“The Israel Weapon Industries US Galil ACE Pistol with stabilizing brace is now steadily arriving on dealer’s shelves.” This was the line written back in 2015 — Wait…what?

Then, as now, IWI US had to overcome various manufacturing and BATF compliance issues to get this highly anticipated product into the hands of American customers. You’ll notice a theme here of IWI having to adapt to and overcome numerous federal regulations and executive actions as they brought the Galil ACE to market here. Now, in 2024, IWI had to wait out the onerous fiat from BATF about the legality of braced pistols, all the while dealing with the scarcity of 5.45x39mm ammunition after the U.S. government’s August 2021 sanctioning of Russian ammunition imports in response to their invasion of Ukraine.

In November 2023, a federal judge issued a ruling preventing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF) from enforcing its 2021R-08F rule regulating pistols equipped with stabilizing devices. BATF had announced this arbitrary rule in the beginning of 2023, throwing the gun industry (and public) into a tizzy. Braced pistols are an extremely popular product with tens of millions already in circulation. This article is NOT about regulation, however, the way the government has handled the entire issue has been a joke and I’m glad to talk about something else. The something else being the Galil ACE GEN II Pistol chambered in 5.45×39 with 13-inch barrel.

REBORN

In 2015, IWI US decided to revive the Galil in the enhanced Galil ACE form for the U.S. civilian market and for certain foreign client contracts. The original Israeli Galil was choked out of the U.S. market in the early 1990s due to changes in federal importation regulations. Notice a recurring theme here? The Galil ACE is not merely a copy of the 1960s design, though. IWI took full advantage of the passage of time to improve and update the original Yisrael Galil and Yaacov Lior 1960s design. The pistol brace version reviewed here was definitely not contemplated by the two original designers.

The Galil was inspired by the Finnish Valmet Rk 62. The Valmet Rk 62 is itself an improved AK derivative. The Rk 62 sought to maintain the AK’s legendary reliability while improving upon its accuracy. This was accomplished with the use of quality barrel, extended iron sight radius, higher quality manufacturing techniques, tweaks to the gas tube, and long stroke gas piston operation. Israel’s Galil followed the Valmet Rk 62’s path after the IDF found the FAL wanting in terms of size, recoil, and, more importantly, reliability. The Galil in 5.56mm was officially adopted by the IDF in 1972.

The Galil ACE line is assembled from a combination of Israeli and U.S. manufactured components at their Harrisburg, PA facility. The IWI US Galil ACE (Gen I) sought improvement over the original Galil in a number of ways. Galil reliability and performance has never been doubted, however its near ten-pound weight drew criticism from troops, especially when compared to the six-pound M4. The Galil ACE makes use of a polymer lower for the magazine well, trigger guard, and pistol grip. The upper receiver (containing the action and hinged folding stock trunnion) is milled from ordnance steel. The railed forend on the Galil ACE Gen I was also derived from high strength polymer. Besides shaving weight, the Galil ACE has its reciprocating charging handle moved to the left side of the steel receiver for easier off hand manipulation. A spring-loaded gate on the left side minimizes the chance of debris entering through the charging handle pathway. The original Galil had a distinctive vertically upturned handle on the right side.

IWI US accentuated previous Galil design by securing the Galil ACE’s railed top cover tightly with an oversized release button at the end of the recoil spring. This ensures sights stays zeroed, especially red-dot or magnified optics. The top cover exhibits no wiggle. In fact, removing and reinstalling takes some effort, but is worth it considering the advantage gained. Following this theme, the Galil’s gas tube is dovetailed into the receiver’s front block. This limits any movement of the gas block that can influence barrel vibration and, thus, degrade accuracy. A recoil buffer is also present at the rear of the recoil spring. This serves multiple roles: it cushions the impact of recoiling parts, eases wear on the rear trunnion, and tames vibrations while increasing accuracy potential. All of these details related to the top cover and the gas tube differ from the original AK.

The Galil ACE was further improved upon with the Galil ACE GEN II in 2021. The GEN II features a full length, two-piece Picatinny top rail, free-float metal alloy M-LOK forend, improved trigger, more ergonomic safety, and a side-folding adjustable stock arrangement that’s M4-tube compatible. GEN II rifles ship with a Magpul CTR stock and riser. Braced pistols ship with SB Tactical’s SBA-3 arm brace. (EDITORS NOTE: According to IWI US, As of March 2024, all Galil ACE Gen II pistols will not ship with a stabilizing brace pictured. They will ship with a flat back plate.) And the GEN II rifles and braced pistols are available in 5.56mm, 7.62x39mm, and 5.45x39mm—the object of our attention here.

The Galil ACE GEN II braced pistol we tested features a 13-inch 1:7.5” RH twist chrome-lined hammer-forged barrel with removal A2 style flash hider. Overall length is 32 inches open and 24 inches with the brace folded. Weight is just under 8 pounds. An 8.3-inch barreled pistol also available, as is a 16-inch rifle version. A Magpul 30-rd AK74 MOE magazine arrives with the pistol. IWI US literature makes mention that a U.S.-made magazine was used for 922R compliance purposes—another onerous government regulation. A centrally located magazine release reinforces ambidextrous functionality. Magazines do not drop free and there is no last round hold-open provision or bolt open device found with the Galil ACE a ’la AK.

