I love my little armalite. Mine is British. I want a jap one though just because. Seriously great rifle. Original mags are expensive, but I have all I need.
I worked in a gun shop in the mid 1980's and bought one of these still in the original box for $300 I also bought a H&K 91 with 10 mags and a case of ammo for $400 from the same guy. sadly I don't have either one now!
As I'm watching this, I'm holding my new, Sterling made, AR-180. What a cool rifle and a neat chapter in American weaponry. I can't wait to shoot this thing! :-)
Guess what Stiv, in Nam the M-16 were not issued with a cleaning kit, particularly no cleaning rod. You had to call daddy and beg please sent me a cleaning rod
I'm sure this has been mentioned, but the AR-15 is forged, not milled. Generally speaking of course, there are companies that make billet uppers and lowers these days, but that wasn't the original design.
@Nater245689 The AR-15 lower is milled. The pockets have to milled. If you google "AR-15 forging" you'll see that there is no way it can be used without being milled first. I think you're confusing what forged means with billet...
@Nater245689 You do realize that billets have to be milled right? Milling is a cutting process. It's done on a fucking mill. Billet lowers and "forged" lowers both come from billets. Using the term "milled" to describe a billet -sourced upper and lower is incorrect. Like I said, I don't think you understand what milling is or what billets are.
This rifle still lives on in the H&K G36, XM8, the current issue British bullpup rifles and the Bushmaster/Remington ACR rifles, where do you think their short-stroke fixed piston, cup cyl. on op. rod, gas operating system and multi lug bolt, came from??
Actually there was a selective-fire AR18S, shorty with a forward pistol grip. I believe LAPD had a few back in the '70's, it had what looks like a 10" barrel and used a cone type flash suppressor. Like the AR15/M16, the AR18/AR180 were successors or follow-on development of a 7.62 Nato/.308 version, the AR17. Though designed by Armalite, Gene Stoner had nothing to do with this design, he had left Fairchild ACFT by that point.
Thank you. I just picked up a Romanian AK GTS 5.56x45 all black. It looks some what of a in between this AR-180 and the Sig 556 that takes ar mags. Two mags came with it. Having a little trouble finding solid mags. Would you have any suggestions on wich direction to turn to purchase some more?
This is why I love your channel I never knew such a thing existed until now. This is very interesting because it offers the mind alternatives to the course history took to lead us to where we are now. What I mean is almost every house in America has a version of the AR-15 platform - when just as easily it could have been an AR-180 platform. Thanks for putting this video up.
I really don't understand why they didn't adopt this rifle for the US military. To me, it's like the US military makes only wrong decisions when it comes to weapons procurement. I mean, this weapon was a much better design than the AR-15. It was very accurate during trials and, more importantly, it was much more rugged and reliable. I really don't understand why they chose to get stuck with the AR-15. Which also killed a lot of soldiers with its jamming problems in Vietnam.
I admit I was skeptical about the AR18 when I first heard about it (I hate the AR15 with a passion, and figure this was just another version of it, which apparently was as far from correct as humanly possible), but after watching this I'm tempted to actually go out and buy one to play around with.
Yes, some Asian countries used AR18 derivatives as military rifles. And, yes, the AR18 is somewhat similar to the AK mainly in that the AR18 was conceived to be a no-frills, inexpensive weapon. I think I read that during the M16's disasterous introduction the AR18 almost took the M16's place.
@Jayho74 hey i have a link to a thread of mine on calguns.net of rust removal from a mini-14 that was very badly rusted its called electrolysis. i have pictures you can see the results. hope you get your rifle functioning again.
Excellent overview! I've always been partial to the AR18/180 series. I happen to be lucky enough to own one of the about 400 transferable AR18's in the US. The pride and joy of my collection.
@Jayho74 If some rust spots cant come off, then you can always take it to a gunsmith to get it re blued and that is for the whole gun (at least the metal parts) and it will look brand new. As far as a barrel you probably will need a new one because of the rust inside of it. If it was just outside of it the new bluing would take it off.
@Jayho74 thats a shame, it was probably rusted well before the water if it wasn't stored correctly. Take it to a gunsmith or two and see what they quote you for getting it back up and running. The rust in the barrel should be no problem, just clean it all out.
Neat rifle. I was thinking about adding an AR-180 to my arsenal back in the 80's.
The IDF jumped on the idea of combining several excellent rifle's, including the AR-18, when they developed the Galil. My gripe with the Galil was it's weight.
@tvproducing Your rifle would have been made in Costa Mesa California. The Sterling AR180 started with the serial number "S15000." Costas were all parkerized. while the Sterlings were painted black. The Howas were also a lower serial number, like the Costa Mesa, and had a dark green finish. While the Costas and Howas appear similar, the spot welds on the Costas did not take the parkerized finish, while the Howas appear with a better finish.
