Australian firearms manufacturer Southern Cross Small Arms (SCSA) has released its latest firearm, the Taipan X rifle, featuring a spring-assisted combination of pump-action and straight-pull reloading.
The design, chambered for .223 Remington but also capable of firing 5.56x45mm ammo, is an evolution of SCSA’s original pump-action Taipan Light, and it remains Category B compliant.
The innovative new design allows the rifle to be used as a pump-action when shooting off hand, such as in the field while hunting, or a straight-pull when being fired on a rest or bipod, such as at a shooting range or in a static hunting setup.
A number of other design improvements have been made, including upgrades to the hammer, trigger and bolt carrier, as well as a redesigned bolt-cam slot and a replaceable case deflector.
The spring-assist element in particular is likely to be a big appeal to many shooters, greatly reducing fatigue in the field – especially if there’s plenty of game or pests for them to be shooting.
The Taipan X retains its predecessor’s 42cm (16.5”), 1:8 twist, stainless-steel barrel with threaded muzzle, along with the skeleton buttstock, and it feeds from the same detachable 10-round magazines.
Sporting Shooter’s editor Mick Matheson put the Taipan Light through its paces earlier this year and was impressed with its accuracy, handling and performance, describing it as an “exceptional pest-control weapon”.
Distributor OSA is pitching the Taipan X as “the ultimate hunting and extended range rifle” – a claim we look forward to putting to the test when we review the rifle soon.
The SCSA Taipan X rifle is is available for order now through most gunshops, at a recommended retail of $1899.
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