IWI Carmel Review: Blending Sci-Fi Style with Battlefield Muscle

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The IWI Carmel is Israel Weapon Industries’ latest battle rifle variant introduced to the world. Meant to compete with today’s top-performing platforms, the Carmel utilizes decades of Israeli innovation,, blending battle-ready ruggedness with modernized features that attract both military and civilian shooters.

The Carmel is a fully ambidextrous, short-stroke gas piston rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO. With a monolithic upper, M-LOK handguard, and folding stock, the Carmel has nearly all the features you’re looking for.

IWI also incorporated a quick-change barrel system that gives users the ability to adapt for different needs on the fly. All these features make it one of the most versatile rifles IWI has ever made.

With proven competitors such as the SCAR and MCX, the IWI Carmel has had its work cut out for it trying to fit in as the rookie in the group.

I took the Carmel out for some range time and quickly found a few things that were concerning. Battle-ready should NOT mean ammo finicky, right?! Having huge potential but falling short in simple range tests will have you contemplating that “Battle Ready” description.

I was sent a Carmel from IWI for testing and review as a loaner. Additionally, I had a second loaner Carmel from our friends at Smoky Mountain Guns & Ammo at the same time.

Aiming at both right AND left-handed shooters, the Carmel can lure you in. But will you be tossing this one back?

Why You Should Trust Us

I love saving people money and, more importantly, time. I have been shooting well over 10+ years and teaching classes and hosting events in East TN for over 3 years.

I ensure high round count testing mixed with higher than normal torture by adding suppressors to the mix when applicable. Running multiple brands, weights, and types of ammo is a must to provide the proper results of reliability.

The transparent and honest feedback I provide not only helps the reader/viewer with their decisions, but also helps companies see their potential weak points and areas for improvement. No company should dismiss customers’ issues or suggestions that could potentially improve their product.

With this review in particular, I have had some time since our testing phase to see what other people have encountered when shooting the Carmel.

IWI Carmel Overview

Learning from the way of the Galil ACE, the Carmel is a big step forward for Israel Weapon Industries. Competing with the already popular FN SCAR, SIG MCX, and now several other short-stroke piston systems, the Carmel has pushed its abilities further than ever.

Noting the lack of modularity and ergonomics in the Galil ACE, the Carmel has enhanced its operational effectiveness with full ambidextrous controls, a quick-change barrel system, and improved weight balance, making it easier for the end user.

The key features that stand out are the monolithic upper, M-LOK handguard, ambidextrous charging handle, and the folding stock that has an adjustable cheek-rest and nice range out of the telescoping length(s).

Looking like a Space Force special, the Carmel checks a lot of the boxes when looking for a battle-ready rifle. Some of the consumer’s biggest complaints are that left-handed shooters have to work around a right handed person’s setup. IWI made sure the Carmel was ready immediately out of the box for everyone.

But checking boxes is all nice and neat on paper. What about actually shooting it? Does it hold up to even the most basic of range testing?

What We Like About The IWI Carmel

As I’ve noted, the Carmel has provided significant upgrades compared to IWI’s previous offerings. The Carmel utilizes a fully ambidextrous layout as well as a vast amount of real estate for the customization of your liking.

The overall feel of the rifle is pretty good. Comfortable to shoot and easy to properly shoulder. The manipulations of the controls feel smooth as you work them, too. Being able to use the mag release or bolt catch release from either side when doing transition or barricade work is definitely clutch.

IWI has done a good job on ensuring the Carmel is capable of some long-range work as well. With a 16” cold hammer forged barrel and 1/7 twist, this rifle has some ability to reach out and touch pretty consistently.

It also is equipped with an adjustable gas setup for suppressed shooting.

Though all these upgrades and specs sound great, it ultimately comes down to performance and longevity on the range. Our experience brought some pretty hard to overcome issues that made us reconsider the battle readiness.

Flaws and Potential Dealbreakers

I had two different Carmels in our possession during the time of testing and review. And I have shot a total of 3 personally.

The adjustable stock is a little wonky. I recall it being challenging to close on several occasions. It’s like it was catching on itself. I slammed it a few times to see if it was a force thing, but it bounced right back off.  This was on two of them. It turns out that there is a safety recall on the folding mechanism, which requires the firearm to be sent back to IWI for warranty purposes.

I also am a big “suppress everything you can” guy. I tried and tried, but with no luck, to break the muzzle brake loose so I could add a can to it. Instead, I got the plastic receiver set flexing and snapping out of place under the pressure. Now, to be fair, I’m not a professional gunsmith, and I Ooga Dooga a lot of stuff. But the Carmel was in a vice, and I was using an adjustable wrench with a good amount of torque, and this was an issue that happened on the two Carmels I had to test.

