R5 vs Galil SAR (what are the differences?)

[Odd Job]

Greetings, everybody, I am new here on THR. My interests are gunshot wounds and forensics and occasionally 3D design.

I have a question to do with Galil derivatives. After a lot of searching I have not been able to find the answers I need. I would like to hear from owners of R4, R5, or R6 rifles about differences between those rifles and the Israeli Galils upon which they are based. Here is what I know:

1) The South African R4 is chambered in 5.56mm and has a bipod.
2) The South African R5 is as above but has no bipod and is a little shorter.
3) The South African R6 is an even shorter version of the R5.
4) All the above rifles have folding stocks and are select fire.

I fired the R4 back in 1989 but didn't have the opportunity to take pictures. I remember the bipod though because I was prone at the time. The R6 I fired in 2002, in semi-auto mode only. The R5 I fired also in 2002 on a course involving semi and full auto fire. Here is the R5 rifle I used:





I have found conflicting information about the differences between the R5 and the Galil SAR. Some sources say that the R5 has only cosmetic differences such as longer stock and slightly different grips, but others say it has enhanced/strengthened components that improve its durability.
I have some questions:

1) What are the real differences between the Galil SAR and the South African R5?
2) Are there clones of the R5 and if so, are there any differences between these and the R5 that can be seen externally?
3) Is there anybody here who has fired the Galil SAR and the R5 and can give me some feedback about perceived differences?

I have some other questions to do with the ejection of cartridge cases from the R5, but I want these out of the way first.

I was advised by a member of TFL to post this here too, because there is a gent here called Preacher who may be able to help me (maybe YOU can help too)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Odd Job]

Nobody knows ??

 

[Correia]

The isssue is that most of the posters on this board are American, and though there are some Galils here, the SA R series guns are extremely rare. I've got a Galil on the wall, but I've never seen an R4 in person.

 

[Odd Job]

Thanks Correia

 

[orangelo]

I would check the old issues of Small Arms Review. They did a writeup for the South African Galils maybe 5 or 6 months ago. They specifically listed differences from the Israeli version.

 

[AndyC]

Look for the January 2006 article in Small Arms Review. You could also check out the Galil section of uzitalk.com

I've used the R4, 5 and 6 in SA but never used an Israeli Galil personally so I can't be of any help there, unfortunately. I'm curious about the differences and similarities as well.

Edit: Just found more info at http://www.galilrifle.info

 

[Odd Job]

Thanks AndyC and Orangelo, I wil continue to search...

Edit: AndyC, what is your impression of the R5?

 

[AndyC]

It's my favourite 5.56mm rifle and I'd import an LM5 from SA in a heartbeat if I could - even called my dad who's still over there to ask him if he could find suppliers, but the BATF here seems to have restricted import of these types of rifles since last year.

Ah, well - I'm building an R1 (FN-FAL) anyway, but it would still be nice to have the LM4 since 5.56mm is so common here.

 

[Odd Job]

Ja, I know hardly anything about military rifles, but what I can say is this: I was very comfortable with that R5, even on auto. I'm sorry I didn't take more pics. You only realise that when you are in a place like the Uk where you don't have access to those guns.
Anyway I am glad I got to fire those rifles and hope to do so again one day.
I've never fired an R1, only handled it:



That rifle has a great many fans in SA, most of them ex-military although the one in the picture was being carried by a member of the Flying Squad.

 

[robmac]

OK - I am building an R5 clone. Differences from Galil according to my research:

Stock is plastic and 1 inch longer
Pistol grip shape is slighlty different
Hand guard has slightly differnet ribs on it
Sight hood is larger in diameter than Galil
As compared to standard Galil, R5 is the "SAR" version, and as such has the shorter barrel length of 332mm instead of 460mm, with the corresponding amount removed form the gas system - tube and piston
R5 has a flashider which looked like a cross between AR15 and HK
Lastly - use the proper R4 35 round plastic magazine

 

[Odd Job]

Thanks, Robmac

That's the information I have been looking for. Is there any truth in the rumours I have heard that the South African R5 is more robustly built than the Galil (is the receiver manufactured with a different process?)