Quote Originally Posted by Joelski View Post
I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on this. Personally, I've never felt any allure from them, and since I pretty much hate any version of AK, the AR has been my flavor since I picked up my first one in '81. The evolution of the American Rifle since the Sporter days has been fun to participate in. Like you, I love an SBR, hell, I even went the other direction and worked up an 18" rifle just to add some diversity. I'm still chapped over missing out on the ACR, although I wish Magpul would have never let Remington near the Masada. That, to me is the true state of where the AR would be today if the Freedom gang wouldn't have been allowed to f$ck it all up six ways to Sunday! If you are pursuing the Tavor as something different, other than an AK, I'm with you in that chase! I'm also with you on the whole "Fk Hamas" thing as well!

I bought a SCAR-S at the Enforcement Expo in NOLA several years back and Sandy Hook happened right as I was having buyer's remorse, so I flipped it almost the day it showed up at my FFL for almost double. Other than the not one single part matched color-wise, it was shockingly light despite its appearance, but it just didn't feel like a gun should for the money it cost. I suppose I could've gotten to like it eventially, but the offer was too good to pass up, considering I was already having second thoughts about spending the money. I almost bought a LWRC SBR, but it was just too much of a PITA, being out of state and taking on an ATF permission note wasn't appealing at the time.

For "different" I'm kind of looking at the PSA Jackl, as it's a blatant ACR knock-off and they couldn't possibly do any worse, PSA rep and all. From what I've seen, reviews are mostly positive, so I might dip my toe in that pond. As a poor public safety worker, I must admit the other "knock-off" they're pimping, the Sabre, is pretty darn sexy in the full M-110 trim. I think they should take off the bipod and discount the price accordingly, but the 10 foot test screams hottie to anybody that wants a M-110, but will never be able to swing 10-15k for a range toy.

Edit: sorry for the derail, but you knew we do that rather well around here!
Here's the dry review, my thoughts so far as I just picked mine up this past day but live fire won't be until this Sunday.

Hefty rear, lightened front. Adding the necessities adds heft and balances it very well but too much in the front makes it now front heavy and not optimal.

Pistol grip is the right angle but I wish we had the AR15 option to put what we want on it instead because not all hands fit the same. But it's not the end of the world and the texture around isn't bad but I may be adding some talon wrap in rubber.

I like the long top rail, lots of uninterrupted real estate if one doesn't mind using spots where the backup sights are located in the top rail itself.

Length of pull is exactly right where it should be for me at least using the bent arm at 45 degrees and wristed canted inwards. I'm 5'10 if this matters. If you're of South African Euro stature then you may need a a longer butt pad. But this is just perfect for me with the OEM one.

Height over bore. If you're already into the tall mounts then you'd be right at home with the drop compensations at certain distances but be warned that a lower one third will feel like an absolute and a 1.93 will feel like a lower one third from the chin welds, and so on.

Manual of arms. Bolt release is not where we're expecting it to be. Charging handle being on the side is still natural to me due to spending a long time being either the M-60 or later a 249 gunner. Selector is right where you'd expect it to be on an AR15 and almost the same with the mag release but this one is ambidextrous and pushes inward and down at the same time so almost the same in function. Th selector's lever is shaped like an M16's so this will be a natural feel for the user used to only one way of doing things on a rifle.

If you were a fan of USGI polymer handguards or the newer quad rails, well you get to have it back with this one unless using an aftermarket Mlok tube. Not being a fan of quads myself even though I spent a decade using them on USGI issued rifles, it's not that bad as the edges aren't as sharp. Plus I don't know why I kept on to certain quad specific accessories but am now glad I already had what was needed on hand to use again.

Muzzle device is kept on by a jam nut, no vice needed to swap MD's with. However there's an aftermarket crush washer specifically made for the Tavor to use in case one doesn't want to use the provided jam nut.

The trigger really isn't bad for a stock bullpup and this one IMO is even better than an AR's milspec basic cheap OEM trigger. However I may still replace both the trigger and trigger bow eventually but not immediately to save some money.

Overall so far so good with me. Bolt release does take some getting used to but not a deal breaker. Will update with the second half of this review as asked after rounds have been sent downrange finally to complete this short and quick sampled size of one person's take.