Hey guys so I've been looking into getting another rifle but this time I was thinking of an AR 15 but I just hate the fact they are restricted. Then I found an AR 180b which is non restricted ! So before I jump the gun and buy it I was wondering if any ones has an experience with them. Whether or not it's just better to get the AR 15 even though it's restricted. As far as the Ar 180b goes I found it for $560 USD so just over $700 CND and it's literally the only one I can find. It is on gun broker so any experience with that website and importing firearms to Canada would also be very much appericated. Also if you recommended the AR 15 feel free to list the ones you guys like the best. I've been looking at the DPMS Panther Oracle and the tiger Ar 556 so any opinions on those specific models would be great also. Another thing about the ar 15's is I saw ATRS lower that is non restricted but I can't seem to find any for sale ? Where they made only to be fitted with the DA 50 bmg upper? I'm hoping this is fine to post in this thread/forum category since it is about black rifles. (I'm still new to the website) Anyways thanks for any help , Cheers.
AR 180b or AR 15
- Thread starter Shawn smith
- Start date
If you are only shooting at a rangr get an ar15, if you wan to shoot on crown or private land get the ar180b. Once import fees are calculated its gonna be over a grand for bringing in that rifle, talk to irunguns or prophet river about brining it in if you want too. The non restricted lower has no magwell and was made for the 50 bmg upper. A good ar-15 for starters is a norinco cqa. You can get one used for a good price on the ee and they are very reliable
The only thing the AR-180B has going for it is its NR status. They're no longer in production and when your lower cracks at the hinge pin you'll be SOL getting a replacement. If your're looking for a range gun, the AR is the clear choice. If you do buy the 180B, contact IRUNGUNS to arrange export. The seller will ship to their US FFL, who will then arrange for export/import on your behalf. Most guys on Gunbroker don't have a problem selling to Canadians just as long they're shipping to a US FFL.
There is a repair kit made for these should the lower crack. While the polymer lower wasn't the best idea in the world apparently most cracked lowers are the results of the owners letting the upper pivot down hard on the lower during disassembly resulting in the cracking. Careful disassembly prettying much eliminates the problem.
Confirm the barrel length before you buy.
The Canadian non restricted AR180 have a different barrel length to the regular US AR180s.
They made a special run for Canada and California for the non restricted status.
Make sure you don't buy what can turn out to be a restricted AR180!
The Canadian non restricted AR180 have a different barrel length to the regular US AR180s.
They made a special run for Canada and California for the non restricted status.
Make sure you don't buy what can turn out to be a restricted AR180!
Phat Eagle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Fraser Valley, BC
The ATRS non-restricted lower is for the Modern Varminter, and will NOT work with any sort of AR15 upper. They spent a LOT of time, money and effort making sure that was the case to secure a NR classification!!!!!
As far as quality ARs go, it depends on what you want to spend. IMHO:
-Norincos work, and can be had for $600 or less. Downside is they can be hard to accessorize after the fact as sometimes they aren't quite in spec...
-DPMS are a decent Made in the US option, but the fit and finish pales in comparison to better brands. Doesn't really matter, but they use Commercial Spec tubes, etc. Just need to know if you're buying new stocks.
-I find the Palmetto State Armory, GTO CORE and Windham Weaponry (in that order of preference for me) are very good compromises of cost and quality.
-Colt can sometimes be found for decent prices on the EE
-Colt Canada products are top shelf quality, as are Daniel Defense
There are many other good quality builders (BCM, LMT, JPE, Stag), but these are the ones I typically suggest.
As far as quality ARs go, it depends on what you want to spend. IMHO:
-Norincos work, and can be had for $600 or less. Downside is they can be hard to accessorize after the fact as sometimes they aren't quite in spec...
-DPMS are a decent Made in the US option, but the fit and finish pales in comparison to better brands. Doesn't really matter, but they use Commercial Spec tubes, etc. Just need to know if you're buying new stocks.
-I find the Palmetto State Armory, GTO CORE and Windham Weaponry (in that order of preference for me) are very good compromises of cost and quality.
-Colt can sometimes be found for decent prices on the EE
-Colt Canada products are top shelf quality, as are Daniel Defense
There are many other good quality builders (BCM, LMT, JPE, Stag), but these are the ones I typically suggest.
