IWI ARAD 5 Review: A New Contender in the Piston-Driven AR Market
By Kenzie Fitzpatrick
The IWI ARAD rifle was developed by Israel for use by Special Units and Law Enforcement. The M4-type rifle allowed operators to switch from 5.56 caliber to 300 Blackout without using the traditional barrel nut design. With a few tools and no torquing needed, the ARAD barrel is easy to remove or install. This rifle has gotten a lot of buzz and has become so popular that it has created demand in the United States. With its growing popularity, IWI US released the ARAD 5 earlier this year. While not the same as the original version, it still features the semi-monolithic upper, the 2-position gas regulator, and M4 lower-parts capability and manual of arms.
I was able to get my hands on an IWI ARAD 5 custom cerakoted by Pro 2 Customs to test for myself. I shot over 500 rounds through this rifle between myself and my friends, TC, Garrett (who works at IWI), and Kenneth. I also performed an accuracy test at a little under 100 yards using five different ammunition loads with varying grain weights to see how the gun performed. Before diving into the range testing, let me tell you more about the features of the ARAD 5.
Specifications
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Action: Semi-Auto
Barrel Length: 16 inches
Thread Pitch: 1/2 x 28
Operating System: 2-Position Short-Stroke Gas Piston
Weight: 7lbs 8.3 ounces
Stock Type: B5 SOPMOD
IWI Patented QD CamLok Barrel System.
MSRP: $1,499.99
2-Position Gas Regulator
If you’re looking for a rifle to shoot suppressed, the ARAD 5 is exactly what you’re looking for. It has a 2-position gas regulator designed to switch between “regular” and “suppressed.” It is easy to adjust in the field, and you can use a punch, a screwdriver, or even a live .223 round to move its position. Simply insert your tool of choice into the hole and rotate the piston until you hear a small audible click, indicating it is in place. The cutout on the handguard makes it super easy to access the gas regulator when you need to switch between regular and suppressed modes. The rifle’s thread pitch is 1/2x28, making it compatible with hundreds of suppressor mounting systems, muzzle devices, and direct-thread suppressors.
IWI Patented QD CamLok Barrel System
The ARAD 5 upper is unlike the ZION upper IWI offers in that it doesn’t use a traditional barrel lock nut to keep the barrel in place. The CamLok barrel system is a simple design that makes it easy to change or service your barrel without needing special tools or torque specs. I linked earlier to a YouTube video that shows the full disassembly and reassembly of the ARAD 5. You can remove the handguard or leave it on to remove the barrel assembly. All you need is a punch and the barrel lock tool to remove the barrel assembly. This is a great design for anyone who hasn’t built an AR or who doesn’t have the tools to do so.
M4 Lower Parts Compatibility
While the upper design is unique and proprietary to IWI, the lower is your typical AR-15 lower, making it simple to upgrade and replace parts as desired. If you want to swap out the safety, trigger, grip, etc., you can do so as you would with any other M4 lower.
B5 Systems Parts
The ARAD 5 comes with a B5 grip and stock. The grip has a mild texture, is ergonomic, and is one I would recommend to people building their own rifle. The B5 SOPMOD stock comes with a cushioned nonslip buttpad that is comfortable in the shoulder pocket. The stock also features overmolded steel anti-rotational QD mounts and fixed sling mounts to set the rifle up to your needs. There are also dual water-resistant storage compartments built into the stock. Finally, you can easily adjust the stock position in seconds to set your length of pull properly using the available buffer tube positions.
Sights Recommendations
I shot the ARAD 5 with three different sights: flip-up iron sights, a red dot optic, and an LPVO scope with a red dot optic combo. Each setup has its pros and cons. The right setup for you solely depends on how you plan to use the ARAD 5.
The IWI Folding Adjustable Back-up Sights are toolless adjustable for windage and elevation sights with a 1 MOA click value. These sights can be used as a primary sight system or as a co-witness, as they are compatible with both 1.5-inch and 1.93-inch optic heights. Obviously, iron sights will have their limitations for shooting long-range targets and will only be adjustable/effective to a specific distance.
