Pre-Hillary Gun of the Day: IWI’s Galil ACE in .308
billj 10.25.16
The recently reintroduced ACE is basically my dream AK-pattern rifle. Rock solid AK reliability, world-class manufacturing, and a nice picatinny rail along the top because this is 2016 and if I can’t easily mount an optic on it then I’m just not interested in it.
So now that IWI has announced a .308 (7.62 NATO) version of their popular Galil ACE, I’d pretty much give my right arm for one. (Ok, maybe I wouldn’t. But I’d give your right arm for one.) The new gun takes standard SR25 PMAG, which is awesome because I’ve got plenty of those lying around. (I’m also even more annoyed at FN now for giving the SCAR 17s a non-standard mag.)
So now there are three IWI rifles on my wishlist: the X95, and the ACE in both 7.62×39 and 7.62×51. The problem, of course, is the looming presidential election.
Get Your Imports While You Can
If Hilldawg wins the presidency, and right now she’s in the lead, I expect she’s likely to use an executive order to restrict imports of “assault weapons,” which means if you want a foreign-made modern rifle then you’d better get it while it’s hot.
I think most gun buyers out there are thinking the same thing: Why is the current ACE thin on the ground? When I last checked, Gunbroker didn’t have many on offer, and I’ve yet to see one in a gun shop. (And don’t even get me started on how impossible a SCAR is to find right now.)
To sort of go off topic, it’s looking to me now like the following sections of the market are getting bid up: foreign-made “assault rifles” and low-end to midrange AR-15s.
I’m still seeing plenty of higher end ARs out there, but the low end is gutted and the midrange is pretty scarce, too. So buyers are still going nuts, but they’re not just grabbing anything and everything as with the previous two panics.
Anyway, I expect when this new ACE starts to move into the channel it’s going to be hard to get your hands on. So here are some specs for you to fantasize about while you look for one:
| Caliber | 7.62 NATO (7.62x51mm) |
| Action | Semi-auto |
| Operating System | Closed rotating bolt, long stroke gas piston |
| Magazine Type | MAGPUL LR/SR25 GEN M3 |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds |
| Barrel Material | Cold hammer forged, CrMoV, Chrome lined |
| Barrel Length | 16″ |
| Overall Length | 36″ (Buttstock Unfolded and Collapsed) |
| Weight | 8.7 lbs w/out Magazine |
| Rifling | Right Hand, 1:12 inch twist |
| Stock Color | Black |
| Sights | Adjustable with Tritium front post and 2-dot Tritium rear aperture. |
| Restricted States | Sales of this rifle may be restricted in certain states and the District of Columbia. Please check with your local authorities regarding your local firearms laws. |
| Optional Equipment | N/A |
| MSRP | $2,099.00 |
