IWI Galil ACE

Lore & Background

The Galil ACE was developed to address the primary criticism of the original Galil: its weight. The original Galil used a machined solid steel billet action, resulting in a total weight of up to 9.6 lb (4.4 kg). IWI redesigned the action to integrate steel with polymer, significantly reducing weight. The upper receiver remains machined steel with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail on top, while the lower receiver is polymer. The rifle uses the Galil's long-stroke piston system, a design found in the M1 Garand, AK-47, and the IWI Tavor. The gas tube is mounted via a dovetailed slide on the receiver upper-front block to avoid movement of the gas block influencing barrel vibration, which would degrade accuracy. The barrel is chrome-lined and cold hammer-forged. The Galil ACE adopts the Galil Sniper trigger, a two-stage trigger modeled on the M1 Garand's, with a trigger pull of 4 lb 13 oz (4.8 lbf, 21.4 N). A last round bolt catch is included for 5.56×45mm NATO variants. The standard buttstock is a six-position telescopic stock with an optional cheek-piece and an optional right-folding version. The forearm has MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails on the bottom and both sides, with quick detachable polymer covering panels. The gas tube also has a Picatinny rail aligned with the receiver cover rail. Sights include fully adjustable iron sights with tritium front post and two-dot tritium rear aperture, plus a Picatinny rail for optical sights.

Reader's Guide

The Galil ACE represents a significant evolution of the Galil platform, addressing the original's weight issue while enhancing accuracy. Its design emphasis on reliability and accuracy under adverse battlefield conditions, combined with the use of a two-stage trigger and a gas system that isolates barrel vibration, resulted in documented accuracy of 0.83-inch groups at 100 yards with 7.62×39mm ammunition. The series has been widely adopted internationally, with licensed production in Colombia (Córdova), Chile (FAMAE), India (Jeet), Ukraine (RPC Fort), and Vietnam (STV-215 and STV-380). The Vietnamese variants feature right-side charging handles, traditional Galil-style handguards, FN-FAL Paratrooper stocks, and AK-style fire selectors. The Gen II line, introduced in 2023, added a free-floating M-LOK handguard and M4-style compatible buttstock. The Galil ACE's legacy is that of a modernized, battle-proven design that has become a standard-issue rifle for multiple armed forces and law enforcement agencies, including the Chilean Army, Colombian forces, and the People's Army of Vietnam.

Did You Know?

• The gas tube is mounted via a dovetailed slide to prevent gas block movement from affecting barrel vibration.
• A last round bolt catch is included only on 5.56×45mm NATO variants.
• The Gen II line introduced a free-floating M-LOK handguard and M4-style compatible buttstock in 2023.