IWI TAVOR 7

Description
ABOUT TAVOR 7
BUY IWI TAVOR 7- Due to the dynamic changes in the battlefield and the necessity of a potent 7.62mm cartridge weapon with superior performance, granting the troops an innovative, powerful, accurate and reliable weapon that can be rapidly and easily deployed in all combat situations- IWI created the TAVOR 7 7.62X51mm Assault Rifle.

TAVOR 7 is a bullpup configuration system – rear center of gravity enabling a rapid acquisition of the target and providing the ability to fire the weapon with only one hand.

Furthermore, due to the bullpup configuration, the weapon’s overall length can be significantly reduced without modifying the barrel length, allowing maneuverability in CQB / confined spaces and at the same time, being lethal for long ranges.

TAVOR 7 is a battle ready innovative weapon, built to be durable and robust, designed in close collaboration with the IDF to create a weapon with outstanding performance and accuracy in all environmental conditions with enhanced human ergonomics.

TAVOR 7 is made of superior steel and high strength impact modified polymer; it has a rotating bolt system ensuring maximum safety for the user.

TAVOR 7 can be easily adapted, depending on the operational requirements, military or law enforcement tasks – vehicle patrol & use, CQB & confined spaces, under cover missions – short and medium combat engagement, custom police operations, VIP protection, etc.
TAVOR 7 is a fully ambidextrous platform; the ejection side can be swapped rapidly and easily from side to side by the user. It is equipped with mil standard 1913 Picatinny rails on all sides allowing 100% compatibility with any available sights and/or accessories.

Highly efficient & reliable modular battle rifle

Designed for minimum operator and armorer level maintenance, thus reducing life cycle costs
100% interchangeability, reducing the overall costs of the system
All the metal parts of the weapon are corrosion resistant
Body built of high strength impact modified polymer
Hammer-forged, chrome-lined, free-floating barrel, for enhanced accuracy & life cycle
Hard-anodized monolithic aluminum MIL-STD 1913 Rail
The rifle is equipped with a significantly efficient jump compensator for better shooter stability
Uses any NATOMIL STD 7.62 Steel / aluminum / polymer magazine
Optimized ergonomic design
Pistol grips can be changed or modified
Fully Ambidextrous weapon:
Safety Lever, Magazine Release, Bolt Catch: can be converted by the user from side to side ejection port, bolt and charging handle
Non reciprocating charging handle
Enlarged trigger guard for easier access and hand protection
FEATURES
Short-stroke gas piston
Simple field stripping into only 2 parts, easy to clean and no need for special tools
Detachablereplaceable barrel
2 different barrel lengths to choose from –17” and 20”
4 position gas regulator – RegularExtremeSuppressorClosed (for special operations)
M-LOK fore end, provided MIL-STD 1913 accessory rails at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions
Covered MIL-STD 1913 accessory rail at the 6 o’clock position
TECHNICAL DATA
Caliber: 7.62X51mm

Rifling: 4 RH Grooves, 1:12″ twist

Barrel length (mm): 432(17″)

Total length (mm): 730

Weight (approx. Kg) (w/o magazine): 4.1

Rate of fire (approx. Rd./min): 600~900

Review: IWI US Tavor 7

By ALEX LUFFO FROM gunsdiscreetsupplies.com

The evolution of modern firearms is a fascinating process to witness. Whether it is an updated spin on an old design or something completely different, I am a sucker for trying new models. Our Editor in Chief knows this, so he didn’t have to twist my arm to test IWI’s big brother to the Tavor and X95 bullpups: the Tavor 7. My experience with magazine-behind-trigger rifles is limited to a handful of 5.56 NATO bullpups, so I was anxious to see what this 7.62 NATO-chambered rifle from our good friends in Israel had to offer. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

The Tavor 7’s very short overall length is deceiving. It appears light, but its 9-plus pounds of steel and polymer make clear this carbine was built for hard use in harsh environments. While stout, this weight places it on par with many other out-of-the-box .308 Win./7.62 NATO battle rifles. The beauty of the Tavor 7’s design—and that of any bullpup—is that its weight is contained in a package that is much shorter than conventional designs with similar barrel lengths. In this case, even with a 16.5-inch barrel, the Tavor is approximately 6 inches shorter than a 16-inch-barreled, .308 Win.-chambered AR with a fully collapsed stock. Even if that AR had a side-folding stock, the big Tavor still measures a hair shorter while being ready to shoot at all times. However, it’s worth noting the Tavor 7 is a full inch-and-a-quarter taller than a flat-topped .308 Win. AR when each rifle has a 20-round, SR25-pattern magazine locked in place.

