FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 20-round 0.14 kg (4.9 oz), 25-round 0.18 kg (6.4 oz)
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 20-round 0.39 kg (13.8 oz), 25-round 0.49 kg (1 lb 1.3 oz)
BASIC LOAD – Three 25-round magazines (75 rounds)
LOAD WT – 1.47 kg (3 lb 3.9 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Israel Weapon Industries Ltd. Ramat Hasharon, Israel
STATUS – In production
SERVICE – In limited service with Special Operations groups and Security forces, offered for international commercial sales
After gathering feedback from Israeli Special Forces units, a project to improve the Micro-Uzi was announced by IWI in 2010. The new weapon, named the Uzi Pro, would be a more easily controlled and more accurate weapon than the original Micro-Uzi. The Uzi Pro is the Uzi submachinegun reduced to its smallest practical side and lightened through the use of new materials and design. As the most recent version of the original Uzi submachinegun, the Uzi Pro is the last of that series still in production in Israel.
The action of the Uzi Pro uses the closed-bolt system as developed for earlier Uzi designs. Firing from the closed bolt position aids in giving the weapon maximum first-round accuracy. Tungsten inserts in the bolt add weight which helps hold the rapid cyclic rate of fire down to a more controllable level.
The design of the Uzi Pro was intended to take maximum advantage of modern materials and ergonomics. The lower receiver of the weapon, including the pistol grip/magazine well, are made from advanced polymers. The magazine catch has been moved from the bottom of the pistol grip to the upper left side of the grip, the more common location as found on semiautomatic pistols. The change of the magazine catch location allows for a quick release of an empty magazine for a faster reload of the weapon. New production (2012) Uzi Pro magazines can fit and feed in both the new Uzi Pro as well as earlier members of the Uzi family of weapons. The reverse in not true as earlier production Uzi magazine are lacking the proper magazine catch for them to operate in an Uzi Pro weapon.
The cocking handle has been moved from the top of the weapon to the upper left side of the receiver. This move clears the top of the receiver to accept a length MIL-STD-1913 “Picatinny” rail. The rail may accept many of the standard sighting devices on the market today. Additional short sections of MIL-STD-1913 “Picatinny” rail can be mounted on either side of the front of the receiver/barrel to accept additional aiming, illumination devices.
The front of the lower receiver has an extended trigger guard that can be used as a handhold for the non-firing hand. Additionally, the design of the extended front trigger guard allows it to be utilized as a handhold to help press the weapon against the shooter’s shoulder when firing with the stick extended. The front of the extended trigger guard is also a folding assault grip. Unfolding the front handguard and extending it forward makes it a solid vertical grip for quick handling of the weapon in close quarters.
As of 2012, the latest Uzi Pro model has an adjustable stock with a rising cheek piece. The redesigned polymer stock may be used with the standard iron sights as issued on the weapon. When the adjustable cheek rest is in the raised position, the stock is easily used with reflex or electronic sights mounted to the top of the receiver.
