IMI Galil SAR
- Category
- Carbine
- Barrel
- 332 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.67 kg
- Introduced
- 1975
About
What it is, and why it matters
The IMI Galil SAR is a select-fire carbine chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Israel Military Industries (IMI) since 1975. This Israeli-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 35-round magazine capacity, this carbine offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 13.1-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3670g (129.5 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
Estonia was one of the last countries to adopt the original Galil platform, selecting the SAR variant around 2000 for its compact form factor. Estonian soldiers carried Galil SARs during their deployment to Afghanistan as part of ISAF operations.
The SAR omits the ARM's bipod and carrying handle to further reduce weight. The shortened barrel produces increased muzzle flash and blast compared to the ARM but provides significantly improved maneuverability. Widely exported to Latin American and European nations, the Galil SAR saw extensive combat use with Colombian forces during counter-narcotics operations and with Estonian forces in Afghanistan. Estonia was one of the last nations to adopt the original Galil platform, selecting the SAR for its compact form factor. Compatible with standard 35-round Galil magazines. The SAR served as the basis for the even more compact MAR (Micro Automatic Rifle) variant.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Israel Weapon Industries
- Category
- Carbine
- Country
- Israel
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1975
- Variant of
- Compact
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 332 mm
- Overall length
- 850 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.67 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.20 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 35
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Steel
- Finish
- Phosphate
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 900 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1628 J
- Effective range
- 400 m
- Maximum range
- 800 m
- Rate of fire
- 650 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Chrome lined barrel
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Folding stock- Shortened gas system
Compact carbine
Tritium night sights
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 141 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 3.67 kg | 2.95 kg | Heavier than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 144 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 850 mm | 838 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 150 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 332 mm | 406 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 150 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 35 | 30 | Among the largest capacities |
Answers
Questions about the IMI Galil SAR
How much does the IMI Galil SAR weigh?
The IMI Galil SAR weighs 3.67 kg (8.09 lb) empty and 4.20 kg (9.26 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the IMI Galil SAR?
The IMI Galil SAR is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the IMI Galil SAR hold?
The IMI Galil SAR holds 35 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the IMI Galil SAR?
The IMI Galil SAR is 850 mm (33.5 in) long overall, with a 332 mm (13.1 in) barrel.
Who makes the IMI Galil SAR?
The IMI Galil SAR is made by Israel Weapon Industries (Israel). It was designed by Yisrael Galili.
When was the IMI Galil SAR introduced?
The IMI Galil SAR was introduced in 1975.
How does the IMI Galil SAR operate?
The IMI Galil SAR uses a gas operated long stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Israel Defense Forces
- 1975
- Colombian Armed Forces
- Colombia
- Estonian Defence Forces
- 2000
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/galil-sar' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "galil-sar", "name": "IMI Galil SAR", "manufacturer": { "id": "iwi", "name": "Israel Weapon Industries", "countryCode": "IL", "foundedYear": 1933, "website": "https://iwi.net", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:49", "version": "99400997db16ab67d64d5ef07850d5523b1c5564f57f018fb6990dfbddc6da12" }, "category": { "id": "carbine", "name": "Carbine", "description": "Shortened rifles for close-quarters use" }, "country_of_origin": "IL", "year_introduced": 1975, "barrel_length_mm": 332, "weight_empty_g": 3670, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}