Dirt, debris, and the 180 upper?

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G.Mitchell

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Hey all, with some of the new AR180 style lowers coming out I’m seriously considering one of these rifles.

My biggest concern is how open the upper receiver is given I want to use this as a bush rifle.

Anyone having issues with debris getting into the rifle?

The Brownell version looks perfect but uses a standard AR15 lower.

Who makes the most sealed 180 pattern upper? Bonus if it’s in 7.62x39.

Thanks
 
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Still waiting for a non crappy setup to be sold.

As of now, everything (new) put together and sold is garbage imho.

And "real" Armalite Ar180b are too expensive for what it is. Plus polymer lower is semi-garbage.
 
It’s not optimal, let’s put it that way. Basically a two lane highway for crap on either side/above the trigger mech. Can it be minimized? Depends on what your willing to do.

I epoxied a piece of scrap kydex over the opening on the left hand side, and just run the cocking handle on the right (I’m a RH shooter). With a bolt catch, I hardly notice it. But, without a proper ejection opening cover on the RH side, it’s still not an ideal set up.

I have been using it as my go to coyote gun for two winters, and I’ve never had a problem, however, I’m in open country, so YMMV.
 
G.Mitchell said:
Hey all, with some of the new AR180 style lowers coming out I’m seriously considering one of these rifles.

My biggest concern is how open the upper receiver is given I want to use this as a bush rifle.

Anyone having issues with debris getting into the rifle?

The Brownell version looks perfect but uses a standard AR15 lower.

Who makes the most sealed 180 pattern upper? Bonus if it’s in 7.62x39.

Thanks
Click to expand...

IRG has just revived the thread about their NoDak Spud / PWS project so maybe keep an eye on that and see what they come up with

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...d-NDS-18SC?p=18182549&viewfull=1#post18182549
 
While mine is just a range plinker a buddy ran his through hell and back in the bush and never had a hiccup. Found some debris in the receiver but it still ran. I akin this to the AK in that it has lots of space around critical moving parts to allow debris to enter without jamming up the works.

Cheers
Moe
 
Moe said:
While mine is just a range plinker a buddy ran his through hell and back in the bush and never had a hiccup. Found some debris in the receiver but it still ran. I akin this to the AK in that it has lots of space around critical moving parts to allow debris to enter without jamming up the works.

Cheers
Moe
Click to expand...

Good point Moe, thanks.
 
Moe said:
While mine is just a range plinker a buddy ran his through hell and back in the bush and never had a hiccup. Found some debris in the receiver but it still ran. I akin this to the AK in that it has lots of space around critical moving parts to allow debris to enter without jamming up the works.

Cheers
Moe
Click to expand...

The problem is that an AR-15 type trigger is easy to jam/kill while AK type trigger are extremely reliable!

Years ago, Alaska State Police tested many rifle and only FN FNC and Galil were found to be reliable under extreme conditions.
(Finland uses AK type Valmet rifle and Sweden uses FN FNC type AK4 rifle)
 
Just exactly what kind of use will you need this kind f absolute reliability from?
Does your range course frequently make you crawl through a pigstye naked?
 
It's interesting that even the vaunted BRN-180 rifle, which has a relatively sealed action in transport, was not considered a go to hell rifle by YouTuber Garandthumb during his recent overview video for this reason. He stated that even having the action vulnerable only during firing was too great a risk to damage to the trigger group to use the rifle in a survival or military scenario. He noted how the AR-15, with its top charging handle, does not have this issue.

One Canadian company did intend to create top charging 180 variant, but that never went further then a prototype.
 
lawn gnome said:
Just exactly what kind of use will you need this kind f absolute reliability from?
Does your range course frequently make you crawl through a pigstye naked?
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The vast majority of people complaining about unreliable guns and how they need them in the bush to work 100% of the time in case of a bear or whatever are the same people who don't do anything about being fat, smoking, drinking, etc. A huge generalisation I know but as a whole a hell of a lot more lives would be better or saved within the firearms community if it spent the energy it spends complaining on the treadmill.
 
Ustauk said:
It's interesting that even the vaunted BRN-180 rifle, which has a relatively sealed action in transport, was not considered a go to hell rifle by YouTuber Garandthumb during his recent overview video for this reason. He stated that even having the action vulnerable only during firing was too great a risk to damage to the trigger group to use the rifle in a survival or military scenario. He noted how the AR-15, with its top charging handle, does not have this issue.

One Canadian company did intend to create top charging 180 variant, but that never went further then a prototype.
Click to expand...

I enjoyed his video. I feel however that the issue is very easily fixed. The SA80 has a dust cover covering that exact area. You can see it in this picture.

Having used the SA80 for over 5 years in various conditions it was never much of an issue. However! in dusty gritty situations I can see it potentially causing issues, but it hasn't been enough of an issue for anything further to be done so I don't see it as really being a problem, just a problem to avoid if you can choose something else instead.
 
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