IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz)
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Weight, empty
- 6.40 kg
- Introduced
- 1983
About
What it is, and why it matters
The IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) is a semi-automatic sniper rifle chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) since 1983. 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 20-round magazine capacity, this sniper rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 20.0-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 6400g (225.7 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.
The Galatz ('Galil Tzalafim' meaning 'Galil Sniper') brings the legendary AK-derived reliability of the Galil platform to the designated marksman role. Its two-stage adjustable trigger provides match-quality performance unusual in a gas-operated military rifle, and the Nimrod 6x40 scope became iconic of Israeli military snipers.
The Galatz served as the IDF's primary semi-automatic sniper/DMR platform for decades, valued for its reliability in desert and urban conditions inherited from the AK operating system. The two-stage trigger is adjustable for pull weight and travel, providing match-quality trigger performance unusual in a military gas-operated rifle. The folding stock reduces transport length to 840mm. The SR-99 modernized variant replaces wooden furniture with synthetic components and a skeletal folding stock. India is a significant export customer. The Galatz competes with platforms like the M14 EBR and SVD in the semi-automatic DMR role, offering superior reliability (AK-derived) at the cost of slightly greater weight.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Israel Weapon Industries
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- Israel
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1983
- Variant of
- Sniper
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Overall length
- 1115 mm
- Weight, empty
- 6.40 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 7.00 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Two stage
- Capacity
- 20
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- Phosphate
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 815 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 3167 J
- Effective range
- 800 m
- Maximum range
- 1200 m
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.
Heavy match barrel
Two stage trigger- Semi automatic only
Adjustable cheekpiece
Folding bipod
Nimrod 6x40 scope
Muzzle brake compensator
Folding stock
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 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 6.40 kg | 5.04 kg | Heavier than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 1115 mm | 1116 mm | Near the median |
| Barrel lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 508 mm | 559 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 20 | 15 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz)
How much does the IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) weigh?
The IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) weighs 6.40 kg (14.11 lb) empty and 7.00 kg (15.43 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz)?
The IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.
How many rounds does the IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) hold?
The IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) holds 20 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz)?
The IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) is 1115 mm (43.9 in) long overall, with a 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz)?
The IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) is made by Israel Weapon Industries (Israel). It was designed by Yisrael Galili.
When was the IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) introduced?
The IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) was introduced in 1983.
How does the IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) operate?
The IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz) 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
- 1983
- Indian Armed Forces
- India
Provenance
Confidence in this record
87%
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-sniper' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "galil-sniper", "name": "IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz)", "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": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "IL", "year_introduced": 1983, "barrel_length_mm": 508, "weight_empty_g": 6400, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}