The Poison Pill
I found this IWI Galil Ace Gen II in the Guns.com Certified Used inventory. I have done a deep dive on the Galil Ace Gen II previously, but the major difference on this rifle is the caliber. It’s chambered for the more modern Russian 5.45x39mm cartridge.
Related: 5.45 vs. 5.56 – The Power of The Poison Pill
One of the big benefits of the Galil Ace platform is the wide array of available chamberings – most notably to me, 5.45. I am slightly obsessed with the 1970s cartridge and its performance against other designs like the 5.56 NATO cartridge. The “poison pill” offers a lighter recoiling, ballistically superior cartridge to that of the original AK 7.62x39mm cartridge.
Old AK Meets New Age
Fun side story: IWI tricked me into buying a first-generation rifle. In 2020, the company announced it would use leftover parts from a 5.45 military contract run and produce 5.45 rifles and pistols. Thinking I was getting an exclusive, potentially collectible deal, I immediately bought one, just to have IWI release the Gen II in 5.45 the very next year.
Related: Two Guys One Gun Podcast, Episode 31 – Galil, the Israeli AK
Additionally, this rifle features amenities like a free-floated M-LOK handguard, standard threaded barrel, spring-loaded dust cover, ambidextrous safeties, and an adjustable folding stock. The platform can easily accommodate an optic with the hinged top rail, which runs the length of the receiver and handguard.
The optic rail made it easy to add a Holosun DRS-NV, a modern optic with night vision capabilities. The standard thread pitch also made it easy to add a Banish Speed K Ti suppressor, making 5.45 even more enjoyable to shoot. The lighter cartridge paired with the modern design features make this an excellent rifle to trick out and train on.
On the Range
Due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, 5.45 ammo is expensive and hard to find. I was fortunate to find a stash at my local gun shop, so I had the pleasure of sending some suppressed 5.45 downrange. The Galil Ace is a milled receiver with a hefty handguard. It is by no means a light rifle, but the added weight and light 5.45 caliber make it extremely easy to control.
The rifle runs on standard AK-74-pattern magazines. In complete and utter disappointment, I sadly must report that the rifle runs flawlessly with Circle 10 polymer mags, fakelites, and Magpul magazines, yet real Bakelites failed to feed. So, sadly you can’t enjoy the aesthetic of a real Bakelite magazine.
It’s also not every day that you get to enjoy an AK platform in a civilized manner (suppressed). Since the rifle has a standard 1/2x28 TPI thread pitch and a 5.45mm diameter, I decided to try out the Banish Speed K Ti. When I first got the can, I was skeptical, as I didn’t think something that short could mitigate sound.
Wow, was I wrong.
The short and stout can make it so quiet that I could have easily shot with no hearing protection. Again, that level of modernity makes this a more viable platform for uses like home defense, meaning I could save my hearing in an emergency.
Outside of the incredibly sad hiccups from the Bakelite magazines, the rifle ran flawlessly. I am an AK guy at heart, and an AK variant that is easily suppressed, optic-ready, and designed to be C-clamped makes me stoked to shoot.
This rifle is an ideal AK platform that can serve as a training or defense rifle. It’s easy to get off quick and accurate follow-up shots with familiar controls to anyone who rocks the AK platform.
Summary
It is easy to see why this rifle design is so popular with so many militaries across the globe. The modern touch almost gives it an AR modularity vibe while remaining familiar to AK operators. Reliable and built with quality, IWI does a great job building a modern fighting rifle that is easy to operate and effortless to accessorize.
AKs will always hold a special place in my heart, and if it’s in 5.45, I am in love. At the same time, shooting suppressed is the only proper modern way to shoot, and that can be difficult with the AK platform. Luckily, IWI is there to fill the bill.
Regardless of what platform you like, how many accessories you have, and what caliber fits you best, it matters not if you do not train. Whatever firearm it is, dry fire, run drills, grab ammo, and hit the range.
