Editing IMI Galil (section)

==Design details==
===Operating mechanism===
The Galil series of rifles are [[selective fire]] weapons operated by a [[Kalashnikov rifle|Kalashnikov]]-pattern [[Gas-operated reloading|gas-driven]] long-stroke piston system with no regulator. The weapon is locked with a [[rotating bolt|rotary bolt]] with two locking lugs that lock into recesses milled into the receiver.

When fired, a portion of the propellant gases are evacuated into the gas cylinder through a {{convert|1.8|mm|abbr=on|2}} port, drilled at a 30° angle in the barrel, and a channel in the gas block. The high-pressure gases drive the piston rod (which is attached to the bolt carrier) rearward. During this rearward movement, a cam slot machined into the bolt carrier engages a cam pin on the bolt and rotates the bolt, unlocking the action. The arrangement of parts on the bolt carrier assembly provides for a degree of free travel, allowing gas pressure in the barrel to drop to a safe level before unlocking. To the immediate rear of the [[Chrome plating|chrome-plated]] piston head is a notched ring which provides a reduced bearing surface and alleviates excess gas build-up. As the bolt carrier travels back, it compresses the return spring guided in a hollowed section of the bolt carrier and the return energy contained in the spring drives the moving assembly back forward, stripping a new round from the magazine and locking the action. The cocking handle is attached to the bolt carrier on the right side of the receiver and reciprocates with each shot; the handle is bent upwards allowing for operation with the left hand while the shooting hand remains on the [[pistol grip]].

The ejection of spent cases from the Galil is sometimes a violent action. Cases can be dented by the ejector and be thrown as much as 40&nbsp;ft away from the rifle in some cases, depending on position.<ref name="history2" />

===Features===
[[File:Estonian soldier DA-SD-06-03436 c1.jpg|left|thumb|upright|An [[Estonia]]n soldier on patrol in March 2005, during the [[Iraq War]], with a compact Galil SAR in 5.56×45mm.]]

The Galil is hammer-fired and has a trigger mechanism patterned after the trigger used in the American [[M1 Garand]].<ref name="Kokalis">{{Cite book |last=Kokalis |first=Peter |title=Weapons Tests And Evaluations: The Best Of Soldier Of Fortune |location=Boulder, Colorado |publisher=Paladin Press |year=2001 |page=253 |isbn=1-58160-122-0}}</ref> The rifle's fire selector switch has three positions: S-A-R. The standard AK-47 style selector is retained on the right face of the receiver, and a dual thumb-selector is present on the left face above the pistol grip for easier manipulation.<ref name="MF">{{Cite web |url=http://modernfirearms.net/en/assault-rifles/israel-assault-rifles/galil-eng/ |title=Galil ARM |date=27 October 2010}}</ref> Pushing the left-selector to the rear position "R" (British terminology for "repetition"), provides semi-automatic fire. Pushing it to the middle position "A" produces fully automatic fire. Pushing the lever fully forward to "S" will activate the safety. Some models use a reverse-linkage RAS mechanism that performs the opposite action; pushing forward sets the rifle to Repetition or Automatic, and pulling rearward engages the safety,

The Galil prototypes used a stamped and riveted [[sheet metal]] steel receiver, but due to the higher operating pressures of the 5.56×45mm cartridge, this solution was discarded and the designers turned to a heavy [[Milling machine|milled]] [[forging]]. As a testament to its heritage, early prototypes were fabricated using [[Valmet]] [[Rk 62]] receivers manufactured in Finland.<ref name="Kokalis" /> All exterior metal surfaces are [[Parkerizing|phosphated]] for corrosion resistance and then coated with a black enamel (except for the barrel, gas block, and front sight tower). The machined solid steel billet action avoided cracking problems the AK-series had with steel stamped sheet actions, but this made the Galil heavier.<ref name="SADJ" />

The Gas-Block, handguard retainers and folding-stock mechanism components are cast pieces that are finish-machined and accordingly fitted. The sighting arrangements are also entirely cast and machined for greater durability. The only stamped components on the Galil are the magazine-catch, trigger guard, dust cover (on the R5 and R6 the rear handguard-retainer is stamped versus cast) and the magazines.

