High energy ratings are nice but there are so many other factors.
Which brands last longest? How easy to get parts & repair when they do break down? Etc.
Which brands last longest? How easy to get parts & repair when they do break down? Etc.
So many 25mm Bullpups out there.
- Thread starter Philigan
- Start date
Taipan Veteran any day of the week and twice on Sunday! Flawless, rock solid, reliable performance & very high quality. Breakdown? A little over two years of solid, heavy field use and not one issue EVER! NOTHING! NADA! You can take that to the bank.
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What is a 25mm Bullpup? That's only about an inch long! You mean 25 caliber?
Every PCP I have owned has had problems with reliability; I used to think they would be the perfect, all-around weapon, but reliability is the down side. O-rings and other seals go bad, valves don't last forever, and they are expensive. if you are not crazy about accuracy, power, or loading speed get something simple and cheap that is easy to work on; Bullpups add complexity, especially forward cocking models and so do pressure regulators and guns with adjustable features. Magazines can be problematic too. If I was going to pick a .25 cal PCP for off grid survival living, I would want maximum reliability; it would be a single shot, bolt action, modest pressure, low shot count, with reasonable accuracy, in a sporter style, which has the fewest moving parts; certainly no regulator and even no gauges. This is my opinion, after owning two FX impacts, two FX Wildcats, and two FX Monsoons, all with never ending problems. The most trouble-free air gun I ever owned was my first, a Sheridan Pump .20 cal. which lasted 61 years with only one rebuild, but that's not a PCP and definitely not a Bullpup.
Every PCP I have owned has had problems with reliability; I used to think they would be the perfect, all-around weapon, but reliability is the down side. O-rings and other seals go bad, valves don't last forever, and they are expensive. if you are not crazy about accuracy, power, or loading speed get something simple and cheap that is easy to work on; Bullpups add complexity, especially forward cocking models and so do pressure regulators and guns with adjustable features. Magazines can be problematic too. If I was going to pick a .25 cal PCP for off grid survival living, I would want maximum reliability; it would be a single shot, bolt action, modest pressure, low shot count, with reasonable accuracy, in a sporter style, which has the fewest moving parts; certainly no regulator and even no gauges. This is my opinion, after owning two FX impacts, two FX Wildcats, and two FX Monsoons, all with never ending problems. The most trouble-free air gun I ever owned was my first, a Sheridan Pump .20 cal. which lasted 61 years with only one rebuild, but that's not a PCP and definitely not a Bullpup.
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Another BIG THUMBS UP for the Taipan Mutant / Veteran pups. Absolutely stellar in design and manufacturing quality. There mechanics are very well covered / protected FAR BETTER than any other pup made IMO.
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To Philigan,
Around two and a half years ago, I too, shared your very same thoughts. Throughout my exhausting & relentless research on this subject a reoccurring name that carries a lot of respect, knowledge & experience was prevalent. In fact, that very same name has reappeared once again & come to "your post". It is him that I would seek out should you ever be in need. However, and I'm confident that he would concur, it is doubtful you would need anything other than pellets and air for this pup. I started with one & now have two (another shooter), both are worked hard throughout the changing seasons on the ranch. From wet & cold to dry, dusty & windy - not one hiccup. What does that tell you?
Good Day!
Thank you Motorhead
Around two and a half years ago, I too, shared your very same thoughts. Throughout my exhausting & relentless research on this subject a reoccurring name that carries a lot of respect, knowledge & experience was prevalent. In fact, that very same name has reappeared once again & come to "your post". It is him that I would seek out should you ever be in need. However, and I'm confident that he would concur, it is doubtful you would need anything other than pellets and air for this pup. I started with one & now have two (another shooter), both are worked hard throughout the changing seasons on the ranch. From wet & cold to dry, dusty & windy - not one hiccup. What does that tell you?
Good Day!
Thank you Motorhead
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Yep.
Taipan Veteran.
I've got six tins of pellets through mine in around 10 months. I think I've cleaned the barrel once. Hasnt needed the trigger adjusted, reg messed with, or anything else, just air and pellets, like previously mentioned. The gun regularly puts pellets right where they're supposed to go at amazing distances. The most recent was two prairie dog head shots at 97 yards, back to back. One was chasing the other and stood there just long enough when his buddy fell over dead. Already knew holdover and dope from the first shot.