Armalite still offers a lot AR 180 parts but no barrels but I have read that they are planning to bring it out again, maybe then they do also offer barrels.
If i would have been isued one AR 18 i think it would have been alot more popular. The M16A1 was just junk, thats why i became M60 gunner. I listen to all these armchair Generals , but i crawled around in the mud with M16, it just was a finicky weapon. One thing i dont hear from all the know it all becuase the were SF and Cammados back in there dreams is that the Dust cover on M16 always make sure it was closed. that was the cause of alot failures, the dirt,sand ,mud gets in there your dead
@spacecop67 I'm not a military man like you (Thank you by the way) and I'm not an expert, so don't chew my ass off. But I know a lot about weapons, and if you don't maintain any weapon it will jam.
I have a hunch that if the US had moved forward with a proper design competition rather then select was in effect a prototype in the AR15, the AR18 might well of won! It was in many ways a more promising design and its no coincidence that many of the latest assault rifles can trace their design back to the AR18.
Another nuance of the AR180, is that it takes AR15 magazines that have a propriatary slot in them that is not typically found in regular AR15 magazines. I was fortunate in that I was able to find three high cap Sterling manufactured mags, two curved 20 rounders and two mid cap magazines. Plus, I have a plastic Israeli made magazine of 30 round cap. I would like to modify all my AR15 mags for use in the Armalite, just never got a round tuit.
Although it is quite attractive looking and functional, the other Achilles heel on this rifle IS the folding stock. It introduces a little slop when shooting from the shoulder and is not that sturdy. That said, I like the folding stock set up as being different than many others. A good mod would be the adaptation of something similar to the Galil/FN FAL para stock.
The only thing I don't like about my AR-180 is the pins in the reciever walk out. I've been meaning to get anti walk pins installed, once they are the rifle will be pretty reliable. When I bought it, the guy selling it did not make it readily apparent that the extractor had a broken claw on it, it was chipped and wouldn't extract a chambered round. I went back to the gunshow the next day and went to a table that had AR15 parts and bought an extractor, pin and spring for 5 bucks...fixed it.
@GunWebsites it does look like the daewoo k-2 that the ROK Army uses. Except the Koreans are excellent makers of knock offs of other weapons, but they are good knock offs though.
@HarpDBigglesworth The K2 is compared more as a hybrid of the AR15(lower receiver/bolt carrier) and AK47 (gas system).
The folding stock on the K2 has been compared to the idea of the AR18, although the K2's stock is a lot better, considering the Koreans had years of development since AR18 came out to improve it.
@agumon12 You're thinking of the Daewoo DR200. Very similar looking rifle (I got the two confused as well when I first saw the 200), but internally they're very very different rifles, albeit with the same general ideas in play (cheap, reliable, and very user friendly)
Are there any other platforms that you could recommend for myself. Something that is a good workhorse but doesn't sacrifice on accuracy, I'm thinking of a SKS and then changing the stock and adding some Russian optics, but not too sure atm.
This rifle seems to satisfy what I am looking for, something with a heavy barrel, good length for accurate shots but also can have a stock that can collapse or shorten when in close quarters.
@boiledhooker about 700.00 to 1,000 is where I have seen the range of prices on Sterling England Mfg Armalite 180s. Keep in mind these are pre-89 imports and are a sleeper in regards to their value climbing up to meet the values of other pre-89 imports that have climbed into the 3-4 thousand dollar range such as the HK series of imported rifles.
Eugene Stoner developed the rifle as the 'next generation' to the -15, designed to be sold as a manufacturing package to developing nations - they could make good rifles cheaply. That concept never caught on, but the design was widely copied.
General Westmoreland was about 3 weeks from a decision to drop the problematic -15 in favor of the -18, when he was promised 'we'll make it work' by Colt and the armaments structure. The rest is history...with proper development, the 18 could have shone.
I own that model I love it, only thing is you can't fire 62gr SS-109 ammo in it cause the 1:16 twist BBL can't stabilize the heavy 62gr you have to stay with 55gr
The Ar18 wasn't developed as direct competition to the 15 but as a weapon that could easely made by allied nations the didn't have the industrial capability to make the 15/16.
The AR-18 is a truely excellent rifle the type 89, L85 used the ar-18 as bas for their designs. Even the German G36 used components of the AR-18 in it's design.
Not all that practical? Tell that to the PIRA snipers who used it! Also as someone else mentioned, you failed to mention the piston. But other than that, the SA80/L85's development from this platform, and IRA combat experience with the rifle-- great video! Very well done and thanks! No idea why Armalite stopped making the AR-180B. Thanks again for the video.
@SouthPhillyHooligan AR-180B was not well received. It was a victim of the AW ban having no folding stock, and no flash suppressor. The polymer lower seemed cheap. The only good thing about the B model is that it takes the popular AR15 mags.