The weapon is fitted with a high-impact plastic handguard and pistol grip and a side-folding (folds to the right side) tubular steel skeleton [[Stock (firearm)|stock]]. The rifle can be used with a sound [[suppressor]]. The weapon features a bottle opener in the front handguard and wire cutter built into the bipod.<ref name="Sweeney"/> The bottle opener feature was included to prevent damage to magazines being used to open bottles, due to the large civilian reservist components of the IDF. Use of magazines to open bottles was a common source of magazine lip damage with [[Uzi]] submachine guns. Wire cutters were included to reduce the time necessary for IDF troops to cut down wire fences common to rural areas in Israel.

===Barrel===
Early production models were supplied with barrels that had six right-hand grooves and a 305mm (1:12 in) rifling twist (optimized for use with M193 ammunition), while recent production models feature a 178mm (1:7 in) twist barrel with six right-hand grooves (used to stabilize the heavier SS109/M855 projectile). The barrel has a slotted [[flash suppressor]] with 6 ports and can be used to launch [[rifle grenade]]s (such as the [[BT/AT 52]]) or mount a [[bayonet]] lug attachment (it will accept the [[M7 bayonet]]).<ref name="Kokalis" />

===Feeding===
The Galil is fed from a curved, [[steel]] [[Magazine (firearms)|box magazine]] with a 35-round capacity (SAR and AR versions), a 50-round capacity (ARM model) or a special color-coded 12-round magazine blocked for use exclusively with [[ballistite]] (blank) cartridges, used to launch rifle grenades. The magazine is inserted front end first in a similar manner to the AK family. An optional magazine adaptor enables the use of M16 type [[STANAG magazine]]s.<ref name="Kokalis" /><ref name="MF"/> Some who have used the Galil ARM with the 50-round magazine have noted that it is difficult to engage targets at elevated heights while firing on the ground in the prone position due to the magazine's extended length.<ref name="history2" />

===Sights===
The L-shaped rear sight has two apertures preset for firing at 0–300&nbsp;m and 300–500&nbsp;m respectively (the rear sight can only be adjusted for elevation). The front post is fully adjustable for both windage and elevation zero and is enclosed in a protective hood. Low-light flip-up front blade and rear sight elements have three self-luminous [[tritium]] capsules (betalights) which are calibrated for 100&nbsp;m when deployed. When the rear night sight is flipped up for use, the rear aperture sights must be placed in an offset position intermediate between the two apertures. Certain variants have a receiver-mounted dovetail adapter that is used to mount various optical sights.

===Stock===
The standard stock found on the Galil is a rough-copy of the FN-FAL Paratrooper stock, with modifications for simpler production and ease of use. Unlike the FAL folding stock, the Galil uses no locking button and is operated entirely by a pin and spring pivoting mechanism; to fold the stock, the "L" bracket on the stock portion is pressed down to where the spring is fully compressed and the entire stock is allowed to pivot on the buttstock hinge. The same operation is done for unfolding to the stock to the open-position.

The bracket and knuckle assemblies feature camming surfaces that allow the emergency unfolding of the stock by simply pulling the buttstock rearwards, however this should generally be avoided as it will wear down the mechanism rapidly over time, and lead to the stock wobbling in both positions.

There were six different types of Galil folding stock (not including the Micro or Galatz models) that were utilized over time on the Galil and R4 series of weapons. Wooden AK47 type buttstocks were also offered by request, although none are known to have been used by any militaries and were mostly relegated to the civilian market.

Contrary to popular belief, all Galil folding stocks are made of tubular aluminum like its FAL rendition; steel was never used, as it would have added too much additional weight, and the aluminum stocks were more than durable for standard firing and rifle-grenade usage.