First day with a Taipan Mutant Short

[sactargetshooter]

The mailman dropped off the box today  .

I ordered the short along with a shroud extension. The gun came with the shroud installed, nice! However, of the four pins (two thin ones for HST adjustment, and two thick ones for shroud cap removal), one thin one is missing. I was able to use an appropriately sized hex key to adjust HST. All the ziplock bags were open with o-rings and other components all over the box.

Hmmm, I think packaging can use a little improvement/care.

On to the actual gun itself. Impressive workmanship where it counts, the Mutant easily rivals the British and German guns that I have.

Functionally, the gun is superb. The HST adjustment allows a wide range of adjustment. With the brass adjuster one turn out from the receiver, the gun shoots JSB Jumbo Exact Express (14.3gr) at 937 fps for a little less than 28 FPE. 3 turns out, the gun shoots the same pellets at 640 fps for 13 FPE. This kind of muzzle velocity flexibility is much welcome!

The "build-in" shroud has cone-shaped baffles. Tolerance is very good, a little too tight, in fact! Unlike a HW LDC, there is no sound absorbing material inside. I think this affects the effectiveness of the shroud. The barrel actually ends about an inch into the shroud, but the volume behind the barrel is also utilized.

The add-on LDC has a 3-chamber design similar to a Marauder. Again, no sound absorbing material is used there. The texture of the add-on LDC is slightly different from that of the built-in one. However, it is designed for this gun and the add-on LDC mates with the built-in shroud to make one longer shroud. My only complaint here is that the pins are needed to remove the shroud cap to install the add-on LDC. This makes it a little more difficult to install the add-on shroud in the field. It'd be nice to carry a 23" bullpup in a small bag, and only to attach the add-on LDC when it is time to shoot.

What is quite interesting is that the built-in shroud is attached to the barrel using what seems to be 1/2 UNF thread. I haven't tried it, but I think any LDC with a female 1/2 UNF thread can fit, given the diameter of the LDC fits within the space.

The barrel and magazine mechanism feeds pellets at the top position of the magazine rather than bottom position. I believe this design is also used in some other bullpups. The result is a shorter scope height without needing to contort to aim. With a medium height scope ring and a Clearidge RM 3-9x32, I manage to get a 2.12" scope height. This is impressive as some of my springers mount scopes higher! I did have to push the AO ring of the objective bell in front of the weaver rail to make the scope fit, but shooting position remains comfortable (as comfortable as possible given a cheek weld onto metal!).

The trigger is simply superb. Although I still rate an electronic trigger like that of an Airwolf slightly better in terms of feel, the trigger of the Mutant is functionally as good as any, including electronic triggers. I have not, and do not intend to, adjust the trigger in any way!

The cocking lever operates very smoothly, I don't have any complaints against the quality. However, as some have pointed out, the rear cocking position is not exactly natural to bullpup shooters. I have had other bullpups before, and I can cock a bolt action with my lefthand while holding the gun with my right hand. The cocking level is easier to operate than a bolt. I can, in fact, cock the gun without losing sight picture.

Some complain the chunky stock design. Well, I think the part that is chunky is chunky for resting on bags, so it is actually functional!

After sighting in at 10 yards, shooting this rifle at 10 yards is boring, literally. Pellets go through the same hole that is the size of a pellet. I will probably take the Mutant to a shooting range at some point to test long range performance.

According to its specs, the Mutant short weighs 6.4lb. The scope is 12oz. For a total less than 8 lbs and a total length of 29.5" including the add-on shroud, this is one high-quality and versatile airgun.

[Rico14]

Are you saying that the extra shroud is not effective? What is the difference with and without it installed?

[sactargetshooter]

The extra shroud is effective, but more pronounced at higher energy levels. At 13 FPE, the extra shroud makes no discernible difference to my as a shooter. I need to set up a mic and record the actual report like how I test all LDCs to have any objective analysis.

Based on the design, the extra shroud has to be effective because it is a proven design. I did not shoot much at the 28 FPE energy level, just enough to know that the extra shroud does remove some of the bark compared to just using the built-in shroud.

My complaint was not that the extra shroud did not work, but the fact that I need to use the pins to remove the cap on the built-in one in order to install the extra one. I'd much prefer a 1/2 UNF thread on the built-in one. I'll probably end up fabricating a tool or an attachment so the cap can be easily removed.

[Rico14]

sorry I misunderstood you, thanks for taking the time to explain

[anti-squirrel]

Thanks for the write-up.  This is on the very-short list of "Possible Next Purchase".

Good descriptions, too.  I like airguns with boring accuracy

[sactargetshooter]

Thanks! Just keep in mind this is a write-up after just about 4 hours of playing with it.

I have some updates, too. Regarding the pins (for HST and shroud cap), I found that roll pins from Harbor Freight can be used. The pins are easy to lose. I ended up using a little bit of caulk to fix the roll pins to the HST and shroud cap. Caulk is easily removed using a plastic tool, so the attachment is far from permanent. I also put a ball of epoxy putty on the HST pins so it is easier to turn.

[Rico14]

A simple tool for removing the shroud cap is a short piece of dowel with two holes, one for each of the pins.  The dowel will give you plenty of leverage to take the cap off.

[sactargetshooter]

Thanks for the dowel suggestion! My main gripe was not so much with leverage, but with the necessity to use pins to detach the cap then attach the add-on LDC. The two roll pins "glued" to the cap work well and they don't protrude too much to look like a bayonet!

On this particular subject, I just test fired with and without the additional LDC at an energy level of 13 FPE, there was not much difference. I am sure at a higher energy level, the extra LDC will start to become effective.

[dman1114]

I think they are being generous with the weight





I make/sell 1/2 20 Ltc adapters and i took mine off..

Honestly the factory shroud works very well.


I have my shorty1 shooting at 865 - 870 with 18.1s...  tried it with 3 different popular LDC ' s and The difference wasn't enough to even warrant having the extra .650" sticking out the front.


The factory shrouds Work great.


You have pics of yours?  Whos makeing small mods for them?