Taipan Veteran.
I've got six tins of pellets through mine in around 10 months. I think I've cleaned the barrel once. Hasnt needed the trigger adjusted, reg messed with, or anything else, just air and pellets, like previously mentioned. The gun regularly puts pellets right where they're supposed to go at amazing distances. The most recent was two prairie dog head shots at 97 yards, back to back. One was chasing the other and stood there just long enough when his buddy fell over dead. Already knew holdover and dope from the first shot.
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Simple - https://www.edgunwest.com/store/edgun-airguns/item/edgun-lelya-20/
A tough gun, able to take some rough handling without damage. My .22 (also made in .25 cal.) is very accurate.
They have a vendor here in the states (SoCal) for quick turn around of parts...IF you ever need them. Brian is helpful and knowledgeable about the guns and is willing to answer questions.
While I've only had my .22 Lelya a relatively short time (about 200 rounds shot), it's been trouble free. Fairly quiet as air guns go.
Mike
P.s. - The power and trigger are adjustable.
A tough gun, able to take some rough handling without damage. My .22 (also made in .25 cal.) is very accurate.
They have a vendor here in the states (SoCal) for quick turn around of parts...IF you ever need them. Brian is helpful and knowledgeable about the guns and is willing to answer questions.
While I've only had my .22 Lelya a relatively short time (about 200 rounds shot), it's been trouble free. Fairly quiet as air guns go.
Mike
P.s. - The power and trigger are adjustable.
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Tough choice.
My vote would be for an Edgun. Why, probably because I have one, and have owned quite a few other PCPs (none of them were bad TBH) and so far this one has been my favorite. I have a Matador R3M in .25, the long version. It's shooting 45 ft.lbs, ( JSB Kings at 910 fps) built like a tank and I currently get 7 magazines out of a fill on the regulator. It's hands down the best built PCP that I've owned. I bought one of the last ones from Brian at Edgun West last year and I can't seem to put it down. It comes with O-rings in case it needs a rebuild, and watching Brian's videos, it's pretty simple to take apart and put back together. I hand pumped the gun for the about 10 months with no problems, I now have a F10 and a guppy and couldn't be happier. It takes 220 bar fills, however, at 200 bar (which is easy to hand pump) I can still manage 50 shots. Any of the new Edguns are awesome from what I've read.
That being said, the Taipan Veteran would be my next gun. I keep reading about them and I really want one. So take my recommendation with a grain of salt, Either one of these branded guns would be a great choice.
It's hard to choose if you can't handle one, you are pretty much relying on the Internet experts to give you advice. Maybe put a feeler out there and tell people what area you live in and see if there's someone close by that can let you handle or shoot their gun. If that;s not possible, just do as much reading as you can, watch reviews, take our your CC, and take a chance. We've all done that.
My vote would be for an Edgun. Why, probably because I have one, and have owned quite a few other PCPs (none of them were bad TBH) and so far this one has been my favorite. I have a Matador R3M in .25, the long version. It's shooting 45 ft.lbs, ( JSB Kings at 910 fps) built like a tank and I currently get 7 magazines out of a fill on the regulator. It's hands down the best built PCP that I've owned. I bought one of the last ones from Brian at Edgun West last year and I can't seem to put it down. It comes with O-rings in case it needs a rebuild, and watching Brian's videos, it's pretty simple to take apart and put back together. I hand pumped the gun for the about 10 months with no problems, I now have a F10 and a guppy and couldn't be happier. It takes 220 bar fills, however, at 200 bar (which is easy to hand pump) I can still manage 50 shots. Any of the new Edguns are awesome from what I've read.
That being said, the Taipan Veteran would be my next gun. I keep reading about them and I really want one. So take my recommendation with a grain of salt, Either one of these branded guns would be a great choice.
It's hard to choose if you can't handle one, you are pretty much relying on the Internet experts to give you advice. Maybe put a feeler out there and tell people what area you live in and see if there's someone close by that can let you handle or shoot their gun. If that;s not possible, just do as much reading as you can, watch reviews, take our your CC, and take a chance. We've all done that.
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Power Tuned Cricket .25cal simply amazing power and accuracy. Mine is setup to a JSB 34gr. @ 905fps, hits targets @ 100yds with ease.
