Article

2009-01-16 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

So just what is that Small Weapon the IDF are using?

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Posted by tu3031 2009-01-16 11:06|| || Front Page|| [10 views ] Top

#1 Nice and compact for close quarters fighting, decent punch, and good range.

Only drawback of the bullpup design is reloading the magazine. I always found it awkward and hard to do while prone. You have to pull the weapon away from you, turn it over, pull out the magazine and then put in a new one, move it back into position and then re-acquire a shooting position.
Other than that, I liked the design.

Posted by DarthVader 2009-01-16 11:36|| 2009-01-16 11:36|| Front Page Top

#2 Darth, have you seen the Tavor? I don't see why it would be so hard to swap magazines, unless the mag release is impossible to get to in prone.

It's sitting right next to your right wrist when firing. Not out in front of the trigger like an AK but still looks accessible.

Note: I've never fired a bullpup configuration.

Posted by AlanC 2009-01-16 11:44|| 2009-01-16 11:44|| Front Page Top

#3 So, when will I be able to pick one up at Walmart?

Posted by Iblis 2009-01-16 12:04|| 2009-01-16 12:04|| Front Page Top

#4 I watched a piece on the rifle on the Military channel. It seems to be a good, accurate, reliable rifle. On the mag change; I think the problem is that the mag well is so close to the face and body that it has some strange (to me) ergo's to remove and replace the mag. Practice might make it more comfortable but placing the mag in a location behind the supporting hand are hard to see and the leverages are awkward to insure the mag is seated.

Posted by tipover 2009-01-16 12:31|| 2009-01-16 12:31|| Front Page Top

#5 The one I fired was the British version. The magazine is damn near in your armpit. Very hard to change. The M-16 mag you can hit the release with your trigger finger while pulling a new mag from your belt/vest, slap it in without changing your body position, drive the bolt home in the same motion and rock and roll without changing your firing position at all (position being rifle still against your shoulder and hand on the trigger handle). Handy when faced with a charging/advancing enemy since the reload can be done in under 5 seconds (or 2 seconds when the adrenaline is pumping).

Now the advantage of the bullpup is it is very, very efficient compared to the M-16 (never fired the M-4 so I can't compare it) to house to house fighting. The short stock makes moving around corners and through doorways a breeze. And you don't need to be in a prone position for long periods much in a urban fight anyway.

But, in short I liked both rifles very much. They both have things I can nitpick about, but both are excellent and I expect the Israeli one to be just as good.

Posted by DarthVader 2009-01-16 12:39|| 2009-01-16 12:39|| Front Page Top

#6 Looks like an Amish version of the "le Clairon."

Posted by Besoeker 2009-01-16 12:40|| 2009-01-16 12:40|| Front Page Top

#7 I missed something. What round?

Posted by Richard Aubrey">Richard Aubrey 2009-01-16 14:03|| 2009-01-16 14:03|| Front Page Top

#8 5.56x45mm NATO

Posted by Pappy 2009-01-16 14:12|| 2009-01-16 14:12|| Front Page Top

#9 #8 too bad. NATO with a short barrel isn't particluarly effective. It is said that the Iraqi insurgents don't fear the M4 because the round is not effective at any useful range, and doesn't have casualty producing effects at that range.
The TAVOR has a shorter barrel.
So the company, or at least the BN HQ should have enough full size weapons to arm the guys for longer range combat.

Posted by Richard Aubrey">Richard Aubrey 2009-01-16 22:38|| 2009-01-16 22:38|| Front Page Top

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