Here's mine, wearing a new outfit.
Some history of the gun here: Veteran Short .20
How it ended up with the chassis/"tactical" stock on it here: Taipan - OG Veteran Tactical Stock
I bought this Veteran in Sept of 2018, exactly one year after I'd purchased my USFT. The USFT was everything that I'd hoped, but a VERY specialized field target gun, so specialized in fact, that using it for general use and/or pesting/hunting is a bit cumbersome. You see, the USFT, with a moderator fitted is loooonnnnnggggg. And I wanted something at the other extreme, as short as I could get. And I also wanted more of a general use gun. Hence the Veteran Short. Originally purchased as a .22, it morphed into a slightly longer .20, and more recently the aluminum stock was added.
When a pest needs taken care of, when I want to shoot tiny little groups, when I want to do well in a field target match, when I want a quick pdog or pest session at the family feed lot, the Vet Short can always be relied on to put em right where I want.
My oldest son claimed the .20 Vet as "his" field target gun a few summers ago so this recent change to the tactical stock had to be approved by him. We both shot the aluminum stock on the Standard .177 Vet a bit and discussed our thoughts before deciding to move it over to the sweet little .20 Vet. We both liked the "feel" and decided to make it happen.
The alum stock makes this thing a little porker. I'd guess 12-14 pounds.
26.5 inches overall length so the short and sweet factor is still alive and well.
When an airgun shoots extremely well, I really agonize over any major change to the rig. I'm almost afraid the let out the magic by making changes, so I was concerned in that regard about making the swap to the alum stock, swapping over the scope towers/barrel+air tube clamp, etc. But I shot the .20 Vet this evening with it's new clothes and THIS is a large part of why it is one of my favorite airguns. 5, 5 shot groups at 55 yards. All from a stool and shooting sticks, "hunter class" field target style. These are the results.....
Average group size of 0.557", or 0.97MOA. Not many airguns will shoot like that, especially from that position. And the wildest part is that I felt myself pulling those shots that aren't 10xs! This gun+barrel is very likely capeable of 3/8 inch groups @ 55 yards, if the trigger puller was capable of such.
Just an overall sweet gun, holds a special place for me. I paid $1250 from R&L Airguns in Pueblo, CO 6 years ago. And I've gotten every penny's worth of that amount in enjoyment out of this gun. And most of that is the reliable nature of the thing. Love it.
Some history of the gun here: Veteran Short .20
How it ended up with the chassis/"tactical" stock on it here: Taipan - OG Veteran Tactical Stock
I bought this Veteran in Sept of 2018, exactly one year after I'd purchased my USFT. The USFT was everything that I'd hoped, but a VERY specialized field target gun, so specialized in fact, that using it for general use and/or pesting/hunting is a bit cumbersome. You see, the USFT, with a moderator fitted is loooonnnnnggggg. And I wanted something at the other extreme, as short as I could get. And I also wanted more of a general use gun. Hence the Veteran Short. Originally purchased as a .22, it morphed into a slightly longer .20, and more recently the aluminum stock was added.
When a pest needs taken care of, when I want to shoot tiny little groups, when I want to do well in a field target match, when I want a quick pdog or pest session at the family feed lot, the Vet Short can always be relied on to put em right where I want.
My oldest son claimed the .20 Vet as "his" field target gun a few summers ago so this recent change to the tactical stock had to be approved by him. We both shot the aluminum stock on the Standard .177 Vet a bit and discussed our thoughts before deciding to move it over to the sweet little .20 Vet. We both liked the "feel" and decided to make it happen.
The alum stock makes this thing a little porker. I'd guess 12-14 pounds.
26.5 inches overall length so the short and sweet factor is still alive and well.
When an airgun shoots extremely well, I really agonize over any major change to the rig. I'm almost afraid the let out the magic by making changes, so I was concerned in that regard about making the swap to the alum stock, swapping over the scope towers/barrel+air tube clamp, etc. But I shot the .20 Vet this evening with it's new clothes and THIS is a large part of why it is one of my favorite airguns. 5, 5 shot groups at 55 yards. All from a stool and shooting sticks, "hunter class" field target style. These are the results.....
Average group size of 0.557", or 0.97MOA. Not many airguns will shoot like that, especially from that position. And the wildest part is that I felt myself pulling those shots that aren't 10xs! This gun+barrel is very likely capeable of 3/8 inch groups @ 55 yards, if the trigger puller was capable of such.
Just an overall sweet gun, holds a special place for me. I paid $1250 from R&L Airguns in Pueblo, CO 6 years ago. And I've gotten every penny's worth of that amount in enjoyment out of this gun. And most of that is the reliable nature of the thing. Love it.
Esp in the off season when I stare outside....at the rain and sleet. But who can argue against reliability, power, and accuracy. I need my guns to check at least 3 of the 4 boxes or they gone. I have a slavia 630 (15 years old at least) springer that needs a shot in the ARM...so weak! But accurate, lovely (if not a bit simple) and reliable! Oh and that scope is horrible yes I'm waiting for a nice airmax 2x7 to come in stock. Like my air arms I haven't had em long enough to be 'old reliable' yet but maybe your ghost will share the mantle someday 
.
