Should I keep my WK180 Gen1

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astrodude

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Had it for a year, not using very much had not had any issues so far. But since the c21 is banning this rifle, I’m desperate getting rid of this and buying another more reliable 556, sadly not owning an AR15 because I moved here after the AR ban.
Question is there does not seem to be many choices, maybe a WK180 Gen2? Any suggestions?
Or should I just keep my Gen1 and there is already solutions available to solve the potential issues with it?
 
astrodude said:
Had it for a year, not using very much had not had any issues so far. But since the c21 is banning this rifle, I’m desperate getting rid of this and buying another more reliable 556, sadly not owning an AR15 because I moved here after the AR ban.
Question is there does not seem to be many choices, maybe a WK180 Gen2? Any suggestions?
Or should I just keep my Gen1 and there is already solutions available to solve the potential issues with it?
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If you haven't had any issues with it, why would you consider selling it and buying something you think is more reliable when it hasn't caused you any problems? If you want a different gun just for preference that's a different story. I have a generation 1.5 and haven't really had any issues with it either. I hate the threaded charging handle that comes loose with every range trip and no amount of tightening gets that threaded charging handle to not loosen (I don't really consider that a problem per se, more of an annoyance). But it hasn't sheared off yet. The other issue that some have reported is the broken piston rod. That seems to be caused by loose gas block screws. I have tightened mine significantly and while I haven't had the piston rod break, my gas block screws were very loose so that probably mitigated a problem down the line. Also tightened my handguard screws (had to get a replacement set as I stripped a couple). KD (via Owen H) has been very good at customer support. I am not advocating for the WK...I personally love my X95 much more.

Now as for another 5.56...if it's on the market now, the C21 G4 amendment likely has it on the list...so the net effect would be the same. With the government's evergreen provision, it's going to be hard to find any model of 5.56 SA that will slip through. Personally, unless you just want something else for a change of pace, why not keep the WK180 if it has not been problematic.
 
thegazelle said:
If you haven't had any issues with it, why would you consider selling it and buying something you think is more reliable when it hasn't caused you any problems? If you want a different gun just for preference that's a different story. I have a generation 1.5 and haven't really had any issues with it either. I hate the threaded charging handle that comes loose with every range trip and no amount of tightening gets that threaded charging handle to not loosen (I don't really consider that a problem per se, more of an annoyance). But it hasn't sheared off yet. The other issue that some have reported is the broken piston rod. That seems to be caused by loose gas block screws. I have tightened mine significantly and while I haven't had the piston rod break, my gas block screws were very loose so that probably mitigated a problem down the line. Also tightened my handguard screws (had to get a replacement set as I stripped a couple). KD (via Owen H) has been very good at customer support. I am not advocating for the WK...I personally love my X95 much more.

Now as for another 5.56...if it's on the market now, the C21 G4 amendment likely has it on the list...so the net effect would be the same. With the government's evergreen provision, it's going to be hard to find any model of 5.56 SA that will slip through. Personally, unless you just want something else for a change of pace, why not keep the WK180 if it has not been problematic.
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Thanks. I like my 180 just that I haven’t used it very much(probably 100 shots) don’t wanna have more issues in the future especially if the new c21 is in place that would be my only 556. So instead of keeping a rifle with know problems I would like keeping a more reliable one. But if the handle and piston are the major problems that won’t be an issue for me.
 
astrodude said:
Had it for a year, not using very much had not had any issues so far. But since the c21 is banning this rifle, I’m desperate getting rid of this and buying another more reliable 556, sadly not owning an AR15 because I moved here after the AR ban.
Question is there does not seem to be many choices, maybe a WK180 Gen2? Any suggestions?
Or should I just keep my Gen1 and there is already solutions available to solve the potential issues with it?
Click to expand...

Kindergarden question.

Cheers
 
astrodude said:
Thanks. I like my 180 just that I haven’t used it very much(probably 100 shots) don’t wanna have more issues in the future especially if the new c21 is in place that would be my only 556. So instead of keeping a rifle with know problems I would like keeping a more reliable one. But if the handle and piston are the major problems that won’t be an issue for me.
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Years ago I bought a Honda Accord second hand. This was my first car I every bought and seemingly from a reputation perspective I was told how reliable Hondas were, etc. My Accord was a lemon from the day I got it. Nothing but problems. Others I spoke with were incredulous and said no, it's reliable; well, my experience would indicate otherwise.

