Tracking The AR-180B

[Travis Bickle]

I am mostly a surplus type of shooter.
But I have had my eye on the AR-180B for a while.
I have done my research on it.
I have seen them pop up on the EE time to time.
Does anyone on here have any information as to the current status of production on these awesome rifles?
Are they still being produced?
Can you still buy one new from a dealer?
All people seem to want to sell are ones that have been hacked up to add silly "tactical" nonsense parts so they can shoot it from a bench at paper
Can they still be purchased from any importer/dealer in "stock" condition in the more recent version with the fixed stock for civilian market in this country?
Any advice will be helpfull.
Thanks.

 

[8 ball]

To answer your questions in order.
Currently not in production.
No.
No
and No.

 

[fnrob]

They have been discontinued for a couple of years now, so at the moment, you aren't going to find one new at a dealer. Armalite is supposedly working on re-introducing the design with a few improvements such as an aluminum lower, and an integral scope mounting rail on the upper receiver. The word from Armalite was that they hoped for a 2012 re-release, though things have been pretty quiet from them lately on the subject. I wouldn't hold my breath on these.

 

[667]

My two pennies...

It's a cheaply manufactured rifle.
Cheesy plastic furniture.
Stamped/spot welded upper receiver.
Creepy/heavy/crappy trigger.

I owned one only because I wanted a non restricted .223 semi.
Got over it when it broke after 20 rounds... Weld holding the bolt guide failed.
Dealer sent me a new upper but... I could never get it to shoot better Than minute of pie plate at 100m
It's also a pita to mount a scope well

Just my opinion...

 

[Armedsask]

I recently purchased a Sterling AR180 complete upper which I have mounted on a custom lower. The fit and finish of the upper when compared the AR180B is amazing. It's like a Porche and a Lada, the Armalite AR180B being the Lada.

It's too bad they didn't put any effort into them like Stirling did.

 

[fnrob]

I recently purchased a Sterling AR180 complete upper which I have mounted on a custom lower. The fit and finish of the upper when compared the AR180B is amazing. It's like a Porche and a Lada, the Armalite AR180B being the Lada.

It's too bad they didn't put any effort into them like Stirling did.

Sounds like an interesting project you're doing.

 

[beltfed]

I recently purchased a Sterling AR180 complete upper which I have mounted on a custom lower.

Now that would be worth it.

 

[Travis Bickle]

My two pennies...

It's a cheaply manufactured rifle.
Cheesy plastic furniture.
Stamped/spot welded upper receiver.
Creepy/heavy/crappy trigger.

I owned one only because I wanted a non restricted .223 semi.
Got over it when it broke after 20 rounds... Weld holding the bolt guide failed.
Dealer sent me a new upper but... I could never get it to shoot better Than minute of pie plate at 100m
It's also a pita to mount a scope well

Just my opinion...

I have heard mixed reviews about the rifle myself.
From the same as yours right up to it being an excellent rifle.
I am not a fan of the AR platform at all myself even though it is my primary arm and I'm relatively profficient with it.
I chalk it up to biased personal opinions on both ends.
I have never been able to shoot one myself so I don't pay much creedence to anyones personal opinions on a weapon unless I have experienced it first hand.
Ask an American about Norinco M14's lol "Absolute garbage!" Have you ever fired one? "No....but they suck!"

 

[667]

I have heard mixed reviews about the rifle myself.
From the same as yours right up to it being an excellent rifle.

Well... No offense to those that think it's excellent, but i would suggest they don't know what a decent rifle is.

 

[tommyhil79]

I have one, I like it, seems to be a good lil shooter.

 

[Greenhorse six]

I have one ,it's a good rifle ,if a little over priced,non-resticted ,AR trigger group,uses AR mag,shoots well enough,can be modified.

now if someone would only make a custom aluminum lower for it.

 

[Armedsask]

Now that would be worth it.

It is night an day. The welds are pristine, actual beads where needed, not spot welds. The handguards are a rock solid, seamless fit with heat shields. Chromed bolt and piston.

It drops right on a factory AR180B lower when you use the AR180B recoil spring guide rod assembly. Bolt catch doesn't function as the AR180 upper has more material along the bottom which blocks it from moving up.

I'll post a pictorial comparison when I get a chance.

 

[#1bcshooter]

I recently purchased a Sterling AR180 complete upper which I have mounted on a custom lower. The fit and finish of the upper when compared the AR180B is amazing. It's like a Porche and a Lada, the Armalite AR180B being the Lada.

It's too bad they didn't put any effort into them like Stirling did.

And of course you re registered it as restricted now with the 18" barrel right ?

 

[Armedsask]

And of course you re registered it as restricted now with the 18" barrel right ?

No, it's not assembled on a lower, ever.

the only downside to an otherwise new in box AR180 upper is a previous owner hack job welded the flash suppressor and lock nut on.

 

[Bribo]

I have one. Considering all things I Like it a lot. A few components have broken over the years (more than all my other guns combined) but armalite offers replacement parts on thier web site and i have always been able to fix it myself. Also thanks to arnedsask's thread there is a lot less slop in everything.

Bottom line: I would flush it down the toilet if my AR was non-restricted, but thats not going to happen and its way more tacticool than a mini-14, way more accurate and easier to mount a scope on than a 858. As a result it actually gets quit a bit of use (when its not broken).

Also i do agree with the other thread, its the loudest gun to shoot that i have.