"A" FOR EFFORT
I purchased my first Falcon-built pistol in '82 which puts airsoft in it's infantile stage and this pistol surely displayed it with it's inaccurate propotions, detail, and severe inaccuracy and lack of power. Ten years later, puberty finally reached Falcon Toys and what was once a little incapable revolver grew out a heavy-hitting and decent looking Galil SAR airsoft gun with curves and shapes in all the right places. The Galil SAR is the .223 calibered assault carbine/short rifle version of the real Galil AR rifle. It's barrel length is the single difference between the SAR and AR measuring only 12 inches as opposed to the 18.1 inches of the AR. Stepping further into differences is my girlfriends heavy Galil ARM which is Israel's standard issue infantry/squad weapon containing integral bipod, larger wooden foregrip, carrying handle, wire cutter, bottle opener, and bayonet mount. The ARM's 5.56mm and SAR's 6mm calibers are about hair-close, 9lbs.versus 4lbs. is expected, but the $3500 tag on the real Galil is a severe heart attack from the airsoft Galil's $400 gasp for air. Falcon still has yet to get it right as T'Marui has with H&K weaponry. The SAR is just slightly larger in the body, barrel diameter, and pistol grip as if Falcon copied the larger IMI Galil in the full-powered .308 caliber sniper and export model. The black foregrip is also somewhat narrower and the flash suppressor at the muzzle is unlike those on the real originals. Another stand-out is the receiver cut-out above the mag' housing for scope mounting which exists only on the left side of the real ARM but is exists on both sides on the airsoft SAR. A couple of reinforcement rivets are seen on the body of the SAR yet absent on the actual Galil. The all-metal magazine has a unique grey/black-peppered finish to it and the ejection port has a polished metal insert to represent the bolt body. These varied finishes gives the SAR decent accents. To further the nice details are the flat black metal parts of the FN-style folding stock, front & rear sight assemblies, selector/safety, trigger and front gas tube assembly. Casting aside proportional problems, Falcon has managed to match exacting surfaces and details in exacting locations.

NO FUNK ON FUNCTION
Where the Falcon-made Galil SAR may be limited in appearance, it redeems itself in performance and utility. It has a flexible gas system of CO2, Green Gas, or compressed air bottle/tank to generate 45 to 55 psi through an external hose attached to the bottom of the pistol grip. That much pressure drives both the BB, rate pulse and feed mechanism in the 40-round mag. Interestingly the AK-type lever on the right side is a safety while the semi/full selector is conveniently at the top of the pistol grip on the left side. Because of the mechanism's simplicity coupled to higher gas pressures, firing rate is approximated at 650+ on full auto as on the real steel and BB drop extends out beyond 75 feet when in semi.

USE, ABUSE, ANYTHING LOOSE
The airsoft SAR is battle-ready providing you can hide the gas tank and arrange the hose so that it's outta your way. It's body's solid construction is sensed when holding the gun in all sorts of positions. It has a much more solid feel than most of it's contemporaries most likely due to the previously mentioned rivoting and thicker-bodied ABS plastic. The other contributing factor to shooter ergonomics is the comfortable FN-based folding stock. This all-metal stock is as shoulder/cheek friendly as the Colt telescopic stock if not friendlier. It's locking stiffness in either folded or unfolded position is better than MGC or T'Marui's PDW and more positive and less noisy (creaks & squeaks) than the 550/551 rifles. Shoulder comfort is acheived by the slight 15 degree angle of the butt plate which means you can fall asleep shouldering this airsoft gun. I prefer the feel of the airsoft SAR to my woman's real Galil ARM rifle when shoulder/cheeking. Folding the stock cuts 10 inches off the SAR and makes the gun more maneauverable as a SIG 551. The gunsights are very nice and very functional in that they are rear peep holes(choice of two flip-up type settings) comparable to but less obstructive as the diopters of the H&K/SIG rear sights. This gun also has a flip-up fore and aft three dot sighting system for night firing, the problem is that these sights need a couple dabs of glow-in-the-dark paint or harmless radio-active tritium inserts as on the real rifle.

GIVETH AND TAKETH AWAY
On the field of honor this gun will earn some decent and accurate hits including cutting through fauna and foliage due to it's potent gas system and with it's short size and folding stock, the shooter can take to defensive and offensive posturing at ease. That cumbersome gas tank and hose are quite a price to pay for high rates of fire and BB velocity and becomes such a major setback with all the flying and diving paintballers do, there's a chance of the hose dislodging from the gas connector of either the rifle or the tank which is why the Galil SAR would be better as a handy sniper weapon. This would make better sense because of a higher velocity placed on the BB in addition to ideal sights. An even better version for this job is Falcon's Galil ARM airsoft rifle which comes with a longer barrel, steady bi-pod, and cheek rest exclusively reproduced for and sold by MFI. Unfortunately, Falcon never made the unique side-receiver scope mount for their Galil's possibly because optics weren't as popular for airsoft then as it is now. A scope mount is available for the real rifle but it's unknown if the mount is compatible with the mispropotions of Falcon's Galils. Since snipers work in pairs have your spotter work some binoculars for your points of impact. The other and final use I can find for the Galils are that of collector wall peices. Falcon Toys has unfortunately ceased production on the Galils hence there's no mention of gun upgrades or accessories. MFI of San Francisco has the last specimans of the deluxe ARM version in the western hemisphere. Visit his web site to see an actual photo and specs on the ARM.

Everyone including yours truly likes variations on a certain design theme for example the roller-lock design of the G-3 variants and MP-5 variants or that familiar carrying-handle receiver of the M-16 and XM-177 versions. In this case the Israeli adoption of the AK-47 gives it a rather upgraded purpose as well as serious-business looks. Some consider this version to be the ultimate evolution for the AK-47 which is why I'm disregarding it's low-tech gas system and persuing an ARM purchase for it's serious appearance. Falcon's version, although flawed in certain areas, is not a bad model to have. Since the Galil airsoft gun was solely made by one company alone as opposed to other models and competing manufacturers, this makes for a certain appeal to airsoft collectors and enthusiasts. If the West Coast were to be invaded by hostiles then the Galil ARM would be the rifle in hand and to the battle fronts! Now if the hostiles were armed with 'soft MP-5s, then we're talkin' Falcon's SAR in hand and to the backyard fence!

Spl. Thanx to Michael @ MFI
ARTsenal