The Uzi Submachine Gun Is Back

19FortyFive ^ | 1/16/2021 | Peter Suicu

[Onthebrink]

In the late 1940s, shortly after the establishment of the State of Israel, Major Uziel “Uzi” Gal began the development of a revolutionary submachine gun (SMG). Introduced to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Special Forces in 1954 and placed into general use with the Israeli military two years later, the Uzi was a blowback-operated weapon that fired from an open bolt.

Origin Story

The original weapon was just 7.72 pounds and had a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute.

[Fido969]

Those little SMGs are fun, two things to keep in mind - don’t put your hand or fingers near the muzzle, and watch for the barrel rise.

[Pikachu_Dad]

And have a very large wallet.

[G Larry]

Ammo waster.

[BenLurkin]

ibnotc

[W.]

Per the article, the venerable M1911 pistol utilizes a telescoping bolt. What? Where? None of mine do!

[null and void]

You’d better upgrade...

[volunbeer]

Sub-guns are fun to shoot. Expensive, hard to control until you master the burst, and exciting for most shooters.

My favorite is the PPSH41. It is the most controllable of them all and it is the cheapest to shoot with surplus ammo.

[Bratch]

The Uzi Submachine Gun Is Back

In the late 1940s, shortly after the establishment of the State of Israel, Major Uziel “Uzi” Gal began the development of a revolutionary submachine gun (SMG). Introduced to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Special Forces in 1954 and placed into general use with the Israeli military two years later, the Uzi was a blowback-operated weapon that fired from an open bolt.

Origin Story

The original weapon was just 7.72 pounds and had a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute. Constructed from stamped sheet metal, it was also less expensive to produce than contemporary weapons that were machined. With its relatively few moving parts, the Uzi also proved to be easy to strip and maintain.

It was actually more evolutionary than revolutionary, however.

While compact, the Uzi wasn’t actually the first SMG to utilize a telescoping bolt design – a concept widely employed in semi-automatic handguns such as the Colt M1911 series. Both the Japanese experimental Type II SMG developed before World War II, and the Czech-produced Sa vz. 23 developed after the war entered service before the Uzi. Yet, it was the Israeli weapon that refined the concept and led to its worldwide adoption. More than 90 countries around the world have used the Uzi at some point – and from the 1960s to the 1980s the Uzi outsold all other submachine guns and saw use in the military, law enforcement and even security markets.

The Uzi was initially equipped with a fixed wood buttstock and that version first saw combat in the 1956 Suez Crisis, while later models were equipped with folding metal stocks. The weapon’s reliability was tested and proven throughout numerous conflicts, however during the Six Day War’s Sinai Campaign the Uzi was among the many small arms that fell victim to the sand and dust.

Uzi for the 21st Century

While the Uzi has remained a fine weapon, last year IWI (Israel Weapons Industries) released its Uzi PRO submachine gun – a moniker that likely could confuse some. Based on the original Uzi design, the Uzi PRO features modern materials along with advanced technological features. It is a short and compact version that offers a modern ergonomic design to provide improved control and accuracy. It features a MIL-STD 1913 (Picatinny) rails, an ergonomic shoulder stock, and a foldable hand grip.

Unlike the other Uzi variants released over the past six decades, this version has a side charging handle rather than one on the top, and it can be adapted for both right- or left-handed users. It features an adjustable shoulder stock with mounted cheek rest and foldable assault grip. While it still utilizes a blowback-operation, it fires from a closed bolt to provide increased safety along with the aforementioned accuracy. The Uzi PRO is available in 9x19mm (9mm NATO) and with 170mm, 210mm and 240mm barrel length.

The original Uzi may have been developed 65 years ago, and while at the age of retirement, the latest Uzi PRO is truly the Israel SMG for the needs of the 21st century.

[Dutch Boy]

I shot them a few times while in the army. I shot both the wooden stock and collapsible stock. I was shocked that I could easily hit silloettes out to 100 meters. I preferred the MP5 more but the Uzi was fun to shoot too. As for cleaning, Uzi all the way. The Swedish K is also a simple design but fun to shoot. The key was to use army ammo. You would need a second mortgage otherwise.

[T.B. Yoits]

...watch for the barrel rise.

I wondered why they didn't put a Cutts compensator on them, especially for fully automatic.

[Thommas]

This sure looks like a MAC M11.

[RC one]

The Uzi weighs 9lbs when loaded and is as ergonomic as a cinder block. I am only familiar with the semi-auto variant. On a scale of 0-10, in its standard configuration, I would rate its reliability as a 10; ergonomics as a 4; accuracy out to 100 yards as a 5; CQB usefulness as a 7; ease of use as a 10; ease of assembly/disassembly as a 10; durability as an 11; portability as a 10; adaptability as a 5 and it's ability to be used by someone who knows nothing about firearms as a 10. As a useful weapon of war, I'd rate it as a 8 because the chambering, while good in many aspects, limits its effectiveness in engagements that require accurate fire beyond 100 or 200 yards.

It's primary utility would be for engaging multiple rapidly maneuvering threats at 0-50 yards. In this role, I would rate it as a 7 in its standard configuration only because there are better options these days. It would do well with a laser. With a laser, I'd raise it to 8 because it is still heavy and not terribly ergonomic. It is built like a tank and uses few moving parts however and there's something to be said for that.

[Dutch Boy]

The new design sure favor that look over the traditional Uzi design.

The ones I shot back in the early 80s looked a lot like these.

[Mrs. Warrior]

Agreed. The slow rate of fire is it’s biggest plus. It’s GP use in 9mm is worst attribute.

I’ll stick with the do-all CQB to midrange AR carbine/SBR in 556, with appropriate ammunition.

Back in the hayday of the subgun for mil use, there was no wearable armor. Today, I expect any and every threat to be armored with at least soft 3A armor. Even freakazoid leftists criminals or terrorists, but I three-peat myself.

[from occupied ga]

It doesn’t matter how big your wallet is. You will not be allowed to purchase one of these. No fully automatic weapon manufactured after 1986 can be legally sold to any serf in the USSA.

[Bonemaker]

9 pounds? Jesus that’s about as much as a Garand!

[RC one]

Agreed. I actually prefer the AR10 for most purposes. With a 16” barrel you can get a 130 gr projectile up to 3,000+ fps and accuracy is phenomenal compared to the Uzi especially. If you want to suppress it, sub-sonics ammo is available. 130 gr at 3,000 fps makes body armor irrelevant though. Not because it will defeat body armor but because it turns what would normally be survivable extremity wounds into immediately life threatening injuries.

[PapaBear3625]

Back in the hayday of the subgun for mil use, there was no wearable armor. Today, I expect any and every threat to be armored with at least soft 3A armor. Even freakazoid leftists criminals or terrorists, but I three-peat myself.

Most armor only covers the chest. Aim for the pelvis.

[DesertRhino]

New UZI looks like a MAC-10.