ar-180C – Page 7 – AR180S.COM

May 27, 2015

What’s New at AR180S.com

Things have been busy around here and I think it will only get busier. Just the way I like it.

My new job has me out of town during the week but I love to travel and weekends with the family can’t be beat.

Next stop the San Francisco bay area then on to Oklahoma City and Amarillo TX.

The parts lot that I purchased is leading to a potential new project. (Don’t they always)

Thinking about building an AR-180B in .458 SOCOM. Why not, right.

I’m thinking a disapator with carbine length gas and full length handguards in a 16″ barrel.

Mods may have to be done to one of the guide rods and ejection port as the clearance may not be enough to clear the larger case.

Tony Rumore turned down a case head to fit the bolt and snapped this pic to show how little clearance there is.

I have a stripped Bravo upper and bolt carrier group, front sight bases and all the piston parts. Everything to build an upper but the barrel but how boreing would it be to build a stock one. First thought was .300 Blackout but then it struck me. Go Big or go home.

Maybe I can fit the 180C gas block under the hand guards and use a stripped 180B front sight base at the end of the barrel.

I’m going to be moving ahead with this project as funds and time allow. (As I get back to work I gain more of one and less of the other)

By the way I still have a few complete bolt carrier groups available for sale from the parts lot. Pick one up for your next project or as a spare. I don’t have to tell you how hard the bolts are getting to find.

Made up a new flash hider from an original print that I was given access to. (Sorry it’s not anything I can share or publish at this time)

You can see how it differs from the one that I reverse engineered from a picture. I do believe, however that the one I used as an example was not built to the same specs as the one that later made it into production

The new to me AAA SAP is begging to be made into an SBR and I am trying to find an original stock.

The rear of the reciever was cut off when it was made as a pistol so some type of adapter would have to be made.

I am also considering the left over Vulcan V18 stock as shown in the teaser pics from my last post.

I still have to get it to the range to test fire it before I even consider sending off for a stamp on this one.

As always I am watching my local craigslist to see if I can find a bigger lathe and possibly a small milling machine.

I am also looking for someone with a Leader T2 MkV that is in southern AZ so I can take some side by side pics and show the differences that were made when AAA took over production.

Thanks for the feedback on the new mail system. It seems to have worked other that the fact that I sent out basically a blank message.

I hope the email you get for this one will be much improved.

May 16, 2015

Subscriber Pictures #4

These come from a self professed AR-180 Fanatic, John.

With 14 rifles I would say his diagnosis might be accurate, at the very least, he has a severe case of RBRD.

That’s Retro Black Rifle Disease for those who are unfamiliar with the acronym. A disease that I too, suffer from.

Here is just a sampling of some of his collection from the last time he pulled them out of the safe.

I especially like his early Howa. I hope to have one of those myself someday.

He likes to shoot his ,which is what they were made for, and reports great success with steel case ammo.

He also has a surplus of parts, accessories, and guns for sale so send me a message via the contact form if you are looking for anything and I will put you in contact with him.

Thanks again for all the e-mails and suggestions. Keep them coming and don’t forget to subscribe and comment.

May 4, 2015

AR-180C Parts in the Wild

That’s right folks, I have just taken possession of some AR-180C parts. They came in a parts lot that I purchased. The story goes that they were part of a sell off after a gun store went out of business. I am still trying to track down what the name of the store was, but they came from Coal Valley Illinois. Some of you may recognize that as the location of Eagle Arms, which later became the new Armalite.

For those not familiar with the fabled AR-180C, it is the flat top, railed version of the 180B shown at the SHOT Show in

Now to the parts in question. Prior to this I believe this may be the only picture out there on an AR-180C.

If you click the image and zoom in a little and look closely at the front sight base you will notice that it is a clamp on style and has a small railed section.

Here are the parts that I cam across.

There is no question in my mind that these are genuine Armalite.

One thing that has never been mentioned about the ill fated AR-180C is that when using standard AR-15 sights, you would have to use a chin weld in order to get a sight picture. I found this very thing out on my Vulcan V18. Had Armalite went ahead with this gun, they would have had to make some proprietary sights for it. That would have added significantly to the cost.