AR-18 and AR-180: Can Lightning Strike Twice for Armalite?

[@malusignatius]

The AR-18: The firearms equivalent of that cult movie an entire generation of directors drew inspiration from but no-one else ever watched.

[@nickhighland799]

@Eammon Wright what's the song called?

[@envrnmntlsm]

Eammon Wright ME LITTLE ARMALITE

[@dannythompson1948]

I can wrap my mind around that. Its the 'A Prophet' of gangster films.

[@markwalshopoulos]

@Eammon Wright it never had a good connotation in Ireland, in both the North and the Republic

[@globeparasite9381]

@@envrnmntlsm also, in Ireland an Armalite is not a weapon, it's a diplomatic solution to negociate with uk

[@chinanorthairguns]

We have AR180 variants in Canada as they have not been deemed to be evil black rifles like the AR15 has. AR10's are ok too as they are 5 AR's less dangerous than an AR15.

[@danielturner9217]

but isn't the AR180 165 more dangerous than an AR15? Or is it metric math that my American mind can't understand?

[@chinanorthairguns]

@@danielturner9217 It's some kind of liberal math. Similar to how Justin Trudeau figures he can march in gay pride parades, and then sell guns to Saudi Arabia so they can use them to kill gays.

[@libertatemadvocatus1797]

@@chinanorthairguns Woah, that is completely untrue! The Saudis use swords to kill gays and the guns are to kill Yemenis.

[@spyj1900]

Compare to AR15, M4 is safest rifle ever.

[@danial469]

yah got me my wk180c love her

[@johnnybagofdoughnuts4193]

Quoth our gun messiah “Yea, then the AR10 begat the AR12, who begat the AR16, who begat the AR18...”

[@bensigl3766]

" And Lo, did the AR-18 father many children across many lands. Names to eclipse their father in the eyes of time..."

[@chessell256]

If Gun Jesus bequeath the info theretofore it is fact. All hail the Gun Jesus

[@mrbojangles4155]

“Yea, unto the Next Generation”

[@mrbojangles4155]

“…Squad Weapons Program.”

[@j-davis7290]

"Thou shalt not bear any false Armalites before me"

[@kaffykathy8729]

I like how while this actually hasn't been in service with any major countries, the system has basically been used with a lot of modern fire arms like the F2000 and the HK G36

[@gunner678]

Very popular with the IRA in the day.

[@michaelfodor6280]

It's also popular in Canada, since it skirts the restricted status given to the AR-15 rifle. www.huntinggearguy.com/rifle-reviews/wolverine-supplies-wk180-c-review/

[@jeffreyroot6300]

It did see limited service with British and Commonwealth forces .

[@ShortT-RexLikeArms]

F2000 is similar in concept but it uses a tappet instead of the tokarev-style short-stroke piston. The G36 is pretty much a fancier AR-18.

[@wierdalien1]

@@jeffreyroot6300 L85 is a franken18

[@calvinplumley4394]

Watching this as a welder. *Costa mesa and Howa "nice, someone knows how to spot weld and some nice beads of tig" *Sterling "becomes phisicily sick"

[@johnmcclain3887]

Hi, a friend of mine has one, and I admired the nice spot welds, and tig. It is nice to see. I admire his rifle quite a bit.

[@austinredenius2724]

You got syphylis in sicily?

[@calvinplumley4394]

@@austinredenius2724 unrelated but yes. (I'm a welder not a speller or whatever you literate people call yourselves)

[@michaelwest9311]

That's standard for Sterling. Look at the welds on a Sterling MK4 SMG.

