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Galil Serial Number question


CWS

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i have an IMI Galil in .223/5.56, the place where I got it from stated this rifle was made in 1969, however I have my doubts. I've read as much as I could on the forum and on other forums about the SN and model. Can anyone help about the info on my rifle?

IMI Galil S.Auto, Model 392 SN: AAL-208XXXX, Wood hand guard, bipod, no bayonet lug, has the wire cutter, and folding stock. no S in the serial number and no box either. all the markings are in english, no hebrew

any info will help

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NO Galil's were imported into the US until the 80's ...

I watched that GB auction ..... and LAUGHED at that 1969 comment ....... TOTALLY FALSE.

You could have save OVER $1000 and made an offer on mine 

I am considering selling mine .......

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Ya kind of what I figured since the galil was only invented in the late 60's. I didn't pay over $2k for the rifle so I'm not out that much money. Any idea on when the rifle was made? I know it was imported by Action Arms (out of business in 1989) so I know its from the Pre-90's.

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Here is some OLD Galil info collected many years ago .......... hope this helps .....
_______________________________________________________________________________________

My Galil Picture album >>> http://www.sturmgewehr.com/bhinton/Galil/ 
My Valmet Picture Album >>> http://www.sturmgewehr.com/bhinton/Valmet/

___________________________________________________________________________

This Galil Info was collected many ...... many  years ago by Yog (in Alaska)[Galil Expert & Collector] ....

as reported to him by Galil owners.....

Version 1.3 - 12 April 99

This is a compilation of Galil data that has been posted on these boards, 
from my personal experiences, and from some very helpful Galil owners who 
responded to my Galil Questionnaire. This is a living document and is 
constantly being updated and corrected. The thoroughness of this list is a direct result of all its contributors.

AR model rifles: generally have plastic handguards, no bipod, and no 
carrying handle. MR rifles generally have bayonet lugs and AA rifles 
generally do not. 
ARM model rifles: generally have wooden handguards, a bipod, and a carrying 
handle. Some have bayonet lugs and some don't.

Here we go: 
MR = Magnum Research - 1st Galil importer 
AA = Action Arms - 2nd Galil importer and went out of business in 1989. 
GS = Springfield Armory - 3rd Galil importer (between 25 July 91 & 31 July 
92)

5.56mm Magnum Research Rifles 
MR no model # (appears to be a Model 361 but is not marked) ? 5.56mm 
AR, 18 bbl.,bayonet lug on barrel, no bipod or bipod attachment point, M-16 
style flash suppressor, has spring loaded firing pin,rifle is stamped 
Galil; above scope mounting notch. Serial # in MR0051x range. (1 rifle 
reported)

MR 361 - 5.56mm AR, 18" bbl., 1-12" twist, bayonet lug on bbl., bipod lug 
milled off gas block,M-16 style flash suppressor. 
Early models had a "straight trigger" as found on Valmets. Serial # in 
MR00064x range. (1 rifle reported)

MR 372 - 5.56mm ARM, 18" bbl., 1-12" twist, bayonet lug on bbl., bipod, M-16 
style flash suppressor. Serial #s from MR0028xx to MR003xxx. (3 rifles 
reported)

7.62mm Magnum Research Rifles 
MR 331 - 7.62mm AR, 20" bbl., 1-12; twist, bayonet lug on barrel, bipod 
attachment milled off gas block, M-16 style 
flash suppressor. Serial # in MR04xxx to MR046xx range. Caliber is marked 
7.62/.308;. (2 rifles reported)

MR 332 - 7.62mm ARM, 20" bbl., bayonet lug on bbl., M-16 style flash 
suppressor. (0 rifles reported)

MR 332 - 7.62mm AR, 16.5" bbl., no bayonet lug, no bipod or attachment, 
plastic handguard, M-16 style flash suppressor. 
Serial # in MR069xx range. Appears to have been a "Special Run" of rifles. 
(1 rifle reported)

It appears that all MR Serial #s are located behind the rear handguard 
(vertically) on the "left" side of the rifle. 
There appears to be transitional variants of Model 331, 332, 361, and 372 
rifles during the MR/AA change over period. 
The Model 331, 332, & 361 rifles as imported by AA hold true for the 
descriptions listed under their MR brethren. The only difference is they 
contained milled out; areas on the receiver where the MR 
importation marks and serial # prefixes have been removed and the AA data 
added.