The big Tavor is available with a black-, FDE- or OD Green-colored, reinforced polymer body that incorporates M-Lok slots into the fore-end. IWI US’ plant assembles the Tavor 7 with a mixture of Israeli and U.S.-made components to keep the rifle in compliance with 18 USC § 922 (r). Since the magazine included with each rifle is one of those required, U.S.-made components, owners on this side of the pond must use only U.S.-made mags to prevent violation of federal law.

My sample Tavor 7 was fronted with a multi-ported muzzle brake, but the barrel’s 5/8×24 threads make it possible to retrofit a flash hider or a suppressor mount. Although IWI’s manual clearly states that the rifle is intended for 7.62 NATO ammunition only, a representative of IWI US assured me that it’s OK to fire .308 Win. ammunition. The short-stroke, gas-piston operating system uses a four-position, adjustable regulator to help the rifle glide through a variety of pressure changes and conditions. Adjustment is accomplished by inserting a cartridge tip in the regulator knob’s transverse hole and then turning to one of the detent-secured positions. The Tavor 7’s stock features multiple sling QD sockets while the receiver’s top rail provides a generous 14.75 inches of mounting space.

Fronted with a multi-ported muzzle brake, the barrel’s threads allow for a flash hider or suppressor mount • Smooth, yet consistent, the single-stage trigger is remarkably light for a bullpup • The charging handle can lock the bolt back and also serve as a forward assist • Located behind the magazine well is the bolt hold/release, which is ambidextrous • A Picatinny rail along the top allows mounting an optic, while concealed beneath the handguard is an rail where a bipod or other accessories can attach • Ejection and charging are reversible for lefties. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

Just as with the smaller Tavors, the 7 is easy to convert for left-handed use. A large, ambidextrous magazine release is already in place and requires no modification. The 45-degree ambi selector has reversible large and small paddles, while the ejection port, brass deflector, charging handle and dustcover all swap to the opposite side. Using a bullet tip and the manual, my first conversion to full lefty was a 2-minute affair. The process is simple and yields a strong-side-friendly carbine.

The Tavor’s bolt has several lock-back options. The simplest is a notch placed high in the rearmost portion of the cocking handle’s track. Due to my unfamiliarity with the rifle, I had a tendency to inadvertently lock my bolt back in this notch while manually charging the rifle in a hurry. The bolt also locks back on an empty magazine. It can be released from this position by pressing the long, ambidextrous button positioned on the carbine’s bottom, just aft of the magazine well. Pulling this same release downward, while fully retracting the charging handle, also locks the bolt back. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

Since this stubby carbine is purpose-built for the battle-rifle role and already runs on the heavy side, I decided to use a 1-6X optic for accuracy testing. Nonetheless, it produced smaller groups than the IWI Galil ACE/15X riflescope combo we evaluated in 2017, while matching that rifle’s overall accuracy average of 2.2 MOA. Once again, I had to account for IWI’s choice of a 1:12-inch rifling twist when choosing test ammunition. I can’t help but wonder how the Tavor 7 would fare with a 1:10-inch barrel twist and ammunition better-suited for the type of shooting at which the .308 Win. cartridge really excels. Since no further options are planned at this time, Tavor 7 owners will likely find the best results in light-for-caliber projectile weights.