The Galil ACE comes equipped with the same trigger type used in the Galil sniper rifle. This is a nice upgrade offering a 5-pound pull that begins with a slight take up. The Galil ACE pistol emerges from the box remediating known AK shortcomings in terms of mounting optics over the receiver. With the IWI Galil ACE you possibly have the finest AK variant currently in production.

I decided to take full advantage of the Galil ACE pistol’s flattop upper by mounting a Meprolight TRU-VISION red dot sight in front of a Meprolight MMX3 slide flip magnifier. Independence from set eye relief requirements is a major advantage of red dot sights. This is born out when working in tight confines or finding oneself in awkward firing positions when maximizing available cover. Keep both eyes open and pull the trigger when you see the red dot on the target. The adjustable intensity of the TRU-VISION red dot sight allows you to tune the 2MOA dot reticle as needed either in low light or bright conditions. A pistol like the Galil ACE that is created from an assault rifle by removing the rear stock is a perfect candidate for the red dot. The ability to boost magnification to 3x with the MMX3 extends the platform’s effective range.

CHAMBERING

5.45x39mm (5.45mm) military surplus 7N6 ammunition was banned in early 2014 by executive fiat. (Notice a recurring theme?) Up to this point, the availability of cheap, plentiful 5.45 surplus ammunition had 5.45 chambered AKs increasing in popularity. While we will avoid arguing over the validity of declaring the 7N6 5.45 surplus “armor piercing”, the ban did take the steam out of sales of 5.45-chambered AKs. However, IWI US decided to make a limited run of 5.45×39 chambered Galil ACE rifles and pistols few years back, anyway. These sold out so quickly that the company decided to continue with the 5.45 chambering when the Galil ACE GEN II models were introduced.

The 52.9-grain 7N6 “poison pill” bullet first gained notoriety in the Soviet Afghan War. The Soviets designed the 7N6 5.45×39 cartridge with an air space inside the jacket at the bullet’s tip. The air space serves to shift the bullet’s center of mass toward the rear. This increases likelihood of yaw (tumbling) when striking soft targets—flesh. In addition, the lead core behind this air space shifts forward upon impact, producing a peculiar curvature of the bullet’s path in the last half of its travel through tissue. One downside typical to most surplus ammunition is that it uses corrosive primers. While “spam” cans of 7N6 5.45 can still be found, don’t expect to find them for just a few cent a round anymore—they are more like .80-90 cents a round these days. This is what happens when government makes rules in the marketplace.

5.45 ammunition is available from both Russian and non-Russian manufactures. I’ll admit to having acquired an adequate supply of 5.45 ammo over the years. Multiple 5.45×39 loads were tested with the Galil ACE 5.45 such as Wolf, Tula, Silver Bear in 60-grain and 70-grain varieties. We also ran some Century International Red Army Standard 5.45×39.

Two other 5.45 loadings of interest were also fired with the Galil ACE 5.45. Hornady’s 60-grain V-Max and Dynamit Nobel 59-grain HP. The Hornady 5.45×39 load is a godsend for 5.45 owners looking for a quality, U.S.-made ammunition choice for their rifles. By good fortune I discovered the German Dynamit Nobel 59-grain 5.45×39 several years ago and picked up a couple of cases. The Hornady V-Max loads delivered accuracy in the 1.25-inch range at 50 yards with the Dynamit Nobel producing 1.5-inch groups at the same sdistance. The other ammunition brands produced 50-yard groups of 2-inches and under. Accuracy testing was done with the Meprolight TRU-VISION red dot and with the 3x MMX3 magnifier in place.

WORTH IT

Several hundred rounds were fired through the Galil ACE GEN II pistol for this article. After initial inspection and light lubrication, no cleaning was performed. No issues were encountered in terms of reliability. I paid special attention to the gun’s ability to hold zero by removing and reinstalling the top cover numerous times between evaluation scenarios. I also had some concern about heat transfer to the railed polymer forend. This proved a non-issue thanks to the effective heat shields and spacing between barrel/gas block and forend. In fact, even after multiple rapid fire magazine dumps, I could grip the forend with a non-gloved hand.

PERFORMANCE

Range tests consisted of moving around barricades and simulated cover while engaging an assortment of paper and steel targets, including automobiles located at Echo Valley Training Center. One thing I liked immediately was the ACE’s ambidextrous safety lever. The right-side safety lever has been reduced in size since it’s no longer required to act as dust cover. The right-side safety lever is accessed with the right index finger or by removing your hand from the pistol grip and using multiple fingers. On the left side, just above the pistol grip, there is another safety lever, meant to be operated by the shooter’s thumb. I favored this method of use in terms of ergonomics.

