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
ah, yes... the Tavor.
from what I've read of it over the last few years, it seems a good design.
but... it is chambered in a round I have little confidence in.
If they decide to make a variant chambered in Remington 6.8mmSPC I'd be quite interested in getting one.
Of course, the Government would, in the interim, have to be forced to remember the real meaning of the 2nd Amendment and repeal a lot of unconstitutional laws.
All my Thompsons are single shot Contender G2 or Encore. Not much to go wrong. Accurate. Reliable. The Encore gets the rifle caliber barrels .223, 204 Ruger, .308 and as an exception 460 S&W. The G2 gets pistol calibers 17M2, 22LR, .357 Mag and an exception with a Win 30-30. All are 15" or less in handgun form factor. I plan to put a nice nutmeg Boyd's thumbhole stock and beaver tail forend on the Encore to accomodate a 20" S&W 500 Magnum fluted stainless steel barrel. I have to buy optics for that one too as it has no adjustable sights included.
My wife enjoys shooting the rim fires in the G2. She tried the Encore .308 with a very loaded down 100 gr Speer "Plinker" over a minimal load of W748. The Encore hammer smacked her upper lip. She's not really anxious for a re-run of that experience.
"The Encore hammer smacked her upper lip. She's not really anxious for a re-run of that experience."
OWWWWW!
And I'm jealous. I can only dream of a Thompson right now. Has Thompson given him any advice on the extractor front?
I suspect my buddy has a lemon. Another person in town has the same rifle and puts thousands of rounds through it each month with no problems. The bad rifle broke the extractor on the 8th shot.
Thompson Encore/Contender G2 have been on my wish list since the early 80's. It has taken 23 years to be financially comfortable enough to drop some money on the Thompson company. The first time I fired a Contender was in March of 1983...a month before my #2 son arrived. He went to the range before his birth and still enjoys it as a 23 year old LCPL in the USMC.
What's this gun "porn." Wash your mouths out with Procter and Gamble's Tide. It's gun "art."
I've considered buying a PS90, if for no other reason than to just PO Sarah Brady & co., but the built-on optic is absolutely terrible. I've heard talk that a version with a Picatinny rail is in the offing, so you could use a Comp-M or similar instead. Have you heard anything about that?
The trigger's nothing to brag about either, but I can live with that. Reminds me of the Steyr AUG...
I'd buy one ... if it weren't illegal.
I don't get HK. Rumor has it the German overlords are liability skittish.
Good news is both SIG and FN are producing, and selling, brand new, made in the USA scary black rifles, for sale to civilians.
With the - at least for now -cancellation of the XM8, from a business perspective, not selling what would be popular guns - the 416 and G36 - is looking increasingly stupid.
Semiauto SIG 556, new for 2006 and Made in the USA legal.
It belongs to a LEO friend who is a SWAT team leader in another state. It's the real deal.
I figured so. The SWAT troopies around here have MP5s in their vehicles in case they get called out while on regular patrol. Those are always fun and easy to shoot.
I was lucky enough to try out a P90 a few years ago when the SHOT show was in Orlando -- my badge gave me access to the LEO section and the fellow I got my admission from was there and got invited, and I was able to tag along.
Lots of fun. Sure zips through those 50-round mags quickly enough. One of the most unique weapons I've ever had the opportunity to handle.
I sure hope the rumours of a Picatinny rail version of the PS90 turn out to be true. Ammo should be more plentiful and less expensive by then, too.
Alas, I'm in CA and won't even be able to get the civi version.
It's a machine gun. Machine guns not in the NFA prior to May of 1986 may not be sold to qualified civilians.
you gotta post Amanda Tapping draped in the American flag.
I think there is actually a law...
Wowzer!!!
Cool! I had one too. I wonder what ever became of it.
[I don't get HK. Rumor has it the German overlords are liability skittish.]
You're not alone- nobody gets H&K. Superb quality firearms backed up by crappy management and the worst customer service in the industry.
[Good news is both SIG and FN are producing, and selling, brand new, made in the USA scary black rifles, for sale to civilians.]
The new Sig rifle is a civvie version of the 551 or 552, right? If it is, then there's mixed opinions. Sig fans love the rifle and tout it above all others. Those who don't like Sigs just view this rifle as the highest quality AK ever built.
It'll be a long time before I buy any Sig. Despite pressure from the US, Sig sold several high quality sniper rifles to Iran within the last few months. Think those rifles will /not/ be used to kill American troops at some point in the future? Sig can kiss my butt!
The new FN rifle... are you talking about the P-90, P-99 or whatever it is? STAY AWAY!!! This rifle is an answer in search of a question. Unless you're planning to shoot through body armor, this rifle (and its caliber) is too bulky to be a pistol and very underpowered for a rifle. Having said that, it will probably be purchased by the same folks who bought Desert Eagles in .50ae. I was not one of those folks. The P-90 does have a high CDI factor, though. (CDI = Chicks Dig It)
[With the - at least for now -cancellation of the XM8, from a business perspective, not selling what would be popular guns - the 416 and G36 - is looking increasingly stupid.]
Agreed totally! Take out the "fun button" and H&K could sell the 416 by the tens of thousands every year, if they could keep the price below $2k with a decent Picatinny rail system. That's enough to fill up that brand new factory in Tennesee or Georgia or wherever it is.
BTW, it looks like H&K will not import any G36s in the future.
Sweet!
And Sweeter!
I give them credit for selling a bonafide "military style" rifle to the general public, although I didn't know of the Iranian deal. Don't think I blame SiGArms though, but the parent Sig-Sauer.
New FN is FS2000, PS90-ish looking 556mm bullpup carbine.
Don't need one, but I always like to see new military style carbines offered for commercial sale.
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