Hiding in plain sight at the IWI booth – NRA 2015

Authors Jacob Epstein
Fans of the IWI Tavor will recognize the X95, but the controls are unique.

Fans of the IWI Tavor will recognize the X95, but the controls are unique.

Press releases have been building up in my email inbox for weeks now. Entering into NRA 2015 I had a long list of companies to visit and products to seek out. One such company I made sure I didn’t miss was IWI. After examining the new Jericho line of handguns and asking about the scheduled release of the Galil Ace and Micro Uzi Pro, I had just about everything I needed done. Then from across the booth I saw a special weapon hiding among its brothers at the law enforcement table.

Intermixed between a 13” barreled X95 Tavor and a 15” CTAR Tavor sat what appeared to be the beginnings of the Civilian legal X95 Tavor. It used the body of a X95 but utilized a 16+” barrel creating the overall length required by the ATF.

After making my own conclusions I delicately asked a member of the IWI booth about when we should expect the civilian X95 to hit the market. While no dates could be confirmed, and no specifications about the gun have been set in stone he kindly told me the scoop. IWI is aiming to bring the X95 to the civilian market at the end of summer, if not early fall 2015. They said that we should expect features like:

  • QD sling mounts
  • Integrated iron sights
  • Ambidextrous controls and configurations
  • 16.5 “ barrel
  • Enhanced butt pad
  • Forefinger ambide.xtrous magazine release
  • Tri-rail forearm with removable rail covers
  • STANAG magazine compatibility
  • Interchangeable pistol grip assemblies
  • Lastly a price tag that is consistent with the SAR’s $1900 MSR

Though we can’t deny or confirm any of these details just yet, what we know is that the X95 is coming. It will hold true to its Israeli counterpart, as well as sport a few new upgrades that are bound to make it a success.

The Tavor has a similar look, but the rifle feels very different.

The Tavor has a similar look, but the rifle feels very different.

The 16 inch barrel and the shorter SBR version side-by-side shows just how small the "full-sized" version is.

The 16 inch barrel and the shorter SBR version side-by-side shows just how small the “full-sized” version is.

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  • paul November 23, 2015, 10:00 am

    if you have an old SKS(with nil collector value), you can buy an SGWorks stock. I like mine. The only problem with these is that people put removable mags on them, the stripper clips are much more reliable

  • Hugo April 16, 2015, 8:49 am

    More Jews run the world crap? My dentist is a Jew…I think he got to be a dentist by working hard in school. Or am I wrong…was it some magic jew-power that gave him a good job and a nice income?

    As for the semi auto toaster…never shot a Tavor but everyone I know who has liked it…a lot.

  • Joe April 15, 2015, 7:30 am

    Yeah the Jews run our country from behind the curtain, I can’t change that.
    BUT it doesn’t force me to purchase that piece of shit rifle.
    I’ll stick with my two AR friends, 15 and 10, you know where you can put your toaster.
    I do like those two New York Jewish hot dogs though, nathons and those long skinny ones…

  • Damien April 13, 2015, 2:14 pm

    I just brought my Tavor 2 weeks ago and ran it on the range this pass weekend and the only problem I ran into was the trigger but after removing the spring, it improved dramitically. It took 9 rounds to zero my own iron sights and 3 more rounds to zero my EOTECH sight for a total of 12 rounds. I’m in love with it. Gonna purchase a 9MM version as well and get rid of a couple of M4s. She is well worth the money I spent on her and look forward to purchasing the 9MM version.

  • Thomas April 13, 2015, 12:58 pm

    Mind sharing when they said the 16″ 7.62×39 Galil will be available? Sure would appreciate it.

  • Warner April 13, 2015, 12:25 pm

    If the trigger is not improved over the Tavor, I would pass. I carried a Steyr AUG in Iraq (battlefield pick-up) and was very happy with it. It traded about an MOA over the M-16 in accuracy, for great HMMWV and building portability. BUT my Tavor, though well thought-out, has such a crappy trigger that I can’t carry it in the Desert Southwest because any shooting at >100 meters is going to be a (forgive the pun) crap shoot. Even if you disengage the second reset spring (degrading reliability), the trigger still sucks, and over 400 rounds and lots of dry-firing doesn’t un-suck it. Aftermarkets are available if you want to tack a $350 accessory to your Tavor, but come on! The fact is, the Tavor is designed for the IDF conscriptee, which most of us are not. If your scenario as a citizen is bailing out of your truck on some remote road, or clearing your house, the Tavor is unparalleled. It is a great truck gun for us landowners out fixing fences or cutting wood or — shooting. But if you anticipate engaging beyond 100 meters, until IWI fixes the trigger or you get an aftermarket, stick with a SIG 556 folding and collapsible stock, or a Steyr AUG. Just my advice.

