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Interesting AR180 Auction; Gunbroker

Looks like a modified ban state Sterling AR180 is for sale on Gunbroker.com.

https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/849545923

This might be of interest to those of you in ban states but don’t overlook it for those who don’t. It can be rescued!

It appears to have had the folding stock “Fixed” in place and the retention stud removed. The stock is also at a strange angle. The lower could be replaced (I know a guy who has a stripped Sterling lower 😉 and the only hang up would be if the latch plate on the butt stock is missing.

I will probably throw up a bid just to strip it for parts. Of course if I win I will probably try and fix it up as I am a sucker for strays that need a good home.

If you end up with it let me know if you need any parts, I can help with that.

This is the way.

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Original Sterling AR180S!

I was contacted by a reader about doing a shorty conversion on his AR180B and he mentioned that he was in possession of an Original Sterling AR180S. Unfortunately the upper was in pieces. Turns out he had given the Sterling and the AR180B to another gunsmith to do the conversion on the B. Some time later, after finding out the conversion had not been started, he took back his stuff and wasn’t sure how to put it back together.

It also happens that since the 80’s this Sterling has been living less than 5 miles from my house! What are the odds?

So he brought all the stuff over and we put it back together for him. I also got a good look at some of the unique features of this awesome SBR.

The hardest part of the conversion process for me was always the front hand guard retainer. Nice to get a look at an original up close.

Original proof marks, in case anyone had any doubts.

The hand guards have to be hand fit to the retainer.

The thing that absolutely blew me away was the hand guards. Unique perforated heat shields and something else I have never seen before, extra vents cut into the lower hand guards. If you have ever shot a shorty AR180 then you know how hot the hand guards get. What an elegant solution Sterling came up with.

By the way we have seen this gun before on this very blog. I just didn’t know who owned it. Turns out these were from a long ago add on gunbroker when the current owner was flirting with the idea of selling it.

Now I just need to talk him into selling it to me!

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Fusion Lowers are Almost Here!

The Fusion lowers are getting close.

These will be the 80% version that will be available through my website. When they arrive I will be testing different jigs to get an idea which ones will work. I can say with confidence that those versions that surround the entire lower and are designed for forged lower will not work without mods.

The magwell area will interfere. Those jigs that attach to the rear of the lower should work.

As well as those popular router jigs.

For those that are looking for a 100% solution I am proud to announce that Nodak Spud has licensed my design and will be producing what they call the NDS-1815. This is the first prototype and the first run should be fully machined and off to anodizing by the end of October. I’m very excited to see this come to fruition.

NDS-1815
NDS-1815

It’s been a long road bringing these to market but I’m sure you will be as happy with these as I am.