I've owned nearly every semi auto, NR rifle in .223 including 2 Tagore, 4 T97's and 3 XCR's. I've also owned more than a dozen AR's both factory and self built. I've owned high and low end.
I loved my Tavor. I loved that it was NR, I lived the ergonomics a lot, I loved the reliability and how clean it ran. It was MORE than accurate enough for me to shoot competitions and plink around at 50-100 yards (which is as far as I ever shoot). I liked everything about the Tavor other than price and the trigger. Though I got used to the trigger. I put 2000 rounds through my last tavor in only 4 months without a single stoppage (that's right, not ONE) and I only wiped the internals clean about every 500 rounds or so. I thought that was more than respectable.
I owned the tavor before my first AR. Once I got my RPAL I went straight out and bought a $1200 AR. It was good quality but nothing fancy and was a great gun. I liked the ergonomics and it was as accurate as my tavor though not any better. The trigger was definitely better but I just felt more comfortable with the tavor. But at the end of the day, for range use... A $1200 AR was no worse than my $2700 Tavor. Thing I didn't like most about the AR was how dirty it was. After 500 rounds it was just full of crap. Still ran fine but I'm picky about having a clean gun so it bugged me. Eventually I built myself a super high end, piston SBR AR... Total cost was $2500 and it included a competition trigger and full piston conversion as well as all the ergonomic upgrades like mag and bolt releases and extended charge handle etc. I still have this gun and it runs clean even after 500-1000 rounds it's as clean as any tavor. It's ergonomically equal to a tavor (different but equal in terms of usability). It's a lot lighter than my tavor and it's more accurate.
At the same time I owned the tavor and my current AR I owned a T97 with the FTU. I paid $1000 for it super lightly used and in mint condition. The FTU solves all the stupid optical problems the gun has stock. Trigger is better than a tavor but no where near as good as even a low end AR. Not in the same galaxy as a competition AR trigger. The safety sucks... No other way to say it. It's terrible and I prefer to use a safety as much as possible. It was annoying but not something that made me hate the gun. The mag release is certainly NOT as good as an AR or Tavor but I got VERY good with it (right hand stays on the grip, left hand releases and drops mag then inserts new one) in a speed test, only seconds behind the tavor and at the end of the day, more than good enough for me. It was every bit as accurate as my tavor or lower cost AR... Maybe better than the tavor. It ran clean and mine was very reliable with only a few stoppages in a few thousand rounds. With a little work I got all mags to drop free including Pmags. I sold that T97 but have since bought another FTU equipped gun that was brand new and after selling some included optics I have $800 into it... Total.
So here's my take on all 3. First, the most important concern is Restricted or not. This will factor out the AR immediately. If it doesn't matter you move to price... This could factor out the tavor immediately. If class and price are no issue you need to think about what traits of a gun are most important. The. Figure out which one has more of those traits. An AR can pretty much be modified to do or feel any way you want it to. For the same money as a TAvor you can have an AR that will be every bit as clean and ergonomic but possibly more accurate and lighter with a better trigger.
If you've got tavor kind if $$ to spend and want an NR but also want a great range gun you have one other option. You can buy a used T97 with FTU for $1100 or less ... Use this as your camping/off range plinking/hunting gun. It does these things very well in an affordable package. Than spend the $1300-1500 you have left over on a nice used AR. There are loads of Daniel Defence and other great brands out there you can pick up in mint shape for $12-1500. Buying a T97 and a good quality AR for the same money as a Tavor is getting the best of both worlds. It's currently what I'm running and I have no complaints. My T97 is a great off range gun where quick safety action and mag changes aren't a big issue. And any $12-1500 AR will be more than good enough for plinking at the range or shooting competitions. And even that mid level AR can be upgraded with any ergonomic goodies or triggers you feel will improve it for how you shoot.
The Tavor is a fantastic gun... But for the money I think you can have the best of both worlds if your a savvy shopper.