One possible option to look at as well is the new Troy PAR that IRG is bringing in. Available in .223 and 300BLK and .308 and non-restricted, looks similar to an AR15 but is a separate design and pump action rather than semi-auto. $990 USD, so about $1350 CAD all together.
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
You can find an AR180b for around $1400 used here in Canada easily. Usually with a bunch of mags, extra stocks and stuff thrown in.
Put up a WTB add.
There's some fackin' weirdos who have one or two of them still in the box even just collecting dust. You would be surprised.
After the BS, waiting, US currency exchange and IrunGun/import fees and taxes etc It won't be that far off from just sourcing one in Canada. Plus who the hell knows who you are dealing with down there in the US anonymously on a US site.
Don't listen to the people on here. I've owned two of them over the years, they are great guns. If your lower does happen to crack (from you foolishly abusing it in a way you shouldn't have in the first place), there is a simple fix available online for purchase.
Know this though, there are no more critical parts available. If you break a rail or the nub off the rear plate of the guide rails (happened on one of mine) or if your bolt shears a lug or separates/breaks, you literally have a $1500 paperweight or you need to get someone very handy/gunsmith to repair the rails buy light welding finishing etc (again it happened to me personally).
I love the design personally. It's not an AR15. The AR15 is better. It's been developed far more with millions of government dollars invested in its development over almost 60 years now. It's idiotic to compare them and I don't know why people do. If the AR15 was non restricted in this country AR180b's would be worth $400 bucks IF you could give them away.
That being said the AR180b is a great rifle for what it is in Canada ie a Non Restricted, light weight, relatively accurate and very reliable, eats any ammo you put through it including soft points for varmint, simple and handy bush rifle.
My personal opinion; get both lol AR's are so damn plentiful and cheap these days up here, just buy a 180b for the bush and build the AR of your fancy for well under a grand if you don't mind "lesser advertised" brand components.
I personally also had zero love for the T97. Sold it very quickly after buying it. Too many finicky little problems with it. Again just my 2 cents.
Put up a WTB add.
There's some fackin' weirdos who have one or two of them still in the box even just collecting dust. You would be surprised.
After the BS, waiting, US currency exchange and IrunGun/import fees and taxes etc It won't be that far off from just sourcing one in Canada. Plus who the hell knows who you are dealing with down there in the US anonymously on a US site.
Don't listen to the people on here. I've owned two of them over the years, they are great guns. If your lower does happen to crack (from you foolishly abusing it in a way you shouldn't have in the first place), there is a simple fix available online for purchase.
Know this though, there are no more critical parts available. If you break a rail or the nub off the rear plate of the guide rails (happened on one of mine) or if your bolt shears a lug or separates/breaks, you literally have a $1500 paperweight or you need to get someone very handy/gunsmith to repair the rails buy light welding finishing etc (again it happened to me personally).
I love the design personally. It's not an AR15. The AR15 is better. It's been developed far more with millions of government dollars invested in its development over almost 60 years now. It's idiotic to compare them and I don't know why people do. If the AR15 was non restricted in this country AR180b's would be worth $400 bucks IF you could give them away.
That being said the AR180b is a great rifle for what it is in Canada ie a Non Restricted, light weight, relatively accurate and very reliable, eats any ammo you put through it including soft points for varmint, simple and handy bush rifle.
My personal opinion; get both lol AR's are so damn plentiful and cheap these days up here, just buy a 180b for the bush and build the AR of your fancy for well under a grand if you don't mind "lesser advertised" brand components.
I personally also had zero love for the T97. Sold it very quickly after buying it. Too many finicky little problems with it. Again just my 2 cents.
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Hey everyone thanks for all the input , I think I'm gonna go with the ar 180b for some bush shooting . And take Travis suggestion and see if I can't find one on CGN. well saving up for an ar 15 as my range gun. Yeah I assumed the ATRS was for the specific upper but just figured I'd ask anyways. As for the AR 15 platform does anyone have experience with the NEA 15 in 7.62 x 39? if so would you recommend it or would you recommend staying in .223 for an AR?
Thanks everyone !
Cheers.
Shawn
Thanks everyone !
Cheers.
