Modern Classic: The IWI Tavor SAR Bullpup Rifle

While the bullpup rifle design might seem to be a modern incarnation, a quick internet search shows that the bullpup — magazine and action located behind the trigger mechanism — dates back to 1901 and a British rifle called the Thorneycroft.

As for why these types of firearms received the bullpup moniker, legend has it that the verbiage originated from the bulldog puppy, shortened to bullpup, as in short and squat, while still aggressive and dangerous. Given the myriad Instagram posts feature bulldogs today, one might question the “aggressive and dangerous” part, but here we are. 

Though there have been bullpup rifles and shotguns designed and built here in the good ol’ USA, the United States Army has yet to formally adopt one. Bullpups as service rifles tends to be a rather European thing. Case in point; the French FAMAS, the British Enfield L85A1, the Austrian Steyr AUG, and the Belgian FN F2000.

No, Israel isn’t in Europe, but there’s no denying the amount of British and European influence, particularly militarily, there is in that small Mediterranean country. When you think of guns from Israel, the Uzi submachine gun is likely the first to come to mind, followed by the Galil rifle series. I don’t think it’s a stretch to assert that the gun we’re about to discuss is now among the top five guns to come out of Israel.

IWI Tavor SAR

Some folks might hear the IWI Tavor mentioned and think, “Yeah, that’s the new Israeli bullpup.” You might be surprised to learn that next year, 2026, the Tavor SAR will be 25 years old. The gun was being developed in the late 1990s and was officially adopted back in 2001. 

Israel Weapon Industries has upgraded and modified the Tavor over the last quarter century, but the one featured here, the SAR in 5.56mm, is essentially the original configuration. I’ve been in possession of this gun for about twenty years or so. 

As a bullpup design, the magazine and action are indeed located behind the trigger and pistol grip. One of the primary benefits of the bullpup, besides its compact size, is the majority of the weight is located back toward the rear of the gun. While not exactly light weight, the Tavor’s balance is exceptional and you can indeed shoot these guns single-handed without much issue should the need arise. 

While not truly ambidextrous, the Tavor SAR can be converted from right hand operation to left hand operation by the end user. This isn’t a quick process, but if you’re of the sinister bent, you can set your gun up that way. 

On the subject of right versus left hand operation, that’s been one of the contentions or reasons why lefties shy away from bullpups. Some of the old style bullpup guns, when fired from the left shoulder, would spit brass and gas out uncomfortably close to the shooter’s face. The Tavor includes a brass deflector device and I have fired the right hand configured gun from my left shoulder without a problem.

Israel isn’t a NATO member. However, most of their military small arms have followed NATO STANAG for decades. The 5.56 Tavor uses STANAG magazines. The SAR version is also available in the expensive and pointless 300 Blackout cartridge. Like the .40 S&W, people who like to shoot a lot and have to purchase their own ammunition rarely gravitate toward 300 BLK, but I digress. 

As mentioned earlier, the Tavor isn’t a lightweight gun. Empty weight is listed at 7.9 pounds from the manufacturer, but again, it balances really well. As for controls in RH configuration; the charging handle is on the left side as is the selector switch.

The magazine release and the bolt-release are ambi. The magazine release lever is in front of the mag and the bolt-release/hold-open lever is behind the magazine. There is M1913 Picatinny mounting rail on the top and the righthand side of the forend. Although it is anticipated that the end user will install some type of optic on the Tavor, there are back-up iron sights built into the rail on the top and you can flip them up quickly if needed. For my Tavor, I installed an EOTech Model 512 just ahead of the rear back-up sight.

For United States civilian/non-NFA models, the barrel length is 16.5 inches and the overall length is 26.125 inches. For comparison, an M4A1 carbine with its stock extended is 33 inches and with the stock closed the M4 is 29.75 inches.

Chambered in genuine 5.56mm NATO, the hammer-forged barrel has 1:7 RH rifling. This is significant as it will shoot standard NATO weight ammo like the M855 or SS109 well and accurately. The only significant change that I made to my Tavor SAR was to swap the factory flash hider with an AAC suppressor adapter.

Range Testing

For this review, I went to the range and decided to BZO the EOTech optic on the Tavor at 25 meters, the standard for NATO rifles. The ammunition I chose was the Black Hills 62 grain Dual-Performance load in genuine 5.56mm chambering.

I’ve been toting around a Combat Optic Tool for about a decade now and didn’t realize until this review that my version is a First Gen and that they’ve upgraded the design. If you are looking for a stocking stuffer for a gun guy, check them out.

As for the trigger feel on the Tavor SAR, it’s a mil-spec design meant to smack the hard primers found in military ammunition. Those guys with drop-in match-trigger ARs might not appreciate the SAR’s trigger pull weight, but it’s purpose built.

By the third 3-shot group, I had adjusted the EOTech reticle to where it needed to be at 25 meters. Then I took my time and slow-fired the final three shots for confirmation. Three rounds went into ¼ inch from that distance with two of the projectiles sharing one hole. I suppose you can say that the Tavor SAR has sufficient built-in accuracy. 

My SAR came with one 30-round polymer magazine and it’s somewhere in a tote full of AR mags. For this outing, I used three 30-round STANAG mags from F.A.B. Defense minus windows. Windows are for cars and houses, not rifle magazines. I purchased three of the Ultimag G2 rifle magazines about a year ago and have been testing them out. I’ve been impressed.    

Parting Shots

During my time working with the Tavor SAR bullpup I can’t recall any significant stoppage issues. During this recent range review I put somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 to 200 rounds combined with the Black Hills 62 grain DP as well as some mil-surp SS109. The gun functioned without flaw. I should mention that the Tavor SAR ran just fine while suppressed.

Tavors aren’t cheap. They’re high quality firearms and it shows.

As far as bullpup rifles in general are concerned, they tend to be rather polarizing. Folks either love them or they seem to have an irrational hatred for them. Am I going to sell my ARs and replace them with bullpups? No, but there’s a welcome slot in my gun safe for this modern classic rifle. 

Specifications: IWI Tavor SAR Bullpup Rifle

Caliber 5.56mm (.223 Rem)
Capacity 30 (others)
Action Semi-Auto
Barrel Length 16.5 inches
Overall Length 26.125 inches
Weight (empty) 7.9 pounds
MSRP $1999

Paul G. Markel is the founder of Student the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades. He is the author of numerous books and is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran.