IWI TAVOR
INTRODUCTION The name Israeli Military Industries (IMI) has become synonymous with high-quality, combat-effective firearms. The 9mm UZI submachine gun was developed by IMI over 50 years ago, and became one of the most famous submachine guns in the world. The IMI Galil, introduced in the late 1960s, was basically a modified AK-type rifle. The Galil incorporates the AK s reliable gas-piston operating system with more modern features, including improved iron sights and an upwardangled charging handle for ambidextrous operation. IMI also played a role in the design and manufacture of the iconic Desert Eagle pistol. In 2005, in order to export civilian-legal versions of its popular military arms, the Israeli government decided to privatize the small-arms branch of IMI as Israeli Weapon Industries Ltd (IWI). The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and IWI established a research and development partnership to keep Israel s military on the cutting edge of firearms technology. In 2013, the first IWI Tavor rifles began to arrive in the U.S. The Tavor s development began in 1993, with Mr. Zalman Shebs leading the project. Their mission was to create a modern rifle capable of adapting to the constantly evolving conditions of the modern battlefield. The Israeli Defense Forces joined the development project in 1995, and the design began initial military testing in 1997. In 2000, the IDF sent the rifle to the Noncommissioned Officers infantry school to undergo extensive field testing. By 2003, the IDF had decided to make the Tavor their primary infantry weapon. As of 2006, all IDF infantry units are equipped with Tavor rifles. In 2012, the first Tavor SAR semi-auto versions were imported to the U.S. for civilian sale. In 2013, the Tavor was awarded Rifle of the Year from both American Rifleman and The Truth About Guns. In 2014, IWI was awarded an Importer of the Year award from the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers. In the same year, IWI also established its U.S. Law Enforcement sales division and began taking orders from U.S. police agencies. VARIATIONS There are many variations of the Tavor SAR available: 5.56x45 NATO,.300 Blackout (.300 AAC), and 9mm. The 5.56 variants are available with 16.5 or 18 barrels, in left-handed versions, and with optional optical sights. The 5.56 rifles can be converted to 5.45x39 by simply changing the bolt and barrel to accommodate the new cartridge. NATO-chambered rifles can also be converted to 9mm; this requires a barrel and bolt, and also a spacer, which allows the use of UZI magazines in the magwell. The Tavor B16 series features black furniture on 16.5 barreled rifles. The IDF16 version comes as a package with a Meopta M21 reflex sight. There is a left-handed L variant, one in.300 AAC Blackout, and a California compliant model with a pinned muzzle device. Additionally, there is a model with an 18 barrel in 5.56 that is Massachusetts/New Jersey/Maryland compliant. Also for sale is a dedicated 9mm version, with 17 barrel.
In flat dark earth (FDE), there are two 16.5 versions in 5.56 one California-compliant and one not. There are also a 16.5.300 BLK version, a 9mm carbine, and two 18 rifles in 5.56. Rifles available with OD green furniture are either standard 16.5 or 18 versions. CHARACTERISTICS The Tavor family of rifles features a bullpup design, meaning that the action of the rifle is behind the pistol grip inside the stock. The bullpup configuration makes a rifle very compact, as the barrel is housed inside of the stock instead of out in front of the gun. These types of rifles are very maneuverable in urban combat scenarios, which have made up much of the modern battlefield in the War on Terror. Bullpup rifles have become very popular among military forces throughout the world. Its bullpup design means the 16.5 SAR has an overall length of only 26.125, which is about the same as a 10 barreled AR with the buttstock fully collapsed. The 18 version has an OAL of merely 27.625, with rifle-length ballistic capability. The furniture on the Tavor is made of highimpact polymer, available in black, flat dark earth, and OD green colors. The receiver is made from ordnance-grade steel, and the barrels are CrMoV steel. Barrels are hammer forged and fully chrome-lined with a 1-7 twist rate. The chambers are 5.56 NATO, meaning that.223 ammunition can be safely fired as well. The 16.5 barreled rifles weigh 7.9 lbs. unloaded, with the majority of the weight being to the rear of the pistol grip. The rifles fire from a closed, rotating bolt, and use a long-stroke piston system. The guns are fed from NATO standard AR-type magazines. On older versions, the magazine release lever is located just in front of the magazine well, à la the AK. On the new Tavor X95 variant, an ambidextrous push-button is used. This button is placed near the trigger guard so that the index finger of the user s firing hand may be used to drop the magazine. The Tavor SAR is a truly ambidextrous rifle, with the aforementioned magazine release, safety, and charging handle all being customizable for either right- or left-handed operation. Even the ejection port can be configured for lefties, although this will require a new bolt with the ejector on the opposite side.
SIGHT OPTIONS In keeping with the adaptable and user-friendly nature of the rifle, IWI offers the Tavor with a variety of sighting options. The front sight features a tritium-illuminated post to enhance night capabilities. The front iron sight folds down inside of the top rail, while the rear aperture flips out of the way for using optical sights. The MEPRO M21 reflex sight is the standard optic of the IDF infantry, and provides an excellent no-magnification reflex optic. It uses a dual-illuminated reticle: fiber optics gather light during the day and tritium provides the light source in low-light conditions. Optional reticles include an X, a simple red dot, a dot inside a ring or bullseye, and a triangle. The M21 may also be paired with the MEPRO MX3 magnifier to provide a 3x magnified sight picture for more precise aiming. Like the M21, the MOR reflex sight offers light-gathering fiber optic reticle illumination for use during daylight. Tritium illumination keeps the sight in the fight during night operations. The MOR also incorporates a bright LED with multiple brightness settings for lowlight conditions. Unlike the battery-free M21, the MOR uses batteries to power an LED reticle enhancer with three settings. In addition to the illuminated reticle, the MOR has a visible red laser for CQB operations and an infrared aiming/marking laser for covert operations. The infrared laser beam is only visible through night-vision equipment, and provides a significant tactical advantage during night operations. DISASSEMBLY The Tavor is an inherently simple and low-maintenance design. There is a captive butt-locking pin that holds the butt assembly closed. Pushing it out of its hole from right to left allows the butt to pivot down to its open position. The recoil assembly can now be pulled out from the rear of the rifle for routine maintenance and cleaning. The rifle includes an excellent user s manual with many full-color illustrations showing disassembly procedures. The manual may be downloaded here: https://www.iwi.us/ iwi/media/manuals/tavor-sar-manual- V08-011-01-09-53RevA.pdf. Tavor rifles can be disassembled with relative ease using commonly available tools, making them very user friendly. Their barrels are designed to be removed and replaced at the operator level, allowing for caliber conversions from 5.56 NATO to 5.45x39mm, and 9mm ammunition. CONCLUSION The Tavor is a very impressive weapon system. Its simple and reliable design, maneuverable bullpup configuration, and outstanding ergonomics make it a truly cutting-edge battle rifle. The ambidextrous operation, flexibility of the optional sighting systems, and the ability to convert the weapon to multiple calibers add another dimension to the possibilities for this rifle in civilian applications. REFERENCES http://iwi.us/our-story http://www.israel-weapon.com/default. asp?catid=%7b9490be81-eafc-456a- ADC5-D042220A1625%7D http://www.gundigest.com/firearm-gunreviews/gun-review-iwi-tavor-sar-bullpup