The fact that the Galil ACE pistol is classified legally as a handgun (again—for now) offers users who have a concealed carry license a certain amount of flexibility compared to a true rifle or NFA classified weapon. If considering the Galil ACE pistol for a serious defense or a tactical role, it would be best to look at it as a personal defense weapon (PDW) instead of a rifle. The Galil ACE pistol is definitely more potent and offers longer effective range than a traditional pistol; especially if the shooter is trained to use it effectively and appreciate its nuances.

Many will argue that there is no defensive or tactical value in such a non-traditional pistol as the braced Galil ACE pistol; just use a full-size rifle or typical handgun, they’ll say. However, some will be lured to the Galil ACE GEN II pistol by its ability to offer handgun status with rifle performance. Compared to a standard pistol, the folding ACE’s ability to be transported more discretely than a full-size rifle gives out-and-about defenders a rifle-caliber tool without the rifle-caliber size, should they need to deal with unexpected threats.

SPECIFICATIONS

Marc Krebs is known as an innovator pushing the boundaries of AK-platform performance. The recent attention Krebs focused on the Israel Weapon Industries Galil ACE should come as no surprise. It seems only natural considering the design similarities between AK and Galil for the AK master to work his magic on the Galil ACE. Anyone familiar with Krebs Custom work over the years will remember flirtations with another AK variant—the SIG 556. Most of the initial Krebs Custom AK rifles were based on either Russian Molot VEPR or Izhmash Saiga AK rifles. Starting in 2014 multiple White House executive orders curtailed the import of Russian AKs forcing Krebs to be flexible and creative in continuing to produce AKs. Krebs adjusted to the new regulatory environment by using new Polish WBP parts combined with U.S. based Childers or Morrissey receivers for his PD18 and CORE AK offerings.

The original Israeli Galil was choked out of the U.S. market in the early 1990s due to federal import laws. The current Galil ACE can be traced back to the Galil, which, in turn, was inspired by the Finnish Valmet Rk62. The Valmet Rk62 itself is an improved AK derivative. The Finns are a country of serious riflemen with a large aggressive neighbor it has eyed warily for centuries in the form of Russia.

The Russian AK’s rugged reliability and its ability to adapt to harsh operational environments earned begrudging respect from the Finns. The Valmet Rk62 sought to maintain AK reliability while improving accuracy. This was accomplished with the use of a quality barrel, an extended iron sight radius, higher quality manufacturing techniques, tweaks to the gas tube and a long stroke gas piston operation. Israel’s Galil followed the Valmet Rk62’s path after the IDF found the FAL wanting in terms of size, recoil, and more importantly, reliability. The Galil in 5.56 NATO was officially adopted by the IDF in 1972. However, the Galil immediately faced competition within the IDF by the large numbers of M16/M4s acquired from the United States. It made more fiscal sense to make the most use of the relatively inexpensive U.S. rifle versus relying exclusively on the Galil.

In 2015, IWI U.S., Inc. decided to revive the Galil in the enhanced Galil ACE form. This is achieved by assembling the rifles from a combination of Israeli and U.S. manufactured components at their Harrisburg, PA facility. The Galil ACE is not merely a copy of the 1960s design. IWI took full advantage of the passage of time to improve and update the original Yisrael Galil and Yaacov Lior design. A pistol brace version was definitely not contemplated by the two original designers.

The IWI U.S. Galil ACE seeks improvement over the original Galil in a number of ways. Galil reliability and performance has never been doubted, however its near ten-pound weight drew criticism from troops, especially when compared to the six-pound M4. The Galil ACE makes use of a polymer lower for the magazine well, trigger guard, and pistol grip. The upper receiver containing the action and hinged folding stock trunnion is milled from ordnance steel. The railed forend on the Galil ACE Gen 1 was also derived from high strength polymer. Besides shaving weight, the Galil ACE has its reciprocating charging handle moved to the left side of the steel receiver for easier weak hand manipulation. A spring-loaded gate on the left side minimizes the chance of debris entering through the charging handle pathway. The original Galil had a distinctive vertically upturned handle on the right side.

IWI U.S. improved on the previous Galil design by securing the railed top cover using an oversized release button at the end of the recoil spring protruding out of the top cover. This ensures the rear aperture iron sight stays zeroed as well as other optics that may be mounted. The top cover exhibits no wiggle. In fact, removing and reinstalling takes some effort, but is worth it considering the advantage gained. Following this theme, the Galil’s gas tube is dovetailed into the receiver’s front block. This limits any movement of the gas block that can influence barrel vibration and, thus, degrade rifle accuracy. A recoil buffer is also present on the recoil spring. This serves multiple roles: to cushion the impact of recoiling parts, easing wear on the rear trunnion, and taming of vibrations to increase accuracy potential. All these details related to the top cover and the gas tube differ from the original AK design.

The Galil ACE was further improved upon with the Galil ACE Gen II in 2021. The GEN II features a full-length two-piece Picatinny top rail, a free float metal alloy M-LOK forend, an improved trigger, a more ergonomic safety, and a side folding adjustable buttstock/brace that is M4-tube compatible. The Gen II rifles ship with a Magpul CTR stock and accessory riser. Braced pistols ship with an SB Tactical SBA-3. Galil ACE rifles and braced pistols are chambered in 5.56 NATO, 7.62x39mm, and 5.45x39mm — the object of our attention herein.

