Firearms Friday: Support Israel, Buy A Gun!

I thought it apropos to write this post with Passover beginning this evening… Israel has been in the news rather frequently as of late and most of the headlines have been critical of the state and or the Prime Minister. This has been in large part due to the negotiations with Iran and the resulting heavy media criticism of the Jewish state is nothing new. Another not so surprising result of the recent coverage is that there are radical groups of people calling for the boycott of Israeli products.

As I have made very clear in previous posts, I am a firm supporter of Israel which is why I am taking the exact opposite approach of some of the radicals and recommending that we purchase quality Israeli products. Given the day that this is being posted, it should be no surprise that I am recommending the procurement of Israeli firearms (as well as magazines and other related products). And, frankly, you are missing out if you don’t already have at least one in your collection. For those of you that are not familiar, there are two significant manufacturers that are available in the United States: IWI and BUL.

IWI is the more well-known of the two and I primarily known for four firearms: the Desert Eagle, the Jericho (rebranded in US by Magnum Research at the Baby Eagle), the Tavor, the Galil, and the Uzi. You can learn a little more about the manufacturer in my previous post about Pennsylvania based companies. For now, here is a little bit about some of their more popular offerings:

• The Desert Eagle is a monster of a handgun… large, heavy, and powerful calibers. This is great for the occasional trip to the range but be prepared to pull out your wallet each time you need to feed it. Especially if you opt to get one chambered in 50 AE. This is after to shell out over a grand to purchase the handgun.

• The Baby Eagle is the service sized firearm available with an all steel or polymer frame that is chambered in common calibers. Based on the classic CZ design with a more industrial aesthetic, this option is a natural pointer allowing the shooter to easily keep on target.

• While the Tavor has been in use with the IDF for years, it is a relative newcomer to the US market. The Bullpup design, chambered in the same caliber as the ubiquitous AR15, allows this rifle to be used effectively by both professionals in the line of duty as well as provides a comfortable platform for the weekend shooter at the range. Another plus is that it takes standard AR magazines.

• The Galil, at least this incarnation, is the newest arrival on the market which operates on a refined AK platform. Previously available in the US, original imports still carry with them a stellar reputation and command a high price on the used market. This is a must have for fans of the AK platform.

• The Uzi first came to national prominence when it was seen in use by the secret service during the attempted assassination of President Reagan. The platform currently popular with the public is chambered 22LR and is largely a plinking firearm. The submachinegun variant chambered in 9mm is something of the past. While still seen on occasion (sometimes in a dubious light) it really isn’t a factor in the consumer market. It really isn’t much more than a plinking pistol for the range.

Despite being available for the past 20-30 years, BUL is still a relative unknown to many people in the US but you really can’t go wrong picking up a M5 or a Cherokee. The M5 is BUL’s double stack 1911 offering. It is a high quality production that, at least at one point, was a popular choice among competitive shooters (and not just because it carried a few extra rounds). The Cherokee is a near twin to the polymer framed Jericho. Another solid option for those looking for either a larger carry option or something to take on the range on the weekends. Additionally, you can find their markings on some of the older Kimber polymer frame 1911’s floating around in the used gun case. Generally speaking, you can find BUL firearms on the used market at a pretty significant discount over IWI firearms.

Of course, if you are not in the market for a firearm you can always show your support by picking up IWI magazines, Mako / FAB Defense AR or AK accessories (highly recommended), and/or a Fobus holster. If you are not in the market for any of these you can also pick up an Uplala magazine loader that makes things just that much more comfortable at the range… you can actually feel your thumb on the way home if you use one of these. If you still can’t find anything to buy I really don’t know why you are reading this particular post but if that is the case go out and buy some kind of product from Israel. However, you’ll have to find those recommendations on your own but let’s just say that if you use a computer, a smart phone, and/or some kind of instant messenger you are already supporting the Jewish State.

A Fitting Topic For The 556th Post

Given that this is the 556^th post I thought it appropriate to dedicate this time writing about the AR15 (chambered in 5.56mm NATO) again. I was first exposed to this platform and round when I was 20 years old and on the firing line at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. I had started shooting only a couple of years prior during my year in Vermont when I would take my 7mm Magnum bolt action Savage up on an old ski hill and aim for small targets we would set up in the slope. Given the kick that I had become accustom to, the M4 (military version of the AR15) was a bit surprising when I first pulled the trigger.

The light recoil and surprisingly simple design of the AR15 has made the rifle (and sometimes pistol) hugely popular in the civilian market. Additionally, the ability to customize the firearm has encouraged a confidence in shooters to adjust the rifle to fit both their needs and their personal ergonomics. This platform has given birth to a varied accessory industry which includes companies like Magpul, Mako (FAB Defense), Geissele, and countless others. All offering something a little different and appealing to different people. Of course, the low recoil cartridge also affords one the flexibility to change a lot of things too.  

When you take your AR to the range it is not just about the performance of the firearm or how good of a shot you are. Many times the discussion revolves around the accessories you are using and customization that you have done to your rifle. This is why many debates are started not about who is the better shot but rather what the best parts and accessories to put on your AR. However, there are also many of us that use a variety of parts from numerous companies to create the best possible fit and performance in our hands.

While I think he would be amused by these kinds of conversations, I don’t think this is what Eugene Stoner envisioned when he created the AR and the 5.56mm NATO cartridge. At the same time, he was trying to make the best rifle possible and all we are doing is customizing his ingenious design. After all, the only thing that we are working on is aesthetics and basic functionality improvements… the heart of the rifle, the means by which it operates, remains the same. The ease by which this can be accomplished may be the most brilliant aspect of Stoner’s design.