    • Russ April 13, 2015, 4:12 pm

      Thanks for your service to our Country Warner.
      Steyr AUG is a great firearm and gets right on target quick.
      I like it over the Tavor.
      I know it’s not 5.56 but my favorite is the FNH P 90
      All 3 are excellent and are 1-2-3 in my top 5 PDW’s (others being the MP 7 & KRISS Vector)
      Sorry for going off, I love the AUG and share your view.

  • gym April 13, 2015, 11:14 am

    Who buys these things? they are semi auto, not full auto, why wate the money. It looks like a toaster

    • Richard April 13, 2015, 1:18 pm

      But, just think how proud Dr. Ben Carson will be of you.
      Not only are you supporting Israel but, carrying a “baton of freedom”.

    • Russ April 13, 2015, 3:56 pm

      LOL gym, think about what you said.
      You wouldn’t waste money on it because it’s “not full auto”.
      Auto is a huge waste of money! Your blowing through ammo and shooting inaccurately.
      Double or triple tap is best for shooting 5.56.
      “who buys these things?” Lucky bastards that can afford the best.

  • Chief April 13, 2015, 11:12 am

    That’s why Ive been waiting.

  • Pete April 13, 2015, 10:55 am

    Normally, I refuse to purchase anything made in Israel for political reasons, but with the Tavor and it’s descendents I have better reasons, they feel very awkward when shouldered. Just does not feel right, needs an adjustable LOP for one thing. No way I would shell out ~$2K for something like that. Sorry, no Bibi, just can’t buy it.

    • Larry April 13, 2015, 12:08 pm

      WOW! I know. Those evil pro democracy, pro freedom, capitalist Jews! Just trying to guarantee that they are not overrun by the 1.6 billion savages out to exterminate them, huh? Are you instead contemplating the purchase of that extraordinary hardware that the Palestinians & their ISIS pals are producing?

      • Joe freedom April 13, 2015, 1:57 pm

        Easy there rabbi schmoli. Just because an American citizen decides they don’t want to support a foreign government or buy a foreign made product doesn’t make them pro terrorist as you suggest. In my humble opinion, Americans should support one country and that’s America. Billions of our tax dollars go to Israel and what do we get in return from them? Spying on us, political interference, media bias…buy American and keep America protected from foreign influence

        • Russ April 13, 2015, 3:46 pm

          Maybe you didn’t know they are our friends. The only friends in the middle east shithole.
          Maybe you don’t know about IWI US inc.? http://www.iwi.us/Our-Story.
          Everyone spies, even on friends, and we spy on them as well.
          But I think they’re spying on us to find out what our Domestic Terrorist and Chief is up to.
          I call that smart.

          • Damon April 13, 2015, 4:22 pm

            “Maybe you didn’t know they were our friends?”

            Well, USS Liberty to that. I’m an American. Not an Israeli. If you want to support a foreign gov’t, emigrate and join their military.

          • Joe freedom April 13, 2015, 5:24 pm

            I’m aware what our lame stream media tells us to think. The problem is, I just don’t buy it. What a coincidence that all the enemies we have in the Middle East are really Israel’s enemy’s what happened to N Korea?). What a coincidence that the biggest and most powerful political lobby group in America is AIPAC. What a coincidence that Jewish people only make up 2% of our population but over half our billionaires are Jews. The chief executive officers of the three major television networks and the four largest film studios are Jews, as are the owners of the nation’s largest newspaper chain and the most influential single newspaper, the New York Times. Not to mention that Israel was one of the only countries not impacted by the 2007 global financial crisis that led to the loss of 20% of global wealth. But they’re our friends cause they make guns…real sharp smart guy. I’m talking about something bigger than guns here buddy, but you don’t have the ears for it. Our nation is in trouble dipshit…start paying attention.