The dots connecting Krebs Custom with the Galil ACE come together in the form of a 5.45x39mm chambered Gen I braced pistol taking center place for this article. IWI U.S. initially made a limited run of 5.45mm chambered rifles and pistols a couple of years ago. These sold out so quickly it was decided to add the 5.45mm chambering to the Galil ACE product line up. This continued with the Gen II models.

Krebs Custom turned its discriminating eye to a 5.45mm Galil ACE Gen 1 braced pistol with Krebs aluminum M-LOK forend with heat shield, Gear Head Works Tailhook arm brace, Krebs Custom Interchangeable Muzzle System (IMS), and a trigger job that is hard to describe in terms of improved pull and reset. Krebs tuned the Galil ACE trigger into a minimal creep 3- to 4-pound work of art. Why the high praise? Galil ACE triggers are not known for their creature comforts, but somehow Krebs Custom pulled it off. The Krebs ACE is an awesome example of what the Galil ACE “Israeli Krinkov” could be.

5.45mm military surplus 7N6 ammunition was also banned in early 2014 by executive fiat. Up to this point, the availability of cheap, plentiful 5.45mm surplus ammunition had 5.45mm chambered AKs increasing in popularity. While we will avoid arguing over the validity of declaring the 7N6 5.45 surplus “armor piercing”, the ban did take the steam out of AK rifles chambered in 5.45mm. The 7N6 “poison pill” bullet first gained notoriety in the Soviet-Afghan War. A design feature of the 5.45x39mm cartridge is an air space inside the jacket at the bullet’s tip. The air space serves to shift the bullet’s center of mass toward the rear. This increases likelihood of tumbling when striking soft targets — flesh. In addition, the lead core behind this air space shifts forward upon impact producing a peculiar curvature of the bullet’s path in the last half of its travel through tissue. One downside typical to most surplus ammunition is that it uses corrosive primers.

While “Spam cans” of 7N6 5.45mm can still be found, 5.45mm ammunition is available from non-Russian manufactures along with Hornady here in the U.S. — just not at a few cents a round.

Multiple 5.45x39mm loads were tested with the Krebs Custom Galil ACE such as Wolf, Tula, Silver Bear in 60-grain and 70-grain varieties. Century International Red Army Standard 5.45x39mm was also used. Red Army Standard 5.45x39mm 69-grain ammunition is offered in handy range packs (180 rounds) as well as 30-round boxes. Red Army Standard is manufactured by the same factories that produced billions of rounds of ammunition for the Soviet Red Army and Warsaw Pact nations. The range pack boxes indicated Ukrainian manufacturing.

Two other 5.45mm ammunition loads of interest were also used. Hornady 60-grain V-Max and Dynamit Nobel 59-grain HP loading. The Hornady 5.45x39mm load is a godsend for AK owners looking for a quality U.S. made ammunition choice for their rifles. By good fortune the Dynamit Nobel 59-grain 5.45x39mm was discovered several years ago with a couple cases acquired. The Hornady V-Max loads delivered accuracy in the 1.5- to 2-inch range at 50 yards with the Dynamit Nobel producing similar results. The other ammunition brands produced 2- to 3-inch groups at 50 yards. Accuracy testing was done with a red dot.

Chronographing the 8.3-inch barreled Galil ACE 5.45mm, the Wolf 70-grain load produced approximately 2,140 feet per second and the Wolf 60-grain a more respectable 2,510 fps. The 53-grain surplus ammunition clocked in at 2580 fps. The chrono readings were repeated to verify the muzzle blast wasn’t influencing the results. These velocities make the 5.45mm Krebs Galil ACE a viable option out to a couple hundred yards, ballistically.

At close range, the iron sights were good; at 50 yards and beyond, I had to really slow down and yet I still struggled to place consistent hits in the A zone of an IPSC style target. The solution was an easy one, considering the railed top cover present with the Galil ACE—a red dot.

A ZeroTech THRIVE red dot was mounted on the Galil ACE. ZeroTech is relatively new to the U.S. market. The Australian company has a U.S. operation based outside of Murfreesboro, TN. 50 years of experience in the rugged Australian outback is ZeroTech’s guiding force. The compact THRIVE sight offers a 3-MOA dot with eleven brightness settings within a 5-ounce package. Battery life is 5000 hours. The 3-MOA dot simplifies placing rounds on target no matter the aiming method used. Independence from set eye relief requirements is one of the red dot’s major advantages. This is born out when working in tight confines or finding oneself in awkward firing positions to maximize cover. Keep both eyes open; if you see the red dot on target, pull the trigger.

The THRIVE was mounted as low as possible on the Galil ACE; avoid AR height mounting risers on this platform. It did not disappoint me in my range tests proving more than capable of withstanding the Galil ACE’s recoil and heat generated from firing multiple magazines. The THRIVE’s dot aided in acquiring a fast aiming point at CQB ranges. The 3-MOA dot proved more than capable of hammering man-sized steel out to 200 yards reliably. A 50-yard zero with the ZeroTech fits needs best when mounted on the Krebs.