It may have not been a successful product but it was sure a successful design. The AR18 piston/bolt system etc is used in the majority of western/modern piston rifles.
The IRA loved this rifle so much that there was a song made about it. It's called My Little Armalite. Hey you should do a compairison between the AR-180 to the M-16A1 if you can get your hands on one. It seems like our boys were short changed in Vietnam when they were given the M-16A1. I believe this would had performed quite well in Vietnam. The British L85's and the Japanese Type 89 are designs influanced by the AR-18. Especially the Type 89.
Arnold Zwargenegger uses this assault rifle in The Terminator (the scene that shoots the whole police station, when he is after Sarah Conner). Excelent assaultrifle, to bad it didn't win the competition with the Colt M16.
the ar18 was created by eugine stoner it was a option for countrys without the technolog to create milled m16 recivers. Eugine created the m16 whene he was at armalite and he was still at armalite for the ar18.
I am curious, when you sight the scope in and then later on remove it , do you have to re-sight it in later? In other words does it keep a zero on the scope even if removed and then put back on?
@GunWebsites Quick detach scope mounts have always been "iffy", I would imagine the military mounts will actually work over commercial. I say that because I never had luck with aftermarket. They always lose zero and are questionable in quality. Thank you for the quick reply back.
I would say it was superior to the M16 in almost every way. It got rid of all the flaws the M16 had. I don't really see how it's similar to an AK, other then they are both made of stampings. Both have different gas operations. While the AR18 was not a success, it's design was carried on to the L85A1 and G36. I read it on the armalite website.
a semi version was available in canada it wasn't even restricted but its been discontinued due to lack of sales. A used one might be found. If you're inerested in a black rifle look at robinsons xcr rifle its available in canada takes m-16 mags and it non restricted.
@chuckybananas yes and no, AR 180's are prohibited. AR 180b's, are not. they are however, hard to find, cuz they only made them for 3 yrs here. I paid 1900 for mine :S...used.
This rifle was never put in to prodouction, but of the 20.00 thausound made a large portion found its way in to the hands of the Provisional Irish Rupublican Army in Northren Ireland. The British forces and the IRA fighters refer to it as "the widowmaker" and it proved to be a very good rifle when it was used against the british army.
@phildaguy from what i hear eod and seals are getting bushmaster acr as replacements in the near future. i hope so because our ancient m16s are pos. the m4 is good but it would be nice to have a replacement from what we use now. really for most people its personal preference and familiarity for the weapon they are most comfortable with.
@PineappleBobTheGreat I saw the actual AR-18 that they used in T1 on an auction site once. It was converted to fire blanks, but still an awesome piece of history.
They did make the AR-18S which was the short barreled version.
These did not make it only because the timing of the products coming out. The AR already had an order from the USAF and after that, the military did not want to go with two systems.
They were also lied to about the M-16 being a self cleaning weapon. The M-16 started out with a lot of bugs. The AR-18 had plenty of room for crap in the receiver, better gas system and overall more rugged design. The AR-18 is better.
I love my little armalite. Mine is British. I want a jap one though just because. Seriously great rifle. Original mags are expensive, but I have all I need.
MyLittleDiscolite 1 week ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Here in Brazil, to have any gun is a crime.
daltonagre 1 week ago
I worked in a gun shop in the mid 1980's and bought one of these still in the original box for $300 I also bought a H&K 91 with 10 mags and a case of ammo for $400 from the same guy. sadly I don't have either one now!
TheHarleyhillbilly 3 weeks ago
Legal in Canada!
GangsterHutterite 1 month ago
from the conclusion i draw from this video the AR 18 should replace the M16.
lamestbiokinectic 1 month ago
Comment removed
honyasenyou 1 month ago
Sorry if I missed it, but is this a Howa or a Sterling gun?
stuntmanmike37 1 month ago
As I'm watching this, I'm holding my new, Sterling made, AR-180. What a cool rifle and a neat chapter in American weaponry. I can't wait to shoot this thing! :-)
stuntmanmike37 1 month ago
History was unfair with the Ar-18 rifle. Here in Brazil to have any gun, is a crime.
daltonagre 1 month ago
Only 20,000 were ever made? that sounds wrong...what about the IRA? Surely there are more of them available
Cropduster777 1 month ago
@Cropduster777
LOL, they only stole some, they didn't manufacture any
GunWebsites 1 month ago
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honyasenyou 1 month ago
Comment removed
honyasenyou 1 month ago
@Cropduster777 lmfao... I think I actually peed myself a little then...seriously - what about the IRA?
oursus 3 weeks ago
Guess what Stiv, in Nam the M-16 were not issued with a cleaning kit, particularly no cleaning rod. You had to call daddy and beg please sent me a cleaning rod
GrenadierV 2 months ago
Looks like a AK a M16 and FAL combined
michaelrachael 3 months ago
I'm sure this has been mentioned, but the AR-15 is forged, not milled. Generally speaking of course, there are companies that make billet uppers and lowers these days, but that wasn't the original design.
