Matador vs. Veteran. Battle of the tanks!

Jump to latest Follow Reply
madeintheuk

madeintheuk

Member
Apr 19, 2020
3,154
2,663
43
Washington depot, Connecticut, United States
So I only have experience with the veteran, and it’s one of the most rugged rifles I’ve ever shot. Sure it has its short comings (rear cocking), but it’s accurate first shot of the day, and it’s a pleasure to shoot and carry through the woods even with its hefty build. 
I know there’s a lot of FX fanboys out there, but where are the veteran and matador fanboys? 


let’s hear what everyone has to say about these 2 tanks of Airguns, good, bad, and ugly, and how they compare to each other. 
 
I have the baby matador or better known as the Lelya. Love the barrel tension system where the barrel is incased in tube. . Very rugged and accurate also. Point and shoot is its calling card but capable of performing from the bench very well. 
20220307_143551.1650040700.jpg
20220307_143514.1650040701.jpg
20220306_083821.1650040703.jpg
20220306_083803.1650040704.jpg
20220306_083745.1650040705.jpg

 
  • Like
Reactions: ChickenDumpling
Upvote 0
I enjoy the R5M platform. I have several hunting posts on AGN taking small animals with the .25 Lelya. I enjoy the shot count and configuration. It’s a compact, light, yet balanced and robust rifle that’s handled everything I’ve thrown at it: cold, humidity, light rain, light snow, toting through moderate to heavy brush, etc. Mine is a durable gun and it is relatively easy to maintain once you understand the assembly. There are also a lot of resources online to support DIY maintenance. I love it. Plenty of parts are available from various sources. I also appreciate the fact that the manufacturer has an online presence and is accessible to the public. My Lelya is one purchase I do not regret. A trusted and proven truck gun and woods walker worthy of hunting. 
2CF9F489-487C-4BCA-AFB1-1692000FB021.1650041711.jpeg




My information on Taipan Vets comes from reading and watching videos online. Eventually I’d like to shoot a Taipan Veteran. I’ve read great things about the trigger and accuracy, but I’m in no rush. 
 
Upvote 0
One of my biggest regrets was selling my R5M Standard .22. Very easy to tune, easily serviceable, rugged as can be, never missed a beat and as accurate as any gun I've owned. Some people didn't like the cocking but I didn't mind it at all. Enjoyed the 2 sided cocking actually depending on shooting position. Had a ping but not terrible. Now I shoot off tripods and not sure they would work as good with not much meat in the stock to attach an ARCA rail. I liked the trigger had no issues with it whatsoever. Others don't seem to love them. If I could get my old one back I definitely would if funds were there. Had a .22 Long also, and .30 Super Long. Both great but too big for my wants.

Taipan, have owned them in all sizes in .22 and only standard in .25. Hard guns to beat if you don't mind the rear cocking as mentioned. Not as easily tuneable with reg being not as easy to tune as R5M. But on my .22s didn't see it really necessary to change regs if didn't need more power than as they come as the HS adjuster worked great and rarely saw any issues with large ES. Shorty was my favorite. Hardest to really get behind and shoot compared to the standard and longs due to shorter LOP and lack of length and weight. But once you got the hang of it a deadly little gun. My last shorty had an issue after a couple months where the cocking wouldn't advance the mag on my low powered 15fpe tune. I shot it a lot at that power and wasn't happy with that so ended up selling it. At the 28-30fpe tune it worked just fine. Not sure what changed that made it do that. Anyways for that reason alone I got away from them.

Went to RTI Prophet Compact and yeah gotta say I think it's creeping into the #1 spot of guns I've owned. Not a gun for everyone, but for me it's fantastic.
 
Upvote 0
I happen to own both. I let my collection of the 2 brands speak to my preference.

IMG_1770.1650041637.JPG


ALs Taipan collection.1650041851.JPG


Click to expand...

Great, so what do you like better about the vet?
Click to expand...

I find the cocking of the Veteran to be much smoother than the Matador. The trigger on the Vet is superior to that of the Matador. And the magazine loading of the Veteran is easier than with the Matador.