The Krebs bundle of joy weighs approximately seven pounds and measures 21-inches long with the Gear Head Works brace folded, and 28.25 inches with the brace deployed. The brace is held securely to the receiver when folded and is rock-steady when unfolded. My first visit to the range supported all my expectations regarding handling and reliability with the Krebs. Several hundred rounds were fired over the course of multiple range visits. Blessed to have an ample supply of 5.45x39mm ammunition. At times, I got carried away and had the braced pistol HOT! Reliability was never an issue with the Galil ACE vigorously ejecting steel cases. The Krebs aluminum handguard with heat shield did its job well.

The Krebs aluminum handguard’s M-LOK capability allowed for the mounting of Crimson Trace’s recently introduced Rapid Illumination Grip (RIG). The RIG is ideal for braced pistols requiring a light source. The angled grip is not considered a vertical foregrip, which is a big no-no on braced pistols due to federal regulations. The RIG combines the ergonomic advantage of an angled foregrip with a 500-peak-lumen weaponlight into one sleek, effective device.

The Krebs proved very capable at handling the CQB style course with multiple targets strewn 15 to 25 yards away with the stop targets placed further downrange. Transitioning between the multiple targets was effortless thanks to ZeroTech THRIVE red dot and the 5.45x39mm round supplying little recoil. The muzzle signature was less than what was expected, as well. The Krebs IMS muzzle system tamed both muzzle flash and acted as a compensator, thanks to its dual design of 4-prong flash suppressor with birdcage piece acting as a compensator. Krebs’ goal with the IMS was a device that can be switched between flash suppressor, muzzle brake, and suppressor mount by the user.

The Krebs Custom treatment exhibited all of the positive Galil ACE characteristics combined with the lethal Russian .22 caliber service round—the 5.45x39mm. Arms aficionados will find and appreciate Krebs Custom’s attention to detail. The Krebs Custom Galil ACE proved desirable due to its reliability, accuracy, and controllability during rapid strings of fire.

Imagine standing on the Tee area of your favorite Par 4 hole and wishing you could get to the green in 1. (Putting for Eagle is something that most of us never have the chance do). You reach into your bag and select your 20-inch Colt H-Bar. As you drop your Top-Flite XL-3000 ball into the Bloom muzzle device, you read the wind and aim a little to the left to compensate for it. With a hollow sounding thump your ball takes flight and bounces just short of the green, rolling up beside the pin. It looks like another day of shooting under par.

We don’t know how your local golf course will feel about using the Bloom Automatic Golf Ball Launcher but we have yet to encounter a shooting range that doesn’t allow it.

The Bloom Automatic Golf Ball Launcher is a muzzle attachment designed to be used with several firearms. Rather than having a dedicated thread that must be matched to a particular firearm, this device will function with any standard 22mm flash hider or grenade launcher. It simply slides over the factory flash hider or grenade launcher and is secured with dog-point set screws in the corresponding grooves. Unlike cup-point set screws, there should be no scratching or marring of the original finish.

The firearms the Bloom device can be used with include, but are not limited to, the following unmodified firearms; Yugo SKS, AR-15, M16, FAL, Galil, CETME, G-3 and MAS 49/56. It will also function on the 1903 Springfield, M1 Garand and M1A / M14 when used in conjunction with their grenade launching attachments. They also recently added the correct flash hiders for an AK47 to use with this system.

After securing the launcher to the firearm, all that is necessary is a bucket of golf balls and a corresponding number of blanks. For obvious reasons this device should NEVER be used with live ammunition. A golf ball is dropped into the launcher and the blank round is loaded into the chamber. To fire, hold the rifle on your shoulder in a slightly elevated position so the ball will not roll out.

The distance the ball will travel depends entirely upon the caliber and the barrel length of the firearm used. With a 20-inch barrel on an AR-15 the balls can fly as far as 350 yards. When used with an 11.5-inch barrel, the distance was reduced to somewhere in the area of 100 – 150 yards. With an SKS they will fly in excess of 500 yards; almost completely out of sight. We can only assume that when used with the M1A or M1 Garand they will travel further. Standard blanks are used in conjunction with the Bloom Automatic Golf Ball Launcher and the use of grenade launching blanks is not recommended.

Something that has to be considered when firing golf balls is that they react unpredictably when they strike a hard surface. It would not be recommended to fire at a hard surface where there is the potential for the ball to bounce back towards the shooter or any spectators.

During our testing we found it fun to place several 5-gallon pails in a large area and try to see if we could drop any balls in the pails. Other suggested “sporting” options would be to use 55-gallon drums or paint large circles in the field or range in a bulls-eye fashion and, in a 21st Century version of “Jarts,” hits could be scored by their proximity to the target. While there is no tactical factor being sold with this attachment, the fun factor is certainly high, and with a little imagination several competitive and recreational uses can be discovered.