Shawn
Absolutely! One more point to add to this though, which may come in handy to prospective buyers. US market AR180B rifles made up until 2004 (when the AWB ended) also have the longer barrel length. After that time, the majority of the ones sold in the US had an 18 inch barrel, while the California and Canadian version stayed the same (except the model designation became AR180B-2).
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
Strongly suggest sticking with .223 Rem
You can get bulk deals of that caliber for really good prices.
I wouldn't want to be pumping corrosive ammunition through a gas impingement semi auto! That corrosive residue would get into every nook cranny and orifice.
I have not shot an NEA rifle but I have assembled one for a friend. The metal their parts are made of seems shoddy at best. While torquing on the barrel nut with the actual armorer tool/wrench, sprockets were literally just popping off the nut before I even got to 20 foot lbs! It looked like porous pot metal inside. Unreal.
Same with the handgaurd, it was an NEA one that slips over the nut and rotates into lock position, there is a little tab that is supposed to stop the gaurd from turning past a certain point by resting against the top side of the upper receiver, while rotating it into place, the tab just popped off and again, the whole thing seemed to be made of porous s**ty pot metal inside. I've seen a few of them break on ranges personally (.223 Rem variants not 7.62 M43) and while never having actually fired one myself, I have seen enough first hand to stay clear of them. I would take a Norinco over an NEA in a split second; put it that way.
They do stand behind their product but that doesn't make up for lost time and annoyance if you have to replace parts and whole rifles every time you take it out to the range.
DPMS is a good all around AR maker. No BS, no fancy marketing, just good, reliable, reasonably priced and accurate AR's.
I've always been a fan of Armalite personally but their prices are pretty steep these days for the same general quality as DPMS.
Be patient on EE and you can find one. They are very handy and balance well, but lack a bolt release, something that bothered me. So I moved to an XCR which isnt as well balanced, but overall I think I like it better. There are a few other good .223 non restricted options, many can be found used on the EE for much better price than buying new, but still pricier than a 180b...Guess it all depends. Worst comes to worst you can just sell the 180b and get something else if it doesnt suit you. The experience alone would be worth it, imo anyways.
Ar180shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Make sure it's the AR180b2 you're getting, the one with the fixed muzzle brake. The 180b's with the removable flash hiders have an 18" bbl afaik.
Hey ,I`m not a frakin` weirdo.......a crackpot maybe.....but not a weirdo LOL
The one I shoot performs flawlessly and no broken hinge, just got to remember not to let it slam open.Both of mine are all tarted up with Midwest eng. quad rails and top mount optics rail and telescopic stocks.
I don`t think Midwest Eng. makes those rails for the 180B2 do they ?
OH ,my EoTech 512s still work too BTW !!
I also love my Core AR15 ,great shooter.
PT
Hey everyone I wanted to thank you all for your input and opinions , as many of you suggested I'm leaning towards an ar 180b for now and save up for / maybe start build my own custom ar 15 a little later, probably after I've joined a range so I'll have somewhere to shoot it lol , if anyone has any information on what a good price for an ar 180b is that would be great , since I can't find a clear answer on what a fair price is . Thanks again everyone I really appreciate the input and help!
Cheers,
SHAWN
Cheers,
SHAWN
Also thanks for all the info on the whole ar 180b2 I did not know that so I'm really glad I made this post before running out and buying the wrong one , also thanks again Travis since I'm going to take your suggestion again and stay away a from the NEA 15 7.62
All this information has really been helpful and as a new gun owner it really helps knowing everyone's experiences before making a purchase ( expecially a $1000+ purchase) so again thanks everyone I REALLY appreciate all the help!
- Shawn
All this information has really been helpful and as a new gun owner it really helps knowing everyone's experiences before making a purchase ( expecially a $1000+ purchase) so again thanks everyone I REALLY appreciate all the help!
- Shawn
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
Any time.
There's a lot to learn.
I learn new things about guns every single day, especially when I visit this forum. There's still mountains of experience yet to gain!
I would not personally pay more than $1400 for stock condition AR180. That to me from buying and selling two of them now over the years is a fair price.
Would pay more depending on if multiple magazines included, ACE skeleton stocks, package deals etc But for a stock bare bones 180b and a single magazine $1400 is it for a used rifle personally.
That's if it was in good to very good condition. Anything more than that and you're getting into the used XCR range for only a couple hundred more.
