Posted on 06/24/2006 8:36:25 PM PDT by Lurker
I'm watching Future Weapons on Discovery Channel and saw this new rifle the Israelis will be issuing soon. I thought it perfect for a Saturday Night Gun Porn Thread.
Here's a pic of one of the variants:
Here's the blurb from the source URL:
The Tavor TAR-21 is a gas operated, selective fire, magazine fed assault rifle of bullpup configuration. It is available in several configurations, which differ in the barrel lengths and accessories. The basic configuration is the TAR-21 assault rifle with the 460mm (18.1 in) barrel. Next are the compact assault rifle, called CTAR-21, with the barrel 380 mm (15 in) long, and the micro assault rifle, with the barrel of only 250 mm (10 in) long, called MTAR-21. The latter rifle also featured a redesigned front part of the housing, for a more comfortable hold of the short weapon. TAR-21 utilizes a now-common long piston stroke, rotating bolt action, with the gas piston rigidly attached to the bolt carrier. Gas cylinder is located above the barrel and is completely enclosed by the gun housing. The rotating bolt is similar to one found in the M16 rifle and has seven lugs. The ejection ports are made on both sides of the weapon, and the right or the left side ejection can be selected by installing the bolt with the ejector mounted on the right or on the left, respectively (and, of cause, this change requires the gun to be partially disassembled). The bolt carrier rides on the single guide rod, with the return spring unit located above it, behind and inside the hollow gas piston rod. The charging handle is located at the front left side of the gun and does not reciprocate when gun is fired. The charging handle slots are cut on the both sides of the gun housing, so it can be installed on either side of the weapon, as required. The trigger unit is more or less conventional, with the ambidextrous fire mode selector / safety switch located above the pistol grip.
The TAR-21 has no separate receiver. Instead, all parts are mounted within the high impact-resistant plastic housing, reinforced with steel inserts where appropriate. The access to all the internal parts is controlled by the hinged buttplate, which can be swung down for internal inspection and disassembly.
TAR-21 has no open sights. It is fitted with the standard Picatinny-type accessory rail on the top of the gun. At the present time the standard sighting equipment for the TAR-21 series rifles (except for the STAR-21 sniper rifle) is the Israeli-made ITL MARS, a complicated and expensive reflex-type sight with the built-in laser pointer. For the night time operations the MARS could be complemented with the ITL Mini N/SEAS compact night vision device.
Israel is replacing its world-famous Uzi sub-machinegun and U.S.-supplied M-16 assault rifle with a new flagship firearm.
The design of the Tavor is based largely on lessons learned during military operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the 34-month-old Al Aqsa intifada. The first Tavors, made by Israel Military Industries (IMI), have been issued to elite Israeli infantry units, part of an order of 15,000 announced last month by the Defense Ministry.
Security sources said deals were under way to sell the weapon, retailing at $1,000, to "friendly foreign clients.". "The Tavor is probably the finest assault rifle now available. Its commando variation weighs 2.8 kg (6.2lbs) compared with the Uzi's 3.7 kg and M-16's 3.4 kg. Bullets are loaded through its stock, allowing for a snub barrel.
End Blurb.
It is chambered in 5.56mm NATO and is designed to use the SS109 type ammunition.
Retail price to 'friendly foreign clients' is said to be about $1,000.00 US.
L
Sterling, VA
About a decade ago, I was series-ly thinking about getting a T/C Contender that made a bit of a big bang... .444, 45/70, or 375JDJ.
Then I came to my senses.
Mark
I put the 460 S&W 15" on the Encore frame. More mass to reduce the felt recoil. I have the Magnum Research BFR 45/70 with 10" barrel. Pleasant shooter. The 460 has a lot more oomph than the 45/70. Another freeper tried the .444 cartridge on the T/C Contender. The recoil broke the ripped the screw through the mounting pillar of the composite forend.
The largest .50 cal I care to shoot will be built from a 20" Thompson Encore Pro barrel in 500 S&W. I load that cartridge with 325 gr Speer Gold Dot. Pleasant from the recoil perspect and very accurate in the Performance Center Hunter 500 S&W Magnum. It should be very tame in a rifle configuration.
JD Jones sure is a neat guy to talk to.
Mark
I've only read articles where he was interviewed and his philosophies expressed. He obviously has a great insight on good ballistics. The Thompson folks make a bunch of barrels for his various JDJ creations. You have to be a reloader to really enjoy his work as the JDJ ammo is not off the shelf stuff. There's plenty of brass and die folks who support those boutique cartridges.
I had a conversation with him once whe I was looking for a heavy bullet for my .41 Mag S&W Model 57. IIRC, he had a mold for a 275gr (or thereabouts) bullet. When I asked him what load to use, his response was "fill the case with 296 and put the bullet on!"
He did convince me to use a .44Mag out of a Ruger if I was serious about heavy (revolver) loads, and he was right.
Mark
I had hoped the 460 Magnum barrel on the Encore would work well for 45 Colt (255 gr over 7 gr of W231). Alas, it shoots high. The .454 Casull load (200 gr jacketed FN over 37 gr of W296) is dead on. I ordered and received a box of 50 pieces of 460 Magnum brass, but I haven't loaded it yet. The velocities from the 15" barrel on the Encore are much hotter than the 7.5" barrel of the Ruger Super Redhawk with the same load.
[multiple Picatinny rails,]
I only see one. Where are the rest?
BTW, does the section in front of the trigger guard fold downward to form a vertical foregrip? It looks like it could, which would solve one problem. I have no idea where to mount a SureFire, though.
[although I didn't know of the Iranian deal. Don't think I blame SiGArms though, but the parent Sig-Sauer.]
All the same when it comes to our money, isn't it? I just won't support the company, because the company supports iran.
[New FN is FS2000, PS90-ish looking 556mm bullpup carbine.]
Very smart to market it in 5.56! At least to the American public. And to make it compatible with M-16 magazines. I like bullpups because the design tends to put the weight of the rifle into my shoulder, rather than my arms. However, having that chamber right next to my ear is a deal breaker.
Making it ambidextrous is a huge step above the British military bullpup, the SA-80.
The best thing about this rifle is the CDI factor- it does look very cool! Still, good luck getting a bullpup design to feed and function properly. Many have tried and failed, including H&K with their modifications to the SA-80.
BTW, one more thing, about your other post to me. Sterling, VA is where H&K maintains its offices. They never actually built anything there. Columbus, Georgia is their brand new manufacturing facility. But... I think I may have read that, when the mil contract for the OICW was cancelled, H&K moved out of the new plant and rented a smaller place nearby. I'm not sure of that, though, cuz it's been a while.
Just today I read something that H&K was considering selling 416 uppers when their gubbermint contracts are fulfilled, or at least not as demanding.
are they replacing OICW with anythign else...i thought is was the weapon for the digital soldier/battlefield concept...??
Short rail sections attached to forward handguard, either side, and a section attached to the bottom, facing down. SF Scout or similar would mount nicely on either the left or right short section, and you could attach a vertical grip to the bottom rail.
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