In support of this neat accessory, Bloom Automatic is going to offer blank crimp dies for sale. This will assist the reloaders who wish to manufacture their own loads instead of purchasing factory blanks, which at times can be elusive and expensive. Some factory blanks can be corrosive and reloading will solve that concern.

There has been a lot of discussion about specific launching accessories and their rulings within the Technology Branch of the ATF. As of this writing, ATF has ruled that the Bloom Automatic Golf Ball Launcher does not constitute a firearm or a destructive device. This conclusion followed a 6-month discussion period with the ATF legal department and they have even issued a ruling letter to this effect. A copy of this ruling is available at the Bloom Automatic website:

There are several new platforms for the launcher to be used on and they now include the 1911 pistol and some of the MAC family of firearms. All of this new information is available on their website as well. The price for the standard launcher, as tested in Small Arms Review magazine is $40 with an additional $5 shipping fee.

Bloom Automatic, LLC Dept. SAR 402 2nd Street Monongahela, PA 15063 E-Mail: bloomautomatic@yahoo.com Website: www.bloomautomatic.com

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are good for spec lines. This is bolded. This is italics. This is underline. This is all three…

By Julio A. Montes

The 10th biannual International Air & Space Fair (FIDAE)—held at the Chilean Air Base of Los Cerrillos-gave us the excuse to visit this beautiful South American nation. Los Cerrillos Air Base is an operational installation of the Chilean Air Force (FACh) housing the Air Academy and the Aeronautical Museum. The fair presented us with an opportunity to inspect the growing military industrial base being developed in that South American nation. It was also an opportunity to visit old friends and to inspect the small arms of the Chilean military. For those of us coming in to Chile with Australian, Canadian or US passports there is a “reciprocating tax” of $45! Nevertheless, I soon found the Chilean hospitality extremely warm-that is, after my initial $45 shock.

The Chilean military rates as the best in Latin American, and it possesses one of the most prosperous military industries in the continent. Fabricas Militares y Maestranza del Ejercito (FAMAE) has expanded its manufacturing capabilities from small arms to armored vehicles. The Empresa Nacional Aeronautica (ENAER) manufactures trainers and has assisted in the upgrade of the FACh combat fleet. The Astilleros Maritimos (ASMAR) is now engaged in the implementation of the TRIDENT program, consisting in the building between 6 to 8 MEKO-200 class frigates for the Chilean Navy. However, during our last trip (FIDAE 2002), it was announced that the TRIDENT program has been shelved for the moment.

THE CHILEAN MILITARY

The military faces great challenges. The territory extends from the freezing areas of the South Pole to the arid deserts in the North. Specialized units are required to fight in the steep and rocky ground of the Andes, and elite strategic Special Forces must prepare to fight in any terrain. There is a 4000-mile Pacific coast; therefore, the Chilean Marine Corps must be ready to land and to fight anywhere and in anyway possible. The country has an overall length of about 2,600 miles-with areas with only a width of 100 miles—and the country is divided in XII Regions. There are five distinct geographic regions: the hot desert, south from the Peruvian border to Copiapo; the semi-desert region, from Copiapo to Illapel; the fertile region between Illapel and Concepcion; the heavily-wooded region between Concepcion and Puerto Montt; and the cold southern region, extending southwards to Cape Horn.

The Army deploys its units according to a 12 Regional Division of the country. There is one Army Corps (1 Division + 1 SpecOps Bde.), and 6 Divisions deployed as follow:

The I ARMY CORPS, based at Tarapacia, Iquique, has responsibility over Region I. Its garrisons are distributed at Arica, Putre, Iquique, and Pozo Almonte. I Army Corps controls 6th Logistic Battalion (Pisagua), and the elite 5th Brigade “Curampangue,” based at Baquedano. 5th Brigade was recently established by combining the 5th Infantry Regiment, 6th Commando Regiment, and 13th Brigade. A more recent reorganization has left 5th Bde. with the “Coronel Jeronimo Valenzuela” 25th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, the “Pampa Germania” Armored Cavalry Group, and the 1st Commando Company. The I ARMY CORPS has also control over the VI Division.

I DIVISION is based at Antofagasta, and is responsible for II & III Regions. This division deploys 7th Infantry Regiment (at Esmeralda), 15th Inf. Reg. (at Calama), and 23rd Inf. Reg. (at Copiapo). Support comes from 5th Artillery Regiment (at Antofagasta), 8th Exploradores Armored Cavalry Regiment (at Antofagasta), 1st Engineer Battalion (at Atacama), 1st Telecommunications Battalion (El Loa), and the 1st Logistic Battalion (at Tacopilla).

II DIVISION, housed at Santiago, is responsible for IV, V, VI and the Metropolitan (Capital) Regions. This division fields the 1st Infantry Regiment (at Buin), 2nd Inf. Reg. (at Maipo), 3rd Inf. Reg. (at Yungay), 18th Inf. Reg. (Guardia Vieja), 19th Inf. Reg. (at Colchagua), 21st Inf. Reg. (at Arica), and 22nd Inf. Reg. (at Lantara). Support is provided by 1st Artillery Regiment (at Tacna), 10th Libertadores Armored Cavalry Regiment (at Santiago), and 1st (at Puente Alto) and 7th (at Aconcagua) Engineer Battalions.