Nater245689 3 months ago
@Nater245689 The AR-15 lower is milled. The pockets have to milled. If you google "AR-15 forging" you'll see that there is no way it can be used without being milled first. I think you're confusing what forged means with billet...
mikeymike4g63 3 months ago
@mikeymike4g63 No, I'm not. Milling a forging /= a milled product. Pretty much any precision piece that's forged requires milling for finishing.
Nater245689 3 months ago
@Nater245689 You do realize that billets have to be milled right? Milling is a cutting process. It's done on a fucking mill. Billet lowers and "forged" lowers both come from billets. Using the term "milled" to describe a billet -sourced upper and lower is incorrect. Like I said, I don't think you understand what milling is or what billets are.
mikeymike4g63 3 months ago
Here in Brazil, to have any gun is a crime.
daltonagre 3 months ago
@daltonagre
shame
GunWebsites 3 months ago
@daltonagre Here in the States NOT having a gun SHOULD be a crime lol
GrenadierV 2 months ago
This rifle still lives on in the H&K G36, XM8, the current issue British bullpup rifles and the Bushmaster/Remington ACR rifles, where do you think their short-stroke fixed piston, cup cyl. on op. rod, gas operating system and multi lug bolt, came from??
butchswagg 4 months ago
Actually there was a selective-fire AR18S, shorty with a forward pistol grip. I believe LAPD had a few back in the '70's, it had what looks like a 10" barrel and used a cone type flash suppressor. Like the AR15/M16, the AR18/AR180 were successors or follow-on development of a 7.62 Nato/.308 version, the AR17. Though designed by Armalite, Gene Stoner had nothing to do with this design, he had left Fairchild ACFT by that point.
butchswagg 4 months ago
its a shame that they were never fully developed it looks like it could have been developed into a very reliable and dependable weapon
mark16443 4 months ago
very 1960s gun.
SuperRip7 5 months ago
holy crap that's the rifle arnold used in the terminator in the police station!!! .man that drove me nutts trying to find out what rifel that was
heroebennett 5 months ago
@heroebennett Yeah, I remember seeing this rifle in the Terminator, and trying to figure out what is was, thought it was an HK 33.
NeoNyder 4 months ago
@NeoNyder
in the movie it has no sock, so it looks weird
GunWebsites 4 months ago
This was fascinating! I never knew such a rifle existed. Thank you posting!
aabceacba 5 months ago
this is way better then the m-16 why did ut lose to the ar-15?
dopefish93 5 months ago
where can i buy one of these i must own it!
thebibleisfiction 5 months ago
Thank you. I just picked up a Romanian AK GTS 5.56x45 all black. It looks some what of a in between this AR-180 and the Sig 556 that takes ar mags. Two mags came with it. Having a little trouble finding solid mags. Would you have any suggestions on wich direction to turn to purchase some more?
Floridainfidel 5 months ago
Would do a comparison 180 with a sig 556. This is a cool rifle. Looks to me that it could have become a good one.
Floridainfidel 5 months ago
@Floridainfidel
That would be a good comparison
GunWebsites 5 months ago
looks more like a fn-fal or hk-g3
b0rderbr0ther22 5 months ago in playlist Más vídeos de GunWebsites
what cal is it
WillLemax 5 months ago
@WillLemax 5.56x45
godzilla1463 5 months ago
a polymer updated AR-180 would own so hard
darkchild256 5 months ago
Have you seen the 2007 Sig Arms 556 swat? Very similar from piston, stamp metal, right side charger. Frightening huh, the future is the past.
shinli00 5 months ago
This is why I love your channel I never knew such a thing existed until now. This is very interesting because it offers the mind alternatives to the course history took to lead us to where we are now. What I mean is almost every house in America has a version of the AR-15 platform - when just as easily it could have been an AR-180 platform. Thanks for putting this video up.
nowthisis2stupid 5 months ago
History was unfair with the ar-18; it was better than the m-16. I live in Brazil.
daltonagre 6 months ago
I really don't understand why they didn't adopt this rifle for the US military. To me, it's like the US military makes only wrong decisions when it comes to weapons procurement. I mean, this weapon was a much better design than the AR-15. It was very accurate during trials and, more importantly, it was much more rugged and reliable. I really don't understand why they chose to get stuck with the AR-15. Which also killed a lot of soldiers with its jamming problems in Vietnam.
StiviGun1 6 months ago 6
I admit I was skeptical about the AR18 when I first heard about it (I hate the AR15 with a passion, and figure this was just another version of it, which apparently was as far from correct as humanly possible), but after watching this I'm tempted to actually go out and buy one to play around with.
Great video!