[@JasonBoyer-x3f]

Yes there was some room for, let's say artistic license from one maker to the next when it came down to the welding work done on this rifle 👍. I love the rugged steel built look howa-ever😊, as Ian said it was designed to be produced on machinery & tooling that is less expensive to acquire than all the manual milling & broaching machines necessary for the AR-15 in the 60's + 70's. Today with CNC one can mass mill 100K to a million alloy uppers / lowers for (any) rifle like this with no welding involved but it requires a different type of highly skilled worker - a programmer; whereas it's a simpler task for workers in a 3rd world country to cut bend & weld it together - even if their Tig work leaves much to be desired, cosmetically speaking. The Costa Mesa guns & the Japanese Howa guns had nicer looking welds than what the Sterling guns displayed - just goes to show if ale drinking pot smoking Britons😂 can put the darn thing together, & make it work well, so well in fact that even the IRA uh "liberated" a bunch of these guns from Sterling direct😁 a political stunt more than anything to garner Sein Fein the publicity they wanted. In stark contrast, our "advisors" in Vietnam - of whom were publicity shy - were equipped with AR-18 because prior to official US involvement in certain area's near the borders it was looked upon as embarrassing, to say the least, to have US issue guns (AR-15) show up in areas where Americans/NATO people were not supposed to be operating. Probably just another of a 1/2 dozen reasons the AR-18 never was adopted by any western military - it served a purpose in its time, and then that was that. At any rate, cheers mate🍺

[@JippaJ]

Now I want to see a video about the AR-12, AR-16 and AR-18S.

[@Lawfully_Armed]

They are truly Forgotten Weapons.

[@Vincent-S]

A video on the AR-16 would be cool, though I think Reed Knight is the only one who has the like 1 or 2 in existence in his museum/collection. If he's down with some filming, maybe Rick from ar180s.com can tag along too! That guy knows pretty much everything about the AR-18 and it's variants.

[@DarkhalfBreed]

From your lips to god's ears

[@danielwatters1203]

I could have sworn that Ian made a brief AR-12 video during a visit to IMT several years back.

[@9thbnrifthetyrones815]

Did I miss AR17 or what?

[@DaveTex2375]

I need to remember to keep my universal disassembly tool with me. I'll keep it with my pen for convenience.

[@1337penguinman]

Surprisingly enough, it also is a great tool to keep your pen ink from drying out or leaking all over your shirt pocket.

[@stevenbobbybills]

@@1337penguinman it's also good for keeping it attached to said shirt pocket.

[@FastEddy1959]

And if you ever need to disassemble the universe, you’re set!

[@gworfish]

Hmm, I think I might start trying this. Probably work better than my current disassembly tool, a ball peen hammer. It was never a good reassembly tool.

[@samholdsworth3957]

It is a pen...a bic pen

[@codfan2057]

"Is that a pen cap?" "No, it's a universal disassembly tool" "Oh, okay... I'll take 20."

[@glintwing]

"That'll be $9.99 each"

[@FastEddy1959]

Do you really want to disassemble the universe??

[@ironbomb6753]

@@FastEddy1959 that was awesome ! 👍🤣🤣🤣👍

[@ryanmordick9736]

I totally missed that 🤣

[@eugenechurch6135]

Dont give the military any ideas lol

[@nomdemorte1302]

AR-180: The '0' is for '0 fun switch'.

[@Cj-gd1db]

Nom DeMorte perfect 😂😂

[@Cj-gd1db]

suprlite it’s 5.56 did u watch the video?

[@LaArmeriaYT]

"A Mexican FX-05 bolt" 🤯 That's a video I would certainly watch!

[@TTTac]

That's gonna be tough since mexico doesn't export as far as I know since I wanna know about the law suit that hk brought since they said it infringed on the patten of the g36 I rember when they rolled them out for the first time a unit that was in nuevo laredo they were cool

[@victoralbertogarciaherrera3975]

Legalmente eso sera imposible, desgraciadamente no estan a la venta ni se exportan...

[@styx7027]

Highly unlikely, mexico is pretty tight lipped about the FX-05, as well as not offering it for export, only know this gun from army of two devil’s cartel

[@SpecialFragoutYT]

@Stop Banningme ?

[@TheBucketSkill]

@@SpecialFragoutYT There's always gotta be someone who puts down Mexico. No matter what. Some people just really can't fathom or imagine a brown person creating quality products.

[@masteryoda6827]

I.R.A: *breathes heavily*

[@extramild1]

Yep, very popular up the north, thanks to our friends in Boston, it gets a side reference in The Departed.

