IWI Galil Sniper
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| Galil Sniper | |
|---|---|
 IWI Galil Sniper | |
| Type | Semi-automatic sniper rifle |
| Place of origin |  Israel Israel  Ukraine Ukraine |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1974–present |
| Used by | Israel Israel  India India Ukraine Ukraine  Senegal Senegal  Kenya Kenya |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Israel Galil (Blashnikov), later IWI |
| Manufacturer | Israel Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Ukraine Fort (licensed manufacturing) |
| Variants | SR-99, Fort 301 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5.7 kg (empty), 8 kg (fully loaded) |
| Length | 1110 mm (stock extended), 840 mm (stock collapsed) |
The Galil Sniper (Officially: Galil Sniper SA; abbreviations: Galatz or Gala'tz) is a semi-automatic sniper rifle developed by Israel Weapon Industries[1]. It is based on the IMI Galil and was adapted to be more precise for sniper use. The rifle has undergone modifications, including an upgraded gas system, ergonomic stock, polymer components instead of wood, and the addition of a flash suppressor.
The Galil Sniper is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO and uses a 25-round detachable magazine. The rifle features a heavy barrel with a multi-purpose muzzle device that acts as both a flash suppressor and muzzle brake. A suppressor can also be mounted, but subsonic ammunition is required for optimal performance.[2]
Engineering
[edit]The Galil Sniper is a semi-automatic rifle designed to be more accurate than the base Galil AR model. It has a heavier barrel and a two-stage trigger with a pull weight ranging from 1.7 to 2.5 kg. The rifle's stock is telescoping, similar to the M4 Carbine, and it includes adjustable features for comfort. The rifle also has a folding bipod under the barrel and can be fitted with the Nimrod 6x scope or night vision optics.
Service
[edit]The Galil Sniper was one of the sniper rifles used by the Israel Defense Forces during the 1980s and early 1990s, along with other sniper rifles:
- The American M14 rifle, which was used as a sniper weapon due to its relative accuracy.
- The German Mauser SP66 and later the Mauser 86SR, which were bolt-action sniper rifles known for their precision (0.5 MOA) and used by special forces.
- The Israeli M89SR, based on the M14, was a bullpup sniper rifle with high accuracy but limited in service.
In 1997, the IDF replaced most of its sniper rifles with the Remington M24 bolt-action rifle, known for its 0.5 MOA accuracy.
Although the original Galil Sniper was considered subpar, the modern version produced by IWI is regarded as much more effective. This model has been successfully marketed abroad due to its reliability and reasonable price but was not adopted by the IDF. The rifle is also produced under license in Ukraine by Fort as the Fort 301.
Users
[edit]
Israel Israel - Used by the Israel Police.
India India - Standard sniper rifle of the Indian Special Forces.
Ukraine Ukraine - Produced under license as the "Fort 301."
Senegal Senegal - Used by the Senegalese Special Forces.
Kenya Kenya - Used by the Kenya Defense Forces.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Galil Sniper Rifle | IWI". IWI Israel Weapon Industries (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "Galil Sniping Rifle". 2012-06-09. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
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