Hailing originally from Israel, the Tavor family of rifles are among the most highly regarded rifles of the modern era. Compact, reliable as hell and with the respect of one of the world's most effective militaries in its reputation, this is certainly one bullpup you can't turn away.
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Table of contents
Introduction and history
Although potentially surpassed in fame by the iconic Styer Aug, the Tavor series nonetheless has an important place in the world of bullpup firearms.
Originally a product by IMI (Israeli Military Industries), it was the end result of a need by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) to equip its soldiers with a rifle that was more reliable and easier to maintain than the then-standard issue M4 carbine.
Additionally, a rifle which was more compact- and thus being better suited to the tight confines of urban combat the IDF frequently encountered- was needed, so a bullpup design for the new rifle was chosen, and thus a long-stroke gas piston system (similar to that used in the AK-47) was used to ensure the new weapons reliability.
In 2002, after about a year of standard military trials not so different from others we've covered here before- including reliability tests under adverse conditions, malfunction rates, accuracy tests etc., the new rifle was ready, and was adopted as the Tavor TAR-21. From the outset, the Tavor found success abroad as well in such faraway countries as Ukraine and Thailand, as well as dozens of others.
While the original version gave excellent service, by 2009, an even smaller rifle was requested by the IDF, and this resulted in the Tavor MTAR (or "Micro Tavor")- also called the X95- appearing around the same time.
The MTAR also gave excellent service like its predecessor, and when IMI (partially privatized and rebranded as Israeli Weapons Industries or IWI) began selling its products in the private gun ownership capital of the world a few years later, Americans stood up and took notice.
The Tavor X95 (perhaps predictably) won over the U.S gun owner community and has won numerous awards over the years since it was introduced. The variant currently holding the lion's share of not just Tavor sales but sales in the bullpup market here as a whole is the X95.
This week, we will be elaborating on this superb bullpup's features, and hopefully, teach you everything you need to know.
Let us begin with the Tavor X95 review!
Hands-on experience- features, function, shooting and more
How it feels
Like all bullpups, you will readily notice how "handy" it feels- most of the weight is centered near the rear of the gun, while the front feels light and easy to swing around.
This means that the X95, being light towards the front, will cause a lot less fatigue in your arm muscles when holding it for an extended period of time. In fact, the IDF themselves actually tested the Tavor for its suitability for general issue to troops in regard to this.
Because it's a bullpup (which means that the action and magwell are located behind the trigger group rather than in front of it as most "traditional" rifles are), doing anything with the chamber of the X95 (e.g. checking if a round is in it) is a bit awkward, given that you have to basically look down at your armpit.
While it's mildly uncomfortable, it's not a huge issue overall.
Overall, though, the X95 handles really well. It feels extremely easy to point and shoot, and aside from a few quirks (which we'll discuss more in the following subsections), it flows like water and appears to handle as smoothly as a bullpup ever will.
How it works
As previously stated in the intro, the Tavor X95 is a rifle that runs on a long-stroke gas piston system. Compared to other systems (especially the direct impingement system used in AR's), this has multiple benefits including increased parts life, increased cleanliness of the weapon and- though it's more opinion than fact- better reliability.
It also means you'll likely have to field strip and clean your gun less (assuming you aren't dropping it in mud or anything).
External controls
The external controls on the gun- especially the mag release button- are a bit stiff at first but will be "broken into" readily and shouldn't pose much of a problem, especially as the mag release button is, thankfully, in roughly the same spot as it is on an AR relative to the grip (although slightly more forward).
One of the other quirks of the X95 is the trigger- which, while very nice for a bullpup, is still mediocre overall at something like ~6-foot pounds- noticeably heavier than a typical AR-15, but the difference isn't profound.
The bolt charging handle is located on the left side of the gun (though I believe it can be swapped to the right side upon request) and is quite easy to use, unlike some of the older Tavor models.
It's convenient placement also means manually cycling the X95 to clear the chamber can be done without breaking your grip, thus allowing you to stay on target while working it.
The safety on the gun is in the typical location just above the grip, and it too is a bit stiff at first, but it's still not hard to operate.
Lastly, the bolt release, while physically easy to actually use, is in a bit of an awkward place- located at the rear of the gun just behind the magwell, you'll have to take one hand off the gun to reach it, but it can still be quickly and easily done in a pinch during reloads or at any other time.
Notable features
Although for the most part the Tavor X95 is pretty much just a standard rifle, it's got some notable elements to its design that I like, and that may certainly be useful for users.
Although the factory models are usually chambered in 5.56/.223, currently (as of October 2023), IWI offers models for the rifle in .300 Blackout and 9mm as well, and models in these calibers can be converted by the user to fire 5.56/.223 ammo with the use of conversion kits IWI sells, so if you need options, they have you covered.
Kits which do the reverse, however, are not offered (at least through IWI but other retails may have them as far as I am aware).
In the same vein, as previously stated, users who are left-handed can have numerous controls swapped to a left-handed configuration (including the charging handle, bolt and ejection port), although base models that already have these features are available as of the time of this writing.
