If you have ever shot a Taipan, you already know what a high‑quality and accurate rifle it is. However, technology and trends in the world of air rifles are moving forward relentlessly, and despite the overwhelming wave of positive feedback the manufacturer did not want to rest on their 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 where someone added a Roman numeral two. It is a completely new rifle which, although structurally based on 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 therefore easily reload the rifle biathlon‑style with one finger. This successfully eliminates a common issue that plagues most bullpups, where shooters feel like a Tyrannosaurus rex due to the rear position of the cocking lever. Also worth mentioning is the very smooth operation of the whole 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 hold zero regardless of ambient temperature, mechanical wear of the bands, or expansion of the air cylinder.
The barrel is also fully shrouded and its rifling has been specifically designed for slugs. At the muzzle you will find an external sound moderator, which has been significantly extended compared to the standard version.
Kevlar cylinder has a capacity of 480cc. The maximum filling pressure is 300 bar. The pressure regulator has also been updated to achieve the most optimal performance possible.
The top Picatinny rail with a 20 MOA incline is perfectly aligned with the barrel, providing unrivalled accuracy. Another mounting rail can be found on the underside of the frame, which is the ideal place for attaching a bipod.
The ergonomically shaped pistol grip follows the AR-15 standard and, if needed, can be replaced with any commercially available grip for this rifle platform. Overall comfort is further enhanced by the rubber buttpad.
The trigger mechanism is probably the only thing that has been retained 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 inside the trigger guard, just in front of the trigger.
On request, we can swap the cocking lever from the right to the left side of the air rifle.
The 2024 version does not include the ADF system (Anti-Double Feed – protection against loading two pellets at once), the option to remove the cylinder under pressure, or the new cocking lever handle.