I found the single-stage IWI trigger to be consistent and pleasantly smooth, with just a tiny bit of free play at the start of its travel. Firing off of a bipod, which was attached to a rail concealed under the handguard’s cover, proved to be a jumpy affair. The big bullpup’s heavy rear tended to rock it into a stock-down/barrel-up attitude in recoil, but this was easy enough to manage once I got used to the rifle’s feel. I also found that when positioning my support hand under the rear of the stock while prone, I sometimes tripped the bolt release during recoil, preventing the bolt from locking back on an empty mag. These are all familiarity issues that simply require repetitive training to overcome. Firing off of a bag rest with my support hand under the fore-end proved to be the best position for prone work. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

The Tavor 7’s weight distribution also felt odd as I moved in closer to my targets with the rifle at a low ready. But, the rear-heavy design and short overall length really shined during rapid-acquisition strings from 25 to 10 yards away. Bringing the rifle up to align the optic with my targets was much smoother than with a traditional .308 Win. carbine. My only functional issues were four light-strike failures-to-fire while using steel-cased, Wolf 145-grain FMJ loads, which is fairly common with that ammunition. Otherwise, the Tavor 7 chewed through my brief, 125-round test without issue.

Post-range maintenance was very easy. The manual spells out the steps required to remove the gas piston, sear and recoil assemblies for cleaning in simple and concise terms. In spite of IWI’s insistence on 1:12-inch twist, .30-caliber barrels and a limited 5-year warranty for the Tavor 7, it has solid potential as a solution for very short, heavy-hitting carbine needs.

IWI TAVOR 7 in 7.62 NATO – Review

By FRED TOAST FROM gunsdiscreetsupplies.com

Let’s get something out of the way right upfront. I’m not an expert rifle guy. Sure, I know that the skinny end should point toward the target, but many of the finer points seem like voodoo magic to me. But that’s okay because the Tavor is called a Bullpup, a QCB weapon, a Combat gun, etc. Those names are more forgiving to those of us who generally know our way around a rifle but are not going to impress any real experts with knowledge or experience. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

Confession number two: I’d never fired a Tavor before. That includes the X95 upgraded variant that is probably the most popular model. No reason, really – just never stumbled upon an opportunity to do so. I’m guessing there are a few readers out there that have similar stories, and yet are (as I am) drawn to the Tavor design. When given the chance to evaluate and report on the newest from IWI – the Tavor 7 – I was very interested. First, because the now almost legendary Tavor has so long eluded me, and second because this one stretches the playing field by being chambered for 7.62 NATO (or .308 Win). That just sounded a little too badass to pass up.

My first impression of the Tavor 7 was, “Wow, this thing is heavy”. At a full 9 lbs. it’s more bull than pup. But it wears that weight well, and I think it is to the benefit of the shooter. More on that in a bit. My second impression was “What do you mean it doesn’t come with any sights?”. Yes, I get that most users will immediately mount their optic of choice, but I think a QCB gun should have a set of flip-up sights on it out of the box. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

I had to wait a couple of days for the ammo I’d ordered to arrive, so I spent some time getting acquainted with the rifle and its controls. I even read the manual, at the risk of losing my man card. Before hitting the range with the T7 I was already impressed with not only the quality of materials and workmanship but with the clever design and especially the upgrades that it has over previous models. I don’t want to have to take a class at the local community college to learn how a new rifle works, and I was pleased to find the Tavor 7 very intuitive and user-friendly. And, it is more left-hand friendly than its predecessors, with many controls being fully ambidextrous. The remaining functions of the rifle can be easily switched from right-hand use to left-hand use, even in the field – using no tools other than a single round of ammo. This includes not only swapping over the charging handle but also changing ejection from one side to the other. All with no extra parts required. For a combat rifle that may need to change hands often, this is huge.

SHOOTING THE TAVOR 7

Opinions are mixed about the inherent accuracy of the 7.62 NATO and .308 Winchester, but no one can dispute that it is one of the most tested rounds in existence and capable of producing trophy-taking groups at great distances. Initial prototypes of the Tavor 7 were met with groans of disappointment from the shooting community when it could not produce groups close to 1 MOA. In fact, it was producing groups closer to 4 MOA and that was generally considered unacceptable. So, IWI held back on the planned release of the gun, vowing to improve that – with a goal of achieving 1.5 MOA on the final production rifle. That was well over a year ago. Did they meet that goal? BUY IWI TAVOR 7

Jeremy Gresham, Director of Sales and Marketing at IWI US made the following statement recently on social media:

“This will be the final update on the T7 before we start shipping… For a better part of a year and a half of extra testing on the rifle, we have come to the conclusion that the Tavor 7 will not get the accuracy of 1.5 MOA that we set out to get. Overall the weapon system as a whole was never designed in a way to achieve this 1.5MOA. It was designed to shoot minute of man on today’s battlefields with a high degree of reliability. In the last update I posted we got it down around the 1.5MOA but we gave up too much in other areas so that simply wasn’t the answer. After all this, the engineering team has put a major focus on accuracy going forward with new product development on top of what we already do well. We have shot more 308/7.62 NATO in the last year of testing than I believe most people will fire in a lifetime times 10. In conclusion, it’s a solid weapon system for what it was intended for and soon you’ll be able to get your hands on it.”

