IWI CARMEL18.6” Canadian non restricted rifle CSR18

[barsik]

This is my usual approach and has served me well over the years, allowing me to amass a decent reference collection. That said, this time I am goingʻ to pass on the Carmel - at least until the Makasi disappoints or bores me.

My principal rationale is that the Carmel is little more than a conventionly-laid out X95 with a short stroke gas set-up rather than long-stroke. Same exact BCG, same plastic shell over an aluminum alloy chassis which results in the bulky form factor and porky weight (over 8 lbs less optic). Seeing as I already have an X95 I have already seen that movie and am aware of what current IWI development brings to the table. Hopefully they will have addressed the accuracy issues prior to the new, longer-barrelled rifles arriving in Canada.

The secondary (but occasionally primary) issue for me is the rifle's looks. As a result of the IWI penchant for plastic cladding over alloy chassis, the rifles look somewhat porky and bulky. Plus the styling of the plastic doesn't honestly do anything for me, to the point that I find the thick-centered rifle to be fugly. Military rifles ought to stir something more on the emotional scale than a "lunch" call, but maybe that's just me and the Carmel is your dream gun.

All the power to you if that is the case. I expect the Carmel to be quite an excellent performer, given it's X95 lineage. It's just not something I feel the need to rush out and buy for myself at present. The Makasi will give me something new to unpack when it arrives this Summer. That ought to buy me at least a month before I start jonesing for the next Black rifle. Who knows? That might even be the Carmel by then.... LOL!

I had 3 x95 rifles, one for me, one for my son, and one for my brother. bought them right after the ar15 ban and I thought I was into something cutting edge and useful. Nope. while these rifles may be reliable over time they are so advanced they were unusable in the practical sense. putting in a new magazine was a blind guess if the rifle was anywhere near your shoulder and the bottom of the magazine interfered with your left or right wrist, depending on your natural dominant eye. I really wanted to like these rifles but it didn't take long to figure out they really were too advanced. anyway, I sold them. just another great design that didn't live up to the hype. maybe the Carmel is IWI's way of saying sorry for the x95, who knows.

 

[20YearsOfTannerite]

I had 3 x95 rifles, one for me, one for my son, and one for my brother. bought them right after the ar15 ban and I thought I was into something cutting edge and useful. Nope. while these rifles may be reliable over time they are so advanced they were unusable in the practical sense. putting in a new magazine was a blind guess if the rifle was anywhere near your shoulder and the bottom of the magazine interfered with your left or right wrist, depending on your natural dominant eye. I really wanted to like these rifles but it didn't take long to figure out they really were too advanced. anyway, I sold them. just another great design that didn't live up to the hype. maybe the Carmel is IWI's way of saying sorry for the x95, who knows.

I've heard this take on bullpups before, I never had the pleasure of handling an AR so I don't have that muscle memory. It's a totally different system, so I'd imagine your AR-experience makes the learning curve steeper than someone like myself.

If the Carmel was available before the Makasi, I would've gone for it. I'm just happy to see us finally getting some better options!

 

[greentips]

I had 3 x95 rifles, one for me, one for my son, and one for my brother. bought them right after the ar15 ban and I thought I was into something cutting edge and useful. Nope. while these rifles may be reliable over time they are so advanced they were unusable in the practical sense. putting in a new magazine was a blind guess if the rifle was anywhere near your shoulder and the bottom of the magazine interfered with your left or right wrist, depending on your natural dominant eye. I really wanted to like these rifles but it didn't take long to figure out they really were too advanced. anyway, I sold them. just another great design that didn't live up to the hype. maybe the Carmel is IWI's way of saying sorry for the x95, who knows.

The technique of doing it which is not allowed in most civilian gun ranges and practical rifle matches,, will be rolling the stock up shoulder with magazine to eye level to perform a change. Obviously, the muzzle will be pointing to the sky and over the berm which un-nerves 99% of the gun club executives.

But yeh, you will get kicked out of most gun ranges if you try to do this, or even in military ranges run by dinos.