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Veteran for sure. Rugged but well defined and the materials used are top notch. Hard to mess a veteran up.
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I have been wrestling with the same choices and finally decided to go with an Edgun Matador R5M with laminate stock from Edgun West. It's only 27.5 inch long with an oversized moderator and handles very quickly. Being so short though, it can be a little wobbly and this is something I am getting used to as it is my first bullpup.
The machining fit and finish of the parts seems to be excellent. I had to do a little bit of hand fitting between the bolt block and the breech face to allow this part to pop on and off more readily though, see below about barrel cleaning.
The webs that connect and brace the pistol grip with the rest of the buttstock are great for carrying.
I just saw a new video from Eduard the maker (TheEdgun on Utube), and they have just developed a synthetic stock for this gun. He has an innovative feature where Allen wrenches needed to take the stock off and make adjustments can be stored in the pistol grip. Pretty neat.
The slot underneath the picatinny rail is milled to hold three magazines, which isn't always obvious when you see the pictures. So you can have 1 magazine inserted and 3 backup mags fully loaded, clipped into the receiver frame under your scope.
The R5M is capable of shooting jsb Kings over 900 feet per second but I prefer a lower power setup, sending them around 775 fps. I hand pump with a Hill MK IV pump and I get many more shots per fill and at this power level it is very quiet except for some ping from the action. I may try it as low as 700fps. Next time I get a chance to shoot some groups, I will compare accuracy at these lower speeds. There is still plenty enough power to clobber squirrels at 50yd or less.
Brian at Edgun West had a yellow and black laminate stock version that spoke to me. I have seen a number of videos from Ed himself and Brian from Edgun West, showing how to work on these yourself. they have even posted schematics on the Edgun West website. For a person like me who likes to work on and maintain their own stuff and keep it for a long time, the willingness of the manufacturer to release schematics is very valuable.
I have an FX Independence in 22 caliber that I have been using almost every day. I like it because it has an adjustable hammer spring as well as an externally quick adjustable transfer port. I came close to pulling the trigger on an FX dreampup since it has externally adjustable regulator and transfer port. These features make it easy to switch between high power and low power tunes. However, every choice is a compromise!
So far I have found the R5M to be delightful. Brian at Edgun West installed a forearm picatinny rail very inexpensively at purchase.
To clean the barrel, the moderator cap and baffles unscrew and pop out in seconds. With one bolt, the entire bolt-block comes off of the receiver, exposing the barrel breech. The breech o-ring comes out with it so you don't have to worry about damaging that when you want to clean the barrel.
Adjusting the power is easily done with just the hammer spring tension, without changing the setting on the regulator, which is internal to the air reservoir. With two screws, the stock pops off and you use a 10 mm allen wrench to turn the hammer spring adjusting screw. This screw has detents in it and you can count the clicks as a way of keeping track and switching between high and low settings. I'm experimenting with this now. There is a little slider that moves when you adjust the screw and I think I can make rudimentary scale reference markings on the frame as well as counting clicks. This is where I miss the transfer Port dial such as on the FX guns for quick changes in power levels.
I polished the barrel with 150 strokes of a nylon bristle brush with JB bore paste. It is the most polished bore I have ever encountered. I pushed some pellets through it and the resistance is the most uniform and smooth of any barrel I have tried using this method. The barrel is made by Lothar Walther and it is choked.
The trigger is satisfactorily adjustable with two screws. The forward one is an overtravel screw and the rear one adjusts sear engagement and 2nd stage weight. I was able to lighten it and it breaks very predictably and cleanly.
The pressure gauge is electronic and can display pressure in PSI or bar. It can also collect statistics on pressure used per shot and such but I don't really use those features. I had a little trouble with mine and had to perform a reset procedure on it but it has been stable ever since.
The machining fit and finish of the parts seems to be excellent. I had to do a little bit of hand fitting between the bolt block and the breech face to allow this part to pop on and off more readily though, see below about barrel cleaning.
The webs that connect and brace the pistol grip with the rest of the buttstock are great for carrying.
I just saw a new video from Eduard the maker (TheEdgun on Utube), and they have just developed a synthetic stock for this gun. He has an innovative feature where Allen wrenches needed to take the stock off and make adjustments can be stored in the pistol grip. Pretty neat.