[@reaganlackey4490]

good i was looking for an IRA comment lol

[@Dannyt077]

Thanks to George Harrison

[@MrMasMola]

ME LITTLE ARMALITE

[@snuffbox9915]

@@andrewkahler9359 ok roleplayer

[@thegael1996]

I think one of the reasons the AR-18 had such an impact in Ireland is because of when the modern phase of the conflict in the North began during the late 1960s/Early 1970s kicked off, the IRA (later Provisionals and Officials) arsenal was made up of weapons from the first and second world wars. In fact most of the Thompson guns the IRA had at the time where from the original batch smuggled in to Ireland back in 1921. So when the IRA came into possession of these advance modern new production small bore American weapons it was a huge morale and propaganda boost. There's still quite a few of these Rifles hidden around Ireland.

[@DeadBaron]

Looking at current UK politics, you can only pray Ireland can try again and win its independence from both the UK and EU. Sadly the majority have been brainwashed and conditioned by schools and mainstream media to be loyal sheep.

[@scoe5908]

@@DeadBaron Leo Varadkar's Ireland 2040 plan will do what Blair did to Britain in the late 90s and 2000s, importing new inhabitants rather than encouraging organic population growth. It will only end in disaster if he isn't stopped.

[@sandemike]

How do you know?

[@Sneckit]

@@DeadBaron Sinn fèin is pro EU u dunce

[@DeadBaron]

@@scoe5908 exactly. Same thing was/is happening in the US, though I believe people are finally waking up. However, since the imported populations are paid to have many kids thanks to welfare and subsidized housing, they have guaranteed they will outbreed us, and will always vote liberal since they allowed the invasion.

[@YummyNukes]

Oh hey it's the rifle Schwarzenegger used to wipe out that entire L.A. police station

[@randomrealistictone2231]

That was a minigun

[@roeng1368]

Yeah before giving an interview calling for gun control. Two faced lummox.

[@johnm3907]

Random Realistic Tone in the first film he had an ar and a spas 12. Minigun second film

[@Crazy_Felis]

@@randomrealistictone2231 He didn't wipe out a police station with a minigun, just their motor pool.

[@jeffreyroot6300]

I actually counted his kills in that scene: 17 officers down !

[@GunDrummer]

I happened to have my new BRN 180 on the desk when I watched this. I took it apart as I watched and was like "oooohhhhhhhhh"

[@georgeking3218]

Owned a original Costa Mesa AR 180, for 17 years. The one glaring fault, was the folding stock. It's hinge was a joke. To be successful as a military weapon. The rifle has to be solider proof. The hinge was so fragile, it wouldn't have lasted a week in the field. Why Armalite continued with such a faulty weak design? That they were trying to sell as a military carbine. Has always been a mystery to me?

[@edbecka233]

When I was doing SWAT work, one of our reserves was a class III dealer. He became our de facto SWAT armorer. I carried a Costa Mesa AR18 on loan from him as my Patrol "trunk gun" for several years. The stock hinge never gave me a moment's trouble, and I was just carrying it in a soft case.

[@minorcek]

I'm pretty sure he's talking about in a military setting Not the trunk gun of a cop car

[@garetz2011]

I saw a video on military Arms Channel and the guy told he ruined a G33 when he used the rifle as a hicking stick to help him to stand up. Julius Ceasar would say "Et tu, H&K?" I may be stupid, but I love the Sterling folding stock design!

[@Anonymous-ks8el]

Why is it called the AR-180? Because Stoner turned 180 degrees and walked away!

[@snafuthebrave1922]

Stoner left after the AR16 was developed. The AR18 & AR180 was designed after he was gone. (Rechambered for 5.56 mm)

[@AakeTraak]

@@snafuthebrave1922 I think it was an attempt for a joke...

[@FIREBRAND38]

@@AakeTraak Nah, jokes are funny.

[@FIREBRAND38]

@9mm Weiner So does Ian in the first minute of the video.

[@MrChadsimoneaux]

An Xbox 360 joke. Nice!

