First Look: the Galil ACE Pistol
Major Pandemic 02.13.17
I was fortunate to be one of the first writers to get my hands on the newly introduced Galil ACE GAP39SB. For those not familiar with the original Galil line, it was developed in the 1960s and has been tuned and tweaked over the years by IWI. The original design was an adaptation of the AK platform.
In this case, IWI’s Galil ACE GAP39 pistol has been fitted with a new style Sig Brace with folding adapter and now has the GAP30SB model name.
The ACE GAP39 pistols are all fed via AK compatible magazines. In this case, IWI includes a magpul AK PMag with the pistol.
If you want to mess some stuff up and need a small package to do it, this thing is freaking awesome. At this point we only have around 300 rounds through it, but it was fast targeting, 100% reliable, quick handling, and impressively accurate for an AK 47 style pistol with a tiny 8.3” barrel.
Loud? Hell yes, but not as bad as I have experienced with my Century Arms AK pistols.
Notably the recoil was much more controllable than the AK pistols I have shot. Actually I love this pistol and format. I immediately started thinking of my friends at S.W.H.A.T — Special Weapons Hogs and Tactics, because this would be a great option for the backup guy responsible for managing charging boars.
A simple and inexpensive Bushnell TRS-25 was mounted to the integrated picatinny rail on the bolt cover. Generally this never works, but IWI has managed to engineer the top cover in a way that it is rigid and will still hold zeros shot after shot. I had no issues painting a 1” ragged hole at 25-yards with the little pistol off of sand bags or hammering the 300 yard 12” gong shot after shot.
Beyond less recoil and improved accuracy over typical AK variants, other refinements include really nice adjustable tritium sights with a 0-300 and 300-600 yard AR style aperture flip sights, integrated picatinny handguard rails and covers, integrated light switch hole on the covers, ambi-safety selector, and standard muzzle RH threads with a lock nut.
Look for a full review soon, but barring any issues I will have a few of my other AK pistols up for sale. So far the Galil GAP39SP is lighter, softer recoiling, more accurate, and much more ergonomic than AK pistols I own and have tested in the past, but it should be at twice the price with an $1850 MSRP.
IWI Marketing Info on the GAP39SB
The Galil ACE SB features a side-folding Stabilizing Brace, produced for IWI US by SB Tactical LLC, designers and manufacturers of the original SB15 and SB47 Pistol Stabilizing Braces. Originally designed as a means for persons with limited mobility to operate and fire the AR-15 pistol, the custom adaptation of the Stabilizing Brace to the Galil ACE pistol takes the application of large frame pistol control and stabilization to a new level. With the IWI brace’s unique sidefolding feature, the Galil ACE SB can be fired with or without the brace extended depending on the shooters need. With the brace in the folded position, storage space required in your safe or range/rifle bag is minimized.
In all other respects, the Galil ACE GAP39SB is identical to the GAP39.
The modernized Galil ACE is based upon the reliable mechanism of the original Galil assault rifle first developed by IMI in the late 1960’s. Drawing inspiration from the legendary Russian AK-47 and the Finnish Valmet RK 62, the IWI Galil ACE has been continuously improved over the last 40+ years, resulting in today’s extremely reliable and highly accurate Galil ACE.
Improvements made since the original Galil was first developed include:
- Charging handle (reciprocating) moved to the left side of the milled steel receiver allowing for weak hand operation
- Weight reduction with the use of modern polymers
- AKM/AK-47 magazine compatibility
- Full length 2-piece Picatinny top rail
- Picatinny tri-rail forearm with built in, slide on/ off rail covers with pressure switch access
- Fully adjustable iron sights with Tritium front post
Specs:
- Caliber: 7.62x39mm
- Action Semi-auto
- Operating System Closed rotating bolt, long stroke gas piston
- Magazine Type MAGPUL MOE AK/AKM PMAG
- Magazine Capacity 30 rounds
- Barrel Material Cold hammer forged, CrMoV, chrome lined
- Barrel Length 8.3″
- Overall Length 26.75″
- Weight 6.5 lbs w/out Magazine
- Rifling Right Hand, 1:9.45 inch twist
- Brace Color Black
- Sights Adjustable with Tritium front post and 2-dot Tritium rear aperture.
- MSRP $1,849
