discovered a new entrant in that growing market that really stood out. The Australian made Lithgow Arms Atrax drew a lot of attention on the firing line because of its light weight and superb balance in the hand. Shooting the rifle was a real pleasure—even in fully automatic mode—and making hits on target was a cinch. According to the company’s U.S. business development manager, Joshua Whi, the Atrax is a highly modified spinoff of the Austrian Steyr AUG that serves the military Down Under. And here’s the best news: It may soon be coming to America, albeit as a semi-automatic-only and pending review and approval by the BATF. The 5.56 mm NATO-chambered rifle feeds from AUG-style magazines, including a new economical version from Magpul, and offers quick-change barreled uppers.
Video: Lithgow Arms Bullpup Rifle
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
NFA Wait Times Continue to Drop
In early 2021, it took the ATF about 280 days to process a Form 4 NFA transfer. In August 2026, using the recently implemented eForms system, that wait time had dropped to only nine days.
Pelican Air Carry-on Case Review
An industry staple just made air travel more convenient.
The ROSE Program by SIG Sauer: Empowering Women in Shooting Sports Across the Nation
The ROSE Program is a shooting program created specifically for women. It aims to create a community of women in shooting that can learn about shooting and self-defense.
I Have This Old Gun: French MAS-49
Despite being early adopters of several semi-automatic rifles for military use, the French army took several decades to work out a standardized semi-automatic rifle for general service use. The rifle that finally came to being was the MAS-49.
Polite Society Industries Launches with Complete Suppressor Line
"An armed society is a polite society," goes the famous quote, which is also the inspiration behind Polite Society Industries, a new suppressor manufacturer that now has a complete line available to consumers.
NRA-ILA Names Smith & Wesson Official Partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour
Iconic American firearms maker Smith & Wesson will join NRA-ILA on the road as nation's leading firearm group turns out voters ahead of the 2026 midterm.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
