It arrived!
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This thing is awesome! It came with a report showing a shot string with an extreme spread so small that you would have thought somebody was using a time machine to chrony the same shot over and over again (almost all 813-815fps with 18g JSB's). It also had a six shot 35 yard group that was one hole. Not a ragged hole. You would assume only one pellet had passed through it (almost).
I know 35 yards is not much of a test and I intend to stretch it out a lot more but it's a great start for a gun that is only 22" long. It feels more like a pistol carbine than many actual PCP pistol carbines. I think the main point is that it seems unlikely that the store would send out a defective Mutant by mistake. I guess they could miss a slow leak but they couldn't complete the test with any more serious issues. That's the way it should be on a $1,000+ gun. Good!
It came with a quick disconnect adapter on the fill probe already. Nice. I had forgotten to order yet another one of those things. It also came with two 12 round mags, a single shot tray, multiple sets of O rings and some other replacement parts I haven't identified yet. The mags are a simple non-self-indexing design like the Cricket and Wildcat which is good. I hate having to pay $100 for a new mag so simple is better.
I ordered from Wild West btw. It was my first purchase from them and it was painless. I'm not sure if they do the testing or the factory but either way, I was greatful. It arrived quickly too, which I like. Order went in Monday night (so effectively Tuesday) and I was signing for it 9.15 this morning (Friday). I guess they test them in advance (or they are very efficient). I'd buy from them again I think.
I have to say that I had assumed that all the positive feedback had included a degree of exaggeration but I was wrong. I put 4 mags (48 shots) through it as soon as I zeroed the scope which took it from 225bar down to 130bar. It was fun! It's the quietest air gun I have ever used too. Every other manufacturer should copy their shroud design. It's twice as effective as the Crickets (or anything else). More like ant fart than mouse fart. My wife had no idea I was shooting in the next room along. It feels as solid as everyone says. It's very accurate, consistent and easy to shoot. It's light. In fact it's a backbacker / small game hunter's dream. The side lever can be moved over for lefties too...
I don't love the stock but I wasn't expecting to. It's doesn't look too bad on the Shorty (in person) and it rests flat on a table which makes shooting consistently easy without a rest. It's the grip I don't like. Not sure if it's my hand or a design issue but it doesn't matter. I've nearly finished carving a new stock design to make one in carbon fiber. Until it's ready, I can more than live with the one it came with. I think all stocks should be made to accept AR grips like the Impact so we can choose our own though.
I've been using it with a Clearidge RM 12oz 3-9 x 32 (taken from my Cricket) until I decide on what to buy for it. The small and lightweight clearidge works well on the tiny Shorty but, because it's so light, I feel it could work with something bigger without sacrificing it's awesome maneuverability.
My initial impressions of the Taipan Mutant are that it could well be the best PCP bullpup on the market at any price range. I definitely did not expect to be saying that. It was only meant to be a stop-gap until my Cricket was repaired.... I've had the opportunity to try a lot of different brands. Not as many as some but more than most. This one is just better. The caveat is that I only just got the thing so I could change my mind tomorrow or discover something I don't like but I don't think I will.
I'm already planning on buying the 25 cal when it's released and I never buy the same gun in different calibers normally.