Some Model 372 ARM rifles have been reported with more noticeable 
differences. They appear to be an AR/ARM combination. Their features are as 
follows: Model 372, 5.56mm, 18" bbl., 1-12" rifling twist,black plastic 
handguard, bayonet lug, bipod attachment point w/o bipod, Galil style flash 
suppressor, and no carrying handle. 
Additionally, they have a shallow "milled out area" on the left side of the 
receiver where the MR importation marks and serial #prefixes have been 
removed and the AA data added. It appears these rifles were originally MR 
rifles, but were "redone" to have AA markings. The Serial #s are in the 
AAL3xxx range and are located behind the rear handguard (vertically) on the 
"left" side of the rifle.

5.56mm Action Arms Rifles 
AA 361 ; 5.56mm AR (transitional), 18; bbl., 1-12; twist, bayonet lug on 
barrel, no bipod, Galil style flash suppressor. Serial # in AAL000xxx to 
AAL011xx range and located vertically behind the rear handguard. These 
rifles are not marked Galil and have milled out areas on their receivers. 
(3 rifles reported)

AA 372 - 5.56mm ARM, 18" bbl., 1-12" twist, bayonet lug, bipod, M-16 style 
(early) flash suppressor or Galil style (later) flash suppressor. Serial # 
in AA03xxx to AAL207750x range. Early rifles had bayonet lugs on a ring 
pinned onto the bbl. and later rifles have them attached to the front 
end of the gas block. (6 rifles reported)

AA 386 - 5.56mm AR, 16" bbl., 1-12" twist, no bayonet lug, no bipod 
attachment point, Galil style flash suppressor. Serial # in AAL207765x to 
AAL209xxxx range. (4 rifles reported)

AA 392 - 5.56mm ARM, 16" bbl., 1-12" twist, no bayonet lug, Galil style 
flash suppressor. Serial #s in AAL207910x to AAL207947x range. 
(3 rifles reported)

AA 392S - 5.56mm "ARM Sporter", 16" bbl., 1-7" twist, wood handguard, carry 
handle, no bayonet lug, no bipod, but has bipod attachment pt., no night 
sights, threaded muzzle. (1 rifle reported)

AA 397S - 5.56mm "AR Sporter", 16" bbl., 1-7" twist, black plastic 
handguard, no carry handle,no bayonet lug, no bipod attachment pt., no night 
sights, threaded muzzle. Serial # in AAL210xxxx to AAL21005xx range. (3 
rifles reported)

AA 710S 5.56mm ;ARM Sporter 16; bbl., 1-7; twist, wood thumb-hole stock, 
wood ARM hand guard, no carrying handle, no night sights, threaded muzzle, 
bipod attachment point. Serial # in AAL 210022x range. (1 rifle reported)

7.62mm Action Arms Rifles 
AA 331 7.62mm AR (transitional), 20 bbl., 1-12; twist, bayonet lug on 
barrel, no bipod or bipod attachment point, Galil style flash suppressor. 
Serial # in AAL049xx range and located vertically behind the rear handguard.

These rifles are not marked Galil and have milled out areas on their 
receivers. (3 rifles reported)

AA 323 - 7.62mm ARM, 18" bbl., 1-12" twist, no bayonet lug, bipod, Galil 
style flash suppressor,Serial # in AAL2089xxx to AAL2094xxx range. (4 rifles 
reported)

AA 329 - 7.62mm AR, 18" bbl., no bayonet lug, no bipod attachment, Galil 
style flash suppressor,Serial # in AAL209094x range. (1 rifle reported)

AA 332 - 7.62mm ARM, 20" bbl., 1-12? twist, bayonet lug on bbl., 
bipod, Galil style flash suppressor, Serial # in 
AAL2078xxx range. (2 rifles reported) There is one unique transitional rifle 
reported with the following characteristics: Serial # 
in MR076xx range and located vertically behind the rear handguard, not 
stamped Galil, but imported by Action Arms. Yes, it has the MR prefix. Box 
and paperwork are dated 1992. The receiver does have milled out areas.

