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AR18-S Shorty Upper Project

Work progresses sporadically since I am mostly only able to work on this during the weekends. I formed a thicker front hand guard retainer and tried my hand at silver soldering for the first time. Got a little carried away with the amount of solder but at least the centering sleeve is not gonna come loose.

A quick glass bead to clean it up and off to my tabletop park tank. (stainless bowl from goodwill on a hot plate)

I also modeled up a set of fixtures to hold the front sight base and receiver for drilling and reaming the taper pins. Didn’t quite get it perfect the first time so I adjusted the model and printed another one.

Cut down a set of hand guards and we are almost there. Looking the part now.

Need another flash hider so I better get that modeled up as well.

Having built 5 shorty uppers so far I can say it is getting easier. I’ve worked out the bugs but even now I discover new things. What did I learn this time? I learned that the curves of an original AR180 upper hand guard are different than the AR180B. This is the first time I have cut down an original upper hand guard and now it makes sense why the retainers I have milled out of aluminum do not match pictures I have compared them to.

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Quick Update

What’s been happening since I have posted last?

Well I have worked out a multi gun + cash trade for an AR-18. Should be sending the final paperwork off this weekend. Just gotta get my fingerprint cards and photos taken care of tomorrow.

Other than that busy cleaning the shop so I can actually do some work when I get home from work on the weekends, unless I also have to work on the weekends. I think you get my drift.

Since an AR-18 is incoming a shorty upper must be part of the plan as well.

I was lent some forming tools to make a new and pretty close to proper front hand guard retainer. First try is looking not terrible. I used thinner gauge material but I will bump that up for the next one.

And in other news Youtube finally caught up with me and removed my video that shows how to build the Nodak NDS-18S lower.

Not sure where I can host it now but I am looking at options.

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What 3D Printer Do I Use?

I’ve had several people email me asking what 3D printer I am using.

The Monoprice Select Plus has served me very well over the last few months. I have done very little to modify it other than to add a different type of spool holder. I am providing an Amazon link below if any one is interested in picking one up themselves.

Monoprice Select Plus

I have the final version of the AR180S pistol grips design ready to go and hope to get a few printed off this weekend. Each one takes about 15 hours to print so it will be awhile before I have them ready to sell. My plan is to get a small batch together then put up a for sale post. I don’t want to take money ahead of time or put together a waiting list. I think this will work out best for all parties involved.

Make sure you are subscribed so you get notified when they go up for sale.

 

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Modern AR-180?

I as well as many others have pondered what the AR-180 would have become if it had the same development as the AR-15.

I think I may have found the answer.

The Remington/Bushmaster ACR Advanced Combat Rifle

Designed by MagPul and named the Masada the rights were sold to, and the civilian version is made by Bushmaster.

I snapped a few pics before I left town but it has many features that are directly decedent from the 180.

Look familiar?

More pics to come and I hope to get them both to the range to compare them side by side.