[MagKnightX]

I recently saw a picture of a .22 LR submachine gun, looked really interesting. It goes FA, has a 173-rd drum magazine, and closely resembles a thompson with a straight foregrip. If anybody has information on this, including maker, model, appr. price not including 200 dollar ATF tax stamp (although the tax stamp will, of course, be the first thing I get before I get any NFA item), and availability, it would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[mattd]

http://www.american180.com/

[MagKnightX]

Yes, that's it. Any idea what the price on one is? Or are there even any pre-'89 models?

[Crimper-D]

And it looks like the British Lewis Gun.
Made in Austria by the firm of Viore.
The originals were full auto and intended for LE use. I remember an article in Gun Digest in the 70's. Really figh rate of fire that increased with the velocity of the rimfire ammo used... I'd like to see how fast it could empty that big flat drum mag using CCI Stingers or Aguila Hypervel loads
:what: :D
BTW: If you got a couple of thou kicking around loose, go to Gunbroker.com and look under "Viore Rifles":evil:

[444]

A friend of mine just bought one, I will get back to you on price. I seem to remember it being around five grand.

[Sir Galahad]

Better check that the weapon is indeed a .22LR. Most versions of this weapon, perhaps even all, chambered their own unique rimfire cartridge called a ".22 Short Magnum Rimfire." This ammo is extremely difficult to find and is one reason why this weapon was not such a hit. Roof-mounted mags are not real helpers in the aiming department, too.

[jsalcedo]

The original American 180 is in 22LR.

There were only 27 or so civilian transferable ones made according to the website.

They are making a semi auto version and selling the drum mags from previous production.

Neat gun.

I read about the .22 short mag ones but it seems they are not transferable
because of being manufactured after 1988.

[mgjohn]

Had one and sold it. Great little SMG. All that I have seen were in 22LR or 22Mag. They run great with the right ammo. Mine would run fine on Federal bulk pack and Remington ammo, my buddies liked WW and CCI.

There are a fair number of transferable one out there. They also made 275 round lexan drums. I had the 177 round steel ones with mine. I cound dump a 177 round mag in 6 seconds. With CCI Stingers it would empty in about 4 seconds.

It was very accurate and a nice little gun. The 177 round drums sat below sight level and your vision was not obscured.

I could run 18-20 drums between cleaning sections with it. After that it would get slow and slugish. I would alos start getting FTF and jams.

[Hkmp5sd]

I haven't seen a transferrable one in a while. The Pre-86 dealer samples are going for around $4000.

[444]

If I am not mistaken, my buddy found his on sub-guns.com. This was recent, he doesn't have the tax stamp back yet. He did the transfer through John at Pahrump Valley Police Supply.

[mattd]

http://www.gulfcoastarmory.com/mgvids.html

There are about 5 videos of a am-180 on that page, just search for 180.