IWI CARMEL18.6” Canadian non restricted rifle CSR18

IRG has it cheaper because demand in the US for the Carmel is minimal. Don't know why people still believe economies of scale work when there is only one nation on earth that requires 18.6" barrels to be made for compliance. Of course its going to be more expensive than everywhere else that get the mass produced 16" variant.

Its fantastic for you if you don't care about it being restricted, go get a Carmel off Gunbroker for $1100 USD and by the time IRG brings it in you'll be in it for under $2.000 CAD. You could get 16" restricted X95s for dirt cheap before the OIC if you didn't care about getting a non-restricted. A $500 CAD markup for North Sylva to take on the risk of getting the FRT and then getting factory made IWI 18.6" barrels made is a reasonable deal, they are in the business to make money after all.
 
Mo.smart said:
Well it’s shorter overall while still attaining a higher velocity due to barrel length. My X95 with an 18.5” is shorter than my 14.5” AR. I found the bolt release to be better for emergency reloads, integrated irons that take up no additional space are some. For cons, the trigger out of the box is terrible, the height over bore is brutal, and the over gassing is pretty noticeable. The AR is a better system overall but the X95 has some very good features as well. I like both, but if I had to chose one I’d go with the AR15.
Click to expand...
I swapped out the factory trigger and trigger pack to the Geissele after a range day. What a major difference. Best upgrade and almost mandatory. I also got the 3Panther Gas Buster and Manitcore Gasket Port Cover. It definitely still gassy, but not as much raw dogging. X95 is designed for urban warefare/cqb. I installed a RX Arms cutlass grip to install the Fab Defense Bipod to keep the rifle balanced versus getting BLK Integrated bipod.

I love my X95. And when I get the IWI Carmel I'll put in time into it too. But when it comes down to it, if I had to grab any firearm and take off into the wind the X95 is 1OA.

90% of the time people crap on guns is because of lack of training. 10% is because the firearm just stinks, try getting sub moa with a Hi-point at 25m, just try.
 
Hmatt said:
still cheaper than sylva.
Click to expand...
Restricted makes it less appealing. Taking out the restricted version into the bush will send you straight to jail. Getting that ATT is a pain and can be costly if you don't have a membership. The restricted version looks great and would be better balanced, although still front heavy. To me, getting the non-restricted for $500 more gives me more freedom to do what I want with it. To each their own.
 
The US version has a nitrided barrel while it seems the Can version is going to be chrome lined.

All things being equal nitrided barrels have more corrosion resistance and are more accurate. Weird choice.
 
Corfius said:
The US version has a nitrided barrel while it seems the Can version is going to be chrome lined.

All things being equal nitrided barrels have more corrosion resistance and are more accurate. Weird choice.
Click to expand...
As the late great Paul Harrell was fond of saying: “It might make a difference… but is it enough of a difference to make a difference?”

I doubt most of us would ever realize the practical accuracy difference between nitride and chrome lined barrels. I know I wouldn’t.

Most of my property is heavily wooded and rolling terrain at the base of the Rockies. Even including some pasture land, that I don't seem to trek as much. I’d rarely take a shot beyond a couple hundred yards. Realistically, most shots for me would be inside 100 yards, with the occasional 200–300 yard stretch. Beyond that, I’d rather have a .308 anyway.

Personally, I like chrome lining for the reduced maintenance - or more accurately, my lack of maintenance. I don’t clean my firearms nearly as often as I probably should. Tho I do lubricate them frequently.

My two cents.
 
Conanap said:
Yeah I have my license, I just don’t remember the barrel length definitions since I never really need to use it, the shops will tell me when it’s R anyways. Thanks for clearing it up though
Click to expand...
Dude, it’s ok to be a new guy. The barrel length is the only difference between restricted and non restricted center firing semi auto rifles. People own a few semi auto rifles would have known this number back in their heads. It’s like a semiautomatic rifle 101.
 
Cloudu said:
Dude, it’s ok to be a new guy. The barrel length is the only difference between restricted and non restricted center firing semi auto rifles. People own a few semi auto rifles would have known this number back in their heads. It’s like a semiautomatic rifle 101.
Click to expand...
It's also a ridiculous rule... How the #### did they come up with 18.5 inches?

Is a 14" or 16" full sized rifle that much easier to conceal or something?

Idiots who know nothing about guns make these kinds of rules.
 
True Shadows said:
It's also a ridiculous rule... How the #### did they come up with 18.5 inches?

Is a 14" or 16" full sized rifle that much easier to conceal or something?

Idiots who know nothing about guns make these kinds of rules.
Click to expand...
They probably did it because most available semi autos out of the US were 16"
 
Ntloukas said:
Yeah, I don't dig the plastic either. It may be lighter than most but I don't think that is necessary to have so much plastic. Give us back the M1A I say.
Click to expand...

