Hi folks. Many of you seem curios as to what my reliability issues are with my Tavor. I bought my Tavor in my quest for a NR reliable proven battle rifle to use at the range, occasionally in the bush and perhaps once a year at an IPSC 3 gun. When searching for a gun I always stress that reliability is paramount over all other factors. With the reported awesomeness of the Tavor I purchased it one year ago. I have had 2 issues with the rifle. One is not the a fault of the rifle itself.
The first issue is the legendary Super Sabra. Everyone loves them. I think there a good item to have. It certainly has a much lighter pull over the OEM. Immediately upon installation I knew I had a problem. I could pull through 3 movements of creep in the second stage. It was just not what I thought was acceptable for the price. After a month+ of batting e-mails back and forth with Geissele on the issue Arms East replaced it. The replacement one was the same and perhaps a bit heavier and 4 movements at first. It now after dry firing 1000 times (yes I counted) it has only 2 movements through the second stage and about 1/4 Lb heavier. So I guess that's an improvement so I will leave that alone. I will not bug Geissele or Arms East on the matter anymore and just eat my decision to buy it. This is obviously not a Tavor issue but none the less it took the wind out of my sail.
The second issue is a reliability issue. I have 600rds through this rifle. It has so far jammed 9 times. That's a 98.5% reliability rate. That might be acceptable to you guys but that doesn't fly with me. Let me state that I have owned AR15's since the mid 80's and been in the military since then too. Have owned 6 Ar15's, a T97, and an SL8. I might have had 10 jams with my 3 Colt, 1 Bushmaster, 1 Armalite, and 1 Norinco AR combined over 30 years. Yet I have that many with the Tavor in the first 600 rds! I clean this rifle and lube it as it should be. Problems as detailed as I can explain are this:
1st Stoppage - last round in mag popped out into action upon extraction/ejection of second to last round after firing and engaged BHO leaving loose round to flop around in open action. Magazine was my USGI 5/20 all metal with metal follower Vietnam war piece of my collection. I have had this mag since a nam vet gave it to me in 88 and has never jammed in anything else. Ammo M193
2nd Stoppage - on charging the round hung up on the feed ramp and Stopped the bolt from further feeding the round. USGI 5/30. Ammo M193
3rd Stoppage - on charging the round hung up on the feed ramp and Stopped the bolt from further feeding the round. Gen2 moded Pmag 5/30. Ammo M193
4th Stoppage - round fed to top of chamber causing top edge of chamber opening to peal back and mangle case and drive projectile into case. Mag AA Beowulf 5/10. Ammo M193
5th Stoppage - round fed to top of chamber causing top edge of chamber opening to peal back and mangle case and drive projectile into case. Mag AA Beowulf 5/10. Ammo M193
6th Stoppage - on charging the round hung up on the feed ramp and stopped the bolt from further feeding the round. Mag AA Beowulf 5/10. Ammo M193
7th Stoppage - round fed to top of chamber causing top edge of chamber opening to peal back and mangle case and drive projectile into case. Mag AA Beowulf 5/10. Ammo M855
8th Stoppage - last round in mag popped out into action upon extraction/ejection of second to last round after firing and engaged BHO leaving loose round to flop around in open action. Magazine was RRA LAR-15 stock with orange follower. Ammo M855
9th Stoppage - on charging the round hung up on the feed ramp and stopped the bolt from further feeding the round. Mag AA Beowulf 5/10. Ammo M193
10th Stoppage - round fed to top of chamber causing top edge of chamber opening to peal back and mangle case and drive projectile into case. Mag AA Beowulf 5/10. Ammo M193
So I asked around and seems I am not alone. A student of mine who is a gunnnut too has a friend who recently sold his Tavor due to feed problems.
All this money.
FML
Moe