Tag: Tax Stamp

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AR-180 Police Carbine Part 2

Earlier I wrote an article about an AR-180 Police Carbine lower that had shown up on a Japanese website. Turns out there are pictures of a fully assembled gun on the web. I have seen and shown this gun before but never saw all the pics and therefore I did not know it was the real deal.

Buried deep in the sturmgewehr.com website are a bunch of picture and some of them actually happen to be of a Police Carbine, the semi auto SBR version of the AR-180.

Interesting flash hider and sling mounts on this one. I originally misidentified it as an AR-18S from the two pictures I had seen previously.

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This one is serial SS 291 and I was recently sent a picture of one with a slightly higher number. This one also has a standard flash hider. It is almost impossible to know if  this is how it left the factory.

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AR-180S Project

The AR-180S project is full steam ahead!

Some time back I purchased a Costa Mesa upper that was still in the white. It was a left over after the plant closed and had never been built. It has some cosmetic issues and I think this is why.

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The seller was nice enough to let me borrow an original AR-18S barrel and hand guard retainer. Our agreement specified I could not give out any dimensions. I was more than happy to comply.

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He also gave me an incomplete stamping that I worked over to match the original part.

The stamping was torn and on closer inspection I discovered that it was too thick and this explains why it tore when run through the stamping die.

I  had an old C MP C barrel that had been converted for use in a 180 and the rifling near the muzzle was in bad shape. Cut that sucker down I say.

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Like all of my previous shorties the hand guard cap was the most troublesome. I worked on it today and closed up the gaps and welded them. Then started shaping and trimming and grinding.

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I next started drilling the holes.

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Then the most interesting part, forming the locating ring.

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Test fitting.

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Stamp should be back in the next four weeks I hope and I really want it up and running in time for the SAR West show.

So far I have not cannibalized any guns to make this. That may not last. At the very least I will need to borrow some parts from another gun.

Still to be done.

Drill and pin the front sight base.

Cut the bayonet lug off the front sight base.

Drill gas port.

Find the proper retaining clip for the rear sight assy.

Make an op rod.

Test fire on my 180B SBR lower or Costa Mesa lower if the stamp is back.

Grin from ear to ear.

 

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Pistol Build Update

The goal for this pistol build is to make an AR180B upper that will work with an original lower as well as the NDS-18S.

I have had several readers ask if such a thing is possible and I know that it is, but until now I didn’t know exactly what mods need to be made. This upper will be my Guinea Pig.

I also have to avoid any problems with building an illegal SBR till I get a stamp for my Costa Mesa lower.

Here is my process as I see it. The 180B upper will not physically fit on an original lower do to clearance issues around the front pivot pin. I also feel that I can fit the stripped upper to my lower if it does not have a barrel installed. I will test fire the original lower with one of my original uppers and test fire my pistol upper with my new pistol NDS-18S lower. Never will the two fully meet till after the stamp comes back.

I am starting with the stripped lower that I got at the last SAR West show. I finally found most of the fire control parts and it should be ready for testing soon.

Just a quick mock up to show you what I hope it will look like down the road.

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Compared to the original AR-18S

AR-18S Sterling

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This will also apply to those looking to put a 180B rifle upper on their original lower.

First issue is the clearance issue around the front pivot pin. The sides need to be milled down some to clear the ears on the lower. The second issue becomes apparent as soon as you attempt to mate the two. The guide rod assemblies are not the same between the 180 and the 180B.

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The NDS-18S gets around this by having holes to accommodate either assembly.

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The original lower only has provisions for the upper holes. I considered drilling a new hole but decided against it.

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You might think to yourself, why not use an original guide rod assembly in the B upper.

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The rear sight is narrower on the B upper and that won’t work either. I am hoping I can come across a messed up original that I can make work or I may be forced to modify a B guide rod. I’m not opposed to modifying them but it looks like a royal pain to do.