[@JonathanFergusonRoyalArmouries]

A couple of late corrections; 1) I have identified that the AR-18 converted as a mock-up SA-80 was a Howa gun and not a Sterling. 2) 'ArmaLite' in a NI context can refer *either* to the AR-15 or the AR-18. Both were acquired, both were used, both were known as 'ArmaLites'.

[@charleykeenan6171]

Thanks for the reference to the IRA and the Troubles. This has pretty much always been misunderstood by the American audience. Thorough as always and well produced as always. Thanks Again Ian!

[@codenamenoob4973]

Yes it's quite funny hearing Americans talking about the IRA and troubles as the majority have no clue what was really going on

[@MrGrimsmith]

@@codenamenoob4973 I remember the guard post security periodically going way up on camp, security checks everywhere, car bombs going off periodically. You know, kinda like now but with less fuss. It was just what you grew up with in a forces or MoD family.

[@frozenflames5263]

It would be interesting if Ian did a video talking about all the weapons used by the IRA. Maybe make that into a series discussing the arsenals of revolutionary/guerrilla groups?

[@jenkinsonian]

FrozenFlames526 Ian wouldn’t do it as he wants to both be accurate and stay away from controversy on Forgotten Weapons. It is impossible to be accurate about the IRA without pissing off a lot of people who have been sucked into the pro-republican propaganda.

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

Ahh the widowmaker, i heard how this was used a bunch by the IRA.

[@ODellEng]

The 180 and 180B also were popular in Canada since the B remained non-restricted so not registered with the government. Also it spawned the WK180 which is a very popular rifle in Canada made domestically in a program by Wolverine Supplies and Kodiak Defence. Great video again Ian and best to you for many more in the future.

[@dalecurtis9963]

I managed to find a early production Costa Mesa Armalite for pretty cheap with a original scope mount. I ripped the 50 buck bushnell scope and laser off and put a Armson O.E.G. on it and haven't regretted it since.

[@ThZuao]

My favorite design, engineering-wise. And it also look S L I C K. Could we get a series on the whole family of ARs and their development? You can't really understand the AR-18 withouth all the background from the other Armalite designs. "Bugdget version" is quite the misnomer given the massive investment in tooling required to get a sheet metal production going. A better monicker would be to name it the "mass production" AR-15 or the "AK inspired" AR-15. But it does indeed make the end product cost effective, but only if you make A LOT of them. The disadvantage is that the production is very centralized, so if the production is disrupted, setting it up again will take a long time. A trait not present in the AR-15. It may be more expensive, but the production can be set up quite easily in comparison, making it quite decentralized, so production can still go even if the enemy takes over major industrial areas. The USSR had basically only 3 AK production facilities. Each one of them was absolutelly massive. They got around the drawback of possible production disruption by having massive stockpiles of ready to use AKs. The same ones that went "missing" when the USSR collapsed.

[@KGrasso89]

It always amazes me how much information Ian has on just about every rare gun from anywhere in the world! I have trouble retaining information Ive learned about common firearms I own myself.

[@funkervogt47]

3:57 - Everyone made a mistake by assuming the AR-18 wasn't good enough for Britain, but the SA-80 was.

[@cs-rj8ru]

Only got to handle the SA-80 once, never to fire it though.....I'd say the AR-18 is a better rifle. England just went through the bullpup phase. They should have just gone to the AUG like Australia.

[@jbloun911]

SA-80 is just a copied AR-18 internals. IRA seemed to like the real AR design

[@chiliprepper7678]

I had a few AR-18 in 80s and 90s. They were great fun. Love the Op rod gas system and the simple bolt and recoil system and the side folding stock. 👍😁

[@mariokart8054]

@Aodhán MacToimin Finally an old school gun owner. I have a question, pre 1986 how common were full autos to buy? Was that something they would just have at your average sporting goods store or were they kind of rare

[@winkleried]

@@mariokart8054 Still required the tax stamp, but there were a lot of ads for them in publications like "Shotgun News" Required a special dealer license IIRC.

[@mariokart8054]

@@winkleried About how much could you have an Uzi for if you remember?