I knew two things about this rifle in advance of receiving it – that I wanted to shoot a lot of ammo through it; and that I didn’t want to break the bank doing it. I purchased several boxes of top-shelf ammunition, like Hornady Match and Winchester Silvertip, some general-purpose stuff with a good reputation like Federal American Eagle, and ordered a bunch of inexpensive ammo for volume shooting. That inexpensive ammo took two forms: Military surplus 7.62 NATO and steel-cased TulAmmo in .308. The Tula arrived first, and on my first range trip, I took a few hundred rounds of it, and a few boxes of Winchester Super X and Aguila. Thank goodness for those last two – because this rifle will just plain not shoot Tula ammo. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

I spent about 30 minutes hearing the gun go “click” instead of “bang”, during which time I was able to actually fire fewer rounds that I could count on one hand. After examination, I believed the problem to be related to deeply seated primers and a firing pin that doesn’t quite extend far enough to reliably detonate them. Subsequent range trips did not include any of that ammunition and yielded no malfunctions of any kind.

I shot the Tavor 7 with several configurations at many distances using a variety of ammo. Military surplus ammo did the heavy lifting for just general shooting, semi-rapid fire, and heating up the gun for some endurance evaluations. For measured groups, I used several commercial loads through a cool and clean barrel. Results at 100 yards fell very much along the lines of “you get what you pay for” in terms of the ammo tested. As the price of the ammo increases, the size of the group decreases. As such, I think the top three performers are a good indication of the Tavor 7’s capability. The best 5-shot group I was able to produce at 100 yards was 3” with Winchester’s Silvertip 168 grain. Looking at the best 3-shot group for each load (which helps eliminate shooter inconsistencies), four out of six tested loads produced sub 1.5” groups. In light of Gresham’s statement, this is some good performance. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

At a closer distance, like 50 yards, the Tavor 7 nearly makes ragged holes with just about every kind of ammo. I think this is truly where this gun shines. If you wanted a Tavor to hunt with, I think that you can do it with this 7.62×51 model – as long as you keep it to around 100 yards or so. For closer ranges, maybe wild boar – it should be an awesome choice.

Accuracy wasn’t the only thing I was curious about before shooting the Tavor 7. I had premonitions of a bruised shoulder or battered cheek from the extra thump of .308 recoil in a small bullpup. So much so, that I must have looked comical when I leaned into an extra-wide stance for that first shot. Imagine my surprise to find that the gun shoots quite tamely! It’s still a .308 and the laws of physics still apply, but I do not find shooting this rifle to be unpleasant at all. I put several hundred rounds through it in a relatively short period of time without any discomfort, and no soreness afterward. This is a testament not only to the 9 lbs. of weight and the way it is distributed (toward the back) but also to the well-designed ergonomics. The Tavor 7 shoulders nicely, with a comfortable cheek weld. The pistol grip is at a pleasant angle with a comfortable grip surface, and the forward handguard provides a nice grasp at a comfortable distance. Although the butt of the rifle is surprisingly un-padded, it is well textured and large. This spreads the recoil energy over a larger portion of the shooter’s body and nearly eliminates any movement. I can honestly say that I have pistol caliber carbines that are far more abusive to the shooter. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

Bullpup rifles are also notoriously known for their bad triggers, but that is not the case with the Tavor 7. I find the trigger to be light and crisp without over-travel and a good reset. It measured just 4 ½ lbs. on the Lyman digital scale.

WHAT’S NEW FOR TAVOR 7?