However, users also cannot currently order kits to do this from IWI, and instead they will offer to do it for you should you have a right-handed model, if I'm not mistaken.
The barrel length from the factory is either 16.5 inches or 18.5 inches depending on which variant of the X95 you choose, although an option (requiring the usual 200$ tax stamp) for a 13 in barrel- which they originally were designed with- is also available. Barrels for restricted states such as California are also sold.
The fore-end is one of my least favorite parts of this rifle. Don't get me wrong, it's perfectly adequate, it just doesn't look good (in my humble opinion).
It comes with picatinny rails on all four sides, and while they are rock solid, will take all your standard lights, lasers etc. and seem to do their job well, they are really... sharp. As in, you could easily cut yourself if you weren't being careful.
Fortunately, however, it comes with rail protectors that slide off at the push of a button.
Lastly, the flip-up iron sights on the gun are spindly, tall and narrow, and aren't very good in my opinion, but they'll do- except maybe in a pinch.
Shooting it
I will open this section by saying the Tavor X95 is a ton of fun to shoot. It's not exceptionally accurate, but with about 3-4 MOA accuracy with standard ball ammo, it's comparable to a standard mil-spec AR-15.
So, while you won't be winning competitions with it (at least without an upgraded aftermarket trigger- which are readily available), it'll certainly do for just about anything else you could need it for.
Thanks to the long-stroke gas piston system, it's as reliable as the sun coming up in the morning, and I've fired at least several thousand rounds from dozens of different manufacturers though a single X95 since 2017.
Although I can't guarantee from memory if I ever even had a minor hiccup, I'm fairly certain I haven't, and I didn't decide to start concretely recording any weapon's performance until fairly recently.
I did, after the odd (sarcasm) bad day at work just this week, shoot 160 rounds through one at my favorite local range, and had no issues whatsoever. All of the ammo I shot was green tip M855 ammo- the same kind the United States Military has used for decades.
Have I mentioned that the X95 is also very pleasant to shoot from a sensory standpoint as well? Because the action is right in the buttstock, you don't really feel the gun recoil all that much, and because the front is so light (this is especially good if you want to add a suppressor, by the way), it's easy to hold it up for long periods of time.
Additionally, the 6-ish foot pound trigger pull is quite nice for a bullpup and won't make your finger feel tired the way it's predecessor (the TAR-21/Tavor SAR) did.
Overall, great gun to shoot. No complaints and tons of praise.
Some other things worth mentioning
This gun, for all its ups and downs, is pretty pricey. At about 1,800 USD, you'll probably be able to buy 2 (possibly even 3) ARs for every single X95 you buy.
The gun is pretty easy to disassemble and clean, so if you hate doing that, IWI made it easier for you. You probably won't need to clean it much, however, because like we said earlier, it runs pretty clean compared to an AR.
The X95 can also be readily suppressed, and functions quite well regardless of the caliber or load you're running when you stick a can on it. It may feel a bit rougher, given the action is closer to your face than in an AR, but it is nonetheless a good gun to run with a suppressor.
Additionally, while it's not an exceptional feature, the Tavor X95 has a cold-hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel, so expect it to last a while before needing a replacement.
Pros and cons
The Tavor X95 is probably the best bullpup rifle currently available, but it isn't perfect.
Pros:
Supremely reliable even with a suppressor
Bullpup configuration makes for a very compact rifle
The ability to swap calibers is huge (even if it's not as diverse as an AR)
Excellent trigger (for a bullpup)
Delivers matching ballistic performance to an AR in a shorter package
Recoil and handling are pleasant and gentle
Cons
Expensive
Controls on the weapon are, in many cases, a bit stiff and/or awkward to use
For all the work that's gone into its trigger, the X95 is still not a match-grade rifle (although it was never intended to be, AR's can readily surpass it)
If you do somehow have a malfunction, expect it to be a bit of a hassle to clear
Final thoughts and best deals
Bullpup rifles- for everything from their unique look and feel to their niche uses and roles, are important and iconic firearms. Where a longer rifle might be too large to wield- such as in the tight confines of urban combat- a bullpup will readily fill the role when necessary.
Perhaps none has had a more important role in modern history- or does this better than- than the Tavor series of rifles (including the X95).
IWI's engineering and design efforts have led to a rifle that is supremely reliable and perfectly exemplifies what bullpup rifles are and should be, and if you ever need one, definitely consider the gun nicknamed the "Hebrew hammer"- the pride of Israel- the Tavor.
After all, the X95 is the weapon used by one of the most powerful and highly trained militaries on earth, and its decades of good service alone prove that it's a worthy weapon.
Gun stats
Caliber(s) | 5.56/.223 (can be chambered in .300 Blackout or 9mm) |
Action | Semi-automatic (long-stroke gas piston system) |
Barrel length | 13, 16.5 or 18.5 inches |
Overall length | 26.125 inches (base 16.5 inch barrel model) |
Weight | 7.9 pounds |
Magazine capacity | 30 (default, other magazine sizes available) |
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