I find the Taipan Veteran to be a more refined rifle than the Matador in every category of importance to me.


 
Upvote 0
I looked at both of these to buy, and as far as build quality and performance, pretty hard decision, both are awesome, As I researched them closer, I found that the magazine/cocking lever placement, for a lefty, would not be a good fit for me. thought It might be a fact worth mentioning. pick the one that fits you, and your type of shooting. The performance of either one won't let you down, might as well make it comfortable. I have a question for the owners of either rifle, have you noticed increased laugh lines on your faces due to all the smiling that these must produce? 

TODD
 
Upvote 0
I watched Steve’s video on aeac about the matador, and he gives it pretty bright review points. It’s attributes are very appealing to the type of shooting I do. However, I’ve been shooting my buddies veteran .25 standard with power plenum and some other goodies I’m not sure about. It’s set for .25 hades at around 900fps, and it’s been hands down the most accurate gun I’ve shot under 70yds EVER! to premise, I’ve owned a ton of different model guns including FX, AGT, Edgun, RTI, etc, and this is the most accurate. My only gripe again, is that rear cocking. If the matador would check all the other boxes the vet does, but with that forward cocking, I wouldn’t mind the extra $300 it costs, but if it’s not as accurate or dependably, the veteran I know what I’m getting!
 
Upvote 0
I looked at both of these to buy, and as far as build quality and performance, pretty hard decision, both are awesome, As I researched them closer, I found that the magazine/cocking lever placement, for a lefty, would not be a good fit for me. thought It might be a fact worth mentioning. pick the one that fits you, and your type of shooting. The performance of either one won't let you down, might as well make it comfortable. I have a question for the owners of either rifle, have you noticed increased laugh lines on your faces due to all the smiling that these must produce? 

TODD
Click to expand...

Todd, I'm left handed and the magazine and cocking lever are not lefty unfriendly at all. It is designed to easily reverse the side lever if you prefer to cock it from the left as mine is. I had a lefty biathlon lever extension 3D printed by a forum member. The biathlon extension makes the rear lever very comfortable to use. The Taipans are higher quality than other bullpups that cost more. Super trigger, quietest bullpup made, dead nuts accurate, and build quality second to none. I liked the feel of the factory stock but the laminated versions weren't offered when I bought the Mutant. I had a stockmaker make one in walnut in the factory shape because it feels perfect. Taipan has improved the wood quality on the Veterans as well as offering them in laminates.

MutantLR.1650057677.jpg

 
Upvote 0
I’ve had a Vet for around 5 years and briefly had a Matador. The only reason it was briefly was because I got tired of waiting and ordered another gun. It was a drag race and the loser got sold. The Matador lost so I sold it shortly after it arrived. After adding a Lelya to my collection and realizing how much I use both cocking handles, I started to think selling the Matador was a mistake. Having the ability to cock the gun with either hand, depending on the shooting situation is really nice. Even if it is a little more gritty than my Vet. If I ever unload my Vet, it will be replaced by a Matador. The Lelya is cute, but it can’t pull double duty as a bench gun as easily as the clubbier bullpups.
 
Upvote 0
Humdinger

thanks for the useful lefty information on the taipan. When I inquired about the magazine and cocking lever I found out the lever could be changed, but the magazine could be an issue. I will take another look at the Taipan mutant because of your information. Thanks 

TODD
Click to expand...

I don’t see how the mag would be an issue. It protrudes the same from both sides, and drops in from the top. If it was detrimental to lefties, it would the the same for righties too. 
 
Upvote 0
Great topic about two of the best rifles in my opinion. I own both as well as an Edgun Lelya which is my favorite as a truck gun and woods walker. Edgun‘s and Taipan‘s are both very rugged and there’s no concern with POI changing. Accuracy wise they are both equal but the Taipan‘s Trigger is hard to beat, I prefer a Edgun as it feels a little bit lighter to carry than the Taipan, just wish Edgun had a trigger like the veteran. 
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Resources
Menu