Quite a few assault rifles hit the international arms market each year. However, few make a mark. One such new assault rifle that was noted by assault rifle experts in 2018 is the Gilboa rifle series.
The Gilboa is the outcome of years of research by Israeli boutique small arms manufacturing firm; Silver Shadow (whom also brought us the CQB add on “Corner shot”). The company is renowned for its outstanding skills in small arms customization and modification.
The Gilboa Rifle is a smart cohesion of the time tested M4 carbine lower receiver with a newly developed upper receiver exclusively designed by the innovative Silver Shadow. The firing system is based on a piston driven – gas operated concept that allows snag free fire under intense field conditions. The flat top design allows integration of rail mounted laser pods, optic sensors and flash lights.
The versatile assault rifles have been introduced in three variants for application in different operational roles. The shortest variant APR (automatic pistol rifle) weighs just 2.25 kg and carries a 4.5-inch barrel for close combat, urban battlefield and special operations applications. The standard version is designed with a 7-inch barrel and measures just 51 cms.
The heaviest variant in Gilboa series is the DMR (designated marksman rifle). The weapon is most suitable for military and law enforcement employment owing to its 18-inch barrel and 7:1 twist ratio that allows firing of heavier projectiles for optimal combat applications.
The most unusual variant in Gilboa family is the snake is the double barrel snake aka DBR based on the AR plaform. The weapon is designed with unique twin barrels, twin triggers, twin feeding magazines and twin ejection slots. The weapon is capable of firing two 5.56 mm rounds at the same time. Despite the DBR being “Cool” or “Neat”, it is actually controversial and not for no reason it was never really manufactured til date. One bullet is enough for neutralizing, and twin barrels are twin feeds, systems, pistons, triggers hence twin potential for jamming and off course also “twin” weight…So “for what” the opposers of this rifle type say. However it sells excellently on the civilian market, and that is enough for any manufacturer.
All the variants of Gilboa family are designed to fire 5.56 millimeter standard NATO ammunition at the ranges of 0-300 meters, making them an all round option for any military, sport or law enforcement application.
The IDF does NOT use the Gilboa rifle, along with a slew of other Israeli made rifles – like the Galil Ace, Emtan M4 series, Dan IWI sniper rifle, AK47 Alpha (Israeli made AK) and the Carmel. WE think it is bad, as we explained in our article here, especially, since some of the units still use the M4 (although the lead rifle is the Tavor Series) – for strategic reasons.
It is best to use as much locally made rifles, or any other arms systems as possible. Why? If you are involved in military conflicts, conventional or asymmetric, any kinds of imported arms make you vulnerable. We are know it’s very HARD to be completely indigenous, and the only countries which really do make almost everything on their own are Russia and China. Russia with its proud 70 years of arms manufacturing, and China, the biggest manufacturer in the world – of everything, not only arms. But most countries can’t, including the US – let alone Israel (a small non G20 manufacturing country, in today’s interconnected world) to really make everything on its own.
Having said, what is manufactured in Israel, especially if it is high quality and these specific specific arms are just as good or better than the AK, AR or M4 out there, it should use them and not use foreign arms.
Israeli FirePower LTD. 