Galil

[shattered00]

Are there semi-auto versions of the Galil for sale in America?

If so, how much do they run?

Also, does it have any advantages/disadvantages over the AK-47?

 

[thereisnospoon]

Expensive

There is a gentleman here in ALabama that does the gun show circut, he has 3-5 Galil's at a time and they are all priced in the $1500-2000.00 range. They are very nice, but far to expensive for me....

 

[Number 6]

Try Ohio Rapid Fire.

http://rapidfire.targetweb.net/cgi-...148775.1295*OA05M5&p_id=01944&xm=on&ppinc=big

 

[KaceCoyote]

The galil is lighter, has a better stock(good folder), better sights, an ambi charging handle and a bigger magazine. it also has a bipod with a built in wire cutter and a bottle opener fitted in the buttstock!

 

[shattered00]

Are all Galils .223?

 

[KaceCoyote]

.223 and .308, I -believe- the .308 used either M14 or FAL mags but I could be totally wrong there.

 

[shattered00]

Since some of teh galils use .223, is it feasible to compare them to the m4?

If so, how does it stack up against the m4 (irrespective of price)?

 

[BozemanMT]

Try Ohio Rapid Fire.

http://rapidfire.targetweb.net/cgi-...148775.1295*OA05M5&p_id=01944&xm=on&ppinc=big

that's cool as heck
Anyone got one?
report?
decent?
can you get more mags?

Always wanted a Galil, always.

 

[KaceCoyote]

Since some of teh galils use .223, is it feasible to compare them to the m4?

If so, how does it stack up against the m4 (irrespective of price)?

The M4 beats it with weight, modularity, ease of mag changes and with work..accuracy.

The Galil is MUCH much much stronger, is AK reliable, is more versatile, can (depending on variant) take the AK style scope rails which you can takeoff and remove in seconds without loss of zero.

What matters more, .5moa difference at a hundred yards or nearly unstopable reliability.

My money goes to the Galil.

 

[KaceCoyote]

that's cool as heck
Anyone got one?
report?
decent?
can you get more mags?

Always wanted a Galil, always.

I want one, dont have one. Wanna kidney?


Mags are everwhere, the original 35rnd mags aint rare and usually go for about 11-35 depending on issues/unissued ect ect.

 

[Oldtimer]

Several years ago, the Israeli's supposedly put most of their military Galil's in storage. I've heard two stories, both from reliable sources, as to why:

#1: The design of both Galil rifles (.223 and .308) had only short-term success before several design flaws were noted. The major design flaw was with the receivers, which began showing fissure cracks after being fired in full-auto and rapid-fire semi-auto modes.

#2: The Israeli's merely put them into storage for future deployments, and relied upon the USA for the cheaper M-16/M-4 rifles....that were supplied to them at a discount.

Personally, I think that both are somewhat credible, but I've never been able to verify what the actual truth is. I tend to believe #1 a bit more, since there hasn't been any word on up-graded versions of either rifle. Add to that, the Israeli's have come up with several pre-production designs of military rifles SINCE the Galil design.

HMM! Oy Vay! Such a deal! All I know is that the Galil rifles that are currently available are SUPER-EXPENSIVE, and have been discontinued from being manufactured!

 

[hartzpad]

Several years ago, the Israeli's supposedly put most of their military Galil's in storage. I've heard two stories, both from reliable sources, as to why:

#1: The design of both Galil rifles (.223 and .308) had only short-term success before several design flaws were noted. The major design flaw was with the receivers, which began showing fissure cracks after being fired in full-auto and rapid-fire semi-auto modes.

#2: The Israeli's merely put them into storage for future deployments, and relied upon the USA for the cheaper M-16/M-4 rifles....that were supplied to them at a discount.

Personally, I think that both are somewhat credible, but I've never been able to verify what the actual truth is. I tend to believe #1 a bit more, since there hasn't been any word on up-graded versions of either rifle. Add to that, the Israeli's have come up with several pre-production designs of military rifles SINCE the Galil design.

HMM! Oy Vay! Such a deal! All I know is that the Galil rifles that are currently available are SUPER-EXPENSIVE, and have been discontinued from being manufactured!

Rumors could very well be true, I can't remember the last time I saw a new photo in Israel where a soldier was carrying a Galil and not an M-16 or M-4. Seems that every Israeli soldier in photos is carrying an M-16 or M-4.

 

[zragon13]

Today front line combat troops are only familiar with M16s and Galils are usually only issued to "jobniks" (REMFs?).

I doubt that they're holding Galils in storage for future reissue because all the infantry has been equipped and training only with the M16s since the early 90s. I think that the Galil production line and machinery was sold off to some Eastern European country (Hungary?)

When I was doing my regular army service 85-88, the Galil was very well respected among the infantry and the M16 looked down upon as a flimsy "broom" for jobniks. When our reserve unit switched to M16s in 1994, the people who had experience with both were generally dissapointed. Granted the M16 is light, and over the years I have learned to appreciate its excellent ergonomics -- but it's not as reliable in the dirt. And the mags are so flimsy - Israelis believe that they are one-time throwaways in the rich US army.

