There has been quite a bit posted on these and several threads in this forum and Wolverine's page as well, so it's not going to be a comprehensive review, but rather my take on in over the course of several range trips and outings.
As a bit of background, I have a fairly extensive collection of restricted and non-restricted semi-auto rifles; many chambered in .223/5.56.
What had me gravitating toward this particular rifle when first announced was the price tag, coupled with the simple, pragmatic approach of the AR-180 design, with it's light weight and Wolverine Supply's no-nonsense customer service and stellar integrity.
I see it as a do-all rifle similar to a Mini-14 or PAR223. Something that is ok in gopher patch or coyote hunting as it is camping in the backwoods.
Its' price point and simplicity gives it an attribute that other rifles in my collection have exceeded, and therefore may not be wholly suited to getting thrown in the back of the wagon.
I received this rifle in late August and haven't had time to take it out and give it a good wringing out until now, but leading up to that I had plenty of time to play with adding and subtracting components, sights, bobbles and do-hickys.
I think I've arrived at where it will be the most useful - still lightweight, and still a basic rifle fulfilling it's original intent.
Stuff I've done and why:
Troy battleaxe rear butt stock for 4 reasons: 1) I had it on hand languishing in the parts box, 2) it adds a bit of weight to offset the nose heavy attitude of the rifle with 18.6" barrel, so now it balances on the magwell, 3) it has a decent cheekweld and QD slots for a sling 4) it has a storage compartment for parts and a cleaning kit.
KAC 300m micro sights: Basic, lightweight, adjustable (without tools), small, and excellent quality. Perfect for backups or as a primary sighting system.
PWS Brake: The stock A2 birdcage that came on the rifle appeared to be a cheap MIM copy. I'm not adverse to the A2 in general and think it's a good muzzle device overall, but a brake has some advantages. This one does not have alot of 'blastyness' associated with other brakes, decent flash hiding properties, good recoil and muzzle rise mitigation for fast follow up shots or getting new young an slight shooters on board to the sport.
Aimpoint H-1: great holographic red dot with excellent battery life and suitable for rugged use. Perfect sights for newbies and bashing in the bush alike.
honestly, this is likely going to come and go from the rifle so it's mounted in an Am Defence qd mount.
Armalite SR trigger: The stock trigger is a gritty single stage 10 lbs. Not sure of the quality as like the A2 birdcage it appears MIM. For those that are getting going and where the price point really matters, it makes sense to work with the stock trigger and work it in, do the paracord trick, polishing, etc. For those that don't mind doing an upgrade or don't want to wait or tinker, a decent quality aftermarket like the ALG or like this Armalite 2 stage trigger I had on hand is a good purchase, and in my opinion a good two stage is what this rifle needs.
BCM grip and grip panels: just a bit more customiztion for some preferences and texture (and use up some of the parts in the parts box that seems to be overflowing. The stock handguard warms up fast to a point that it can become uncomfortable to hold, so panels are a good solution.
First trip was to the range for zeroing, function testing and some accuracy testing. For the accuracy tests I mounted a Nightforce NXS 2.5x10 power scope mated to a Am. Defence mount.
Shooting was from the bench with an 'improved' front rest. Not ideal, and no where approaching a proper rest or bagged position. My hold generally varied from 1/2 to 1 moa alone, so this needs to be accounted for. I should also note that I really wasn't after what the rifle is capable of, more to see how it would handle established factory ammo and handloads as a consequence of this thread:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1762681-Had-a-issue-today-with-my-WK
Prior to heading to the range I used a set of stoney point (now Hornady) OAL and bullet comparitor guages to measure out the chamber and the leade.
At the Bench
WK-180C on the bench day one by M J, on Flickr
Typical 10 round group fired with Federal XM-223 cannon fodder.
WK-180C day one XM-223 55 gr 10 rounds by M J, on Flickr
10 round group fired with Blackhills factory 75gr Match ammunition:
WK-180C 10 rounds BH Match 75gr by M J, on Flickr
10 round group fired with 60gr Hornady V-max handloads. These handloads have been sub moa in a couple of my ARs.
WK-180C day one Hornady 60 V-max 10 rounds by M J, on Flickr
10 round group with 77gr Sierra Match King handloads. These have been sub moa in a number of rifles I have.
WK-180C day one 77gr SMK 10 rounds by M J, on Flickr
So overall, accuracy wise, the WK-180C did pretty good considering my less than perfect benched position, and the fact that this was the first outing.
It was exhibiting vertical stringing that I'm thinking is partially due to the interference fit between the handguard and the gas block. Being a budget gun, this barrel too may not be up to the task of providing accurate fire with sustained heat. 10 round groups were fired with two to three warming rounds and then 10 for score in a slow, but steady rate - all within a 30 to 60 second window.
Reliability was decent with all rounds fired - no misfires in the approximately 240 rounds fired on day one.
I did have four failures to extract that looked like this however:
WK-180C Common failure to extract by M J, on Flickr
I surmised that all of these were due to a weak extractor spring as light bolt override marks on the fired and still chambered case was evident on all of them. Upon getting it home and doing a tear down I replaced it with a quality CMMG one.
comparing the two, the one supplied with the rifle appears to be a thin and weak copy.
CMMG on the left and stock spring on the right:
WK-180C Extractor Spring by M J, on Flickr
During my range session I noted dimpling of the primer where the firing pin struck and took photos of the firing pin hole in the bolt head.
The pin hole is irregularly shaped and 'oblonging'. A sign of less than stellar machine work, poor metalurgy or what I'm not sure.
