It's a common enough situation. We start seeing teaser reviews of new airgun models at the annual shows. The technical specs look very promising and the overall appearance is acceptable. And after a person has owned enough different airguns they are often looking to try the 'best new release' as soon as it's available.
So I got an e-mail notice recently that the Taipan Slash is (soon to be) finally available. I've never owned a Taipan product but they usually get very good reviews. I've owned a few semiauto L2s and Hubens in the past and now that I'm older I strongly favor a semiauto over a manually cocked repeating action. At least when the semiauto functions correctly (no more AEA semiautos for me) and that can be quite expensive.
It would be interesting to be one of the first owners of a Taipan Slash. I think that it's especially true for anyone who is active on airgun forums and who likes to be the first to post their impressions of a new highly-hyped model. I've occasionally bought first-release models, like an Airmaks Krait imported before they were available here in the US. Unfortunately, the regulator used on that first model release was faulty and I ended up selling it as a sort of failed experiment before I got any use out of it.
One of the most useful features of new PCP airguns to me is the ability to easily adjust shot power using external controls which don't require the removal of the stock or degassing of the air tank for adjustment. A model like the Huben K1 is so successful in large part because the power can easily be adjusted from 8fpe to 80fpe.
Coming back around to the new Slash. It still isn't clear, to me anyway, how easy it will be to adjust the shot power. There is a warning (in the manual?) about not adjusting the regulator pressure as set by the factory, while one of the videos indicated that power can be adjusted, but didn't provide any specific details on the process. I expect that the large size of the shroud on the Slash, combined with a shorter barrel within the shroud, should make the Slash at least as quiet as a K1 when used at similar shot power.
And that is exactly the kind of info I'd like to know about the Taipan Slash before deciding whether to try one.
The K1 is a widely reviewed model with a good track record, many people on this forum have owned one.
And the cost of a K1, especially now that they show up in the classifieds quite often, is about $1,000 US less than the cost of a new Slash.
So how does the Slash compare to the Huben K1 in power adjustability and sound level?
Someone out there will eventually post their impressions and comparisons on their new Slash.
I wish that it was going to be me. But the K1 is already so good (except for having a fixed magazine and no caliber over .25) that I'll probably wait for someone else to take the first plunge this time around.
JP