The slot underneath the picatinny rail is milled to hold three magazines, which isn't always obvious when you see the pictures. So you can have 1 magazine inserted and 3 backup mags fully loaded, clipped into the receiver frame under your scope.
The R5M is capable of shooting jsb Kings over 900 feet per second but I prefer a lower power setup, sending them around 775 fps. I hand pump with a Hill MK IV pump and I get many more shots per fill and at this power level it is very quiet except for some ping from the action. I may try it as low as 700fps. Next time I get a chance to shoot some groups, I will compare accuracy at these lower speeds. There is still plenty enough power to clobber squirrels at 50yd or less.
Brian at Edgun West had a yellow and black laminate stock version that spoke to me. I have seen a number of videos from Ed himself and Brian from Edgun West, showing how to work on these yourself. they have even posted schematics on the Edgun West website. For a person like me who likes to work on and maintain their own stuff and keep it for a long time, the willingness of the manufacturer to release schematics is very valuable.
I have an FX Independence in 22 caliber that I have been using almost every day. I like it because it has an adjustable hammer spring as well as an externally quick adjustable transfer port. I came close to pulling the trigger on an FX dreampup since it has externally adjustable regulator and transfer port. These features make it easy to switch between high power and low power tunes. However, every choice is a compromise!
So far I have found the R5M to be delightful. Brian at Edgun West installed a forearm picatinny rail very inexpensively at purchase.
To clean the barrel, the moderator cap and baffles unscrew and pop out in seconds. With one bolt, the entire bolt-block comes off of the receiver, exposing the barrel breech. The breech o-ring comes out with it so you don't have to worry about damaging that when you want to clean the barrel.
Adjusting the power is easily done with just the hammer spring tension, without changing the setting on the regulator, which is internal to the air reservoir. With two screws, the stock pops off and you use a 10 mm allen wrench to turn the hammer spring adjusting screw. This screw has detents in it and you can count the clicks as a way of keeping track and switching between high and low settings. I'm experimenting with this now. There is a little slider that moves when you adjust the screw and I think I can make rudimentary scale reference markings on the frame as well as counting clicks. This is where I miss the transfer Port dial such as on the FX guns for quick changes in power levels.
I polished the barrel with 150 strokes of a nylon bristle brush with JB bore paste. It is the most polished bore I have ever encountered. I pushed some pellets through it and the resistance is the most uniform and smooth of any barrel I have tried using this method. The barrel is made by Lothar Walther and it is choked.
The trigger is satisfactorily adjustable with two screws. The forward one is an overtravel screw and the rear one adjusts sear engagement and 2nd stage weight. I was able to lighten it and it breaks very predictably and cleanly.
The pressure gauge is electronic and can display pressure in PSI or bar. It can also collect statistics on pressure used per shot and such but I don't really use those features. I had a little trouble with mine and had to perform a reset procedure on it but it has been stable ever since.
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Like yourself I studied this long and hard. Weighting good with bad.
I went with the R5M. Truly what sold me was I called Brian at Edgun west. He's always answered the phone and my emails.
Plus the gun already had a lot of the add on features that I wanted.
I'll add one thing on accuracy. I friend of mine made a spinner out of an 1/8" piece of steel set on edge. At 50 yards I was able to hit it more than I missed it. Free hanging, no thicker than your crosshair at that distance. I believe I made the right choice. Now it's yours let us know what your final decision is.
I went with the R5M. Truly what sold me was I called Brian at Edgun west. He's always answered the phone and my emails.
Plus the gun already had a lot of the add on features that I wanted.
I'll add one thing on accuracy. I friend of mine made a spinner out of an 1/8" piece of steel set on edge. At 50 yards I was able to hit it more than I missed it. Free hanging, no thicker than your crosshair at that distance. I believe I made the right choice. Now it's yours let us know what your final decision is.
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I’ll always be thankful to Motorhead for giving me the same recommendation he did to you. That’s my go to hunting rifle, in .25 cal. If you want to see it smashing iguanas search Orion iguana hunter in YouTube and enjoy...
Thanks once more Scott....you were absolutely right....buy once cry once, will never forget your words!
