The Israeli Defense Forces have used IWI’s 5.56mm Tavor TAR-21 for years because of its compact size—perfect for urban operations—and tank-tough reliability. The bullpup will run even in the harsh conditions of the Middle East. Now IWI’s American subsidiary is bringing a few civilian-ready versions to the U.S., including the semi-auto Tavor SAR, which author David Bahde torture tests in the upcoming September 2013 issue of Tactical Weapons.
The matte black, piston-operated SAR features a 16.5-inch barrel in a package with an overall length of only 26.13 inches. As Bahde writes, “Working in close quarters is this rifle’s forte. When working around barricades, it is very difficult to flag your muzzle. You can control the entire space.”Even better, the entire system can be modified for right- and left-handed users.
But how did it perform at the range? In a CQB shoothouse? Does the SAR suffer from a long, mushy trigger bullpups are known for? How well does it work while suppressed? To learn more, check out the September 2013 issue of Tactical Weapons, available on newsstands and digitally July 9, 2013. To subscribe, go to https://www.tactical-life.com/subscribe.