As if simply chambering a bullpup for .308 isn’t enough to get the market’s attention, IWI made this rifle very well equipped, including several changes in answer to customer feedback from Tavor and X95. Starting out front, there is an adjustable gas system with four settings. Going from right to left (remember, this is an Israeli weapon, and Hebrew is read in that direction) they are R for regular use; A for adverse conditions; S for suppressed; and O for off. The settings are also numbered I through IIII. In the “Off” setting, the action will not cycle after the shot is fired. This is intended for extreme covert use, obviously in conjunction with a suppressor, when one does not wish to draw attention to herself.

Sliding rearward just a tad, the foregrip has been changed so that only the bottom part is removable to reveal a generous section of 1913 Picatinny rail, but none on either side as the X95 has. The cover is easy to remove and replace once you know the secret to the button. I didn’t realize that you push only the right side and the manual was not clear – so it took communication with customer service to learn that the part wasn’t broken, I was just a dimwit. But even if you are a dimwit – the folks at IWI USA customer service are helpful and friendly. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

Next, the charging handle (which is fully reversible side-to-side) has a catch position (think HK or CZ) that allows you to lock the bolt open and then charge the weapon with the flick of a finger. This is quite possibly my favorite feature. The handle is non-reciprocating, so there is no danger of it hitting your support hand when firing, no matter how you grip it.

The top of the T7 is a single long run of 1913 rail, made of high-grade aluminum and well finished in matte black with graduations for reference when replacing optics. It is, however, barren of any sights as I have previously bemoaned. The magazine release is fully ambidextrous and the buttons are large and wonderfully serrated. Their location is nothing short of either pure genius or very good luck, and I’ll allow for the former. When I remove my finger from the trigger and rest it on the frame of the receiver, it falls naturally onto the magazine release. Depending on the length of your specific digits, your results may differ – but for me, it is in the perfect position to release the magazine and reload. And doing so is easy. The button offers just enough resistance to avoid accidentally dropping a magazine unintentionally but is easy enough to push deliberately and the magazine drops free every time. Of which, one Magpul 20-round PMAG is supplied.

The safety selector is also fully Ambi and well located for easy operation. The pistol grip is generally comfortable and ergonomic, but the large upper finger groove feels awkward to my hand and gives me the sensation that my second finger should be higher up. Something that bothers me less while shooting than it does just holding it. Also, in the box are two quick-detach sling swivels for the well-placed QD mount points on the gun. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

But perhaps the biggest headline, aside from the chambering itself, is the ability to change the rifle from a fully right-hand shooter’s gun to a fully left-hand shooter’s gun – in just minutes – without tools or additional parts. You’ll hear some people call the Tavor 7 “fully ambidextrous”, but that’s incorrect. By definition, to be ambidextrous means that it can be manipulated with either hand equally without modification. The Tavor 7 is “easily convertible” to either hand use. And that’s still big news! The charging handle is easily moved side to side, the ejection ports are easily and quickly switched, and the bolt itself is easily converted from right hand to left. All capable of being done in the field using only a single live round as your tool.

JUST MY OPINION

I began fieldwork with the Tavor 7 without many expectations and an open mind – perhaps the benefit of my lack of familiarity with the platform. I’ve mentioned my joy and surprise at the way the Tavor 7 manages the recoil of the .308, while not the most punishing round out there, certainly one that can leave an impression. The overall ergonomics of the Tavor 7 are excellent, as is the trigger, and the weight distribution. IWI clearly spent much of its attention on the human interface when designing the bullpup initially, and the evolution that is the T7 proves that they didn’t put their pencils away. I’ll admit that the bullpup looks awkward, and some might even say ugly – but when lifted to the shoulder it all makes sense. BUY IWI TAVOR 7

Designed for battle, it is tough as nails and maneuverable, unlike any other battle rifle (or, if you prefer, civilian defense rifle as this is the semiauto version). Aside from a complete inability to run some inexpensive steel cased ammo, it does not malfunction. Long-range accuracy is okay, but inside 100 yards it is accurate enough for a precise shot if you’re shooting the top-shelf ammo. Inside 50 yards it is capable of ragged hole groups even with the cheapest military surplus you find on sale (ask me how I know). So, did IWI make the right decision to hold this from the market for well over a year, in an effort to accurize it? I didn’t shoot a prototype so I can’t say for certain – but it is my opinion that they have achieved a good degree of acceptable accuracy without sacrificing reliability. And the latter is still far more important for a sound battle rifle such as the Tavor 7.