I loved my Tavor. I loved that it was NR, I lived the ergonomics a lot, I loved the reliability and how clean it ran. It was MORE than accurate enough for me to shoot competitions and plink around at 50-100 yards (which is as far as I ever shoot). I liked everything about the Tavor other than price and the trigger. Though I got used to the trigger. I put 2000 rounds through my last tavor in only 4 months without a single stoppage (that's right, not ONE) and I only wiped the internals clean about every 500 rounds or so. I thought that was more than respectable.
I owned the tavor before my first AR. Once I got my RPAL I went straight out and bought a $1200 AR. It was good quality but nothing fancy and was a great gun. I liked the ergonomics and it was as accurate as my tavor though not any better. The trigger was definitely better but I just felt more comfortable with the tavor. But at the end of the day, for range use... A $1200 AR was no worse than my $2700 Tavor. Thing I didn't like most about the AR was how dirty it was. After 500 rounds it was just full of crap. Still ran fine but I'm picky about having a clean gun so it bugged me. Eventually I built myself a super high end, piston SBR AR... Total cost was $2500 and it included a competition trigger and full piston conversion as well as all the ergonomic upgrades like mag and bolt releases and extended charge handle etc. I still have this gun and it runs clean even after 500-1000 rounds it's as clean as any tavor. It's ergonomically equal to a tavor (different but equal in terms of usability). It's a lot lighter than my tavor and it's more accurate.
At the same time I owned the tavor and my current AR I owned a T97 with the FTU. I paid $1000 for it super lightly used and in mint condition. The FTU solves all the stupid optical problems the gun has stock. Trigger is better than a tavor but no where near as good as even a low end AR. Not in the same galaxy as a competition AR trigger. The safety sucks... No other way to say it. It's terrible and I prefer to use a safety as much as possible. It was annoying but not something that made me hate the gun. The mag release is certainly NOT as good as an AR or Tavor but I got VERY good with it (right hand stays on the grip, left hand releases and drops mag then inserts new one) in a speed test, only seconds behind the tavor and at the end of the day, more than good enough for me. It was every bit as accurate as my tavor or lower cost AR... Maybe better than the tavor. It ran clean and mine was very reliable with only a few stoppages in a few thousand rounds. With a little work I got all mags to drop free including Pmags. I sold that T97 but have since bought another FTU equipped gun that was brand new and after selling some included optics I have $800 into it... Total.
So here's my take on all 3. First, the most important concern is Restricted or not. This will factor out the AR immediately. If it doesn't matter you move to price... This could factor out the tavor immediately. If class and price are no issue you need to think about what traits of a gun are most important. The. Figure out which one has more of those traits. An AR can pretty much be modified to do or feel any way you want it to. For the same money as a TAvor you can have an AR that will be every bit as clean and ergonomic but possibly more accurate and lighter with a better trigger.
If you've got tavor kind if $$ to spend and want an NR but also want a great range gun you have one other option. You can buy a used T97 with FTU for $1100 or less ... Use this as your camping/off range plinking/hunting gun. It does these things very well in an affordable package. Than spend the $1300-1500 you have left over on a nice used AR. There are loads of Daniel Defence and other great brands out there you can pick up in mint shape for $12-1500. Buying a T97 and a good quality AR for the same money as a Tavor is getting the best of both worlds. It's currently what I'm running and I have no complaints. My T97 is a great off range gun where quick safety action and mag changes aren't a big issue. And any $12-1500 AR will be more than good enough for plinking at the range or shooting competitions. And even that mid level AR can be upgraded with any ergonomic goodies or triggers you feel will improve it for how you shoot.
The Tavor is a fantastic gun... But for the money I think you can have the best of both worlds if your a savvy shopper.
if the range is closed your AR looks cool sitting in your gun safe all locked up for safety while Tavor owners are out enjoying the outdoors and shooting their gun. A range only weapon is pretty much pointless, I just saw a message on one of the local gun stores windows saying you cannot shoot FMJ bullets at the local range and you will be banned if you do. Doesn't that pretty much end the use of the cheap bulk ammo you can buy ?
