The Taipan Slash has a very neat trick, and that trick is that you can empty its magazine extremely quickly. This airgun’s rapid-fire capabilities are down to its self-indexing firing system, which requires no lever or bolt action to cock the action and cycle the magazine.
There is much more to the Taipan Slash than fast shooting though – it is a very well made and extremely accurate bullpup airgun in its own right. Distributed in the UK by Range Right, there are Standard and Tactical models available. The standard version featured here retails for a cool £2,350.
Plenty of people will say that is a lot of money to pay for an airgun, and they would be right. But I can’t imagine it would be possible to make the Taipan Slash for any less - it is a precise, fast-shooting Czech-made airgun built to incredibly high standards. You don’t have to have a gun like this to enjoy your airgun shooting, but that doesn’t mean that manufacturers shouldn’t push the boundaries with premium products for people who want them and can afford them.
As you can see, the standard model still has a tactical look to it. Its forend rail incorporates M-LOK slots for accessory attachment and its pistol grip is of the AR-15 type. You can swap the grip out but I think the one that comes fitted is perfectly good. It is comfortably contoured, has some very grippy stippling and – most importantly – sets you up extremely well for the trigger.
Moving back, the removable cheek support is quite basic but it does the job. There is no adjustment in it but I had good eye-scope alignment when using medium mounts (scope mounting is via a Picatinny rail which has about 160mm of clamping space and has 20 MOA built in). The butt pad is also quite basic but, again, it does what it needs to do. It feels comfortable in the shoulder, which is the main thing.
Below top: The Picatinny rail on the Taipan Slash has 20 MOA built in
Below bottom: Although quite basic, the butt pad and cheek support serve their purpose well
One thing I have really noticed with Taipan airguns is that their build quality is as good as anything you will see from any other premium airgun manufacturer, and significantly better than some. They are very solidly constructed and also very well engineered. The Slash maintains those very high standards – everything looks clean and tidy and its black anodised finish looks flawless and really suits its overall styling.
The Taipan Slash featured here is the 420mm barrel version – there is also a 550mm option. Overall length of the shorter option is just under 810mm and it weighs about 3kg with the magazine in situ. That barrel is made by CZ (a brand with a reputation for precision shooting) and sits inside a really chunky shroud/moderator. It is pretty effective when it comes to suppressing muzzle report, but I’m told there is a half-inch UNF adaptor in the pipeline which may well be available by the time you see this review.
The Taipan Slash is equipped with a very nice trigger. The blade has a gentle sweep to it and a wide flat face which transmits plenty of feel to the pad of your finger. As always, I tested the two-stage release on its factory setting, and it felt spot on. Although not particularly long, the first stage travel doesn’t feel short and it comes to an unmissable stop. Push on through and it breaks very crisply with no creep. As mechanical bullpup triggers go, this one is up there with the best of them.
Below top: The Slash's CZ barrel sits inside a capacious shroud which keeps muzzle report quiet
Below bottom: A well-designed trigger blade and crisp two-stage mechanism make for intuitive trigger release
The Slash has some very thorough safety features, which are important as its self-indexing system means there is potential for it to be always ready to fire. Firstly, it can’t be fired if the magazine retainer pin isn’t in place. Secondly, this airgun has a de-cocking lever, and it’s a great feature which prevents the gun from being left cocked. Pull the lever back with the mag retainer in situ and the safety catch off, pull the trigger and slowly return the lever to its usual position and the gun is de-cocked. The safety catch is positioned just in front of the trigger blade. I would prefer it away from the trigger but there is no denying that it’s easy to access where it is. You push it forward into the safe position and nudge it back when you’re ready to start shooting.
Calibre options for the Taipan Slash are .177, .22, .25 and .30. The gun comes supplied with two magazines. Both magazines are the same in .177 but in .22 upwards, one is specifically for pellets and one is dedicated to slug ammunition – the slug magazine has a little dot on it. At about 16mm deep, it is a magazine that really shouldn’t struggle with longer slugs.
