Anybody have 5000 + rounds through WK180 yet?

[cr5]

I know the RWA receivers have reinforced the inside of the receiver along the charging handle channel with steel. Drift117, HeK, and Anoymouse have 3d printed brass deflectors for the WK. Maybe one of them could develop a beveled 3D printed channel protector that can bracket the edge of the channel? Alternatively, maybe a 3D printed charging handle with a stronger magnet embedded in it could would be soft enough to not wear out the handle channel?

It shouldn't be up to the consumer to come up with solutions to design or manufacturing deficiencies.

If only a couple rifles are affected it's a warranty issue.

Make all the brass deflectors or port covers you like, I have no problem with that and wish I had the means to do the same, but reliable function should be there from the manufacturer.

So far it sounds like two, maybe three rifles have this issue. No need to go inventing solutions in this case, the rifle has warranty and that's a manufacturing error.
I have no problem with the odd manufacturing oops and it doesn't make me scared to buy one of these rifles. I do have a problem when customers are told that it's normal wear and not covered. If it was normal wear why doesn't every rifle look like that?

 

[lone-wolf]

Sent an email to kodiak for an opinion

 

[westwest]

A brass deflector for the WK is the equivalent of a mid 90’s Honda Civic with a 10” fart can. What’s the point ��

 

[cr5]

A brass deflector for the WK is the equivalent of a mid 90’s Honda Civic with a 10” fart can. What’s the point ��

I'm guessing it's for the lefties and the paranoid ones that think those openings are going to get filled with sand when they are out on patrol in the desert.

 

[lone-wolf]

In my opinion you should get a free replacement carrier and CH at minimum, if there is actual damage from it maybe a new receiver. That's not acceptable and I would guess that based on my communication with Kodiak so far they would take care of you if they knew how much slop there is in your system, that's not normal wear, that's wear from an out of spec part rubbing where it shouldn't be.
I'm kinda guessing that they don't realize how loose that CH is in the carrier, I doubt there are many others like that, seems like a machining oops.

Sent them my video and link here for an opinion, heard the same cosmetic line, it's very little material removed right now, so hopefully it's just getting settled in and is fine.

 

[MechanicalSparky25]

Yikes

 

[hunterhenderson]

It should have been a stamped steel receiver like the originals

I just emailed Kodiak. One year is not enough warranty for a new rifle like this.

Maybe this design only works with a stamped steel receiver, might have to come up with a new way to do the charging handle if this is more than just a couple rifles.
Maybe some type of retention system so it snaps in instead of just riding in the pocket. Like a QD connection.

Regardless, that is not normal wear and the charge handle should not come loose.

 

[ddub900]

To prevent any possible damage to my upper i put a rubber o-ring on my charging handle. Seems to stop contact. See how well it holds up after some shooting

 

[wrxs]

I havent developed any loads yet but have been following others and it seems that generally you want to go to 64--77 gr bullet weight for ideal accuracy. Im getting consistent 2 moa accuracy with 55gr AEs. Which is about the same as my factory AR and half what I get with my Mini 14.

The one and only thing for accuracy improvements on this rifle is a trigger replacement, the pencil barrel was not designed for clover leaf accuracy and also heats up quickly.I have tried different bullet weights and powder charges but the difference is negligible. The accuracy classification would be MOE, minute of enemy. All the claims of 3/4 and 1" groups to myself are suspect.

 

[wrxs]

I would love to see pics of inside the receiver after 10000 rounds. Mine is really chewed up and I am almost to 1000. I suspect my upper will last around 5000 before the receiver gives me issues. I have RWA upper on the way so I think I will run that.
I havnt seen any posts that suggest the wearing of the wk180 receiver will be addressed, so it seems like we run it till it breaks and then send it to Kodiac for a new receiver.
It's the charging handle that is the issue. It comes loose during firing and really bangs up the internal guide rail on the inside of the receiver. As long as Kodiac can supply new receivers when we need them I guess most guys will not care.

The ware issue is most likely front and center with the Kodiak designers, hence the screw in rigid charging handle on newer models. With the receiver ware on my rifle it is an occasional use firearm. With the issues posted on this forum they must realize the warranty potential is VW huge!!!!

 

[cr5]

The one and only thing for accuracy improvements on this rifle is a trigger replacement, the pencil barrel was not designed for clover leaf accuracy and also heats up quickly.I have tried different bullet weights and powder charges but the difference is negligible. The accuracy classification would be MOE, minute of enemy. All the claims of 3/4 and 1" groups to myself are suspect.

Changing the trigger doesn't make the rifle more accurate, it makes it easier to be consistent when you have bad trigger control and shooting fundamentals.
But you're right about the rest, these are not target rifles and anyone expecting 1 moa is going to be disappointed. When I say 1 moa I mean consistent 1 moa, fluking off a single group out of a day of shooting does not make any rifle a 1 moa rifle.

A barrel swap would help accuracy more than any other mod.

The ware issue is most likely front and center with the Kodiak designers, hence the screw in rigid charging handle on newer models. With the receiver ware on my rifle it is an occasional use firearm. With the issues posted on this forum they must realize the warranty potential is VW huge!!!!

Better get at least 1000 rounds through it in the first year. You want to find the problems before the warranty is up. If you barely use it the wear is going to be minimal, you want to know if your rifle is affected before the warranty is up.

It should have been a stamped steel receiver like the originals

Yes, but then these would have cost double, it's a lot to set up the equipment to do a stamped receiver and we don't have a big enough market to justify the initial expense. Would have been cool if they could have got Armalite to set up and punch out 5000 of them for us.