Whatever happened to the Uzi?

[kimbershot]

eyes of the beholder

had a bunch or ar's--sold em for $$$$. had a semi tommy gun--cool but heavy and awkward--like shooting a 2x4 and thought about making it a sbr (who has 20k for f/a?). anyway--bought a vector semi 45 with grease gun lower as well as a uzi lower that i converted to s/a. additionally, i reload my own stuff at about .04c a round. also have 22 conversion unit that works. then installed a burris fastfire 3 co witness and i blast away very respectively at 50+ yards--don't need to shoot football field distance targets.

my uzi is old style, semi auto, heavy and fugly and worth 2x more than i paid for it. it also works everytime i pull the trigger. i am waiting on my sbr tax stamp and i bet i shoot it a lot more than all the folks who own the "other" semi auto black rifles.

 

[Certaindeaf]

i bet i shoot it a lot more than all the folks who own the "other" semi auto black rifles.

You mean machine pistol. The "other" (MP-5) is generally not owned but essentially shot by government worker types.

 

[OldTex]

I bought an IMI Uzi in 1981, the folding stock variety. It was actually pretty accurate out to 75 yds or so. I traded it straight up for an M1A with lots of accessories. The big gun cost twice what I paid for the Uzi so I felt like a bandit on that deal....until they banned the import of the Uzi and the prices shot up.

I recently got the 45 ACP version that Vector makes. Again a pretty accurate little shooter, with more kick than you'd expect. It looks like everything but the stamped and milled receiver is original IMI; the fire selector is marked in Hebrew.

 

[kimbershot]

thank you certaindeaf. i know what i wrote and i know what i mean. i don't have a machine pistol, i said black rifles. ah, your probably just wet.

 

[1 old 0311-1]

The Israeli army used them. The Secret Service used them. They were the IN gun for a bit. Then again so was the MAC10, and MAC11 the IN gun for a bit.

 

[somerandomguy]

Alot of the Uzi hype was due to movies and media. The MP5 is the new cool.

 

[Grassman]

I remember back in the late 80's to mid 90's every crime was committed with "Uzi's", according to the media. Kinda of the pre cursor to the fabled "assault weapon" we hear so much about today by our brilliant media.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I think they ran outa rocks.

 

[russ69]

Yep. The MP-5 happened to the Uzi.

Exactly.

 

[Sam1911]

The MP5 is the new cool.

The MP5 WAS the new cool, back in about 1990! These days you don't even see them anymore. M4 is the current cool, and the AK variants split time with the M4 as the "gun violence" icon on the news.

 

[somerandomguy]

The MP5 WAS the new cool, back in about 1990! These days you don't even see them anymore. M4 is the current cool, and the AK variants split time with the M4 as the "gun violence" icon on the news.

Those derned assault rifles...

 

[TIMC]

I have one of the IMI semi-auto Uzi's; fun gun to play with and quite accurate even at 100 yards. I also have the .45 acp conversion kit for mine which is cool also. I have 3 different top covers set up in different configurations, plain for open sights, one with a Burris fast fire and one with a 4x scope.
The gun is heavy and I really only think of it as a range toy but I like it none the less.

 

[rtz]

UZI, MAC-10, TEC-9. The favorite movie guns of the day. Maybe because AR's/AK's weren't as plentiful, available, or as low cost back then?

Were AK's a common item at the gun stores? Cheap?

Were there other choices besides a Colt or Bushmaster AR back then?

 

[Lex Luthier]

Shot about 96 rounds of 9mm through mine this morning. Despite what seems to be a general dislike of them, I love mine. It ALWAYS gets a little attention at the range. Semi-auto is good enough for the coolness factor. Bought brand new in the box.

Accurate, short enough with the 16" barrel, 9mm cheap enough, looks good on a sling. It will remain in the permanent collection.

 

[mac66]

I built a semi auto UZI during the AWB from mostly parts bought on Ebay. I still have enough parts to build another, just need a lower receiver.

