For all you that own real Galils, do you shoot them or keep them as safe queens. As expensive and rare as they are, I can't blame anyone for not shooting them as replacement parts are expensive as well. Just curious.
Regards
Regards
Shooter or Safe Queen?
- Thread starter Mike-4
- Start date
C
Che
Guest
I shoot mine, but that being said I care for my guns and while many are over 23 plus years old, they still look near new.
The way I figure it, I can put them away for investment purposes (not why I got them) and they may be worth more in the end. But someday I'm going to croke and some guy will probably get my guns when my wife gets rid of them for next to nothing just because she does not want the hassle of selling them. Or, (and I hope), they go to my kids, who will appreciate a little wear and tear dad put on them and actually appreciate them a bit more because of it.
I guess it all depends upon why YOU bought yours.
The way I figure it, I can put them away for investment purposes (not why I got them) and they may be worth more in the end. But someday I'm going to croke and some guy will probably get my guns when my wife gets rid of them for next to nothing just because she does not want the hassle of selling them. Or, (and I hope), they go to my kids, who will appreciate a little wear and tear dad put on them and actually appreciate them a bit more because of it.
I guess it all depends upon why YOU bought yours.
I basically shoot all mine (My 5.56 / .308 / Haddar pre-bans and builds (all IMI parts)). Even my Galatz; that I bought never fired before; I had to shoot it.
I still have a 5.56 ARM and .308 ARM new in the box with accesseries that havent been fired and as of now; not sure if I'll fire them in the near future.
My next investment will be a select-fire magnum research and yes; I will fire that!
I still have a 5.56 ARM and .308 ARM new in the box with accesseries that havent been fired and as of now; not sure if I'll fire them in the near future.
My next investment will be a select-fire magnum research and yes; I will fire that!
Westcliffe01
Well-known member
It was Townsend Whelen who said: "Only accurate rifles are interesting".
Today, many people buy rifles that are not very accurate, but the more accurate the weapons you own, the more you might actually use them. My Golani was not very accurate, particularly with me as the operator and iron sights and my vision being what it is. I personally can't afford to blast away cases of ammo and doing that does not appeal to my concept of fiscal conservatism, so I have not shot mine a whole lot. I recently did add a red dot to the rail I added to the gas tube, the only problem is that using it required removing the rear peep sight since it blocked the view of the red dot. I didn't want to raise up the red dot, since this weapon has enough stuff to snag on things like the hooded front sight.
With the new build I am doing, I am going to try to eke every bit of accuracy out of the weapon possible, starting with a match barrel and de-coupling the gas system from the barrel (which will also makes the barrel easier to machine and the rifle to build). I am also going to see if I can fit a free floating handguard to remove yet another influence which has caused a lot of flyers on the different bolt guns I have bought. The trigger on mine seems pretty good for a semi auto, but I might do a Jard 2 stage on the new build.
I omitted the optics dovetail in the new receiver, since in my opinion the receivers are machined too skinny to begin with. So the question of mounting optics remains to be solved. Since my plan for the gas tube is to have it permanently attached to a plate that is sandwiched between barrel and receiver, I might be able to conjure up a mount to accept the AK "dogleg" optics rail which is retained in the rear by a new recoil spring catch. The dogleg rail replaces the dust cover.
Will it still be a Galil when I am done ? In my opinion, yes because it is still the same gas operated rotary bolt rifle. I have looked and looked at other gas operated guns, but the AR is out due to the awkward charging handle setup and DI system, the SIG 556 seemed to be better ergonomically, but there just seemed to be a LOT of quality issues. The Sig also had a folding stock, but that seemed to be one of the major quality sticking points. Not to mention, they seem to be hard to find and selling for over MSRP where ever I looked. There are a small number of manufacturers making upper receivers for AR's which have side charging handles including a FAL style non reciprocating one, but only in conjunction with the DI system. Rock River Arms released their PDS system, but demand has outstripped supply and they have again sold for well over MSRP. Rock River also will not sell any parts for its piston system so that You can build your own. They now have the 7.62x39 system, but again, only DI which is a killer if you shoot corrosive Yugo ammo, which I have quite a bit of.
Today, many people buy rifles that are not very accurate, but the more accurate the weapons you own, the more you might actually use them. My Golani was not very accurate, particularly with me as the operator and iron sights and my vision being what it is. I personally can't afford to blast away cases of ammo and doing that does not appeal to my concept of fiscal conservatism, so I have not shot mine a whole lot. I recently did add a red dot to the rail I added to the gas tube, the only problem is that using it required removing the rear peep sight since it blocked the view of the red dot. I didn't want to raise up the red dot, since this weapon has enough stuff to snag on things like the hooded front sight.
With the new build I am doing, I am going to try to eke every bit of accuracy out of the weapon possible, starting with a match barrel and de-coupling the gas system from the barrel (which will also makes the barrel easier to machine and the rifle to build). I am also going to see if I can fit a free floating handguard to remove yet another influence which has caused a lot of flyers on the different bolt guns I have bought. The trigger on mine seems pretty good for a semi auto, but I might do a Jard 2 stage on the new build.
