Something to remember about the Impact, t
here are no linkages for the trigger like a standard bullpup. The trigger is where the trigger appears to be. It's a fantastic trigger too (so is the Crown from what I hear.)
All that extra plumbing you are referring to is in the trigger block, including the regulator, so when you pull the trigger, the hammer, regulator, fancy stuff that controls the air and the rest is down in the trigger block, so there's no hammer slap under your cheek. You don't feel a thing, it's smooth as butter as they say.
I'm a traditionalist when it comes to guns, and hated the Impact when I first picked one up. Just felt strange. Now that I've used one for a while, it's been fantastic! Great trigger, regulated, well balanced and SHORT! I like short guns. The design gives full barrel length in a short package and I have the option of installing a 700mm barrel, which you can't do on the Crown. (At least it's not recommended due to the floating barrel design.
Before anyone writes off the Impact as a Bullpup, please do a bit of research. It's not a standard bullpup. It eliminates the standard problems with ingenious designs.
- Flexing the gun, device attaching the grip to the stock - not sure what you are referring to
- Single shot - probably correct, more difficult to single load
- Trigger Linkage - There isn't any. Trigger is direct to the seer, though the pellet probe is attached via linkage, but it's incredibly well constructed.
- Extra Plumbing - There isn't any, it's all in the trigger block, with air directly piped to the pellet after the valve which is inside the trigger block opens.
The Wildcat does have some of the disadvantages you speak of, such as the trigger linkage and pellet probe as it's more of a traditional design for bullpups.
I have seen one Crown in action. The shooter was an avid PB Benchrest shooter for years, so adapted easily to the Crown. He showed me a 16 shot group at 75 yards. JAB 34 grain .25 caliber. About 1 inch by 1/4 inch rip in the paper.
Both guns are fantastic, you can't go wrong with either, but do remember the Impact isn't a bullpup in the traditional sense, it's a whole lot better