III DIVISION from Concepcion, is responsible for VII & VIII Regions. This division counts 6th Infantry Regiment (at Chacabuco), 9th Inf. Reg. (at Chillan), 16th Inf. Reg. (at Talca), and 17th Inf. Reg. (at Los Angeles). Support arms is provided by 7th Artillery Regiment (at Silva Renard), 7th Guia Armored Cavalry Regiment (at Concepcion), 3rd Telecommunications Battalion (at Curico), and the 3rd Logistic Battalion (at Concepcion).

IV DIVISION is based at Valdivia, and is responsible for IX & X Regions. This division deploys the 8th Infantry Regiment (at Tucapel), and the 12th Inf. Reg. (at Sangra). The 2nd Arty. Regiment (at Matura) provides artillery support; armored support comes from Armored Cavalry Regiments 2nd Cazadores, 3rd Cazadores and 4th Coraceros (all at Valdivia). Other support comes from the 4th Engineer Battalion (at Aranco), 4th Telecommunications Battalion (at Membrillar), and the 4th Logistic Battalion (at Valdivia).

V DIVISION is based at Punta Arenas, and is responsible for XII Region. This division deploys the 10th Infantry Regiment (at Pudeto), and the 11th Inf. Reg. (at Caupolican). Support comes from 7th Artillery Regiment (at Chorrillos), 5th Lanceros and 6th Dragones Armored Cavalry Regiments (both at Punta Arenas), 5th Engineer Battalion (at Punta Arenas), 5th Telecommunications Battalion (at Patagonia), and the 5th Logistic Battalion (at Magallanes).

VI DIVISION is based at Arica, and it is in fact part of I Army Corps, with responsibilities over Arica and Parinacota. This division comprises 4th Infantry Regiment (at Rancagua), and the 24th Inf. Reg. (at Huamachuco). Support comes from 6th Artillery Regiment (at Dolores), 9th Vencedores Armored Cavalry Regiment (at Arica), 6th Engineer Battalion (at Azapa), and Battalion-Workshop (Batallon-Maestranza de Mantenimiento at Arica).

VII DIVISION is based at Coyhaique, and is responsible for XI Region. This division deploys the 14th Infantry Regiment (at Aysen), and 26th Inf. Reg. (at Bulnes). Support comes from 8th Artillery Regiment (at San Carlos de Ancud), 8th Engineer Battalion (at Chiloe), and 8th Telecommunications Battalion (at Coyhaique). Each Infantry Regiment counts with two riflemen battalions.

INFANTRY WEAPONS

During our visit, I spent considerable time checking Ceska Zbrojovka and the line of CZ pistols and rifles on display during my trip. I was so impressed with the examples presented that I added a CZ-75 Compact to my full-size CZ-5B upon my return to the United States. The CZ-75-along the Beretta M9—is the standard side arm issued to officers and other personnel. The Czech pistols are considerably lower in price to other pistols of similar quality. Having said this, we add that the CZ-75 slide and frame are made of precision casting. The pistol is carefully machined and extremely well finished. The CZ-75 is recoil-operated using the Browning dropping barrel system. It takes a high-capacity 15-round magazine. The Compact model takes 10 and 13 round magazines. The military also uses Rossi & Taurus revolvers.

The locally-made FAMAE SAF 9mm submachine gun is now standard for the armed forces. It has also been exported to several countries, including the Salvadorian National Civilian Police and the elite Halcones of Argentina. The SAF fires from a closed bolt and is similar in many respects to the SIG-540 rifle. It uses the same SIG floating firing pin and hammer firing mechanism, but it operates with a blowback system and an unlocked bolt. The weapon uses a transparent magazine that allows quickly checking for ammunition status, and each magazine is provided with studs and slots to clamp other magazines for quick reloads. The SAF has been produced in three variants: standard (fixed stock), standard with side folding butt, and silenced. All the models weight a little more than 6 lbs. The Mini-SAF is also available, and it is equipped with a forward grip for better handling.

Prior to the SAF, the standard SMG was-and still widely distributed—the 9mm UZI, made in Israel. The UZI is well known and it is based on the Czech 23 series. The Chileans use the three UZI series: standard model, Mini-UZI, and Micro-UZI.

For a time, the Ingram MAC 11 in 9mm was the trademark of the Chilean Special Forces. The ever present MP5 is also a favorite, particularly for SpecOps units. The British SAS made the MP5 SMG famous. The British Special Forces came across the MP5 during the German GSG-9 action in Mogadishu in 1977. The MP5 remains one of the finest submachine guns ever designed.

Along with the UZI, the Chileans purchased quantities of the compact Taurus MP-12 SMGs. These are Beretta Model 12 SMGs, and are still used in numbers.

The Chileans have a long history of small arms production. Chile actually built and supplied most of the 7mm Mausers M1904 encountered in Central America in the early 1900s. The M1904 is still in service with honor guards and presentation units.