Thatevilmidget 6 months ago
Yes, some Asian countries used AR18 derivatives as military rifles. And, yes, the AR18 is somewhat similar to the AK mainly in that the AR18 was conceived to be a no-frills, inexpensive weapon. I think I read that during the M16's disasterous introduction the AR18 almost took the M16's place.
oeyesea 6 months ago
This should replace the M4.
dizralph4u 6 months ago
also I love how even back then there were better rifle designs out there for our military but we choose the ar-15 platform. Smh :/
bioboi66 7 months ago
@Xbowguy I've heard you can find em as low as 650 so that's pretty high.
bioboi66 7 months ago
@Jayho74 it wont let me add a link i will message it to you
straykiller 7 months ago
@Jayho74 hey i have a link to a thread of mine on calguns.net of rust removal from a mini-14 that was very badly rusted its called electrolysis. i have pictures you can see the results. hope you get your rifle functioning again.
straykiller 7 months ago
Great Gun! and Great Review!!
JWnFL 8 months ago
@Jayho74 Judging from the reply... I doubt it.
If it is rarre as it is, I am guessing you would be better off
buying another one.
SamPD2 8 months ago
Excellent overview! I've always been partial to the AR18/180 series. I happen to be lucky enough to own one of the about 400 transferable AR18's in the US. The pride and joy of my collection.
1Patriotofmany 8 months ago
History was unfair with the AR-18. I live in Brazil. Here to have any gun is a crime.
daltonagre 8 months ago
If they took the time to improve the AR-18 and update it (better materiels maybe add a RIS) this would be one of the best rifles on the market
JdmTheMilitaryMan 9 months ago
the only guns in the ar family i like is the m16a1 and the ar18/180
ermaslv44 9 months ago
They need to make these again!
CarlRF99 9 months ago
The AR-180 *B* on the other hand, can use AR-15 magazines. it also has a stronger charging handle.
hydra046 9 months ago
@Jayho74 If some rust spots cant come off, then you can always take it to a gunsmith to get it re blued and that is for the whole gun (at least the metal parts) and it will look brand new. As far as a barrel you probably will need a new one because of the rust inside of it. If it was just outside of it the new bluing would take it off.
cessna182tpilot 9 months ago
that thing is fucking badass i wish i could have one lol damn its like women some you can have some you cant
romack93 9 months ago
@Jayho74 thats a shame, it was probably rusted well before the water if it wasn't stored correctly. Take it to a gunsmith or two and see what they quote you for getting it back up and running. The rust in the barrel should be no problem, just clean it all out.
LcplMartin1986 10 months ago
Neat rifle. I was thinking about adding an AR-180 to my arsenal back in the 80's.
The IDF jumped on the idea of combining several excellent rifle's, including the AR-18, when they developed the Galil. My gripe with the Galil was it's weight.
I enjoyed the video...
cyclops5276 10 months ago
is this made in Japan?
pietoroberettam93r 11 months ago
Mine is SN 700 series. It has a different finish than yours. Mine is parkerized instead of blued.
tvproducing 11 months ago
@tvproducing Your rifle would have been made in Costa Mesa California. The Sterling AR180 started with the serial number "S15000." Costas were all parkerized. while the Sterlings were painted black. The Howas were also a lower serial number, like the Costa Mesa, and had a dark green finish. While the Costas and Howas appear similar, the spot welds on the Costas did not take the parkerized finish, while the Howas appear with a better finish.
pixnstix 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
History was unfair with AR-18. I live in Brazil. Here to have any gun is a crime.
daltonagre 1 year ago
i meant hand guard
war92794 1 year ago
is that a carbon fiber front heat shield hand grip
war92794 1 year ago
History was unfair with AR-18. I live in Brazil. Here to have any gun is a crime.
daltonagre 1 year ago
Have you experience with accuracy at 100 yards or more?
Gieszkanne 1 year ago
@Jayho74
Armalite still offers a lot AR 180 parts but no barrels but I have read that they are planning to bring it out again, maybe then they do also offer barrels.
Gieszkanne 1 year ago
If i would have been isued one AR 18 i think it would have been alot more popular. The M16A1 was just junk, thats why i became M60 gunner. I listen to all these armchair Generals , but i crawled around in the mud with M16, it just was a finicky weapon. One thing i dont hear from all the know it all becuase the were SF and Cammados back in there dreams is that the Dust cover on M16 always make sure it was closed. that was the cause of alot failures, the dirt,sand ,mud gets in there your dead
spacecop67 1 year ago
@spacecop67 I'm not a military man like you (Thank you by the way) and I'm not an expert, so don't chew my ass off. But I know a lot about weapons, and if you don't maintain any weapon it will jam.
THE13EARJEW 1 year ago
@spacecop67
Why would the AR-18 be more popular if "you" had been issued it?
cyclops5276 10 months ago
@Jayho74 I MAY be able to help you working again.