I was able to get the receivers snapped back into place, and after this happened multiple times, I decided to do the testing process unsuppressed.

Lastly, the Carmel does NOT like steel-cased ammo. I had issues with almost every mag we shot involving steel-cased ammo. The brass case worked fine, but the steel case expanded enough that it required a ram rod to push it out of the chamber. This happened with at least five different magazines loaded with steel-cased ammunition.

If we are truly meaning battle-ready when we say it, then that should include running cheap, dirty, and surplus ammo without hiccup. I don’t have a place in my arsenal for this one because, honestly, it just let me down.

Who This Is For

The Carmel was designed for and aimed at the tactical shooter, the hobby shooter, and the majority of the people caught in between those two. It has the ability to be completely kitted out for just about any mission at hand, while also remaining in its simplest form and serving as a fun plinking toy.

Price is subjective when it comes to all the people found from end to end on the shooting spectrum. When buying any firearm, you have to ask yourself: What purpose does this serve? Am I missing out on a potentially better offering? Most importantly, will this work when I need it to?

How We Tested

I got well over 500 rounds through the Carmel during our testing phase. Half of those were steel case ammo, and the rest was a mixture of 55gr brass case ammo.

The Carmel was brought along during three different range trips, and all resulted in the same issues associated with running steel case ammo. When running the brass case, the Carmel ran like a champ, and the recoil impulse felt great. That feeling quickly dwindled when I switched to magazines loaded with steel-cased ammo.

Shooting unsuppressed and having to call a few range trips short because of stuck casings really puts a damper on things.

Reliability

We hit our 500-round mark and had at least five failures to eject malfunctions that would not fix themselves with a tap, rack, and bang. If I’m looking at a malfunction rate of 1 out of 100, I’m probably reconsidering my options and looking elsewhere.

Ammo Used

I used a mixture of about 350 rounds of the 55gr Winchester white box and the Fiocchi 55gr brass case ammo. As well as 150ish rounds of 55gr Wolf steel case ammo. A big thanks to Ammoman for helping provide the ammo for this review.

 Include photos of the ammo boxes used.

Where To Buy The IWI Carmel

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Features

Ambidextrous

Bolt catch, charging handle, and magazine release – all set up for any shooter. We should all look for ambidextrous controls. They let us work around the cover and switch to our weak side with more comfort and control.

Adjustable Gas Block

Even though I didn’t get to shoot it suppressed, it is a welcome visual of seeing the option on the Carmel. So many people are shooting suppressed these days. Gas in the eyes will make a grown man cry fast.

MLOK Handguard

Keeping up with the times and giving shooters the freedom to add any accessory they want is a big plus in my book. Too often, companies don’t use their rail space in the most practical or versatile way.

Score Card

Reliability (5/10)

Struggles with steel-case ammo. If it won’t run steel, it doesn’t deserve brass.

Ergonomics (8/10)

A bit bulky, but overall comfortable to handle and shoot.

Customization (10/10)

Plenty of rail and space to add whatever you want.

Appearance (7/10)

Has a distinct “Space Force” vibe, definitely stands out.

Value (6/10)

Hard to justify the price for what you get.

Accessories

Primary Arms LPVO

A good 1-6x or 1-8x Primary Arms LPVO is the perfect addition to the Carmel.

It gives you true 1x for close-up shots and the reach you need for targets farther out. A solid LPVO like this really closes the gap on what you’re able to see and hit.

Angled Foregrip

There are so many foregrip options out there. The Carmel can feel a bit front-heavy once you add a suppressor, laser, or light.

A solid foregrip helps balance that weight and gives you a more secure hand placement.

Alternatives

Palmetto State Armory Jakl

I reviewed the PSA JAKL around the same time as the Carmel, and the JAKL easily outperformed it – even ran laps around it. The price tag is a lot more appealing, too.

FN Scar

The OG battle-ready rifle. The SCAR has proven itself on battlefields all over the world and is still a top choice for many heavy hitters today. That kind of proven track record comes with a hefty price tag, though, one that makes the Carmel look budget-friendly by comparison.

Conclusion

With everything considered, I really wanted to like the IWI Carmel. It has solid potential to be a great rifle. But I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel somewhat validated seeing the issues others have reported, along with the multiple recalls IWI has had to issue on this model.

Make it run steel-case ammo, and the “battle-ready” claim starts to hold up. Until then, users should know the potential problems that could come up when running this gun.

If you like the futuristic look and want to try it for yourself, by all means go for it. But if you’re looking for something you might trust your life on, that’s a hard pass for me. At $1,800 this is not a cheap trip to the store, and it is not worth the regret.

Leave a comment below and let us know what you think of the IWI Carmel. Do you own one? Had any issues? Thinking about picking one up? We love hearing your feedback.

Thanks for reading, and until next time, I’ll see you on the range.