[@МилыйПесик-ч8ш]

Oh my goodness! That is my little armalite!

[@charles_wipman]

I like the shape of the AR-18s, and besides the heat disipation issues... never heard nothing really bad about 'em.

[@1337penguinman]

And for a civilian shooting in semi-auto probably not that much of an issue. Also, with modern polymers and heat reduction technology should be a relatively easy problem to solve.

[@charles_wipman]

@@1337penguinman I consider the H&K G36 series the developed AR-18, and so far never heard a real complain about the heat on those.

[@stevenbobbybills]

@@charles_wipman ...the German military have complained about the heat on them. The main users of the G36 series. (Unless you're joking, in which case, nice.)

[@charles_wipman]

@@stevenbobbybills My friends in the spanish military never complained about the heat issues that much, they'd complained about other things not related to the AR-18 action.

[@charles_wipman]

@bigricester Yeah, i don't know about the songs but i'd seen the IRA using 'em; also our now extinted terrorist group ETA had some too, but apparently they sold 'em to regular criminals, never used 'em other than on their training videos.

[@Ammonymity1776]

I absolutely love your history lessons on these firearms. Good flow, easy to understand. I learn so much watching your videos. Thank you.

[@alexm566]

yeah I only understand the history, never owned or even handled any weapon in my life.

[@Ammonymity1776]

@@alexm566 gotta change that my man!

[@alexm566]

@@Ammonymity1776 yeah I been wanting to go to the range forever

[@firehawkct4304]

You are a wealth of information. I love hearing the history on how firearms came to be in their current configuration. Great job!!

[@FriedrichHecker1848]

I was stopped by a soldier, he said: "you are a swine!" He hit me with his Rifle and he kicked me in the groin I begged and I pleaded oh me manners were polite, but sure all the time I'm thinking of me little Armalite And it's down along the falls road, that's where I long to be Laying in the dark with a Provo company A comrade on me left and another one on me right And a clip of ammunition for me little Armalite.

[@PhilipKerry]

Well you lot tried but missed me :)

[@PhilipKerry]

@plain guy No clips available for this weapon , magazine fed only :)

[@lukethedrifter4445]

plain guy that’s just how the Irish sang it.

[@PhilipKerry]

@plain guy lol , nice buddy 😂

[@PhilipKerry]

@Nightingale Royal Artillery ??

[@hansgruber3397]

Sitting here and humming "my little Armalite..."

[@rfswitch4530]

I saw you in that documentary Die Hard, you were good.

[@rfswitch4530]

@Rodney Gore Ballot Box and the Armalite

[@kingnothing3523]

Down along the Fall's Road, that's where I long to be

[@scumroyalsgaming]

A comrade on me left and another one on me right, a clip of ammunition for my litte... shit, I forgott the lyrics

[@kingnothing3523]

@@scumroyalsgaming It's "Lyin' in the dark with a Provo company A comrade on me left and another one on me right And a clip of ammunition for me little Armalite"

[@MatthewOfGilead]

Took you long enough. Ive been waiting for an AR-180 video from you since you did the Vulcan V-18 video way back when. Why did it take so long to do a proper video on the greatest of all the forgotten weapons? The world may never know. This one was great. Worth the wait. Thank you.

[@Spike-13]

25 minute video on the AR-18? *Yes please!* I fell in love with the AR-18 after seeing Arnie wield it in The Terminator 😎

[@zbm-2375]

And it's making a comeback on the US civilian market, albeit as an upper for AR-15 lowers - the BRN-180. Be interesting to see how well that does over time.

[@franknbeanz147]

wish they could produce an upper that has these kind of handguards for a somewhat retro look.

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

In Canada too, there's one made here

[@danial469]

the wk180c uses the same reciever and is a modernized version

[@grahamlopez6202]

I'm getting a 180 pretty soon. Had to lay away that shit because I'm broke as fek

[@zbm-2375]

@@danial469 I find it amusing that Canadian gun laws are just as easy to manipulate as US ones are. The WK180C is unrestricted, but the AR-15, which gives pretty much the same capabilities, is restricted.

