Taipan listened.

Yeah...no..!

Taipan didn't listen...they just figured that it was FINALLY time to...follow the crowd !
Some big shot in the company just said in a Monday morning meeting, "Everyone (most) else has forward mounted cocking levers, I guess we should too".

Mike
And with that they ruined the rifle, at first glance I was so excited, however everything else that has been seen by me is a big NO from me. No need for a forward cocking in a hunting situation with an air rifle and thats all Id use a taipan for.
 
I actually prefer the rear cocking, more simple with less to go wrong,

I don't see much advantage in the forward cocking unless you want to shoot faster and that isn't real conducive either for hunting nor target shooting,....at that point might as well just go Semi-auto and then the forward cocking is obsolete too
If there was an actual advantage to rear cocking… the market would speak to it… apparently there is not. What makes it acceptable in the current Taipan is its other attributes. But there are other guns just as good. With the levers in the proper place. No extra “monkey motions” required.
 
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If there was an actual advantage to rear cocking… the market would speak to it… apparently there is not. What makes it acceptable in the current Taipan is its other attributes. But there are other guns just as good. With the levers in the proper place. No extra “monkey motions” required.
Good thing we are all different in this world, the advantage of rear cocking is the simplicity and I take that over anything, also prefer the simple lever, anthing that has a bar like biatlhon style lever bugs me.
the rear cocking lever works just fine for me I can still rack the gun more then fast enough, I'm not going into battle so I really have no need for more speed.


Again good thing we are all different.
 
Good thing we are all different in this world, the advantage of rear cocking is the simplicity and I take that over anything, also prefer the simple lever, anthing that has a bar like biatlhon style lever bugs me.
the rear cocking lever works just fine for me I can still rack the gun more then fast enough, I'm not going into battle so I really have no need for more speed.


Again good thing we are all different.
Exactly! The new lever adds weight and complexity (unnecessarily). It seems this new Taipan adds a forward lever just to have a forward lever because other manufacturers have one. And to offer this new model at the discontinuation of the previous model adds up to a risky decision IMO.

What also amuses me (aside from reading comments from those who've never even seen one in person) is the logic that the previous Veterans are going to start showing up in the classifieds at fire sale prices LOL. If anything they will become more valuable and sought after.

All that being said I can't wait for Michael to have the brilliant idea to RDW one of these! Tube model, please :D

Screenshot 2023-02-22 at 11-28-22 Taipan2_Standard_Drevo_1.webp (WEBP Image 1430 × 572 pixels).png
 
Exactly! The new lever adds weight and complexity (unnecessarily). It seems this new Taipan adds a forward lever just to have a forward lever because other manufacturers have one. And to offer this new model at the discontinuation of the previous model adds up to a risky decision IMO.

What also amuses me (aside from reading comments from those who've never even seen one in person) is the logic that the previous Veterans are going to start showing up in the classifieds at fire sale prices LOL. If anything they will become more valuable and sought after.

All that being said I can't wait for Michael to have the brilliant idea to RDW one of these! Tube model, please :D

View attachment 334462
Unnecessarily? I’ve owned a veteran, along with other bullpups. While the rear cocking wasn’t a big issue for me, I wouldn’t say that taipan going with a forward lever is unnecessary. The fact that you can keep your eye planted in the scope and aimed at your prey while cocking for a follow up is a BIG deal. Not all of us are perfect shots the first time. Especially when your quarry isn’t standing still for long. A lot can happen in a second. That quick follow up could be the difference between an ethical kill, and and a runaway with a slow death. All for the ignorance that the vet was better when it was more simplistic. If that was the cas, they wouldn’t have come out with this offering at all. They have seen what the airgun community wants/needs, and they have delivered.
 
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All for the ignorance that the vet was better when it was more simplistic. If that was the cas, they wouldn’t have come out with this offering at all. They have seen what the airgun community wants/needs, and they have delivered.

I agree with the follow up shots, I have actually hunted with the Taipan and twice needed to follow up and was able to but it would have been less strenuous with a forward lever.

I don't agree with this statement I quoted though...

... just because they did it doesn't mean that it wasnt better when it was more simplistic. Talon tunes and Utah airguns have been the sellers for the Taipan, I bring up the sellers because Utah airguns along with Boyd Linder (Utah Pew Pew over on IG) had big hands in the design of the Panthera, I am sure they sway whats produced and give feedback along with insight on what will.... SELL.

If I find that there wasn't much compromised with the new taipan in order to incorporate the forward lever or the bottle, etc , I will likely pick one up, however I have a feeling now they "sold out" which is disappointing.
 
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I have no experience with a Taipan, always wanted to try one because it seems to get the best reviews on this site. The Butt ugliness of the original was more off putting to me than the rear cocking handle, which both I could overlook if the accuracy was there. I think the Vet 2 looks much nicer than the original and look forward to learning more about this new Rifle.
 
