#Iwi

IWI had one of the more exciting tents at Range Day, and some great products to check out as well.  Of course, fully-accessorized Tavors were on display, but as to the new offerings from IWI, it was perhaps the Galil ACE SBR that was the most high profile. Several configurations were on display, and Alex Capps put a mag downrange with the ACE, which earned his approval.

The Galil rifle has become famous as the rugged but heavy Israeli Kalashnikov (by way of Finland). Less well known is the Galil’s competitor designed by Uziel Gal, who lent his name to the famous Uzi submachinegun he also designed. The Gal rifle was a clean-sheet design, similar to the Kalashnikov in that it shamelessly borrowed what its designer thought were the best parts of existing designs. Mechanically, it is a 5.56mm or 7.62mm, five-lug rotary bolt locked, cutoff expanding gas operated rifle with a sheet steel upper receiver and a quick-detach barrel with an AR-15 style extension. It feeds from 30 round detachable box magazines of its own pattern. The gas system is taken almost directly from the M14 rifle (early pistons were in fact modified M14 pistons), and the five-lug bolt features a novel anti pre-engagement mechanism, reducing friction during feeding.

IWI US demoed a select fire version of their X95 Micro-Tavor at the Kentucky Bullpup Convention in September. I had the opportunity to put a few rounds down range and put together my first impressions…

MAC reports that the IWI Galil ACE will be offered in the USA as a pistol and rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm. It will go on sale after SHOT Show (February 2015).

The Military Arms Chanel is reporting that IWI US will begin importing a Galil Ace rifle and Galil Ace pistol into the United States starting in 2015.

This new video form IWI shows the launcher on a ACE N rifle and looks to show off their QD system for the user to be able to quickly change tactics if need be.  Check out the video the have released and the information release for the IWI GL 40 below the video.

Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) recently posted a video of them running the current version of the UZI PRO through some mud torture testing. I recognize that any promotional video can be edited down to just the parts that make the gun look good, it is nonetheless interesting to see that the gun can run in these conditions.

Earlier this year we reported that  Chile had officially announced the adoption of the IWI GALIL ACE, the 5.56×45 mm version, as the standard service rifle of the Chilean Army. Local defense manufacturer FAMAE will be manufacturing the ACE under license from IWI. Infodefensa.com reports that last week the first FAMAE produced GALIL’s were presented to General Humberto Oviedo, Chief of the Chilean Army.

IWI US announced they are now shipping state compliant TAVOR rifles to Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey.  The new rifles are model # TSB18RS.

Now those in Maryland can have a Tavor SAR as well! IWI US is now shipping the Maryland compliant SAR with a 16.5″ barrel with 3.5″ muzzle brake, which makes it 1″ over the legal OAL.

Not content to sit on their laurels and ride the success of the Tavor, IWI has collaborated again with the IDF to develop the .338 Lapua “DAN” Sniper Rifle. Incorporating the latest must-have features for a tactical precision weapon, the DAN is mounted to an fully adjustable chassis, including an uninterrupted rail on the top and bottom with customizable rail sections on each side.

When the Tavor entered the US market, Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) hoped to sell 6,000 rifles in the first year.  They’ve done that and much more:  15,000 rifles in only the first nine months.

Midwest Industries has a replacement handguard for the IWI Tavor. It has Keymod slots and an optional light mount front plate to place a 1″ light below the barrel.

The IWI Galil ACE is fast becoming the AK of choice throughout the world. The Ares Research blog posted the above photo of a Model 21, one of the short barrel carbine variants, being used by the South Sudanese Air Force. South Sudan, the newest UN-recognized country, is in the midst of a civil war and is still under a number of international arms embargoes. Ares suggests that this rifle may have been supplied by Ugandan security forces.

The Guatemala National Police have decided to purchase $3,792,907 worth of guns from IWI, Glock & Beretta. They will be buying submachine guns from IWI and 9mm pistols from the other two companies.