Armalite AR-180B Clone!

S

Skorzeny

New member
Did anyone get a chance to check out the new Armalite AR-180B clone?

It has M-16A2 sights, I think, along with a polymer lower receiver and accepts M-16/AR-15 magazines.

The MSRP is $590.

Doesn't the AR-180 use the gas pushing the piston arrangement rather than the straight blast back to the bolt (a la M-16)? Doesn't that make it more reliable than the M-16 system?

Any comments or thoughts?

Skorzeny
 
I have not seen the new AR-180B. The original uses a medium stroke piston like the FAL, and its bolt rides on guide rods like the M3 submachinegun. The multi-lug bolt head is like that of the AR-15/M16, and still suffers from the same drawbacks, but IMHO it is a more reliable system and not nearly so vulnerable to dirt.

It is also made primarily of stampings and easily made parts, so should be an ideal rifle for manufacture in less industrialized countries.

The main weakness of the original was a poor attachment for the folding stock, but the new rifle does not have a folder, so that problem has gone away.

Jim
 
Check out at:

http://www.armalite.com/

Then, click on the top...

At MSRP of $590, it would probably sell around $500, no? If so, that would be one heck of a competition for Mini-14, considering it can use the M-16 mags while the Mini-14 cannot.

Skorzeny
 
Competition for the Mini 14, h*ll! It should run the AR-15 right out of the ball park if it is recognized for what it is. Of course it is not almost just like the "one I carried in Viet Nam" or such. It is a lot better!

Jim
 
Jim Keenan:

I don't know what the story is, but my uneducated guess is that Armalite either:

1. imports inexpensively made AR-180 upper from the last posessor of the tooling (the Philippines?)

OR

2. imported the tooling itself (quite inexpensively, I bet)

AND

then set up a production of the "high strength polymer" lower receiver production.

In any case, if everything works as it should, this would be a heck of a rifle to have, especially at the amazingly low cost.

Now that it IS shipping, I'd like to know if anyone actuall saw one or handled one.

Lastly, what is Armalite's reputation like, in quality, customer service and such?

Skorzeny
 
Spectre:

What do you mean? Do you mean to say that you'd take an AR-180B, but not an AR-15 (or Armalite's version of it)?

Skorzeny
 
You got it.
I have a Colt AR15 preban HB. I am selling it. I'm okay with the .223 for antipersonnel use, but dislike the dirty gases being blown into the action.
 
Especially at $590 (MSRP), eh?

If anyone has any direct experience with the new ArmaLite AR-180B, I'd like to hear about it.

Skorzeny
 
Armalite promises but does not deliver.

I have had a call back with my dealer when he gets an AR-180B. I have to inspect before buying. He hasn't seen one yet. I think they do not really exist.

Love to handle one.
 
I spoke with Armalite today, the rifle is released for sale but I would not expect any large quantities. I got the feeling they were trying to tell me not to expect any kind of significant availability until next year. Just a hunch. Barn.
 
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