Armalite used to sell parts for this 2 yrs ago anyway.
EarthGameOver 1 year ago
@Jayho74 go to a gunshop
BucketPukes1969 1 year ago
I have a hunch that if the US had moved forward with a proper design competition rather then select was in effect a prototype in the AR15, the AR18 might well of won! It was in many ways a more promising design and its no coincidence that many of the latest assault rifles can trace their design back to the AR18.
Fedaykin24 1 year ago
@Jayho74
Sorry to hear what happened, I hope you can get it restored
GunWebsites 1 year ago 3
Another nuance of the AR180, is that it takes AR15 magazines that have a propriatary slot in them that is not typically found in regular AR15 magazines. I was fortunate in that I was able to find three high cap Sterling manufactured mags, two curved 20 rounders and two mid cap magazines. Plus, I have a plastic Israeli made magazine of 30 round cap. I would like to modify all my AR15 mags for use in the Armalite, just never got a round tuit.
ShiekUrBooty 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Although it is quite attractive looking and functional, the other Achilles heel on this rifle IS the folding stock. It introduces a little slop when shooting from the shoulder and is not that sturdy. That said, I like the folding stock set up as being different than many others. A good mod would be the adaptation of something similar to the Galil/FN FAL para stock.
ShiekUrBooty 1 year ago
Comment removed
ShiekUrBooty 1 year ago
The only thing I don't like about my AR-180 is the pins in the reciever walk out. I've been meaning to get anti walk pins installed, once they are the rifle will be pretty reliable. When I bought it, the guy selling it did not make it readily apparent that the extractor had a broken claw on it, it was chipped and wouldn't extract a chambered round. I went back to the gunshow the next day and went to a table that had AR15 parts and bought an extractor, pin and spring for 5 bucks...fixed it.
ShiekUrBooty 1 year ago
@GunWebsites Sir, there are many modern rifles designed after the AR-18, including the G36, the SCAR, the ACR, the 416/417 and others.
stridingshadow 1 year ago
such apromising weapon and it never got to be developed.. looks like it could have filled a marksmans role in a squad or somthing
desighnedmilitent 1 year ago
The AR-180 should of been our service rifle. Not the crappy m4 & m16
The54321gravityCAT 1 year ago
How much does one of these guns retail for?
boiledhooker 1 year ago
Doesn't the south korean army use these?
agumon12 1 year ago
@agumon12
no
GunWebsites 1 year ago 3
@GunWebsites it does look like the daewoo k-2 that the ROK Army uses. Except the Koreans are excellent makers of knock offs of other weapons, but they are good knock offs though.
bigsmooveone 7 months ago
@agumon12 The only force to use these that I can think of was the IRA.
C172Pilotdude 1 year ago
@agumon12 They use the Daewoo K2 & K1A1 they are similar to the ar-18 and ar-15.
HarpDBigglesworth 1 year ago
@HarpDBigglesworth The K2 is compared more as a hybrid of the AR15(lower receiver/bolt carrier) and AK47 (gas system).
The folding stock on the K2 has been compared to the idea of the AR18, although the K2's stock is a lot better, considering the Koreans had years of development since AR18 came out to improve it.
pixnstix 10 months ago
@agumon12 The IRA use it alot though.
Failcard 1 year ago
@agumon12 i think standard issue for korea N and S is the K2 by daewoo, not usre though
sum41Rck 9 months ago
@agumon12
No, but the Chinese used to make these under a license
AGeekWithAShotgun 8 months ago
@agumon12 no they use someting similar, kalled daewoo k2, and k1(k1 has an extracable stock, and k2 has a fixed stock much similar to this one)
ermaslv44 8 months ago
Respond to this video... *reply to my own reply to this comment* sorry i ment the k2 has a foldable stock, that folds to the side
ermaslv44 8 months ago
@agumon12 You're thinking of the Daewoo DR200. Very similar looking rifle (I got the two confused as well when I first saw the 200), but internally they're very very different rifles, albeit with the same general ideas in play (cheap, reliable, and very user friendly)
Thatevilmidget 6 months ago
@agumon12 You are thinking of a Daewoo
schnips074 5 months ago
Are there any other platforms that you could recommend for myself. Something that is a good workhorse but doesn't sacrifice on accuracy, I'm thinking of a SKS and then changing the stock and adding some Russian optics, but not too sure atm.
This rifle seems to satisfy what I am looking for, something with a heavy barrel, good length for accurate shots but also can have a stock that can collapse or shorten when in close quarters.
ForImperium 1 year ago
@ForImperium try looking into a Ruger mini-14
boiledhooker 1 year ago
@boiledhooker No.
ShiekUrBooty 1 year ago
@boiledhooker about 700.00 to 1,000 is where I have seen the range of prices on Sterling England Mfg Armalite 180s. Keep in mind these are pre-89 imports and are a sleeper in regards to their value climbing up to meet the values of other pre-89 imports that have climbed into the 3-4 thousand dollar range such as the HK series of imported rifles.