I mounted the Holosun AEMS-PRO-X2-GR optic to the ARAD with the iron sights flipped down as backup sights. The optic is positioned at a height of 1.63 inches for iron-sight co-witness compatibility. If you’re looking for a quick and capable red dot optic designed for use on a carbine, this is it. It has a multi-reticle system that lets you use a 2 MOA dot, a 65 MOA circle, or both options together for precise aiming and rapid target acquisition. This optic features adaptive AUTO brightness, a solar failsafe, and Shake Awake motion activation technology. All of this ensures the optic is ready when it detects movement, prolongs battery life when not in use, and adjusts reticle intensity based on lighting conditions. It is also available in red and gold reticles. The Holosun AEMS optic is excellent for CQB, carbine run-and-gun style competitions, and can shoot out to a few hundred yards (depending on target size and target acquisition). It will also reach its limitations on long-range shooting.
The final setup is what I used for accuracy testing of the ARAD 5. I used a Midwest Industries MK2 QD scope mount to mount an EOTECH Vudu 1-10x riflescope and Zero Tech Optics Thrive HD offset red dot. The EOTECH scope is more than capable of making shots out to 700 yards and beyond. I have used this scope in the field on multiple occasions to shoot as far as 800 yards with an AR-15. This scope mount, especially the non-QD version, is the ultimate setup for 2-gun and 3-gun competition. You can easily shoot long-range targets with the scope, then immediately switch to shooting close-range paper targets with the mounted red dot optic. No longer do you have to adjust the magnification level on the clock or mount throw levers. All you have to do is rotate your gun until your eye picks up the red dot, and you’re able to shoot close-range targets faster than using a scope.
Range Testing
My friends and I put the ARAD 5 through its paces, shooting 55-grain, 62-grain, 73-grain, and 77-grain ammunition. We used a Pro 2 Customs Guiness cerakoted Magpul PMAG and a Magpul D-60 drum with the ARAD 5. Both magazines run great, but I always prefer the D-60 because I love having a ton of capacity and the drum’s shorter height is ideal for my use. In shooting competitions, I often find myself shooting prone, from a bench rest, off a car hood, or from a rooftop, and the height of the D-60 is shorter than that of a 30- or 40-round PMAG. The longer the magazine, the more interference can occur between the magazine and whatever is underneath it, such as a bench or rooftop. Too long a magazine can also render a bipod useless if the bipod’s maximum height isn’t greater than the magazine.
I used the Accu-Tac PC-4 bipod paired with a Wiebad Pump Pillow Positional Shooting Bag for the accuracy testing. This gave me a stable shooting position to fire five rounds of each type of ammunition at a Caldwell Shooting Orange Peel Sight-In Target. I had a few outliers, but overall was happy with how some of the heavier-grain-weight ammunition performed. The Hornady Black and Super Vel ammunition were the two loads that performed best out of the ARAD 5. I also used a chronograph to track the velocities of each load. The velocities from the 16-inch barrel ranged from 2,600 fps to over 2,900 fps. I always recommend that people test their ammunition and, if possible, chronograph the velocity, as guns can perform differently even with high-quality ammunition. Some loads grouped low on the bullseye, some grouped high, and others grouped low and left. This also goes to show how important it is to zero your rifle with the load you plan to use, as each variable (grain weight, powder type, bullet profile) can affect the zero.
Ammunition Results
Hornady American Gunner 223 55 grain HP - Top Left
Velocity: 2,860 fps
Accuracy: 1.02 inches
Barnes VOR-TX 223 55 grain TSX FB - Top Right
Velocity: 2,963 fps
Accuracy: 1.26 inches
Hornady Black 223 62 grain FMJ - Center
Velocity: 2,887 fps
Accuracy: 0.46 inches
Hornady Match 223 73 grain ELD - Bottom Left
Velocity: 2,641 fps
Accuracy: 1.29 inches
Super Vel 77 grain OTM BT - Bottom Right
Velocity: 2,743 fps
Accuracy: 0.56 inches
Final Thoughts
The innovative design of the ARAD 5 makes it fun to shoot and own. The gun is reliable, accurate, and equipped with easy-to-manipulate controls. I recommend the ARAD 5 to anyone planning to mount a suppressor, as you can adjust the gas in seconds to run more reliably with a suppressor. Your point of impact might shift if you do mount a suppressor, so be sure to re-check your zero! Have fun and be safe on the range with the IWI ARAD 5.