My point being that it is always a bit of a roll of the dice thinking you are getting something that you think is more reliable. It may not be. Some generally reliable guns have had the odd lemon here and there, and some guns for which others say are problematic - they may not be for some people. My WK Gen 1.5 has been surprisingly accurate out of the box. I heard about all the supposed issues with it, and I don't doubt others have had issues; but mine has been OK. Am I lucky? Maybe, but you can't always JUST go by what may or may not happen in order to make decisions. You could very well get rid of your WK180, get something someone recommends and then whammo, nothing but problems. It happens.

I personally would not let these "what if" questions dominate your decision making - ie. what if C21 goes into law, what if the WK passes as part of the G4 amendment, what if the rifle has problems. You'd go stir crazy with all the hypotheticals that you wouldn't enjoy just living life and enjoying your firearms.
 
There seems to be enough modifications out now to have the gen 1 reliable.

Ive read a few threads on reddit and here where guys have insane high amounts of shots through their gen 1's (as well as gen 2's) with no issues.

I recently got a gen 1 that has pretty much off of the upgrades on it, and I figure I am the kinda guy that likes messing with stuff, so if anything does break, I will just do whatever mod I have to do to fix it.

In this day and age I would be more about collecting than selling, just in case.
 
infidel29 said:
Go blow 1000 rounds through it. You'll find out shortly whether it's worth keeping or not.
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This and stock up on the known failure points/wear items: piston, recoil springs, charging handle. Get a spare complete bolt and some small parts. That way you're be able to remedy any failures down the road. Then buy another .223 as well, haha
 
I had a Gen1 it was very dependable, yes the non threaded non magnetic charging handle marked up the receiver a bit but the charging handle was fine.

Did upgrade the extractor spring to a stiffer AR spring, bought a brass bushing to replace the plastic one, and locktited some threaded parts.

I would stock up of some spare crucial parts as with any firearm, but that's about. Mine was accurate with handloaded 55 grain ammo, also charged the pistol grip to a straighter angled Magpul grip which helped with the trigger pull, the trigger did smoothen out after a year of shooting.

Do miss my 180 it was pleasant to shoot, and at the price point it hurts less than what many have into others platforms at risk under the Liberal madness. Sadly I felt the need for another pistol gripped firearm and put a MDT stock on my fav bolt action, god I miss the AR days. :(
 
How early is your gen 1?
If your gen 1 has the pinned gas block it won't be a piston eater. Installing the TNA brass bushing should keep that piston together indefinitely.
If it has the magnetic charging handle, and isn't gouging into the upper I wouldn't do anything more to it than a brass bushing. TNA's adjustable gas block would reduce wear and tear, but it's not really a need to have unless your gas block isn't pinned (reduces cycling force, which will help keep the block from walking).

If it has that crappy threaded charging handle I think there are CHs out there with shoulders above the threads that are more robust. You'll probably want to buy replacements, and a way to extract the broken bolt.
If you're wanting to go the full 9y TNA makes replacement steel uppers with new bolt carriers (magnetic CHs that fit properly) that would be the ultimate reliability upgrade, but they're not cheap. Their aluminum and gen 2 uppers would be upgrades as well.
 
Unholysavage said:
How early is your gen 1?
If your gen 1 has the pinned gas block it won't be a piston eater. Installing the TNA brass bushing should keep that piston together indefinitely.
If it has the magnetic charging handle, and isn't gouging into the upper I wouldn't do anything more to it than a brass bushing. TNA's adjustable gas block would reduce wear and tear, but it's not really a need to have unless your gas block isn't pinned (reduces cycling force, which will help keep the block from walking).

If it has that crappy threaded charging handle I think there are CHs out there with shoulders above the threads that are more robust. You'll probably want to buy replacements, and a way to extract the broken bolt.
If you're wanting to go the full 9y TNA makes replacement steel uppers with new bolt carriers (magnetic CHs that fit properly) that would be the ultimate reliability upgrade, but they're not cheap. Their aluminum and gen 2 uppers would be upgrades as well.
Click to expand...

Mine has a serial number of 21CA145**
 
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