AR-180B. Are they truly garbage or do they have their merits?
- Thread starter Jakestinson
- Start date
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
Was always more worried about a lug off the bolt shearing or the bolt itself having a failure.
There is currently no way to get any spare parts for the bolt or bolt carrier so that would 100% effectively turn it into a $1500 paper weight.
The plastic lower is fine. It's a range rifle not a well developed surplus rifle designed for the rigors of the battle field. I never had any issues with the plastic lower and never though it was a problem in any way.
I'm surprised more people haven't realized this and attempted to find a machine shop to clone a couple instead of panicking about a plastic lower that is perfectly fine and has an available fix ready to order in the mail.
Last edited:
Greenhorse six
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Question , Okay ,I understand about the bolt , but how can you cause any damage to that massive hunk of metal that is the bolt carrier on the AR180B ?
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
I don't know how but crazy s**t has happened to many a firearm part in a semi auto.
Obviously the bolt itself being the part that would experience a failure before the carrier but all the same, either of those parts breaks or gets damaged = $1500 paper weight.
Just for fun, try sourcing a 180b bolt. See how far you get....
At best you could completely strip it if this happened and sell it for parts to recoup some loss but it would still have broken me as a man to have such an awesome rifle be relegated to scrap because of one little part.
The 180b is the answer to our problems up here in Canada but due to it being out of production for years and the price they would go for up here in Canada if someone started machining them again up here under a new FRT would defeat/counter all that is good about the rifle in the first place sadly.
Just for the record I am a huge fan of the rifle and it's design.
When I purchased my AR180B about a year ago and went on a search for spare parts... just in case.
I managed to buy the last Field Repair parts kit Wolverine had in stock and also purchased several other (new) parts off of EE.
Don't regret my purchase... yet.
I would even think about getting a second one if the price was reasonable.
I managed to buy the last Field Repair parts kit Wolverine had in stock and also purchased several other (new) parts off of EE.
Don't regret my purchase... yet.
I would even think about getting a second one if the price was reasonable.
gunner2015
Member
- Location
- Brantford,Ont
I just found an AR180b brand new only factory fired. After two range trips to break in the barrel i find it a great rifle with no malfunctions at about 300 rounds. With a spark 2 red dot iam shooting respectful 1 inch groups at 100 yards. Absolutely love it and its a nice change from my AR15. It's going to be my coyote gun this fall. Only change will be a scope , oh and I was printing decent at 185 yards with the spark !! Accurate and loves LAR pistol mags. Craig
What ammo are you using? I'm happy with my 180 but it's definitely not shooting 1 moa.
You'll never find one for $1000 unless it's beat to hell and has 20000 rounds down the barrel. I agree that if someone is asking $2500 I definitely wouldn't help fund their crack habit. $1200-$1800 is the normal price range depending what extras it comes with and round count.
You read wrong, nothing wrong with the lower unless you use your rifle as a crowbar or think you're some kind of super operator doing ninja rolls over your rifle in your moms basement.
Armalite had a bad batch of polymer years ago and replaced all the affected lowers under warranty, as far as I know the only reports of problems are from guys who release the rear latch and let the upper fall and slam into the lower (which will break an AR as well).
I bought one used from CR5 I think.
Back when they were still in production no less, it came witha whole lot of stocks and parts.
Still in great shape.
Congratulations Gunner.
So long as you don't attend a liberal convention and start butt stroking delegates like baby seals, you shoud be ok.
However,,,if you do,,,we'll want pics,,,.
Like CR5 said, don't let the rifle drop open on the forward hinge.
Always swing open under control or even separate the lower from the upper completely, and it will fine.
Back when they were still in production no less, it came witha whole lot of stocks and parts.
Still in great shape.
Congratulations Gunner.
So long as you don't attend a liberal convention and start butt stroking delegates like baby seals, you shoud be ok.
However,,,if you do,,,we'll want pics,,,.
Like CR5 said, don't let the rifle drop open on the forward hinge.
Always swing open under control or even separate the lower from the upper completely, and it will fine.
I bought one used from CR5 I think.
Back when they were still in production no less, it came witha whole lot of stocks and parts.
Still in great shape.
Congratulations Gunner.
So long as you don't attend a liberal convention and start butt stroking delegates like baby seals, you shoud be ok.
However,,,if you do,,,we'll want pics,,,.
Like CR5 said, don't let the rifle drop open on the forward hinge.
Always swing open under control or even separate the lower from the upper completely, and it will fine.
Wasn't mine, I let a buddy convince me to sell mine to him a few years ago but I missed it too much and after over a year of harassment I finally got it back from him and I'll never make the mistake of selling again
BadLieutenant
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Montreal, Quebec
It's not a field rifle I would depend my life on, but it is a definite keeper if you can get one.
Eugene Stoner actually designed it as an improvement over and replacement for the AR-15 but by the time it was ready the US military had so much money tied up in the AR-15 they weren't interested in changing. Keep in mind though that was the original version not the 180B-2 that is the only non restricted version in Canada.
It's a great rifle and it's unfortunate that Armalite dropped it. If both were non restricted I would probably pick the AR-15 over it but that's more because of the huge aftermarket support and how easy it is to swap barrels and calibers in an AR. My 180 has somewhere around 1000 rounds through it and has never had a failure of any kind, the action keeps getting smoother and the trigger keeps getting better
Owned 4 of them. Bought the first one in 2007. Never had a single problem or issue with any of them and believe me, mine are not safe queens. They are truck guns and have seen thousands of rounds without a breakage or problem. Like cr5's, the actions just keep getting smoother and smoother the more I use them.
Eugene stoner deigned the 180 after he and the Armalite company sold the design and rights to the AR-15/M-16 to Colt who began manufacturing rifles for the US Army. Unable to further manufacture and promote his baby he began to think and design a new rifle which he hoped to make commercially viable to other military's of the world which was the 180. Being comprised mainly of stamped and welded pieces would make it more easily manufactured for countries with lessor technical manufacturing capabilities. Militarially it had poor success but commercially it did have moderate sales while being manufactured by several companies worldwide. Mechanically it was never a problem firearm, uses a rotating built similar to an AR that was originaly derived from the Johnson rifle of WW11 and it also uses a full small pin AR trigger group. The upper which is comprised of sheet metal stampings and other machined steel components can easily be repaired by anyone with basic metal skills. The lower plastic receiver of the 180B can and as I have be repaired with excellent epoxies and hinge area if damaged can be replaced with a machined aluminum hinge that attaches with epoxy and pins available from Stormworx. Fore and aft stocks are available along with extra parts if you look States side as there are others that like and collect all versions of these rifles. The stock factory scope mount can easily be removed and lengths of piccatinny rail attached with machine screws and epoxy seamlessly. In stock form are light and shoot well and mine loves Federal 69gr match for best min moa groupings. The IRA was a user of this firearm and loved it so much there's even an official Irish Republican song (My Little Armalite) look it up on YouTube. A well known US firearm blog list 10 lessor known but great rifles and the 180/B is one of them. To not have owned one of these great little non restricted rifles and mouth off about them only shows ones ignorance. I have owned one since they became available and been using it to wack Coyotes on the three farms I am associated with and will continue until I drop dead. My next black rifle after it and the other AR-15s I have owned will be another little brother 180B in stock configuration for my wife to shoot----Dieseldog!
