The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

snayperskaya wrote:

BamBam wrote:AK is OK, but Galil is better.

Ah....the Balashnikov, started out as a lightly modified AKM then had the Finnish Valmet thrown into the mix.To be fair I wouldn't mind a straight pull Galil.......now where's my Kippah?.

The first Galils were built using Valmet receivers with AR-15 barrels.

LEW in South Africa used to make a pump action R4, the H4, for the civilian market, like our straight pulls there was no gas port in the barrel and the piston was ground off. They stopped making them after the 90's as civvies were allowed semi-auto rifles again.[/quote]



I seem to recall reading of straight pull Vector Galil's that never made into the country, but did exist (they had thumbhole stocks but fitting Galil furniture looked doable). I have the VZ Mars, started with a 223 model and then went to 7.62x39. Works a whole lot better and it's not for everyone but it's my one gun I guess everyone has they spend a stupid amount of money on, but money doesn't make you happy sitting there .

Also we had a thread on those rare straight pull Vectors http://www.full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.ph ... 7&start=10

snayperskaya wrote: Are you sure on the Valmet front?, found this.....

http://www.forgottenweapons.com/galil-arm/

Back in the day it was something I read by Peter G Kokalis in SOF mag. In basic training the instructors told us that the R4 was a completely South African development, saying that wasn't true earned you an afternoon in the sun with your full kit on and a sandbag.
During the next phase we had a lecture from an Israeli army captain who had shot tanks with a 106 during the Yom Kippur war, he had a similar outlook on the Galil's development and mentioned Valmet, FN, Madsen and Stoner as idea sources. Turns out saying I told you so earned you an afternoon in the sun with your full kit on and a sandbag.
In the 90s when I was roped into training teenagers from the local high schools to shoot the R4, I worked into the introductory lecture the development of the Galil as I knew it then. Kids were smart enough to know that it was inspired by the AK, but some of the other stuff not even the unit's leader element were aware of. I always finished the lecture off with using the bipod retaining hooks to open a bottle, once with a beer, but that was seriously discouraged as the girls that day were from the local convent school.

European dealers can pick up semi-auto Vz's for around €75 apiece plus taxes.
Sadly, it was true couple of years back but not any longer as the Czech army is now equipped with a new rifle & the last Vz 58 stocks held have been sold to, among other forces, the Afghan & Iraqi police. It means Vz58's px are on the rise even locally... grab one at a decent px while you still can...