Taipan Veteran II Tactical Bullpup Review

Taipan is a brand that is new to me, but when news hit that Range Right was to become the sole UK distributor, I was intrigued to find out what was on offer.

While researching the brand’s origins, I discovered that Taipan has been established for 12 years and that its airguns are manufactured in the Czech Republic.

Two aeronautical engineers, one of whom was involved in the production of the Antonov aircraft, were involved in the development, so I think it’s safe to say there’s some serious engineering pedigree to be taken into account here.

My test model is the Taipan Veteran II Tactical, a recent variant that adds further choice to the product line-up.

All Taipans leave the factory with a test target card showing a group shot over 40m, which is actually rather impressive, given most companies either don’t bother or test the gun at such a short distance as to prove nothing in particular.

It’s a small but significant detail, which rather says it all.

Inside the box, alongside the gun, we get a filling adaptor, two magazines, a single-shot tray, spare seals and instructions.

Well made, with a bullpup configuration

First impressions are definitely favourable, as this Taipan has a really solid feel about it.

Close inspection reveals some seriously well-made components, too.

Nailing the basics, this model is obviously a bullpup design, and having the action set right back will not suit everyone.

Handling is transformed, with the weight centralised and a “planted” feel very much the result.

And for the army of bullpup devotees out there, the ultra-compact configuration of this Veteran II Tactical will find favour, I’m sure.

Two different barrel lengths are available, as well as laminate stocks.

My Tactical came with the synthetic black stock elements and the shorter barrel.

How is the Taipan Veteran II Tactical different from the original?

The Veteran II action is, as the name suggests, an upgrade on the original, as Taipan looked to make subtle tweaks in early 2025.

So, what are the differences with the new specification? Well, for a start, there’s a revised side-lever, which now has a ridged surface for more grip, and the rather significant ADF system — more of which in a moment.

The reworking also incorporates a bulbous 480cc Kevlar air bottle up front, and this is significant as it allows for removal with no loss of air.

Opt for this Tactical version on test, and you also get the pleasingly chunky extended silencer, while the standard model gets a shorter version.

The Tactical configuration sees everything built around an aluminium chassis that incorporates a sizeable Picatinny rail forward of the trigger.

A secondary cylinder forms the central part, whilst the CZ barrel runs right through its own casing up top. Socket heads are used throughout, and the robust feel is impressive.

The side-lever is effectively ambidextrous, given it can be switched from one side of the gun to the other, so southpaws don’t have to feel left out.

All metalwork is either matte-blacked or anodised, which is practical in a hunting scenario.

As for the stock elements, the rubber grip is soft to the touch and AR-15 compatible.

Look to the rear, and the synthetic lower butt section carries a rubber butt plate — basic but functional.

What optics work well with the Taipan Veteran II Tactical?

Time to get some glassware in place, and with this Taipan, this is a fairly straightforward task thanks to the sizable Picatinny rail on top, which includes a 20 MOA incline for the record.

I bolted on a trusty old MTC Mamba, and while this added a fair bit of mass, the optics are well worth it.

Charging is via the inlet valve at the front of the chassis, using the probe adaptor supplied, and this locates in a satisfyingly positive way from the right-hand side, while checking it is sitting flush from the left.

No dust cover is supplied, though, which is irritating on a gun of this quality.

Taipan’s magazine is a refreshingly simple design. You just need to push each pellet head-first into each chamber, ensuring they stay nice and flush to maximise smooth operation.

To install the full magazine, first pull back the side-lever, then pull back the small brass-coloured magazine retaining catch.

Next, drop the magazine into the breech area, slide forward the catch, and close the side-lever.

We now have 10 shots at the ready.

Fancy single-shot mode? Then just install the single-shot tray in the same manner.

What is the Taipan Veteran II Tactical like to shoot?

At the range, I was keen to get started and to zero the rifle.

Simply cycling the lever revealed a level of precision that is rarely encountered.

Cocking it is exceptionally smooth and requires minimal effort, while the hefty silencer up front does its job well, producing little more than a subtle hiss on firing.

Trigger-wise, the two-stage mechanism is listed as fully adjustable, but no reference is made to it in the instruction booklet.

That said, this airgun sports a pleasingly broad blade, and the mechanism trips with minimal effort, so I was quite content.

There’s also a neat in-guard safety for those who want it, so all bases are covered.

In the aim, the Veteran II Tactical handles well, with the buddy bottle up front effectively doubling up as the forend.

A little utilitarian for some, I’m sure, but at least the use of Kevlar is warmer to the touch than ice-cold steel on a winter’s morning.

Just be mindful that this is one of those models where the lead hand can be worryingly close to the muzzle at full stretch.

The one main negative here, and a fault common to many bullpups, is that the face is very near the breech area when in the aim, and I have never been keen on that.

Some form of shield or panel would be nice, and I just think an airgun of this obvious superiority deserves a more civilised cheekpiece arrangement.

As for the AR15 grip, it just feels spot-on, thanks to a combination of stylish contours and the soft-touch material used.

The Anti Double Feed mechanism

And so we come back to the ADF feature referred to earlier, which stands for Anti Double Feed, and this is invaluable.

We’ve all encountered rifles, even from some of the top brands, that allow you to keep cycling the action and accidentally chamber two or more pellets at once, and it’s easily done in the heat of the moment when you cycle the magazine but haven’t actually cocked the gun.

Well, not with this Taipan. Clever design work has resulted in one of the slickest multi-shot systems you’ll find.

Pull back the side-lever, and you’ll cock the action, set the trigger and hammer, and index the magazine.

Close the lever, and there is now a pellet waiting in the barrel.

Lose concentration, forget if the gun is loaded, and pull back the lever a second time, and the magazine will not rotate, so no second pellet can be chambered.

It works brilliantly, and everything is super smooth.

Yes, you can fire just air if you don’t keep a tab on the shot count, but that’s an entirely different matter, and not such an issue.

Consistency

OK, it’s time for the technical evaluation, and the instructions supplied with this Taipan suggest that the fill pressure can be anything between 200 and 250 bar, and with my own dive bottle sitting on 215 bar, I decided to charge to that.

I planned to run the first 100 shots over a chronograph to gauge consistency, and using BSA Goldstar pellets, a total spread of just 15fps showed the regulated action was humming along nicely.

In terms of accuracy, using QYS Domed pellets at 30 yards, I saw groups of just over ¼in, an encouraging start.

Subsequent groups with both Air Arms Diabolo Field and BSA Goldstar tightened to just under ¼in.

Moving back to 40 yards, the Goldstars proved the perfect partner, staying a ¼in c-t-c.

That’s a satisfying performance in anyone’s book, but it’s perhaps the smoothness and crisp function of this Taipan that really impresses, not so much for what it can do, but for how it goes about it.

Is the Taipan Veteran II Tactical any good?

Well, after spending some time with this Taipan, it’s clear to me that this brand doesn’t just talk a good game, but it can actually back it up.

Granted, it deserves a better cheekpiece arrangement, but get past this minor negative, and the sheer class of everything else gives this model an advantage over many rivals.

I’d go so far as to say the Veteran II Tactical is one of the best-quality airguns I’ve tested in all my years in the industry.

Everything feels well thought out, finely machined, and superbly executed.

So, for a top-class, super-smooth hunting rifle, consider this Taipan shortlisted.

Technical specifications

Make: Taipan
Model: Veteran II Tactical
Type: PCP
Calibre: .177 on test; .22 and .25 available
Barrel length: 21.7in
Overall length: 32.25in
Weight: 8.4lbs
Energy: 11.5ft/lb (average)
Price: £1,735
Website: range-right.co.uk