ShiekUrBooty 1 year ago
that a bad ass gun i want to shoot it now.
redGarcia 1 year ago
Check out India's new INSAS rifle and look at this again. What's new is what's old.
oeyesea 1 year ago
@oeyesea
The INSAS, in my opinion, is more like the Israeli Galil weapons system than the AR-18.
cyclops5276 10 months ago
A drunk disliked this video.
WenchesOfRedemption 1 year ago
Eugene Stoner developed the rifle as the 'next generation' to the -15, designed to be sold as a manufacturing package to developing nations - they could make good rifles cheaply. That concept never caught on, but the design was widely copied.
General Westmoreland was about 3 weeks from a decision to drop the problematic -15 in favor of the -18, when he was promised 'we'll make it work' by Colt and the armaments structure. The rest is history...with proper development, the 18 could have shone.
oldcorps76 1 year ago
Is it just me or does the bolt carrier look a bit like the Bushmaster ACR's?
greenday9391 1 year ago
how is it at the range?
PhauxTheFox 1 year ago
I own that model I love it, only thing is you can't fire 62gr SS-109 ammo in it cause the 1:16 twist BBL can't stabilize the heavy 62gr you have to stay with 55gr
cjhyde78 1 year ago
what model scope it that and what's the magnification?
archangel9363 1 year ago
nice video pal and a nice rifle.
theboxheed 1 year ago
The Ar18 wasn't developed as direct competition to the 15 but as a weapon that could easely made by allied nations the didn't have the industrial capability to make the 15/16.
whylie74 1 year ago
Nice rifle. Great vid.
rickylain 1 year ago
The AR-18 is a truely excellent rifle the type 89, L85 used the ar-18 as bas for their designs. Even the German G36 used components of the AR-18 in it's design.
xlifeispointlessx 1 year ago
Not all that practical? Tell that to the PIRA snipers who used it! Also as someone else mentioned, you failed to mention the piston. But other than that, the SA80/L85's development from this platform, and IRA combat experience with the rifle-- great video! Very well done and thanks! No idea why Armalite stopped making the AR-180B. Thanks again for the video.
SouthPhillyHooligan 1 year ago
@SouthPhillyHooligan AR-180B was not well received. It was a victim of the AW ban having no folding stock, and no flash suppressor. The polymer lower seemed cheap. The only good thing about the B model is that it takes the popular AR15 mags.
ocerinland 1 year ago
@ocerinland Ah, did not know the B had (or rather lacked) those features. Anyhow, Armalite's working on a new one, I'm psyched. :D
SouthPhillyHooligan 1 year ago
It may have not been a successful product but it was sure a successful design. The AR18 piston/bolt system etc is used in the majority of western/modern piston rifles.
jebustheone 1 year ago
Armalite may be bringing it back in 2011/2012 time frame.
davidgcalderone 1 year ago
The IRA loved this rifle so much that there was a song made about it. It's called My Little Armalite. Hey you should do a compairison between the AR-180 to the M-16A1 if you can get your hands on one. It seems like our boys were short changed in Vietnam when they were given the M-16A1. I believe this would had performed quite well in Vietnam. The British L85's and the Japanese Type 89 are designs influanced by the AR-18. Especially the Type 89.
saved03 1 year ago
Good for shooting up police stations (it's the assault rifle the Terminator used in the police shootout)
TakedaIesyu 1 year ago
Thats a classic rifle and this vid does it justice. Nice work GunWebsites.
WildBunch1911A1 1 year ago
@WildBunch1911A1
thanks, it's one of our favorites for sure
GunWebsites 1 year ago
is there a parts kit or something?
pyroman645 1 year ago
@pyroman645
I saw a parts kit once.. but where to get a receiver?
GunWebsites 1 year ago
You didn't mention the gas piston system, which is the biggest difference between the ar 180 and the ar15
jordanharriss 1 year ago 2
@jordanharriss
True, but that just means I can do another video, LOL
GunWebsites 1 year ago
@GunWebsites how much does it weigh? it looks light as hell
markbotv3 1 year ago
@GunWebsites Shoot the weapon in the video and find an AR 180B if possible for comparison.
C172Pilotdude 1 year ago
This Gun is the Bomb go AR-180!
TheMaverick46464 1 year ago
Comment removed
TheMaverick46464 1 year ago
Can someone tell me what caliber this gun is? Id love to know.
bioboi66 1 year ago
@bioboi66
5.56x45 = same as the AR15
GunWebsites 1 year ago
To bad you didn't have the Armalite OEM scope which are only about 6" long.
Nice video though , tragic that it (18) didn't replace the 16 as it could have saved lives in Nam.
highgear88 1 year ago
I love my AR180.
pittsky 1 year ago
@pittsky
I love mine too, it's a great little carbine.
