Ar 180b.. pros? Cons? Whats it worth?

Efall

Efall

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calgary alberta
hello cyber friends, i have myself a quandary.
For what is going the third year i have had the AR180b in the back of my mind. for reasons unknown to even myself i find it a very attractive rifle.
Unfortunately its not likely that any of my LGS will have one laying around i can fondle and look at, so i know absolutely but kiss about them.:(

the last few weeks I've been debating on wether or not to attempt to hunt one down, but i have some questions about it hopefully someone who owns one or has experience with them can help.

what are the pros vs cons of the rifle?

do they use standard AR mags or just ones that look very similar?

and lastly what would one expect to pay for one?

thank you for looking
 
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I own two.
A decent rifle with a big bonus for being NR.

Recently purchased the NoDak Spud lower receivers for them but still haven't gotten around to doing the switch-over yet.
NoDak lower receivers are available through I Run Guns but I think they maybe sold out right now.

Word is Canada Ammo is working on a lower receiver as well.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1494636-New-project-Can-you-guess?highlight=ar180b

Current prices seem to be running between $1500-$2100 depending on condition.
When they (seldom) are listed for sale on EE they don't last long.

Stormwerkz offers a few rails and stock adapters that can be used with the original lower and the NoDak lower.
 
Pro- NR status, takes AR mags (pmag, LAR)

Con - polymer lower than can crack during disassembly if you're rough


Don't pay more than $1,400

Can be found on gunbroker for a grand and imported
 
I like mine. I currently own 3 and have had a total of 4 over the years. Bought my first one in 2007 from Wolverine and it has seen thousands of rounds without a single issue. I've shot plenty of rabbits, gophers and coyotes with them.
I too bought the NoDak lower and it is SOLID. The quality and finish is really nice and it's a snap to change over the lower's parts. STANAG magazine compatibility is a huge plus, too.
They're nice little piston-driven rifles. Don't let the naysayers dissuade you from buying one. Don't abuse it and the front hinge thing that everyone bellyaches about isn't an issue.
Keep your eye on the EE....if one comes up for a reasonable price and you happen to be the first to say "I'll take it" you won't regret it.
 
THE_SASQUATCH said:
Pro- NR status, takes AR mags (pmag, LAR)

Con - polymer lower than can crack during disassembly if you're rough


Don't pay more than $1,400

Can be found on gunbroker for a grand and imported
Click to expand...

The polymer lower isn't a con unless you're stupid and really abuse the rifle. There are many many people including myself who have 1000+ rounds through their rifle with zero failures of any kind and unless you use the rifle as a pry bar or stupidly release the upper at the rear and let it swing down and slam the lower (which can break an AR as well) you won't have problems.

The only con to these rifles is they are discontinued so parts are hard (but not impossible) to find.

I paid $1400 for mine new a few years ago and wouldn't sell it for less than $2000 now. There is nothing available now that's remotely close to as good of a rifle for under $2500. People like to think back 15 years to what they sold for then and think the rifle should still cost that much but that's just silly since nothing is still the same price it was then. They typically sell for $1500-$2000 and since even the $2000 ones end up sold I'd say you either prepare to spend that much or look for something else.

You need to be very very careful importing these, some models had shorter barrels and other rifles were cut down since in the US they only have to be 16 inch. Last thing you want is to end up spending $1500+ on one of these and end up with it being restricted with no way to convert it to non.
 
The biggest (actually the only) con I always saw (I owned two over the years and ended up selling them) they have been out of production for over 10 years.
All the ones in Canada have been getting the s**t shot out of them since inception.
There are literally zero critical spare parts for it left. Firing pins, bolts, carriers, barrels etc If something critical breaks as they get older and older and shot more and more, then congrats you just created a $1500 to $2000 paperweight.
I never wanted to stick around long enough to find myself in that position.
In fact I had the rear nub on the bolt guide rods shear off while shooting it in the winter! I had to bore the center of the plate out, have a machinist friend custom mill a replacement part, then have it professionally welded back onto the plate.
I test fired it and it worked. But it sure as hell wasn't a cheap fix, I sold it after with full disclaimer and got nowhere near my money back on it. So it can, does and will happen much more as these rifles get older and older and used hard more and more in Canada.
One lug on the bolt head gets damaged or shears or even the extractor and you will have to somehow have a shop reverse engineer a custom bolt/carrier/extractor/firing pin/cam pin etc etc
All that being said, HUGE fan of the rifle and the design. Simple, ultra light, cheap to produce, very reliably fed any ammo and very acceptable accuracy. One of the all around best non restricted rifles in Canada aside from the zero parts availability factor.
 
Not all have been shot, I know of 1 or 2 that have not been shot at all since bought new. Some people buy and put away for pure collector purpose or for resale after prices rise. But ya if you are gonna shoot one spare parts may be a problem.
 
crashcollins said:
Not all have been shot, I know of 1 or 2 that have not been shot at all since bought new. Some people buy and put away for pure collector purpose or for resale after prices rise. But ya if you are gonna shoot one spare parts may be a problem.
Click to expand...

I don't buy guns to keep them in a box in a closet personally lol I think most people don't. I don't own a lot of them so the ones I own I shoot a lot. Hence I like to know there is some form of support if I need to do some work on them. Also why I sold both my 180b's over time.
There are a few still kicking around in the box in Canada I'm sure but very very few left.
IF you find a like new in the box AR180b you better bring your check book. It's going to be painful. Most of those types who buy stuff and hoard it away won't let it go for anything less than just below retarded prices because that's just the mentality of those types.
I'm pretty sure they actually just get their weird rocks off being able to show people the rare shiny stuff they have before they snap the box closed and tuck it away again. Everyone likes to feel important once in a while right....
 
You know that there is such a thing as gun "collectors", right? Same as stamp collectors, sports card collectors, Coca cola memorabilia collectors....etc.
I respect that you're a shooter and don't like safe queens and I totally respect that. However lots of people have that rare old Winchester 1863 from grandpa in mint condition that they'd rather keep and not shoot. Same for those that might have bought an extra ar-180b back when they were still available and are keeping it because its value may actually increase. Remember, something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it....Even though I would agree with you that the 180b isn't a $2000 gun.....I have seen them go for that new or like new at gun shows and auctions.
 
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