Are we ever going to see AR 180bs again?
- Thread starter HotSoup
- Start date
Dr van Nostran
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland, B.C.
Even if they did, they would probably be restricted by barrel length.
The non restricted 180B was a fluke. The integral barrel compensator was designed back during the Clinton AW Ban, no detachable flash hiders.
This brought the barrel up to the Canadian NR barrel length.
Once the ban sunsetted, Armalite started producing them with detachable flash hiders, the barrel was under 18 1/2 and therefore restricted in Canada.
Then production ended. I'd love to see a new production stamped receiver Armalite 180B, even if they were restricted.
I would love to see the rifle on the market, but we're all thinking of it as a $1500 gun.
If it ever happened, we'd have a new contender in the $3000 price range.
I think our best chance would be an overseas copy.
Sign me up.
If it ever happened, we'd have a new contender in the $3000 price range.
I think our best chance would be an overseas copy.
Sign me up.
Problem is that if they did most people would expect it to sell for $800 like they did in the US years ago. If they did make another run at todays prices plus the Canadian non restricted screw me dry tax they would be $2500 and they would sit on the shelves while everyone whines that things have gone up in price since 2007.
I bought mine new in 2008, have had no issues at all with it and would buy it again without second thought, To me the polymer lower isn't a negative, it's modern manufacturing just like a lot of modern rifles. If you don't abuse it the chances of breaking it are low. If it does break at least there is a repair kit from Stormwerkz. Due to the barrel length and how little material there is at the front pin even an AR will break if you let the upper swing down and slam the lower which is how most of them have been broken. How many people in Canada have actually had one break? One? Most issues were in the US and came from a bad batch of polymer that Armalite replaced for customers. The internet makes us paranoid and think we need to fix things that aren't broken.
Buy a used one if you can find one for under $1800 and pressure Armalite to start making parts for them again. Maybe if they are selling parts they'll see the value in making a run of rifles for Canada, hopefully for an affordable price.
I bought mine new in 2008, have had no issues at all with it and would buy it again without second thought, To me the polymer lower isn't a negative, it's modern manufacturing just like a lot of modern rifles. If you don't abuse it the chances of breaking it are low. If it does break at least there is a repair kit from Stormwerkz. Due to the barrel length and how little material there is at the front pin even an AR will break if you let the upper swing down and slam the lower which is how most of them have been broken. How many people in Canada have actually had one break? One? Most issues were in the US and came from a bad batch of polymer that Armalite replaced for customers. The internet makes us paranoid and think we need to fix things that aren't broken.
Buy a used one if you can find one for under $1800 and pressure Armalite to start making parts for them again. Maybe if they are selling parts they'll see the value in making a run of rifles for Canada, hopefully for an affordable price.
#1bcshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- North Of The DMZ (US border)
I had 2 that broke . Bought new 250 rnds or so & it broke , sent back to dealer .
Replacement got around 300 rns & it broke , sent back to dealer .
Third replacement got around 500 rnds & became a safe queen . Didn't want to temp fate .
Sold it with full disclosure . Buyer was happy & I assume it's still running .
So yes there are or were AR 180B's with bad receivers in Canada but I'll bet any of that batch have broken by now .
Replacement got around 300 rns & it broke , sent back to dealer .
Third replacement got around 500 rnds & became a safe queen . Didn't want to temp fate .
Sold it with full disclosure . Buyer was happy & I assume it's still running .
So yes there are or were AR 180B's with bad receivers in Canada but I'll bet any of that batch have broken by now .
This is a big reason for the fall of the modern 180B. In the US you can buy a quality AR for under $1000 that has more aftermarket support than a Honda civic. The 180B is a good rifle but our desire for it is primarily due to it's non restricted status and we aren't a large enough market to justify production of a rifle.
Not true at all, there is nothing wrong with the receiver as long as you don't abuse the rifle.
Even HK had issues with the SL8-4's when they first came out. I owned one of the first ones that made it to Canada and had the lower receiver crack, then the replacement cracked, I sold it when I got the third one, I bought a newer one a couple years ago and it performed perfectly. HK acknowledged the problem, made the necessary correction and eliminated the problem. Just like Armalite did, they got a bad batch of polymer, they replaced the affected units and continued on with better QC to reduce the chances of it happening again.
The small percentage of rifles that have broken are not as big a deal as people make them out to be, reading the replies of the haters would lead someone to think they're all a ticking time bomb and eventually they'll all break.
I've owned a SA and while it was a nice rifle and very well built it didn't shoot any better than my 180B-2 and cost 3x what you can get a 180 for and uses harder to find, more expensive mags. If you're looking to spend $3000+ on a rifle then a non restricted ACR is the best rifle we can get right now. An ACR will outshoot a SA and even though the support isn't really there you can get parts for it. Most ACR owners who opt for a quality stainless barrel are shooting 1moa or very close to it with decent ammo.
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For what it is, the 180 is a good gun. If they'd stuck with the stamped lower receivers they would have been very solid. They're also a heck of a lot more reliable and functional than 15's, excepting the polymer hinge. They have less aftermarket products, but hey, they are rare, is that a surprise?
The CFC/techs would be a big issue with new models. Long and short of it is that it would be more straightforward in regards to classification for a company to build a gun with similar purpose and function than it would be to resurrect the 180b.
The CFC/techs would be a big issue with new models. Long and short of it is that it would be more straightforward in regards to classification for a company to build a gun with similar purpose and function than it would be to resurrect the 180b.
Really? You'd be willing to pay $400-$500 for a new lower for a rifle you can't get parts for anymore to simply replace the polymer lower that isn't broken and is working fine just to have one made of aluminum instead of polymer?
I could understand that if you had a rifle with a broken lower but not just because you think the aluminum lower is going to magically make the rifle indestructible. The rifle won't shoot any better and will be heavier.
Sure, but I do have several rebuild kits and a pile of spare parts sitting in my shop... Got the last available ones a few years ago directly from Armalite. There isn't rally much to go wrong with them in all honesty. And there are certianly parts available if you know where to look. I have a number of actual AR180 Armalite Sterlings that the government considers too dangerous to allow me to shoot lol. It's a great visual demonstration to people who don't know how retarded the 12(x) classification scheme is. Anyways, to each his own.
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What are you basing this off of? Not being condecending, genuinly curious, i have 2 and theyre probably my favorite rifles next to an AR 15. Theyre accurate and reliable, moreso than any of the 4 xcr's ive owned. Not to mention the lightest non restricted 5.56 black rifle ive come across.
In the United States the original stamped steel lower AR-180 made by Sterling/Howa/Costa Mesa sells on the used market for not much more than what it would cost Eagle Arms (Armalite) to produce and sell the newer polymer 180B. In MOST states there are no more restrictions on owning/using an AR-180 than there are a Remington 700. Even if it is a few hundred $$'s more for an original...you're getting a durable original piece of history with....say...a Sterling over a recently manufactured 180B. I love the AR-18 platform and own 4 180B's and have fired the original AR-180 and I must say the fit and finish of the original verboten AR-180 is much better than the 2000's era AR-180B.
