AR180B v AR15

[Min]

Anyone here actually prefer the AR180B over the AR15 rifle? It is cleaner in operation, and is as cheap if not cheaper than various AR15's out there.

Check out AR-180.com

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I like the AR-180B a lot, probably better than the AR-15 and clones.

I used to have a Bushmaster Dissipator. There was nothing wrong with, just got bored with it, and I wasn't thrilled with the Ljungman gas system. My EBR now is an AK-103 look-alike. I also have a Mini-14, which while not in the same accuracy class as an AR, is a lot simpler and with the right mags, more reliable. IMO.

I got the chance to shoot a friend's AR-180B awhile ago and thought it was the cat's pajamas. I really like the way it feels and the design is superior, again IMO.

Right now my semiauto .223 needs are filled by my Mini-14. Can't wait to get the 5 PMI 20 rounders I ordered from CDNN. w00t!

 

[Steve Smith]

Single source provider!

 

[Kor]

I am VERY fond of my AR180B, and I like the basic design of the rifle better than that of the AR15. The gas-piston system keeps the breech/receiver MUCH cleaner after heavy shooting. The bolt carrier is significantly heavier than that of the AR15, which means that it has more momentum during the feeding/extracting cycle and thus ejects and locks-up more reliably. The inner dimensions of the receiver and the recoil-spring set-up are such that there is VERY little bolt carrier-to-receiver contact, and plenty of room for trash, gunk and fouling to get pushed out of the way. When fed from GOOD magazines(the other AR15 bugaboo), my AR180B runs like a top and can make a 6" steel plate dance at almost 200yds.

Apart from the action, though, the AR15 has certain features that I can only wish had been incorporated into the AR180B design, such as:

- A port-side external bolt hold-open/release lever
- Rigid handguards w/aluminum heat shield(found on original AR-180)
- Spring-loaded dust cover(also found on original AR-180)
- Elevation/BDC-adjustable rear sight
- Picatinny rail on top, instead of the proprietary scope-mounting-plate
- Chrome-lined barrel/chamber
- Positive safety-lever detent

On balance, these minor details tend to make the AR15 somewhat more "shooter-friendly" IMO than the AR-180B, but not by much...

 

[George Hill]

"Single source provider!" So what do you do if you want a handgun that isnt a 1911?

Between these two rifles... 180B - Every Single Time.

 

[Steve Smith]

George, "So what do you do if you want a handgun that isnt a 1911?"

Now why would I want to go and do that?

Ok, I admit it, you found a chink in my armor. While I used to have only 1911s, now I carry a CZ. I do like the availability of parts the 1911 and AR both enjoy, though.

Besides, that AR180 feels so cheap. :banghead:

Ok, now you can hate me.

 

[Mannlicher]

I have a 180B, and several AR rifles. Other than my preban HBAR Colt, the 180B is as accurate as any of them. I had some problems with the AR180B not going into battery, but that turned out to be the result of dirty ammo, and poor cleaning.

For pure fun though, I still prefer my Mini-14

 

[russlate]

Howa or Sterling? Howa seemed a little nicer, but the Sterling did alright too.

Actually, the best feeling of the lot I tried including the AR15, M1. M1A, Valmet etc., were the SKS-D and the FN49 in 7x57.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Do the new Armalite AR-180Bs actually exist? I have not seen one on the droll prairie of Illinois yet. I got tired of waiting, and bought an AR-15.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

bad_dad, Yes! Ar-180B's do exist. I bought one about two weeks ago and like it verymuch. I also have a Dissipator which is also very cool. As for the 180 the only problems I have are that the lenght of pull is a little too short, and it shoots high even though I have the front sight all the way up. Any one have any ideas how to fix that?

 

[Kor]

M-B, it sounds like you need a replacement front sight post - any standard AR15-type post will do fine. I plugged a Trijicon unit into my own AR180B, it went in fine, zeroed with no problems, and I really like the tritium-illuminated sight picture it gives. You can order the front sight post alone or as part of a set(front + rear) from Brownells, made by either Trijicon, Meprolight, Xpress Sighting Systems, etc.

In the Guns Magazine article on the AR180B that came out a few months ago, they mentioned the same(or similar)problem with their early-production gun(the serial number plate on the side is black on early guns, silver on later guns), and they also took care of it by changing out the front post.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

Thanks, Kor, I'll check that out.

 

[pignock]

Bad Dad Brad - They got em (or at least one) in Illinois - had one at Pekin Sporting Goods a couple of months ago - I checked it out but passed for now. I gotta agree about them feeling cheap.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Local dealer has 2----priced at $659-----would take one at $499----but that price is too close to getting a real live AR---not some cheap plastic wannabe.

 

[Min]

If I may say so, just because it feels cheap doesn't mean it's low-quality.

It's made of a polymer receiver, not an aluminum receiver like the AR15 (okay, some).

The design is better, no?

 

[Steve Smith]

I handled some. I dont' know if its better or not. If you view an AK as being better than an AR-15, than the AR180 is better than both. If your opinion of the AK is low, then the AR180 is between those two.

 

[Hawkman]

I personally like my Keltec SU-16!

 

[telewinz]

I had the Howa AR180 years ago and like previously stated, it looked so cheaply made. The product of a stamping machine gone mad! Better design than the AR15 but I wouldn't pay more than $450- 500 for a new 180B. The SAR in .223 is a much better value.

 

[Futo Inu]

Supposedly, you can now order them from Armalite with a P-rail rather than the dumb proprietary scope mounting system, and supposedly also with an optional "match" trigger. Ask your local authorized Armalite dealer. Non-chome lined bbl= better accuracy, but less durability - it's a tradeoff, of course. Yeah, they look almost like an old airsoft AR15 - kinda cheap-looking, but as mentioned, very effective. And hey, what kind of mags can you get for the SAR in .223? only 10s? or better? That's the advantage of the 180B.

 

[4v50 Gary]

How easy is it to service the AR18, AR180B or anything in that particular bloodline? I'm talking bbl swapping and adding on do dads.

There's an entire cottage industry supporting the AR15 and I noticed some guys at AR-15.com have poured $4k into their Mighty Mattel (before anyone think I'm knocking the AR-15, I own a few myself). With the AR I can reconfigure it in the comfort of my home.

On the other hand, with the AR180, you can get a piece of sheet metal and hacksaw or file out virtually any part you need. Kind of hard to beat that.

 

[Nightcrawler]

There are 30 round magazines for the SAR-3. However, apparently good ones are hard to come by.

AS for the AR-180B...it has separate upper receivers, just like the AR-15. There's no reason (from a design standpoint) that it couldn't be just as modular as the AR-15.

Personally, I like the little 180B. It's what I imagine a .223 rifle SHOULD be. 20" barrel for best balance between handling and ballistics, but it's a reasonable weight barrel, and thus the weapon doesn't way 8lbs like an HBAR-15A2 does.

As for sheet metal stampings and such....why does a .223 require more than that? With .308 you need a strong steel receiver, and other steel parts help with overall durability. But with .223, plastic and stampings works just fine. The 180 would make an excellent service rifle, being simple in operation and easy to mass-produce, and in fact Stoner intended it to be just that.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Hey, Dad, if all else fails, you know they make those in Geneseo, right?

 

[Slater]

Handled an AR-180 once. Seemed like a decent rifle. One impression I got was that the handguards seemed to be a bit on the flimsy side. They seemed almost too thin.

 

[roscoe]

Why not a Saiga in .223? I see them for around $200 on gunbroker. Just with the sights were better. Now if the AR 180B were around $400 . . . we'd be talking.