Thanks once more Scott....you were absolutely right....buy once cry once, will never forget your words!
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Taipan / EDgun both best of the best. The better of the two often depends on which one you own. If you own both then likely best would change from week to week. Other proven models to mention are the Cricket and Vulcan, all of which have their following.
Most of my experience is with the maker that started this bullpup craze, EDgun Matador! Likely to last most of us a life time. I've heard of getting more than 200,000 shots issue free, other than seals and cleaning. Also easy to work on once you get over the intimidation of working on pcp's. Also great support from forum members as well as videos on the most popular makes mentioned in this thread.
Can't go wrong with what ever choice you make, however, going to a know air gun shoot/club of any popularity will most likely provide you with hands on availability and perhaps making a choice a bit easier!
As always, enjoying the journey!!
Most of my experience is with the maker that started this bullpup craze, EDgun Matador! Likely to last most of us a life time. I've heard of getting more than 200,000 shots issue free, other than seals and cleaning. Also easy to work on once you get over the intimidation of working on pcp's. Also great support from forum members as well as videos on the most popular makes mentioned in this thread.
Can't go wrong with what ever choice you make, however, going to a know air gun shoot/club of any popularity will most likely provide you with hands on availability and perhaps making a choice a bit easier!
As always, enjoying the journey!!
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i cant believe that so many off you vote for the taipan. the cocking lever at the end of the gun really sucks in my opionion. they need to make a taipan 2 with forward cocking lever. 
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I haven’t seen a vote yet for the Vulcan. If I compare it to the other three, Taipan, EDgun and Cricket, it beats or equals them in all categories but one. Accuracy, trigger, magazine, easy to shoulder and shoot, easy forward side cocking, reliability, easy to work on, and looks. The only negative area I can think of is power. Unlike the other 3, it’s much harder to get a .25 shooting Heavies at 60 FPE, and its probably best to accept that shooting Kings at 45 FPE is its forte. I’ve had all of them, and the Vulcan stands out from the crowd. I forgot to add, very easy to get repair parts from the factory if required.
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I've read a lot of good things about the Vulcans. Although I have never owned one, I haven't heard of many problems with them as far as reliability goes. I've read a lot of reports on the forums of excellent customer support from Evengy. If you have a problem with any parts, he ships them out from the Czech Republic in a timely manner. I've also read a lot of good things about the reliability of the Taipan Mutants/Veterans but not much on customer service and parts availability. I'm looking at getting a Taipan Veteran myself because of all the praise.
I just wish it had a mid cocking lever. I do own an Edgun R5M Standard in .25cal and I have been very happy with it. The only problem I experienced was that the charging handle spring broke around the 800 round mark. Ed said it was a bad batch of springs they received. I called Brian at Edgun West and received a couple springs not long after and I think it would be good to have spares on hand. It's a pretty easy part to change out.
I also heard of a few people having trouble with Edgun's new EDMU pressure gauge. Mine is still working fine but I only use it to check the air pressure. One thing I do like about the EDMU is that you can read the pressure from an angle and not have stare directly down the barrel. I do like the way the numbers increase when it is turned on and being filled. When I placed my order for the R5M from Edgun West, I also ordered a Huma pressure gauge just in case I came across any problems with the EDMU. One thing I do like about Edguns is that they are easy to maintain and take apart. All in all, I'm very happy with my R5M and have no thoughts on selling it.
I just wish it had a mid cocking lever. I do own an Edgun R5M Standard in .25cal and I have been very happy with it. The only problem I experienced was that the charging handle spring broke around the 800 round mark. Ed said it was a bad batch of springs they received. I called Brian at Edgun West and received a couple springs not long after and I think it would be good to have spares on hand. It's a pretty easy part to change out.
I also heard of a few people having trouble with Edgun's new EDMU pressure gauge. Mine is still working fine but I only use it to check the air pressure. One thing I do like about the EDMU is that you can read the pressure from an angle and not have stare directly down the barrel. I do like the way the numbers increase when it is turned on and being filled. When I placed my order for the R5M from Edgun West, I also ordered a Huma pressure gauge just in case I came across any problems with the EDMU. One thing I do like about Edguns is that they are easy to maintain and take apart. All in all, I'm very happy with my R5M and have no thoughts on selling it.
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