I think the real reasons the IDF switched rifles are:
1) Infatuation with lightness and accuracy rather than reliability due to the current focus on low-intensity conflicts with minimal civillian casualties.
2) Hard to justify spending the taxpayer's shekels on a better infantry rifle and parts when Uncle Sam provides you with all the black plastic rifles and parts you could dream of for about $1/lb

The only real minus with the Galil is it's weight due to the milled receiver (vs a riveted stamped receiver like on the AKM which weighs about a kilo less). But I guess that's the price you pay for AK-level durability.

 

[Gunrunner]

I have a Galil ARM in 308. Like others have said, it's on the heavy side, but for a 308 that's ok with me. Reliable is it's middle name. The folding stock is the best I've seen or used. This rifle came with two 25 round mags. (An M14 magazine will not work.) Accuracy has been ok, but nothing to brag about. About five years ago I came across a Galil scope mount, but it's been sitting in the box with the rifle. Maybe one of these days I'll get it out and see if I can do better than with the iron sights.

 

[zragon13]

#1: The design of both Galil rifles (.223 and .308) had only short-term success before several design flaws were noted. The major design flaw was with the receivers, which began showing fissure cracks after being fired in full-auto and rapid-fire semi-auto modes.

They IDF only issued 5.56 versions of the Galils. These served quite successfully as the front-line Infantry rifle from about 76 to 93. Like I wrote before, they were officially replaced by the M16 due to its superior weight and accuracy (and unofficially, an unbeatable price ). I never heard of any problems with the receivers cracking and we shot a LOT of rapid semi-auto fire (full auto usage was infrequent - used only for clearing rooms/trenches).

7.62NATO/308 versions were produced only for export. Maybe the report of fissure cracks, if true, refer to these models. However, I doubt the probability of heavy full auto 7.62 usage with a Galil.

 

[atblis]

The Folding stock

is probably one of the best features of the Galil. It has one of the best folding stocks out there.

They are very neat rifles but aren't worth anywhere near what they are priced at (Notice I didn't say sell. I've never seen/known anybody to buy one).

 

[Gunrunner]

Zragon13 has pretty much summed up a lot of good info on the Galil. And Atblis, you're right about the rediculous prices these things are being sold at. I don't know anyone who's bought one recently either. I got mine in '89.

For what it's worth to the curious, the Galil AR has a plastic forend but no bipod, while the ARM has a wood forend and bipod, along with a carry handle. I took the handle off mine soon after buying it. It didn't balance the rifle correctly and seemed to be in the way while shooting. Easy enough to put back on if I ever want to.

The ARM in 308 was originally made with a 20" barrel, then in the mid 1980's I believe, was changed to 18 1/2". Mine is the shorter barrel.

I haven't seen any cracks in the receiver and doubt I ever will. It ain't full auto.

Edit to add: the rifle on top is Galil ARM 308; bottom is AR-15 Carbine.

 

[KaceCoyote]

the story I always heard was as follows.


The AR-15 has modular top ends, but replacing the barrel on an AK rifle is often more expensive then the rifle itself in man hours So. Rather than shoot out their barrels and wear down the rifles, they put them in the closet for the return of full-scale conflict and took the M4 and friends due to its low cost of repair.

 

[zragon13]

Gunrunner,
Nice lookin guns. All my guns were borrowed

None of the Galils in my time had the carry handle anymore either-only a few even had the original notched hand guard and bracket with loops to accept it. I think a carry handle was originally specified only because the IDF had previously used the FAL and it had one so…..

Some units also took off the bipods which added front weight (0.3 kg?) to the already hefty rifle but mine made us keep them on. We usually only fired with the bipods open when zeroing the weapon. Also, the bipods had an annoying habit of opening unintentionally (the fix was to cram a cigarette butt between the spring for extra tension). Many soldiers also “traded” smooth black plastic hand guards with the tank troops who were issued the short Galil, the Glilon. But the “coolest” was to put on an AK hand guard (like, I took it off the guerilla I just wasted). Once in Lebanon, a guy in my platoon tricked a local South Lebanese Army guy to trade hand guards. Unfortunately for the Lebanese guy, the Galil hand guard is too high for the AK and doesn't allow for the upper AK hanguard half with the gas tube to be installed. He was just figuring this out as our APC speed away….

I was always curious about shooting the 7.62 Galil. The only 7.62 weapon I’ve ever fired is the MAG58 machine gun (the "new" US M240), which of course is much heavier. Have you ever fired a 5.56 Galil? How is the 7.62 Galil's recoil like compared to the AR15?

KaceCoyote,
I recently read in an Israeli forum that the IDF has decided to issue only short-barreled M16s to all the combat troops. To do this they are converting long M16A1s by cutting down the 1/12 barrels and switching parts. Each job is reported to cost about $250. This “sawed off” version is a little shorter than the standard CAR-15 with 14.5 barrel but is considered accurate enough for its purpose. The regular infantry already have mostly new/converted 1/7 M4s. But now everyone will be getting one. That is, except me, cause I’m a designated marksman in the reserves so I get a full length M16A2E3, not even a flat-top!