          • Russ April 14, 2015, 12:22 am

            Joe “namecaller” freedom, you crack me up. Don’t blow a fuse.
            I always wondered about guys like you who hate Jews.
            I guess your jealous?
            Maybe you could learn to make money from them?
            Your so fucking narrow minded and clueless about world affairs, you think there’s a big Jewish conspiracy going on.
            Not only that but you interpreted my point completely wrong.
            Judged before reading the link. US makes civilian Tavors. Who’s a dipshit? Can you read?
            You have no idea who your talking to or my level of integrity to my country.
            I know way more than you, proven by your comment, and am very aware of our situation here in America.
            Hearing you go all over the place with all your bullshit talk and unfounded name calling make me chuckle.
            My eyes and ears are wide fucking open, but ya, not for you, your a time waster.

            PS Damon [WE MAKE TAVORS HERE @ IWI US!] You don’t read either, do you? Did you get that now?
            And I said they’re our friends, who the fuck said I want to live in the shithole middle east?

            You two goofy bastards need to purge your craniums of those parasites, your loosing it.

      • Thomas April 13, 2015, 3:58 pm

        What he ^ said.

      • Dave Emery April 13, 2015, 7:33 pm

        Hummm….supporting other countries that are our allies, whether or not they really are or whether or not they remain as such, is a part of world politics. Isolationism will not work in the global stage – we need friends. I certainly don’t want Islam, in any form, taking over the world either and therefore: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. We’ll entertain any Middle Eastern country that is or seems kind to the US or our interests. We give billions to many countries, but people really have an issue with us giving to Israel. The intel we get from the Mossad is VERY important in our fight against Islamic terrorism and ALL countries spy on each other – no matter if friend or foe.

        • Erik April 14, 2015, 10:23 pm

          Pete, Joe, and Damon are right. Our politicians always make big speeches how much they want support Israel and their causes than ours USA. We all know who those are.
          Dave Emery you talk about friends and not being isolate. You want to isolate USA from 50 plus countries but not one Israel. You are noting better that Nazi or Terrorist.

    • Thomas April 13, 2015, 1:05 pm

      We could care less if buy from Israel or not. That’s not what this announcement is about.

    • Stanley April 13, 2015, 2:03 pm

      Stop using all the medical advances and other wonderful inventions from Israel. Lots of stuff you now use to keep you alive.

  • gmn April 13, 2015, 9:50 am

    I read a few reviews by IDF soldiers who were issued these X95 bullpups and they did not fare well. The only positive things said were accuracy and maneuverability.

    • Redwolf April 13, 2015, 10:23 am

      Specifically what do you mean by ” not fared well? ” ” Accuracy and maneuverability ? seems like a damn good start to me.

    • Damon April 13, 2015, 4:18 pm

      Bullpups usually have less than stellar triggers, because of the linkages and such in the mechanism. There are companies that make replacement trigger groups for the Tavor, but they add a couple of Benjamins to the already substantial cost of the firearm. For $1900+/-, I want to not have to accessorize functionality.

  • Slim April 13, 2015, 7:47 am

    I wonder if the U.S military will every go to this design? Do you know if the U.S government has ordered any tavors to test?

    • Arc Light April 13, 2015, 9:36 am

      The U.S. will likely stick to the M6 SBRs, due to MOA issues…

  • Slim April 13, 2015, 7:46 am

    I wonder if the U.S military will every go to this design? Do you know if the U.S government has ordered any tavors to test?

  • Mike April 13, 2015, 7:25 am

    Wow – nice … glad I waited on the Tavor unlike the other guy – hahahahahaha …

  • Alvarado April 13, 2015, 7:14 am

    Time to trade in the Tavor???

  • elnonio April 13, 2015, 5:03 am

    You have got to be sh!tt!ng me. I finally broke down at Christmas and bought a Tavor thinking they were years away from bringing this to the table.

    Grrrr…

    • Erik April 13, 2015, 8:58 am

      Hey Elonio..look at it this way…this will give you an excuse to buy another great firearm. You can’t go wrong with the Tavor bro.

    • stephen November 3, 2015, 8:31 am

      I think you got IWI confused with Kel Tec.

      😉

      I bought a Tavor too, but looking forward to the X95.

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