MajorPandemic.com was fortunate to be one of the first writers to get their hands on the newly introduced Galil ACE GAR1651 .308/7.62x51 NATO and I have had a chance to wring it out pretty well. What I will say is this is my favorite .308 semi-auto rifle of any I own. It is not the lightest, the prettiest, or the most accurate, however it can take a ton of abuse and still deliver bullets where they need to go. I not only like this 8.7lb rifle, I love it.
A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE GALIL
For those not familiar with the original Galil line, it was developed in the 1960s and has continued refinement to current times. The rifle and has been tuned and tweaked over the years by IWI into what many say is the pinnacle of AK perfection. All the features and accuracy of military M16/AR platforms, but with AK reliability and power - indeed the perfect AK.
At the time of the initial development, the Israelis had just finished the Six-Day War which resulted in capturing thousands of AK-47s. Upon inspection and testing they were impressed with the simple cleaning, durability and dependability of the AK platform but wanted accuracy similar to US M16s. From that point Yisrael Galil started the development of an updated AK design which addressed those needs and the gun was adopted and used by the Israeli army.
Luckily the rather pricey Galil continued to be needed for certain military applications and thus was continued to be developed by IWI.
IWI has previously released Galil rifles and pistols in 7.62x39, but now has brought the 7.62x51 to the US market as well. To get the 2016 recall out of the way, the reason for the initial IWI Galil recall was not functional a flaw, but a BATF compliance issue. In the eyes of the BATF, they perceived the first imported Galil models to be somewhat easily converted to full auto due to their three pin receiver design. IWI complied, but that mandatory replacement recall delayed the release of all other Galil models in the US.
THE IWI GALIL ACE GAR1651
At first look the IWI’s Galil ACE GAR1651 7.62x51 rifle looks bit clunky until you handle and shoot it at which point each design point of GAR1651’s design becomes apparent. The Galil ACE 7.62x51 is not a project rifle that you are going to do a bunch of upgrades to, because the design itself does not lend itself to that flexibility. About the only customizing will be Cerakoting, or adding picatinny accessories, however someone at some point will offer some type of aftermarket handguard.
Weight has been trimmed everywhere including a trick borrowed from the H&K MP5. IWI utilizes a complete polymer lower grip, mag and trigger cover assembly similar to the MP5 which means you are stuck with the grip, integrated controls. Luckily the ambidextrous magazine release and selector are very ergonomically positioned and work well. By integrating the controls magwell and grip, an ounce here and there are saved from various parts needing to be bolted together.
SHOOTING & ACCURACY
Shooting the Galil ACE GAR1651 7.62x51 NATO is pure joy. The charging handle is on the left side where it is easy manipulated without the AK flip hand over receiver maneuver. All the controls are ambidextrous, magazine seating and release is smooth and problem free from the semi-flared magwell.
The included tritium front and rear adjustable sights deliver everything a shooter would want from fixed combat sights and the rear sight can be removed if needed to accommodate optics. The front handguard is well thought out, comfortable, and conceals easily accessible 9, 3, and 6 o-clock picatinny rails, however it is the only component I am a little nit-picky over after being spoiled with long key-mod and M-Lok handguards.
Of note this gun has eaten well over 500-rounds of all types and grades of ammo and I have yet to have a single failure. Regardless of the group down range, the Galil ACE is extraordinarily dependable firearm.
The Galil is a 1” 100-yard capable gun, however it does take a bit of work to find the match grade load that the Galil .308 likes to accomplish that. My best group was with Hornady 155gr A-Max Match which netted a stunning .8” group. Federal Gold Match ammo was not far behind that with a .89” group. Inexpensive military surplus ball ammo accuracy was variable based on the lot, manufacturer, and source, with 100-yard groups as small a 2” and as large as 6”. What should be noted is that like the HK91 clones, this Galil is hard on brass and probably not a reloading friendly rifle. It does not chew up brass like the HK91 will, but it does put a very consistent dent in the side of every case shot and more than often dents a case mouth.
I did clip on a Geissele Precision Mount with a Bushnell Elite 4.5-30 to see what the gun could do. The Galil does have an integrated top picatinny rail which extends to the front of the handguard. IWI has apparently figured out how to cam in the top cover to make it solid enough for an optics mount. The top cover does not just bang into place like an AK, but once you get the hang of the cover reinstall it goes quick after that and returns the optic to zero.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Galil ACE GAR1651 7.62x51 NATO fits into a really unique and nice niche. It is a light and nimble 8.75lb battle rifle which can still deliver shocking accuracy with the right match grade ammo. Historically .308 AR format rifles are irritatingly finicky in the best of environments - one primary reason I advocate buying working AR .308 rifles and certainly a reliability trait someone does not want in a military rifle that is abused in harsh conditions. The Galil has overcome that reliability hurdle with the AK based pushrod long stroke piston system which works insanely well on the .308/7.62x51 round. This gun is destined for a 1-4 optic and could be “The Gun” to take on hunting trips around the county… at least I know it would work in all conditions and with the right ammo deliver accuracy beyond good enough for hunting. I think this could be the new go-to .308 battle rifle. The Galil ACE GAR1651 7.62x51 NATO may not be a beauty to look at but it is a beauty to shoot.
SPECS
Improvements made since the original Galil was first developed include:
Charging handle (reciprocating) moved to the left side of the milled steel receiver allowing for weak hand operation
LR/SR25 magazine compatibility. You should only use magazines made in the USA in your Galil ACE rifle. Use of an imported magazine may put you in violation of 18 U.S.C § 922(r).)
Weight reduction with the use of modern polymers
Full length 2-piece Mil-Std Picatinny top rail
Picatinny style tri-rail forearm with built in, slide on/ off rail covers with pressure switch access
Side Folding adjustable telescoping buttstock with 2 position removable comb on all rifle models
Fully adjustable iron sights with Tritium front post and 2 dot Tritium rear aperture
Caliber 7.62 NATO (7.62x51mm)
Action Semi-auto
Operating System Closed rotating bolt, long stroke gas piston
Magazine Type MAGPUL LR/SR25 GEN M3
Magazine Capacity 20 rounds
Barrel Material Cold hammer forged, CrMoV, Chrome lined
Barrel Length 16"
Overall Length 36" (Buttstock Unfolded and Collapsed)
Weight 8.7 lbs w/out Magazine
Rifling Right Hand, 1:12 inch twist
Stock Color Black
Sights Adjustable with Tritium front post and 2-dot Tritium rear aperture.
Restricted States Sales of this rifle may be restricted in certain states and the District of Columbia. Please check with your local authorities regarding your local firearms laws.
Optional Equipment N/A
MSRP $2,099.00
IWI US - https://www.iwi.us
Bushnell Optics - http://bushnell.com
2 comments:
Great article on the AR type pistols
I'm just starting to do my research on them
thanks for the info
This article was stolen from another site, lol.
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