Ar-180b

[WhoKnowsWho]

Noticed the re-release of the AR-180B thanks to a certain magazine article. Who has one and if you don't mind, how much did you pay? I can't find anywhere with non-retail listed. I thinking getting a relative of my soon to have AR-15 would be nice down the road.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I don't have one, but I do want one. As far as I know the 80B's are still backordered and hard to find. I have seen some on GunsAmerica but they go fast and usually for about $650. Best price I saw was $589.

 

[Med 10]

I too have considered one due to the price but I have not heard too much favorable comments.

Something about durability and the polymer lower. Still it takes AR-15 mags.

I will wait till the Kel-Tec su-16 comes out before I buy another 223.

 

[Matt Sutton]

I have one. It's an early specimen (SN 2005XX) and has been totally flawless in just over 500 rounds. I paid $479, no joke. I still have the price tag.
If you check ar15.com in the Armalite forum, they list a group of serial numbers where they had problems with the upper/lover hinge breaking.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=62&t=149011

Some have complained that the front sight tower was crooked, or that they had to crank the back sight all the way over to zero the rifle. These people obviously can't read, and are probably the same people that say that the Ruger MkII is hard to reassemble. The front sight tower adjustment is a feature in the 180B. The originals had a pinned tower. Read the instructions people!

I am totally happy with mine, especially considering the price. It performs as advertised.

 

[Kor]

I also have one, although I wound up paying suggested retail($650), and I am VERY fond of it. Mine has run like a top so far, after some initial break-in issues. The worst single thing about the gun as it came out of the box was the trigger, but I just recently replaced the issue parts with a set of Rock River Arms NM trigger parts, and now the trigger is VERY SWEET(3 lbs 14 oz). If I've got my mojo working, I can make a 6 inch steel plate dance at 150 yards.

WKW, if you'd like, we can get together sometime so you can check mine out - e-mail me at [email protected] to work out the details.

 

[Jim K]

I have an original AR-180 (Howa) and have long thought it is what the AR-15 should have been. I will probably buy a new AR-180B when I can, so I can compare them. FWIW, I think the original lower was just fine and was an easy unit to make. Is the polymer better? We shall see.

Jim

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I shot an AR-180B belonging to a friend and it was love at first shot. I like the handling much better than the AR-15 (which is no slouch). It's on my list of guns to buy.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Thanks for the offer Kor! I'll contact you as soon as I get my AR-15 built and have time to get together. I've been doing a lot of overtime lately.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

I wanted one as well. But I got tired of waiting and bought an AR-15. Been very happy.

By the way, the accuracy quoted in that magazine "Guns Magazine" was not all that good compared with an AR-15. Just sub 4 inch groups at 100 yards, benched, not rested.

In order to compete, the AR-180B must be priced the same as a Mini-14. I think it is more expensive. For my money, the Mini has it over the AR-180B, about as accurate, proven, reliable, etc.

By the way, I still haven't seen one, nor have I heard of anyone that has one.

 

[355sigfan]

In order to compete, the AR-180B must be priced the same as a Mini-14. I think it is more expensive. For my money, the Mini has it over the AR-180B, about as accurate, proven, reliable, etc.

END

But the Mini's disadvantages are expensive mags or crappy mags, poor sights, poor long term durability, hard to mount optics on.

The 180 uses AR15 mags, can be reloaded almost as fast as the AR15, uses AR15 sights and you can get easy on optic mounts. Mini's can perform well. I just con't care for them. Seen too many with parts breaking on the line.
PAT

 

[Med 10]

All I know is that they are darn hard to find in the gun shops around here!

 

[Razor]

All I know is that they are darn hard to find in the gun shops around here!

Same here. I finally saw one in a shop a couple of weeks ago and it was priced at $749!!!

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

But the Mini's disadvantages are expensive mags or crappy mags, poor sights, poor long term durability, hard to mount optics on.

you may have something with the mags, but they have the ranch rifle for mounting optics on. I have a 180 series mini-14 that was bought used sometime in the 70s or so and is still going strong with NO PARTS BREAKAGES. i don't abuse my weapons, but i don't treat them like china, either. the sights on mine are a peep and a post. that rates as "pretty good" in my book.

 

[355sigfan]

When I mean optics I mean dot sights like the Eotech and the Reflex sight. For those you need a weaver rail. I just don't care for rugers sight picture nor the flimsy way its mounted on the Ranch rifle.
PAT

 

[LeadPumper]

Took mine out for the first time on Sunday. Public range at Elk Neck State Park, 25-100 yards.

Ran fine once mag problems were fixed. Crap mags are crap mags, no matter the gun. Accuracy was good-not great, but more fine tunning of the front sight tower is needed.

Out of the box, the rear sight would have had to be moved all the way to the left to hit paper. An easy thing to miss if you don't read the instructions well.

Overall I like it, but it's only a couple hundred less than a basic AR-15 and has a propritary scope mounting rail.

It's esay to strip and clean, runs clean, and is just a fun plinker that points well. But it does have teething issues.

Jurry is still out...


-LeadPumper

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

When I mean optics I mean dot sights like the Eotech and the Reflex sight. For those you need a weaver rail. I just don't care for rugers sight picture nor the flimsy way its mounted on the Ranch rifle.

if you want good iron sights, get the standard model. the ranch rifle is designed to be used with optics, and as such, has iron sights as a second priority.


as for the reflex or eotech sight mounting, it's not that hard to get one of the ruger ring to weaver adaptor mounts from brownells.