I omitted the optics dovetail in the new receiver, since in my opinion the receivers are machined too skinny to begin with. So the question of mounting optics remains to be solved. Since my plan for the gas tube is to have it permanently attached to a plate that is sandwiched between barrel and receiver, I might be able to conjure up a mount to accept the AK "dogleg" optics rail which is retained in the rear by a new recoil spring catch. The dogleg rail replaces the dust cover.
Will it still be a Galil when I am done ? In my opinion, yes because it is still the same gas operated rotary bolt rifle. I have looked and looked at other gas operated guns, but the AR is out due to the awkward charging handle setup and DI system, the SIG 556 seemed to be better ergonomically, but there just seemed to be a LOT of quality issues. The Sig also had a folding stock, but that seemed to be one of the major quality sticking points. Not to mention, they seem to be hard to find and selling for over MSRP where ever I looked. There are a small number of manufacturers making upper receivers for AR's which have side charging handles including a FAL style non reciprocating one, but only in conjunction with the DI system. Rock River Arms released their PDS system, but demand has outstripped supply and they have again sold for well over MSRP. Rock River also will not sell any parts for its piston system so that You can build your own. They now have the 7.62x39 system, but again, only DI which is a killer if you shoot corrosive Yugo ammo, which I have quite a bit of.
After wanting and lusting for an IMI ARM for over twenty years I finally bit the bullet in 07 and bought one. The most expensive rifle I've ever bought. It was a nice package: Action Arms 5.56 with newer night sights, eleven mags, IMI cleaning kit, box, manual, and IMI AR rail scope mount. When I received it I ran a mag and then it became a safe queen. Last year I had an easy sale and decided to move it. When I sent pictures to the potential customer he noted it was an "S" marked rifle, caught up in the 89 ban. As mine had all evil features it was decided, with help from this site, that it probably made it through with all features intact but being an "S" it was decidedly not as valuable as a regular pre-ban. While finding this out might of been a bummer for a lot of people, I found it absolutely liberating. Instead a 3200.00 rifle package I most likely had a 2200.00 dollar package. I didn't sell and now I shoot it and enjoy it. When I went shopping for an IMI in 07 I purposely avoided anything listed as NIB and wanted something mint. This rifle was mint with probably less than 300 rnds through it, I'm the third owner. I say if it's not NIB, shoot them. If it's still NIB then it's a rare treasure to be kept in it's virginal state. Remember the design was for select fire and the IDF sometimes utilized them for squad automatics, so I really doubt that ours being semi only combined with the cost of 5.56 these days, our IMI Galil's should long outlast us.
Sidewinder
Well-known member
I shoot the hell out of ever thing I own, including IMI. I don't buy firearms for museum pieces or NIB investments.
:moon:moon:moon Me 2. Shoot everything I own or can get my hands on. ARM, AR, SBR, micro, HK33 SBR, MP5SD, wife's shotguns, etc, etc. Take better care of them than the Mrs but she seems to be OK with that or I would have heard about it by now. Wait a minute, she recently gave me the :finger. MIght have to revisit that last statement.:lol
riderboy
UZI Talk Life Member
All shooters. I either have railed gas tubes, top covers, or the FAB railed handguards on all of them for optics and lights. None of the other rifles I have are safe queens either. I think part of the reason is I just don't view the Galil as delicate or rare, having started buying and shooting them long ago. The other reason is that when the SHTF, I want ALL my weapons zeroed, and I want to know they all are well broken in and running like Swiss watches. They're fun as hell to shoot anyway, and, well, you never know what the future holds!
galilgunner
Well-known member
I have owned my IMI 386 for a long time. I shoot it any time I take a notion to. Which sometimes is only every few years due shooting other stuff.
It is still in imaculate condition because I take great care of all of my firearms.
Being in a humid climate I wipe all my guns down each time I handle them and keep the bores clean.
I have taken it out romping through the creeks and swamps several times through the years, I mean hell it is battle tough right.
I shoot every gun I own.
It is still in imaculate condition because I take great care of all of my firearms.
Being in a humid climate I wipe all my guns down each time I handle them and keep the bores clean.
I have taken it out romping through the creeks and swamps several times through the years, I mean hell it is battle tough right.
I shoot every gun I own.
riderboy
UZI Talk Life Member
Probably my favorite Galil. I shoot the 386 better than any other, one theory I've heard is that with the shorter barrel there is less effect on the barrel from the movement of the piston and bolt/bolt carrier assemble. I don't know, but I love the 386.
Sidewinder
Well-known member
+1, riderboy. I also own a 386, which could not be any better, and I never had the slightest of issues with it. It is a magnificent shooting machine.
- Status
Please Visit our Sister Sites Below
Please consider becoming an UZI Talk Supporter