Hard choice and need help.. IWI tavor tar 21 or H&K SL8-4

yan014

yan014

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Ok, to begin with, I know there are a few threads about non restricted guns so please bare with me...

BUT, I'm looking in between Tavor or H&K SL8-4... mostly for non restricted semi 223 platform to be able to shoot outside a range and also, hunting small game and/or on quad rides during moose hunting season (just in case I need a smaller caliber than 300win mag and of course, not for moose).. gotta be accurate and fun! in the 2500-3000$ price range. I inquired also about FN FS2000 but are about 3000$ and you need to purchase a non-res barrel for them.. so, a little too expensive.

I don't want the Benelli MR-1 as I really hate the look of it. Also, no robs arms, no KEL-TEC, no VC/VZ in 223 and absolutely no T-97. I'm not looking for an AR180 either. That leaves it pretty damn slim to both of the above choices. Swiss arms, not too sure cause possible reclassification and a little too expensive.

From what I've red, there are a few points against both rifles:

Tavor: bad trigger, not very accurate due to length of the firearm and hard to stay on target (too easy to move around), no heavy barrel.

SL8: poor economics due to thumbhole stock..., long (not too carry friendly), on the heavy side, optic rail a little to high. Also, you need to buy a magwell adapter in order to use it with AR mags.

I have not shot any of the firearms and I am really looking for inputs.

PLEASE guys and gals, help me out!!

And, NO i will not buy both!!! hahaha

Thanks!!


 
Get what suits you. In a thread like this you're going to get shooters from both camps recommending their platform, with good reason as they're both incredibly good in the areas they excel in.

You mention wanting to hunt with it. One of the big obvious advantages a Tavor will bring is more room on your Quad, Backpack, truck, etc for other supplies. The SL8 is proven to be more accurate, although both platforms are hunting accurate and will put meat on the table all day long.

Post pics once decided. :D
 
my dad owns an sl8 and i have a tavor. they are totaly different. tavor is a military type rifle fast maneuverable, the SL8 is more of a target rifle, so laying down and shooting. it is far to heavy to be doing any moving and shooting with.

both are nice guns, but hard to compare. you need to decide what you want to do with the rifle.
 
Thanks for the replies guys! It's nice to know which one you would choose but WHY would you pick one more than another...

I mainly want to get one of them to target shoot and hunt small game (gophers, yotes and varmint stuff). Shooting positions would be from standing to prone and supported from my ATV or truck..

I still have quite a bit of time before I do the purchase as I am currently away from home and will be back at the end of September. Once I get either or, I sure will post a few pics!

Also, which ever one I pick will have a Leupold VX-R 3-9X40 sitting on it.. if it can help with suggestions coming from you guys/gals!
 
I had an SL8 and while it was OK I found it didn't fill any role very well; too heavy, long and bulky to tote around easily, but not accurate enough nor with a good enough trigger to be a good precision rifle either. I didn't mind the stock that much but the downsides you mention are all real. The Tavor is, I think, a much better choice for your needs--light, handier to carry; the trigger pull is probably not as bad as you're worried it is (it wasn't for me) and it's quite easy to hold steadily. Probably less accurate than the SL8 (mine's 2.75–3MOA with a 1X red dot sight at 100m) but accurate enough for most uses. A 3-9X40 is a biggish scope for a compact rifle, what about one with maybe a 33mm objective? Or a 1-4X20?
 
Different rifle types. That being said anyone who finds the SL8 heavy with an Eotech on it needs to hit the gym a bit more. SL8 off hand with a 553 Eotech on Clays. Lots of fun as there were no misses. That combo worked exceptionally well.

But Tavor is a lot handier off hand. While the SL8 has the accuracy advantage. The SL8 fits into the SAN PE90 target model and Mini14 target model range of firearm. Best for target/varmint shooting.
 
If you're looking for a walking modern sporting rifle, the Tavor is the way to go. If you plan on shooting from a bench or static position the HK makes more sense.
 
First of all you're probably looking at a $600-800 price difference. Good used HKs typically go for $1800-2000 while it's rare to see a used Tavor for under $2600. This is a factor because for the difference you can upgrade the HK stock to a G36 style, eliminating a lot of the weight and ergonomic arguments against the HK. With the conversion done you can argue apples to apples while a comparison of the stock guns is apples to oranges. I've got a converted HK and anyone who says they're too heavy to carry hasn't handled one. This is not to knock the Tavor but just to point out that you have to look at the guns from an equal dollar point of view. Otherwise if a $3000 gun doesn't have more going for it than a $2000 gun something is not kosher.
 
yan014 said:
Tavor: bad trigger, not very accurate due to length of the firearm and hard to stay on target (too easy to move around), no heavy barrel.

SL8: poor economics due to thumbhole stock..., long (not too carry friendly), on the heavy side, optic rail a little to high. Also, you need to buy a magwell adapter in order to use it with AR mags.
Click to expand...
for the SL8 you can either do the hera kit and use any AR stock or a G36 conversion to fix the stock ( I have no issue using the factory one). Heavy? compared to what?. The factory sight rail makes the optics sit high, get the lower profile scope rail. Mag well adapter.....Why? You can modify factory one to take G36 mags or buy speer 5/30 mags from wolverine (both are better quality than the AR mags I have used)

as for the Tavor, I haven't read about anyone being able to improve the trigger or accuracy
 
If you are doing target and small game go for the hk. Make sure the stock fits you right. My thumb is to big and hurts when shooting the hk so it isnt for me.
 
Tavor would be my choice. Full size in a compact platform. Will be easier to quad with, or riding in a truck ( hop out and pop in a mag). Battle proven by the IDF.

I personally own a RFB (308) for my hunting adventures, also a XCR (6.8) and a Tavor in my near future.
 
For those talking about weight difference for a "walking" rifle;

H&K SL8 with 20.08" barrel, 8.6 lbs
IWI Tavor with 18.1" barrel, 8.1 lbs

Pure stock and unaltered values here of course. If a person were to go with lighter aftermarket parts the SL8 could come in at the same weight or lighter than the Tavor. The Tavor has very little option in parts swapping to become any lighter.

So if you're walking around the weight difference is nearly negligible, as I assume you're going to have some kind of load bearing device such as a sling or backpack that you're going to carry either rifle with. Where the Tavor would excel is in the rearward placement of the weight for holding on target for a given length of time. With the Tavor having the weight positioned to the rear a person can hold on target for longer periods, but slung on the back or in a pack it makes little difference.

Also for looking at the quad don't discount that the SL8 can be made more compact for travel with the addition of a folding stock. Still not as compact for OAL as a Tavor but much better for compact travel.
 
I own both a tavor and an sl8-4. I enjoy them both very much but in their own way. On my tavor I have a leupold HAMR with the deltapoint on top. Great with mag-wedged LAR mags for putting a bunch of rounds downrange with decent accuracy. Very comfortable to hold and easy to operate. On my sl8 I have a bipod and a Meopta zd1 4x variable zoom scope on a Burris P.E.P.R. mount. It is a laser beam. I have only ever shot it at distances of under 150 yards but it is very accurate at that distance.

One thing I will say about them is the tavor will take just about any ammunition and cycle reliably but the sl8-4 requires premium ammunition. Had some great success with some 62gr. ammunition the other day...
 
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