I’m a sucker for bullpups. I just am. The IWI X95? Love it. The KelTec KSG family? Yeah, I’m into them. I just like the idea, the crazy designs, and the wild shapes these firearms come in. I was hooked as soon as I saw a Steyr AUG in Die Hard. But a bullpup pistol — and not only that but a wheelgun? Zenk firearms, which is apparently based in Sun Valley, California, recently announced a new kind of handgun: the RZMK-357 bullpup revolver.
Imagine a top-break revolver; only move the cylinder all the way to the back, and move the hinge from the bottom and rear of the barrel, to just near the muzzle.
“Zenk, LLC has revolutionized the Revolver,” the company says in an interestingly worded description of its one and only product. “Zenk has Patented the RZMK-357, a unique design revolver, which any gun owner would want. This revolutionary design is a cross between the revolver and a conventional pistol. Its sleek and special design makes it easy to shoot, easy to handle, and a must have.”
Zenk isn’t the only gunmaker to work on the idea of a bullpup pistol. A few years ago, Bond Arms came out with the Bullpup 9 semi-auto 9mm, to mixed response. The $1,000+ price tag didn’t help.
In theory, this design should provide some benefits over traditional wheelgun designs, which are, by default, forward-heavy with all the weight in the cylinder and the barrel. Moving the cylinder so its position above the shooting hand closer to the wrist would even out weight distribution and make the gun feel extremely balanced. But there are questions.
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First, the specs. This double-action-only revolver will be available chambered in .357 Magnum and will run .38 Special as well. It requires no special tools for disassembly and is reportedly light on recoil. The barrel is only 4.75 inches, but the overall length is a mere 6.85 inches.
Now the questions. What is the firing mechanism like? It must be encased in the grip — or lower receiver — or partially in the lower and partially in the upper. And how about that hinge near the muzzle; how is that going to hold up? There also seems to be a lot going on at the rear of the gun. What’s that locking mechanism like? It’s always been the weakest point of any top-break design, so it will be interesting to see how this is built.
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Is this thing going to revolutionize the revolver market? Probably not. Most revolver people aren’t typically into wild and new things, hence why the Chiappa Rhino took so long to take off and still isn’t super popular — that and the price.
There are precious few details on this new bullpup revolver, but fortunately, Zenk will be at the 2023 SHOT Show this week at Booth#: 41051, showing off the RZMK-357. Hopefully, we will get more details.
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Zenk RZMK-357 Bullpup Revolver Specs:
Action: Double Action Only
Caliber: .357 Magnum and .38 Special
Capacity: 6 rounds
Length: 6.85 inches
Barrel Length: 4.75 inches
Weight: 33.5 ounces
Height: 5.67 inches
Finish: Silver or Black
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