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At this point, I’m just waiting and watching, first for IWA. I think the lever being move forward will be good, Taipan has no history of cheesiness. They obviously went to polygonal barrels to cut cost, I didn’t like that. Free floating barrel- ah, I’m leary about that, but will give it a chance. Either Taipan will knock it out of the park, or have a lackluster showing.
 
I agree with the follow up shots, I have actually hunted with the Taipan and twice needed to follow up and was able to but it would have been less strenuous with a forward lever.

I don't agree with this statement I quoted though...

... just because they did it doesn't mean that it wasnt better when it was more simplistic. Talon tunes and Utah airguns have been the sellers for the Taipan, I bring up the sellers because Utah airguns along with Boyd Linder (Utah Pew Pew over on IG) had big hands in the design of the Panthera, I am sure they sway whats produced and give feedback along with insight on what will.... SELL.

If I find that there wasn't much compromised with the new taipan in order to incorporate the forward lever or the bottle, etc , I will likely pick one up, however I have a feeling now they "sold out" which is disappointing.
If I got one, it would be the tube version. The bottle version is just too gaudy, and takes away from the compact nature of the vet. I don’t think they sold out for their design, I just think they listened to the masses. They are after all a business, and to stay profitable, they need to provide what sells.
 
..... They obviously went to polygonal barrels to cut cost, I didn’t like that.....
You lost me here. How does a different rifling profile cut cost? The new website says theyre either CZ or LW. An LW blank in either rifling is similarly priced here in the States.

Polygonal rifling produces higher BCs from the same pellet than it does from 12 land and groove rifling. The move to poly is a good thing, in my opinion.
 
You lost me here. How does a different rifling profile cut cost? The new website says theyre either CZ or LW. An LW blank in either rifling is similarly priced here in the States.

Polygonal rifling produces higher BCs from the same pellet than it does from 12 land and groove rifling. The move to poly is a good thing, in my opinion.
I read it in general that polygonal barrels are easier, therefore cheaper to make. one aspect of it is polygonal barrels make it difficult to get a complete seal by the projectile that could hurt accuracy albeit small. poly's I do believe , accept a wider range of projectiles decently. If you look on the site, the specs list 550mm or 700mm CZ/LW polygonals. I did really like the standard CZ 550mm barrel. Didn't want a change.
 
Unnecessarily? I’ve owned a veteran, along with other bullpups. While the rear cocking wasn’t a big issue for me, I wouldn’t say that taipan going with a forward lever is unnecessary. The fact that you can keep your eye planted in the scope and aimed at your prey while cocking for a follow up is a BIG deal. Not all of us are perfect shots the first time. Especially when your quarry isn’t standing still for long. A lot can happen in a second. That quick follow up could be the difference between an ethical kill, and and a runaway with a slow death. All for the ignorance that the vet was better when it was more simplistic. If that was the cas, they wouldn’t have come out with this offering at all. They have seen what the airgun community wants/needs, and they have delivered.
Keep your eye planted to the scope, really? Heck, I don't do that with an autoloader! In field situations, I believe there are very, very few times when forward cocking makes a material difference in success. That said, I don't doubt that it is a marketing tool. And no doubt, a faster aimed shot can be demonstrated. No, forward cocking is simply a feature many people want. Most of the reasons are rationalizations to support a preference. But, preferences are what marketing is all about, and I expect the Vet II will be very popular. I'm looking very forward to it, as I hope it will make the "old" Vet less expensive and more available in the used market!
 
Keep your eye planted to the scope, really? Heck, I don't do that with an autoloader! In field situations, I believe there are very, very few times when forward cocking makes a material difference in success. That said, I don't doubt that it is a marketing tool. And no doubt, a faster aimed shot can be demonstrated. No, forward cocking is simply a feature many people want. Most of the reasons are rationalizations to support a preference. But, preferences are what marketing is all about, and I expect the Vet II will be very popular. I'm looking very forward to it, as I hope it will make the "old" Vet less expensive and more available in the used market!
So coming from someone who has owned both, and hunted with both, I can tell you from experience that it DOES matter. You can bark All you like, but you won’t see any veterans in speed challenges will you?
 
Good thing we are all different in this world, the advantage of rear cocking is the simplicity and I take that over anything, also prefer the simple lever, anthing that has a bar like biatlhon style lever bugs me.
the rear cocking lever works just fine for me I can still rack the gun more then fast enough, I'm not going into battle so I really have no need for more speed.


Again good thing we are all different.
Good thing we are all “different” and yes, none of us is going “into battle” with Airguns, that aside. The cocking lever at the rear, though simple is a non starter for many, besides myself. The market “did speak” or they would not have changed the position of the lever. If the original design was such a winner, why did they change it? It was OK back in the day, many present guns are just as good and have the lever where the consumer wants it…
 
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