“With the new return spring, the action flies shut”
THE Australian gun-making industry is booming today and Southern Cross Small Arms is one of the new, fast-growing players in the market. Last year SCSA introduced its Taipan Lite which has now been superseded by the Taipan X you see here, a .223-calibre rifle that is both pump-action and straight-pull.
The Taipan is unlike anything on gun-shop racks in this country and has been a sell-out success. Initially, SCSA made 400-500 Taipans a month but demand has increased, even from overseas, and so output will double later this year.
The design and specification of the Taipan X are a response to feedback on the original model, which was purely a pump-action. SCSA has added a spring return to close the action and the functionality of a straight-pull action, as well as a few detail changes. The changes elevate an already great rifle to another level.
The return spring makes it quicker and smoother to cycle the action, so the process of repeat-shooting the Taipan X is a more natural, flowing process. To my mind, it’s the single biggest improvement, primarily because it helps you maintain a sight