ShiekUrBooty 1 year ago
how many guns do you have? Could you single handedly take over a small nation?
7xxJohnnyRebelxx7 1 year ago
best review on this interesting rifle. 5 stars
adolfhilter 1 year ago
What's the twist rate of the rifling? Is it 1/12?
MrShotgunjim 1 year ago
Arnold Zwargenegger uses this assault rifle in The Terminator (the scene that shoots the whole police station, when he is after Sarah Conner). Excelent assaultrifle, to bad it didn't win the competition with the Colt M16.
michaleeuwe 1 year ago
Thanks for the review. Cool!!
cmlos 1 year ago
the ar18 was created by eugine stoner it was a option for countrys without the technolog to create milled m16 recivers. Eugine created the m16 whene he was at armalite and he was still at armalite for the ar18.
BlackHeartModer 1 year ago
I am curious, when you sight the scope in and then later on remove it , do you have to re-sight it in later? In other words does it keep a zero on the scope even if removed and then put back on?
Mike85220 1 year ago
@Mike85220
they say it holds a zero, mine seems to
GunWebsites 1 year ago
@GunWebsites Quick detach scope mounts have always been "iffy", I would imagine the military mounts will actually work over commercial. I say that because I never had luck with aftermarket. They always lose zero and are questionable in quality. Thank you for the quick reply back.
Mike85220 1 year ago
Good review by the way. I hope you start doing gun reviews again.
esh325 1 year ago
I would say it was superior to the M16 in almost every way. It got rid of all the flaws the M16 had. I don't really see how it's similar to an AK, other then they are both made of stampings. Both have different gas operations. While the AR18 was not a success, it's design was carried on to the L85A1 and G36. I read it on the armalite website.
esh325 1 year ago
it kind of looks like the FN FAL made by austria
ligas95 1 year ago
The MWG 90 rd drum works aswell ; I have the UK AR-180
cjhyde78 2 years ago
to me it looks like a g3...just because of the stock, the bolt, and the barrel...unno could just be me
canadionsoldierboy 2 years ago
it looks slightly like a l1a1
cd175freak 2 years ago
can you still find these guns? i live in canada. what do they go for?
chuckybananas 2 years ago
sure
I have no idea
GunWebsites 2 years ago
what kind of gun laws do you have in canada?
LedZeppelinXV 2 years ago
a semi version was available in canada it wasn't even restricted but its been discontinued due to lack of sales. A used one might be found. If you're inerested in a black rifle look at robinsons xcr rifle its available in canada takes m-16 mags and it non restricted.
grand778 2 years ago
about 5500 canadian $
ywe3 2 years ago
@chuckybananas yes and no, AR 180's are prohibited. AR 180b's, are not. they are however, hard to find, cuz they only made them for 3 yrs here. I paid 1900 for mine :S...used.
erikcanada 1 year ago
This rifle was never put in to prodouction, but of the 20.00 thausound made a large portion found its way in to the hands of the Provisional Irish Rupublican Army in Northren Ireland. The British forces and the IRA fighters refer to it as "the widowmaker" and it proved to be a very good rifle when it was used against the british army.
MGA85 2 years ago
If the U.S. military is looking for an replacement for the M-16, perhaps they should look at this rifle again.
phildaguy 2 years ago
that would be cool
GunWebsites 2 years ago
@GunWebsites no, that would be shit, cause it's a freedomsfighter gun now.. noone wants imperalistic troops to carry it...^^
CnCKane 1 year ago
@phildaguy from what i hear eod and seals are getting bushmaster acr as replacements in the near future. i hope so because our ancient m16s are pos. the m4 is good but it would be nice to have a replacement from what we use now. really for most people its personal preference and familiarity for the weapon they are most comfortable with.
MYDELUXEPACKAGE 1 year ago
terminator uses this beast of a gun in T1 :)
PineappleBobTheGreat 2 years ago
Yup, with the SPAS-12
GunWebsites 2 years ago
@PineappleBobTheGreat I saw the actual AR-18 that they used in T1 on an auction site once. It was converted to fire blanks, but still an awesome piece of history.
AnimeFanatic5602 1 year ago
awesome :)
PineappleBobTheGreat 1 year ago
What scope are using on the gun.
m4ian 2 years ago
I really don't remember anymore, its not an expensive one though
GunWebsites 2 years ago
They did make the AR-18S which was the short barreled version.
These did not make it only because the timing of the products coming out. The AR already had an order from the USAF and after that, the military did not want to go with two systems.
They were also lied to about the M-16 being a self cleaning weapon. The M-16 started out with a lot of bugs. The AR-18 had plenty of room for crap in the receiver, better gas system and overall more rugged design. The AR-18 is better.
Mike85220 2 years ago 9