Opinions wanted on IMI Uzi

[leadcounsel]

Considering pulling the trigger on the new IMI Uzi that are floating around in the $600 range.

"The new UZI UC9 semi auto 9mm is produced with original Israeli IMI parts and U.S. receiver. Features a straight blowback, closed bolt action with a muzzle velocity of 1200fps, 100 and 200 meter setting, 16” barrel, grip safety and weighs 9lbs. Comes with 2 TOTAL 32 round magazines.

Based upon the combat-proven and well-respected Israeli sub-machine gun design developed by Uziel Gal in the 1950s, these guns have new American-made receivers and Israeli IMI parts.

919mm Centurion UC-9 Carbine
Semi-auto
Folding steel stock
Straight blowback operation
Closed bolt carbine
Feeds from an all-steel, double column mag
Includes (1) 32rd magazines
Barrel: 16"
Overall Length: 31.5"
Weight: 9 lb.
"

Anyone have any opinions, either first or second hand on these guns? Thanks.

 

[Edarnold]

A weight of 9 lbs. made sense for the full-auto UZI, for stability and sturdiness in bashing doors down with the (wood) butt.
For a semi-auto carbine in 9x19, I think lugging it around would get old pretty quickly.

 

[briansmithwins]

Isn't the Centurion made by CAI?

Shoot it first, then buy if that's the case. CAI had the demonstrated ability to turn very reliable designs (AK, Galil) into jammomatic POSes.

BSW

 

[GCMkc]

My buddy dropped off an original IMI Uzi a few weeks ago for me to clean. It is an awesome looking gun, but the thing is heavy and the grips on them are horrid. The grip is big and blocky and doesn't fit your hand that well. You really have to squeeze good on the grip to get the grip safety to disengage. Although, parts are plentiful and 9mm ammunition is cheap. If you haven't held one before, I suggest you try that first and shoot it if you can.

 

[jobu07]

Every collection deserves an Uzi. I've heard food things about the Century kit guns. But an original IMI Uzi it is not.

The Century one I've played with was accurate and well built. Nothing wrong with them at all.

 

[nwilliams]

They are big, heavy and not terribly ergonomic but that said I like Uzi's!

I don't know anything about the Century built Uzi's but my original IMI's have both been 100% reliable and they are tons of fun to shoot.

My IMI chambered in .45ACP and my IMI Chambered in 9mm (dummy barrels installed). I'm still planning to SBR both of them but haven't gotten around to filing the paperwork yet.

 

[7.62 Nato]

Nice !

 

[Sobel]

Nwilliams they are beautiful. Something cool about uzis. I remember as a kid going to the laundry mat and seeing one of those old arcade games where you shot at the screen. Had an uzi and I fell in love.

 

[leadcounsel]

Okay, SOMEBODY must own one of the UC9 made by Century...

 

[adelbridge]

if it is built on a new US made receiver it isnt technically an IMI. careful with the CAI stuff, they have a lot of issues. It wont hold any collector value as compared to Israeli guns. Check out vector arms if you want a knock off

 

[wally]

I'm still planning to SBR both of them but haven't gotten around to filing the paperwork yet.

Do it! just did mine and should have done it years ago. That 16" barrel just isn't right, so it'd become a safe queen.

I cut the 16" down to 8.5 and threaded it for my Osprey 45 suppressor. Haven't tried it suppressed yet, just wanted to verify accuracy and function with the cut down barrel. Also cut down the 16" barrel shroud I had so it acts like a thread protector. I was a bit surprised that the groups were significantly smaller with the cut down barrel than my after-market (Bushmaster?) 10" barrel.

I'm thinking of getting a Gemtech Multimount and Uzi adapter 9mm can.

Okay, SOMEBODY must own one of the UC9 made by Century...

jobu07 said: "The Century one I've played with was accurate and well built. Nothing wrong with them at all."

The Uzi is like an AK, pretty hard to mess up, but Century can do it My standing advice on Century guns is to look them over carefully in person before buying, IMHO the best way to be unhappy with them is to buy sight unseen on-line based on price only. I generally look at four or five Century guns before I find the one I eventually bring home and I've always been satisfied.

 

[briansmithwins]

Only buy CAI after you've shot it or from a place with a really good, No BS guarentee.

AKs that the commies turned out by the millions, made by lackadaisical workers who only had to fill a quota, are way better than CAI's typical product.

BSW

 

[Girodin]

I'm pretty cool on semi auto versions of SMGs to begin with. Add to that a 16" barrel and they have even less appeal. A semi auto 9x19 that weighs as much as an FAL seems a little silly.

That said the Uzi is just kind of a cool gun and has a certain gee wiz factor. However, unless I were planing to SBR it I think I would pass. Unless it is an SBR these semi versions don't have the one thing that they might, visceral appeal. I'm saving my pennies for full auto mac. Its not that much more than an SBR Uzi.

 

[leadcounsel]

Okay, so I've found a reasonably priced ($700) used one, Vector made, Hebrew marked IMI with folding stock.

Thoughts...?

I've heard/read that Vector is the way to go...

 

[SilentStalker]

I do not have one so I do not really have much to add to the conversation but I can tell you I want one. I have had my eye on one for quite some time. Then again, I also have my eye on a MAC and a Italian-made Spectre M4. I would really like to have all of them but you know how that goes.

 

[splithoof]

If you were to shorten an original IMI barrel from the 16" carbine length, would you attempt to find a factory replacement and actually shorten that one? I would think the ability to revert back to the original configuration would be wise from a collector standpoint.

 

[briansmithwins]

The way I SBRed mine was to take original subgun barrels and have them turned down to fit the semi trunnion and restrictor ring. No change to the receiver on mine.

BSW

 

[splithoof]

Interesting. I remember that IMI also offered carbines in .41AE, a caliber that did not last long. I would imagine that a carbine with several caliber conversion units (9mm, .41AE, .45), magazines, and all factory accessories would be worth a few bucks. I also remember a factory printed insert that showed a thirty round .45 snail drum, but I have never actually seen one.

 

[mortablunt]

Go for it and then SBR it. You will not regret it.