To remove the magazine, push the retainer forward and it pulls straight out from the side. I was sent a .177 calibre test gun, and its all-metal drum magazine holds 12 pellets or slugs. The magazine is very easy to load; you just push a pellet into each bay from the side with the cog and, when it’s full, push them down with the supplied tool to make sure they are properly seated. Slot the mag back in, return the retainer and you’re ready to go.
Below: The Taipan Slash has deep magazines to accommodate long airguns slugs and is supplied with an ammo seating tool
The real standout feature of the Taipan Slash is its self-indexing firing cycle, which delivers some very quick shooting. For optimum accuracy, I would suggest that you don’t push it too mad on the speed though – because the plenum needs a moment to refill to full pressure in order to ensure consistent muzzle velocity. Even being sensible with it, it is still very quick – it’s great fun to shoot and means you’ve always got rapid follow-up shots at the ready. The Taipan Slash is not a complicated airgun to set up and use, but there are some brilliant instruction videos on the Taipan Airguns YouTube channel if you do hit any snags.
In terms of accuracy, the Slash has the potential to hold its own against pretty much any airgun I’ve used. CZ barrels are famed for their accuracy and, combined with very consistent power output and a good trigger, you’ve got a winning formula. From the support of the bench, I was getting tiny single-hole groups at 30m. The Slash was still single-holing at 40m and I was annihilating steel targets at 50m.
Below: The Taipan Slash delivers accuracy to match its quick-fire shooting
High power models of the Taipan Slash are capable of massive power output. I was sent a sub-12ft/lb model for this test, and it was producing a muzzle energy of around 11.5ft/lb. Given a moment to stabilise after each shot, the regulator delivers brilliant consistency and muzzle velocity variation remained within 5fps over a ten-shot string during my testing.
The Slash is a bottle gun with a 300cc carbon fibre bottle at the butt end. Pressure in that bottle is displayed on a gauge by the neck of the bottle. Maximum fill pressure is 300 bar and, although I didn’t have that much in the tank I was filling from, I reckon a full charge will give you well over 150 shots – and probably significantly more – from a sub-12ft/lb model. Refilling is by means of a supplied quickfill probe which slots into the inlet next to where the bottle meets the butt.
The Taipan Slash is supplied with a bundle of handy accessories. I’ve mentioned the filling probe, the two magazines and the pellet seating tool. You also get some spare O-rings and a tool for adjusting regulator pressure on high-power models. There is also a spare gauge, which initially had me wondering. It turns out that it screws into where the brass screw sits beneath the removable cheek support – via a supplied connector – and is for checking regulator pressure when making adjustments.
Below top: Pressure within the 300cc carbon bottle is shown on a gauge on the inside of the butt
Below bottom: Accessories supplied with the Taipan Slash include a gauge to monitor regulator pressure on high-power models
I have had a brilliant time testing the Taipan Slash, and my only regret is that I have to give it back. I did initially have reservations about the sort of refinement to be expected from a fast-fire airgun, but it turned out to be an excellent performer. It’s not a complicated airgun to set up and use, but there are some brilliant instructional videos on the Taipan Airguns YouTube channel if you do hit any snags.
This is an exceptional airgun – it is compact, tough, very accurate and capable of extremely fast shooting. Sure, it isn’t cheap, but it is a top-end Czech-made airgun and hardware of this quality comes at a cost. I have no doubt that shooters who can afford one and decide to take the plunge will consider it to be money very well spent.
MAKER: Taipan Airguns
MODEL: Slash (standard)
UK DISTRIBUTOR: Range Right
RRP: £2,350 (for model featured)
TYPE: Fast-fire self-indexing bullpup
LENGTH: 810mm (32in) in 420mm barrel option
WEIGHT: 3kg (6.6lb)
BARREL LENGTH: 420mm (16.5in) featured, and 550mm (21.5in)
MAX FILL PRESSURE: 300 bar
Article first published 28th November 2025