Most of the infantry has been equipped with FN-FALs, G-3s or SIG SG-510 rifles. The SG510 is basically the Swiss Sturmgewehr Stgw57 rifle in 7.62mm. This uses a delayed blowback system and weighs some 12 lbs. Units operating along the desert prefer the SG510-1 (Stgw57) model.

Many units are now equipped with the locally-produced FAMAE 5.56mm SG-540-1. This rifle is based on the SG-530 model, but it makes use of stampings and castings to make it cheaper and easier to produce. The SG-5440-1 uses a breech mechanism, with the bolt carrier and rotating bolt system. The rifle weighs 6.3 lbs. Its bigger brother, the FAMAE SG-542-1, is a larger scale SG540 firing the 7.62mm round, and weighting 7.13 lbs. Officers prefer the SG-543-1, which is the short carbine with folding stock of the SG-540.

The Chilean Marines use either the US M16 or the German HK-33, both in 5.56mm. The HK-33E with retractable stock, and smaller HK-53KE carbine are the Marine’s favorites. The rifle operates in the usual roller-locked delayed blowback system of Heckler & Koch rifles.

Off course, elite forces use anything available in the arsenal. For a time, these forces made great use of AKM rifles. SpecOps have access to M16A1 and M16A2 models. Special operators were happy to show us their Galils, both in 5.56mm and 7.62mm. The 7.62mm Galil Sniper-like any Galil-resembles the Kalashnikov. It has a weight of 14.1 lbs, and a range of 600 mts. It carries a standard 6×40 telescope sight.

Snipers from regular platoons grab either the 5.56mm HK-33 SG/1 or the 7.62mm G-3 SG/1 precision rifles; these are selected rifles taken from the production line equipped with a special adjustable trigger set. What they prefer is the 7.62mm PSG-1 model. This operates with the same roller-locked delayed blowback system found in the G3 rifle, but the PSG-1 is made to closer tolerances. It sports an adjustable trigger pull, and a heavy barrel, which tilt the weight to some 18 lbs.

For long range precision work, the Chilean SpecOps also relied on the Barrett 12.7mm M82A1rifles. Other weapons that are making their way to the Chileans hands include the SPAS-15 combat shotguns. They are excellent clearing and close quarter weapons. The impressive looking Franchi SPAS is a semi-automatic or pump action mode selectable combat shotgun. Can be operated with one hand by using a special elbow hook of a folding stock. It has a 7 round magazine, and weighs 9.4 lbs.

The Striker MGL-6 grenade launcher was designed by South African ARMSCOR, but it is produced and distributed under license in Israel and the United States. The weapon uses a revolver principle, providing fast firing of 40mm low velocity grenades. Mexico, Colombia, and Chile-between others—have adopted the MGL-6. The weapon has an 18 to 20 rounds per minute rate of fire, and there are 6 rounds ready to fire. It is equipped with “Occluded Eye Gunsight”, and a folding stock.

Although some 7.62mm M60 machine guns have been observed, the Army makes a great deal of use of the 7.62mm HK-21 and MG-3 machine guns. The HK-21 is adapted to feed from an ammunition belt instead of a box magazine. The weapon can be converted to 5.56mm. However, at 14.9 lbs, the 7.62mm HK-21 is a handy light machine gun, ideal for squad and platoon level support.

At 25 lbs, the 7.62mm MG-3 is considerably heavier, and better suited for mounting in tripods and on vehicles. The MG-3 is no other than the German WWII MG-42 converted to 7.62mm NATO caliber, with some other modernizations.

The Air Force and the Marines make use of the FN MAG-58 models. For heavier work, the services depend on the 12.7mm M2HB. FAMAE and ENAER have developed several machine gun pods for mounting in the MD-530F and UH-1H helicopters. The Army operates 32 MD-530s.

For antitank tasks, the Chilean infantry depends on the well-tried and obsolete LAW-66mm. It also counts on the German ARMBRUST 300. This is an 80mm caliber weapon designated to penetrate 300mm armored plate. It has a range of 300 mts., and consists of a preloaded, one shot disposable rocket.

The largest antitank weapon available to the infantry is the 106mm M40A1, modernized with a laser rangefinder and NVS-800 night vision sight. The weapon is normally mounted on a vehicle, either a Land Rover or M240 Storm type. The driver of the vehicle is equipped with an NVG-50. The M40A1 can be utilized as an all weather antitank weapon.

The Heckler & Koch system in particular could have presented great benefits to the Chilean military. It has an array of weapons—from 9mm sub machineguns to 7.62mm machine guns-that allow for easy logistics and training. However, the Chilean military is compromised to the production and distribution of FAMAE products. Fortunately, the excellent SIG line of small arms has been selected for production and for the modernization of the armed services. It is hoped that the FAMAE SAF will eventually replace all the sub guns, and the FAMAE SG540 series will replace the HK33/G3, SG510, M16 and FN FAL rifles. It is a matter of time before FAMAE completes the small arms line with a 5.56mm light squad automatic machinegun and a 7.62mm General-Purpose model.