They are over engineered for a 9mm particularly in semi auto. They are however pretty fun to shoot and mine is pretty accurate out to 100 yards or so depending on ammo used. I put a wood stock on mine to get around the folding stock ban in my state.

The UZI is an iconic firearm design. I don't think I will ever get rid of mine.

Shown with a 1911 Carbine Conversion Unit

 

[JFrame]

I'm sure a lot of the mystique of the Uzi grew around the phenomenal performance of the Israeli military at Entebbe and during the Six-Day War, etc. Of course, a lot of the Israeli success could be attributed to the equally phenomenal ineptitude of the Ugandan, U.A.R. (Egyptian), and Syrian troops -- but we likewise cannot dismiss the preparedness, training, and smarts of the Israelis. And, of course, armored and air performance accounted for much of the lop-sided results in the Six-Day War -- but the Uzi held its own in close-quarter bunker shootouts against the Arabs, and contributed heavily to its appeal and aura of efficiency.


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[W L Johnson]

Uzis only make sense full auto. Otherwise, why have one?

This
Otherwise they're heavy, clumsy, with lousy ergos. For semi-auto fire there are many carbines on the market for the same money, or less, that are much more comfortable to shoot. All IMHO.

 

[Capybara]

While not the most practical pistol caliber carbine, I love mine, have wanted one since I was a kid. Built like a tank, dead simple to take down and assemble, very reliable, heavy as an anvil, no recoil, great for beginners to shoot.

Not for everyone but I love mine.

 

[justice06rr]

I agree the Uzi attraction just faded over time and was replaced by prettier and more effective guns. Their price might've been an issue too. I think last time I saw a semi-auto Uzi at the lgs was around $1500+. I know they do sell the cheaper version/copies but they are probably impossible to find now.

 

[donkee]

I have a riot with my Vector UZI. It is Michigan legal with the anteater barrel and all.

It is heavy but the reward is no recoil. Using it in PCC matches years ago I did very well. No accuracy issues and the extra long barrel makes 1400 or so FPS with my handloads.

That UZI is one that will remain in the collection till my kids inherit it.

 

[mac66]

The secret service guy with the UZI during the Reagan assassination attempt became an iconic figure as well as the use by the Israelis.

 

[19-3Ben]

I think that if the Uzi had the shoulder thing that goes up, it would have maintained more popularity.

 

[JFrame]

While not the most practical pistol caliber carbine, I love mine, have wanted one since I was a kid. Built like a tank, dead simple to take down and assemble, very reliable, heavy as an anvil, no recoil, great for beginners to shoot.

Not for everyone but I love mine.

I have to say -- the Uzi really takes on a whole new personality with a wood stock and a suppressor...I LIKE it!


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[Capybara]

Thanks JFrame, me also. Keep in mind that I live in California where "real" IMI Uzis were banned by name so this is a Vector. Suppressors are prohibited here as well, this is a Title II Arms fake suppressor, I simply like the look better than with the stupid 16" pencil barrel.

It is a great little gun, I got it for $725.00 on sale last year. I agree too, it doesn't look like a regular Uzi. The wooden stock was what Uziel Gal originally had on his in the early days and I like it much better than the uncomfortable folding stock. I am a big fan of wooden rifles over my plastic ARs anyway so it works for me.

 

[JFrame]

Thanks JFrame, me also. Keep in mind that I live in California where "real" IMI Uzis were banned by name so this is a Vector. Suppressors are prohibited here as well, this is a Title II Arms fake suppressor, I simply like the look better than with the stupid 16" pencil barrel.

It is a great little gun, I got it for $725.00 on sale last year. I agree too, it doesn't look like a regular Uzi. The wooden stock was what Uziel Gal originally had on his in the early days and I like it much better than the uncomfortable folding stock. I am a big fan of wooden rifles over my plastic ARs anyway so it works for me.

Hey Man -- nothing wrong with a cool-looking gun, "fake" or otherwise (and it's hard to think of any firearm that sends serious rounds down-range as any kind of "fake").

Your Uzi would be as prized a piece in my collection as it is yours.


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