AA 329S - 7.62mm "AR Sporter", 18" bbl., black plastic handguard, thumbhole 
stock, no bayonet lug, no bipod attachment point, no night sights, threaded 
muzzle. Serial # in AAL209xxxx range. (2 rifles reported)

5.56mm Springfield Armory Rifles 
GS 386 - 5.56mm AR. Serial # in GS2095xxx. No "S" after Model #. (Only 1 
rifle reported).

GS 710-S - 5.56mm "ARM Sporter", 16" barrel, 1-7" twist, wood thumb-hole 
stock, wood ARM hand guard, no carrying handle, no night sights. Serial # in 
GS2100xxx range. (1 rifle reported) There is also a GS 710 rifle reported 
without the S stamped after the model number and without the 
GS Serial # prefix. Serial # in 210020x.

7.62mm Springfield Armory Rifles 
GS 329-S - 7.62mm "AR Sporter", 18" barrel, 1-12" twist, wood thumb-hole 
stock, black plastic hand guard, no night sights. 
Serial # in GS2099xxx range. (1 rifle reported)

It appears that all AA (except for transitional models) & all GS Serial #s 
are located above the scope mounting "notch". 
All Magnum Research rifles are Pre-89. Most appear to be Kalifornia legal, 
but there is at least one documented MR rifle which is stamped Galil. 
Some Action Arms rifles are Pre-89 and some are Post-89. 
All Springfield Armory rifles are Post-89. (CDNN was a known vendor.) 
Springfield imported less than 1000 Galil rifles 
between 7-25-91 and 7-31-92.

The difference between Pre & Post rifles is as follows: Post-89 rifles have 
the letter "S" stamped (sometimes crudely) AFTER the model number. On some 
rifles the letter "S" was added after the rifle was imported and on other 
rifles the "S" was added when the rifle was manufactured. This is not to be 
confused with "S. Auto Galil" stamped onto the receiver. Post '89 rifles 
have thumbhole stocks, no bayonet lugs, no bipods, no night sights, and no flash suppressors.

Some Galil rifles (appear to be only Magnum Research imports) do not have 
the word "Galil" stamped onto the receiver and these rifles are called 
"Kalifornia Legal" and bring a premium price. 
Early MR imported rifles did not come with Tritium night sights or spring 
loaded firing pins. 
Owners could send in their bolts for firing pin spring refit and request 
their night sights. It is believed that the U.S. Government was in the 
process of approving tritium for importation at that time.

Serial #s appear to start low in MR rifles and reach almost 7000. The 
reported low MR # is 005xx and the reported high MR # is 69xx. There have 
been no rifles reported in the MR5xxx range. 
Serial #s appear to be in prefixes: 2077xxx, 208xxxx, 209xxxx & 210xxxx for 
AA rifles. 
Serial #s appear to be in prefixes: 2099xxx & 2100xxx for GS rifles.

The first 100 MR imported Galils arrived with commemorative paperwork 
signifying their special status to their owners. 
There is a 10 Yr. Anniversary commemorative sticker attached to the box of 
"appropriate" AA import rifles. 
Plastic handguards are now available for ARM style rifles. 
There are several types of IMI scope mounts. The original (best & expensive) 
utilizes a lever and attaches onto the scope mounting "groove" on the left 
side of the rifle. This scope mount comes in three variants. One 
variant is designed for STANAG scopes, another variant is designed for a 1" 
tube scope, and the final variant is designed for a "channel" for ACOGs or 
M-16 style scopes. 
The cheaper scope mount also attaches onto the scope mounting "groove" and 
is tightened with a "wheel" or "screw". 
There is also a scope mount designed for AN-PVS/2 night vision devices. 
Additionally, GG&G manufactures and sells a Galil scope mount.