WK-180C Day One Bolt face by M J, on Flickr
WK-180C bolt on the left, a used AR bolt with 10000 rounds on it in the center, and a new BCM bolt on the right for comparison:
WK-180C Bolt face comparison by M J, on Flickr
As a bit of background, I have a fairly extensive collection of restricted and non-restricted semi-auto rifles; many chambered in .223/5.56.
What had me gravitating toward this particular rifle when first announced was the price tag, coupled with the simple, pragmatic approach of the AR-180 design, with it's light weight and Wolverine Supply's no-nonsense customer service and stellar integrity.
I see it as a do-all rifle similar to a Mini-14 or PAR223. Something that is ok in gopher patch or coyote hunting as it is camping in the backwoods.
Its' price point and simplicity gives it an attribute that other rifles in my collection have exceeded, and therefore may not be wholly suited to getting thrown in the back of the wagon.
I received this rifle in late August and haven't had time to take it out and give it a good wringing out until now, but leading up to that I had plenty of time to play with adding and subtracting components, sights, bobbles and do-hickys.
I think I've arrived at where it will be the most useful - still lightweight, and still a basic rifle fulfilling it's original intent.
Stuff I've done and why:
Troy battleaxe rear butt stock for 4 reasons: 1) I had it on hand languishing in the parts box, 2) it adds a bit of weight to offset the nose heavy attitude of the rifle with 18.6" barrel, so now it balances on the magwell, 3) it has a decent cheekweld and QD slots for a sling 4) it has a storage compartment for parts and a cleaning kit.
KAC 300m micro sights: Basic, lightweight, adjustable (without tools), small, and excellent quality. Perfect for backups or as a primary sighting system.
PWS Brake: The stock A2 birdcage that came on the rifle appeared to be a cheap MIM copy. I'm not adverse to the A2 in general and think it's a good muzzle device overall, but a brake has some advantages. This one does not have alot of 'blastyness' associated with other brakes, decent flash hiding properties, good recoil and muzzle rise mitigation for fast follow up shots or getting new young an slight shooters on board to the sport.
Aimpoint H-1: great holographic red dot with excellent battery life and suitable for rugged use. Perfect sights for newbies and bashing in the bush alike.
honestly, this is likely going to come and go from the rifle so it's mounted in an Am Defence qd mount.
Armalite SR trigger: The stock trigger is a gritty single stage 10 lbs. Not sure of the quality as like the A2 birdcage it appears MIM. For those that are getting going and where the price point really matters, it makes sense to work with the stock trigger and work it in, do the paracord trick, polishing, etc. For those that don't mind doing an upgrade or don't want to wait or tinker, a decent quality aftermarket like the ALG or like this Armalite 2 stage trigger I had on hand is a good purchase, and in my opinion a good two stage is what this rifle needs.
BCM grip and grip panels: just a bit more customiztion for some preferences and texture (and use up some of the parts in the parts box that seems to be overflowing. The stock handguard warms up fast to a point that it can become uncomfortable to hold, so panels are a good solution.
First trip was to the range for zeroing, function testing and some accuracy testing. For the accuracy tests I mounted a Nightforce NXS 2.5x10 power scope mated to a Am. Defence mount.
Shooting was from the bench with an 'improved' front rest. Not ideal, and no where approaching a proper rest or bagged position. My hold generally varied from 1/2 to 1 moa alone, so this needs to be accounted for. I should also note that I really wasn't after what the rifle is capable of, more to see how it would handle established factory ammo and handloads as a consequence of this thread:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1762681-Had-a-issue-today-with-my-WK
Prior to heading to the range I used a set of stoney point (now Hornady) OAL and bullet comparitor guages to measure out the chamber and the leade.
At the Bench
WK-180C on the bench day one by M J, on FlickrTypical 10 round group fired with Federal XM-223 cannon fodder.
WK-180C day one XM-223 55 gr 10 rounds by M J, on Flickr10 round group fired with Blackhills factory 75gr Match ammunition:
WK-180C 10 rounds BH Match 75gr by M J, on Flickr10 round group fired with 60gr Hornady V-max handloads. These handloads have been sub moa in a couple of my ARs.
WK-180C day one Hornady 60 V-max 10 rounds by M J, on Flickr10 round group with 77gr Sierra Match King handloads. These have been sub moa in a number of rifles I have.
WK-180C day one 77gr SMK 10 rounds by M J, on FlickrSo overall, accuracy wise, the WK-180C did pretty good considering my less than perfect benched position, and the fact that this was the first outing.
It was exhibiting vertical stringing that I'm thinking is partially due to the interference fit between the handguard and the gas block. Being a budget gun, this barrel too may not be up to the task of providing accurate fire with sustained heat. 10 round groups were fired with two to three warming rounds and then 10 for score in a slow, but steady rate - all within a 30 to 60 second window.
Reliability was decent with all rounds fired - no misfires in the approximately 240 rounds fired on day one.
I did have four failures to extract that looked like this however:
WK-180C Common failure to extract by M J, on FlickrI surmised that all of these were due to a weak extractor spring as light bolt override marks on the fired and still chambered case was evident on all of them. Upon getting it home and doing a tear down I replaced it with a quality CMMG one.
comparing the two, the one supplied with the rifle appears to be a thin and weak copy.
CMMG on the left and stock spring on the right:
WK-180C Extractor Spring by M J, on FlickrDuring my range session I noted dimpling of the primer where the firing pin struck and took photos of the firing pin hole in the bolt head.
The pin hole is irregularly shaped and 'oblonging'. A sign of less than stellar machine work, poor metalurgy or what I'm not sure.
WK-180C Day One Bolt face by M J, on FlickrWK-180C bolt on the left, a used AR bolt with 10000 rounds on it in the center, and a new BCM bolt on the right for comparison:
WK-180C Bolt face comparison by M J, on Flickr
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