The thing is, the Carmel is NOT lighter than most. In fact, it is quite the opposite, with the Carmel's robust but heavy polymer shell over an Aluminum and Steel Chassis construction it weighs in over 8 lbs bare bones.....

The Carmel is very well-built and at least as robust as its X95 bullpup predecessor. But lightweight it is not.
 
Last edited:
Where is the serialized part of the Carmel? If it is in the metal frame, could part of the polymer shell be swapped for more aesthetically pleasing or more ergonomic parts? It would be funny if we started sending Canadian polymer pimp-my-Carmel kits after satisfying our own needs...:p
 
Bartok5 said:
I would suggest that my hands-on knowledge of IWI rifles and SMGs dating back to the FAL, the STEN, the Uzi and Galil ARM and SAR at least equals your own, and may very well exceed it, seeing as I have owned and previously used all of the above for more than a few decades now. So no advantage to you there.

The Carmel may very well be the next best thing in military service rifles. As it currently stands however, we simply don't know because it has not been adopted for large scale (or even limited use) by ANY credible military force. Which leaves it firmly in the US commercial market of competition shooters, recreational users, home defenders and the like. Kind of like..... the Makasi. So for all of the Carmel's supposed design and manufacturing excellence, it is competing with the likes of a purely civilian concoction. The Makasi is at least made of well-machined and durable metal. The Carmel? Not so much. Sure, the G36 runs fine, so too ought the IWI product with its recycled Tavor BCG and Short-Stroke Piston system. However, I'll take the self-regulating AR-18 Gas System over the Tavor system if given the choice,. Perhaps that is just be my misplaced bias in favour of the Makasi talking. The Carmel apparently has a bit of chunkiness problem to contend with also, which is odd for a largely polymer Receiver.

At the end of the day I really don't care if the Makasi is the best or second-best 5.56 mm service rifle remaining on the Canadian market. For me it is a mere blaster, good for whittling away at my 5.56mm ammo stocks It (like the Carmel) has zero military heritage other than the Makasi's deliberate design homages to the FN FAL and AR15 platforms. It therefore has no place within my military reference collection and exists only for shooting enjoyment. So long as the Makasi is reasonably reliable and accurate I will be a happy consumer.

All other considerations being equal however, I will not willingly spend my good money on a firearm that does not aesthetically appeal to me. That rifle is the Carmel. Affording both is not at all an issue for this retiree, so that is not what holds me back from the IWI product. Call me old school, but at the end of the day I would much rather that my $2.5K bought me a metal rifle instead of a plastic one. Both have proven internal design features. At the end of the day we will know the relative strengths and weaknesses of both soon enough. Oh BTW, there is no need for all of your personal slights and snide remarks to continue. If you want to act like a ####-head, find someone else to engage with as I have far more productive ways to spend my time....
Click to expand...
Excellent reply 👍🏻
 
Ustauk said:
Where is the serialized part of the Carmel? If it is in the metal frame, could part of the polymer shell be swapped for more aesthetically pleasing or more ergonomic parts? It would be funny if we started sending Canadian polymer pimp-my-Carmel kits after satisfying our own needs...:p
Click to expand...
Its on the left side of the upper receiver forward of the bolt catch. The serialized steel insert is the registered part similar to the Tavor. The lower is the uncontrolled part.
All the polymer bits are uncontrolled as far as I know from scouring the US sites.
 
Mo.smart said:
I read it had to do with M1 carbines having 18” barrels, wanted to make them R. Might be fudd lore though
Click to expand...
Yup Turd#1 came out with the 18.5 rule specifically to make the m1 carbine restricted
He didn’t like the fact everyone was out in the bush with them hunting or having fun shooting
A lot of our garbage laws started with that A hole
 
Karnage said:
Its on the left side of the upper receiver forward of the bolt catch. The serialized steel insert is the registered part similar to the Tavor. The lower is the uncontrolled part.
All the polymer bits are uncontrolled as far as I know from scouring the US sites.
Click to expand...

Thanks! PSR showcased an additive manufactured chassis for a CETME-L parts kit that has some AR lower features. May give people ideas for the Carmel.
 
Bartok5 said:
The thing is, the Carmel is NOT lighter than most. In fact, it is quite the opposite, with the Carmel's robust but heavy polymer shell over an Aluminum and Steel Chassis construction it weighs in over 8 lbs bare bones.....

The Carmel is very well-built and at least as robust as its X95 bullpup predecessor. But lightweight it is not.
Click to expand...
I have not read into the specs in detail, so thanks. Interesting rifle, but the issue I have with it the same with all semi-auto's, how long will it last before it makes the ban list.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom