Indian X95 Tavor Zittara: a stretched magazine for 5.56 INSAS ammunition

Key points: Indian X95 Tavor Zittara

• This X95 is a pre-production rifle that IWI made for a licensed production deal in India, and it is unclear whether that production ever started.
• Its magazine and magazine well are about 2.5 to 3 mm longer front to back than a standard AR-15 pattern magazine.
• The reason is India's 64-grain 5.56 loading, also called 5.56 INSAS. It uses NATO-spec brass but is loaded to a 60 mm overall length, against 57.5 mm for standard 5.56 NATO.
• A standard AR magazine wobbles badly in the Indian rifle, and the Indian magazine will not fit a standard Tavor at all.
• One magazine and one cartridge for the whole force would keep troops from being issued ammunition that does not fit their magazines.
• The Indian name appears to be Zittara, and searches mostly turn up the planned 5.56x30 mm MINSAS version instead of this full-length one.

About this Gun Review video

Indian X95 Tavor, likely the Zittara, examined by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons at the Royal Armouries. IWI built this pre-production rifle for licensed manufacture in India with a magazine well and magazine about 3 mm longer than standard AR pattern. The change fits India's 64-grain 5.56 INSAS loading, which is loaded to a 60 mm overall length that standard AR magazines cannot take. It looks odd at first, but it makes sense for a force that issues INSAS magazines and one standard cartridge.

Transcript: Indian X95 Tavor