Both plastic "Orlite" and steel magazines are available for the 5.56mm 
rifles. Steel magazines are available in 12, 35, and 50 round capacities. 
Orlite magazines are available in 35 round capacities. South Africa also 
manufactures a 35 round steel magazine and a plastic 35 round magazine. 
There are two types of M-16 magazine adapters designed for the 5.56mm 
rifles. One type was designed by/for MR and the other by/for AA. As far as 
can be determined, the only difference is that the MR version has a 
"safety catch" to prevent accidentally discharging the adapter while 
changing magazines. 
There are 20 and 25 round 7.62mm steel magazines available. The 25 round 
magazines appear to be originally designed for the Galil by IMI. The 20 
round magazines appear to be modified M-14 magazines. 
Valmet ejection port buffers will not fit Galil rifles. 
There is a IMI Blank Firing Adapter that was available for the 5.56mm 
rifles.

Many serious students of firearms consider the Galil to be the "ultimate" AK 
rifle. Galils are manufactured from/with a "milled" 
receiver as opposed to a "stamped" receiver for most Valmets and AK series 
weapons. Milled receivers are heavier, stronger, 
and much more expensive to manufacture than stamped receivers. Some people 
consider milled receivers unnecessary due to the success of the stamped 
receiver guns and the weight and cost of the milled steel. Perhaps,one 
should examine the pros and cons of each and arrive at their own 
conclusions. A Valmet rifle is an excellent rifle if someone did not want to 
incur the weight & expense of the Galil.

It appears there were approximately 7,000 - 9,000 Semi-Automatic Galil 
rifles imported (total). 
This included both calibers and all three importers. 
Perhaps the most intriguing piece of information I received regards South 
African Galil rifles. 
An informed source has related that there were about 130 Semi-Automatic 
South African Galil receivers imported into the U.S. He stated that they 
were receivers only and had to be assembled with other Galil parts.

Many thanks to all the Galil owners who have shared their 
information and experiences.

Yog (in Alaska) 

 
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I've read that info and Its good information. I've pretty much figured its a Pre-1989 weapon, no "s" anywhere on the rifle except  the S.Auto portion, even thought my prefix is 208. its an AAL SN to start and handguards are wood instead of plastic. 

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  • 3 weeks later...
On ‎7‎/‎26‎/‎2018 at 4:57 PM, CWS said:

i have an IMI Galil in .223/5.56, the place where I got it from stated this rifle was made in 1969, however I have my doubts. I've read as much as I could on the forum and on other forums about the SN and model. Can anyone help about the info on my rifle?

IMI Galil S.Auto, Model 392 SN: AAL-208XXXX, Wood hand guard, bipod, no bayonet lug, has the wire cutter, and folding stock. no S in the serial number and no box either. all the markings are in english, no hebrew

any info will help

This is an easy question; as I have many Galils and spent a lot of time doing research - taking to many people all over.

Your 16inch barreled Action Arms "ARM model" import is probably 1987. Just look at the date code on the barrel. Depending where it is on the rotation (down by where it screws into the receiver); you might have to take the hand guard, along with the gas tube off.

It has either a 86 or 87 or 88 (I betting it is 87'.

Let us know what you got; along with any other questions.

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  • 1 year later...

Presume as a M392 that the serial number is between 20865XX and 20868XX!!!

My data is much more specific than Yog's (markings, magazine types, manuals, boxes, etc.), but I have very few dates.

Agree with 329--- 1987--- as I have 20894XX as 02-88.

Tony

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  • 4 months later...
4 hours ago, Eric harry said:

Sir, i have a SAR Galil with no brand, the only markings are:  1972 at the rear sight, left side/  68X  rightside near ejection port /  P800478 serial number. Any information om this,, thanks. 

That SN (less the "P") is generally for a pre-86 DS, Magnum Research import in the U.S.--- Model MR 365 (SAR)--- and stamped "GALIL" over "SAR", and "5.56mm/.223" over "IMI" over "ISRAELon the left receiver--- and have the "M16-type" flash hider!!! :D

The left rear sight marking is generally the last 4 digits of the SN. :)

Since you are in the Philippines, there will probably be no importer markings--- please verify the markings/flash hider, or post pictures. ;)

Tony

Edited by AGG
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