If you have ever shot a Taipan, you know exactly what a high‑quality and accurate rifle it is. However, technology and trends in the world of airguns are moving forward relentlessly, and despite the overwhelming wave of positive feedback, the manufacturer did not want to rest on its laurels. This brings us to the brand‑new model Taipan Veteran II.
This is not just a slightly improved second generation of the popular PCP rifle with a Roman numeral added to the name. It is a completely new rifle which, although based on the construction of its predecessor, takes almost all of its aspects to a completely different level.
Probably the most striking new feature is the completely redesigned loading mechanism, which is now located directly above the trigger. You can easily cycle the rifle in biathlon style with a single finger. This effectively eliminates a common drawback affecting most bullpups, where shooters feel like a Tyrannosaurus rex because of the rear‑mounted cocking lever. Also worth mentioning is the very smooth operation of the entire mechanism and the option to swap the lever to the other side.
Another major improvement is the free‑floating barrel. Unlike the original Veteran, the barrel is no longer held in place by any barrel bands, but by the rifle’s own construction. Thanks to this, the barrel will always maintain its point of impact regardless of ambient temperature, mechanical wear of the bands, or cylinder expansion.
The barrel is also fully shrouded and its rifling has been specially designed for use with slugs. At the muzzle you will find an external sound moderator.
The pressure regulator has also been reworked to achieve the most optimal performance. The air cylinder has a diameter of 40 mm and can hold up to 311cc of air. The Power Plenum has a capacity of 75cc. The maximum filling pressure is 300 bar. The top Picatinny rail with a 20 MOA cant is perfectly aligned with the barrel, providing unrivalled accuracy.
The trigger mechanism is probably the only thing that has remained from the original version. They say you can’t improve perfection, and after trying the trigger pull we can only agree. The manual safety is still located in the trigger guard, just in front of the trigger.
On request, we can swap the loading lever from the right to the left side of the air rifle.
The 2024 version does not include the ADF (Anti‑Double Feed – protection against chambering two pellets at once) system and the new cocking lever handle.