[@CeltKnight]

The AR-180 used to appear all the time in TV police dramas back in the 1970s (like old episodes of S.W.A.T., etc.). I wanted one then, and I want one even more now! :)

[@RalphReagan]

Excellent job on the video. Thanks for reviewing the history I remember as a teenager wondering why Armalite had financial trouble.

[@Gamerguy94]

AR-180: “Who are you?” Kel-Tec SU-16: “I’m you, but lighter”

[@BobSaint]

Nah, not enough similarities.

[@borisdorofeev5602]

AR-180:"Who are you? " SA80:"I'm you but bullpup"

[@GeorgePerakis]

AR-18: "Who are you?" HK G36: "I'm you, but plastic." AR-18: "And you?" HK XM8: "You, but even more plastic, and modular." AR-18: "Well okay but who the hell is that guy?" HK416: "Well, I'm you, merged with your half-brother, and better in every conceivable way."

[@terrymarsh1255]

Here in the UK I had a couple of Sterling AR180 rifles in about 1980. As far as I can remember one had a fixed stock. They were reliable and simple although the dedicated scopes didn't match the range markings with military ammo. They were sold when the AR15A2 HBAR was released over here and that proved to be more accurate and the heavy barrel didn't suffer as much from overheating. Sterling made guns seemed to be well made.

[@peterrunting1688]

So I'm in the British army and it genuinely made me smile when you took the bolt out of the upper receiver, almost completely identical

[@johnbacon4997]

Thanks for your service! The US and UK have had a special relationship & allyshipfor decades. How is your service rifle? What do the troops think of it?

[@tom_forsyth]

Oh wow you're not kidding about how ubiquitous this mechanism is - and not just in principle, in the precise shapes. 11:37 was an instant flashback to my time as a British squaddie.

[@shawnkelley9035]

I have a Costa Mesa Built AR180. I have had it for over 40 years and put thousands of rounds through it without a stoppage or one hiccup. I absolutely love that rifle and if it had been pick instead of the M-16. The military would have a much better weapon system.

[@widgren87]

Aside from first seeing these in Terminator 1, like many others, they are kind of neat :-) Also speaking of Howa have you ever had the chance to look at their Type 64 and/or 89? That could be interesting .

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

The AR 180 starred in one of the chainsaw movies from the 80s. With the scope. In the hands of a survivalist, who happened to be Black. Pretty unique all around.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

The chainsaw movie was Leatherface. 1990.

[@Thaddeus_Howe]

I am incredibly appreciative of how informative, in depth, and enthusiastic your videos are. As someone who is very interested in firearms but not firearm culture, your videos are a breath of fresh air compared to almost all of the macho-d*ck-measuring firearm content on KZbin.

[@warshipsatin8764]

what dick measuring firearm content are you referring to?

[@eazy8579]

Hard agree; really tired of the micro dick wanna be tough guys and political wanker, and I love the history and technical approach InRange and FW provide

[@john-paulsilke893]

Unlike AR15’s in Canada there are iterations of this gun as well as actual AR180’s being used for hunting and plinking. AR15’s by name are for use in authorized gun ranges up here. There are quite a few gun store/manufacturers making new versions as well as AR15’s that use different upper/lower assemblies and are NOT AR15’s that are being put to the same use. They are all mixed bags, either super high end or kinda junky with functionality issues that often can’t be made to run 100% or close to it.

[@anthonysmalawipredators8794]

I never knew there was so much stuff I NEED but CAN'T have untill I came across this channel!

[@tomandtinadixon]

Don't forget the latest interpretation of this rifle, the Kodiak Defense wk180c manufactured in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Left hand cocking handle as well. I think they watch this channel.

[@thebananasam2897]

Too bad it's a garbage rod

[@tomandtinadixon]

@@thebananasam2897 Milled receiver, not stamped. We'll see how they fare.

[@TheRogueWolf]

"That gun is terrible. Quick, let's copy it!"

[@clothar23]

It has it flaws, try putting a few mags through it quickly. It heats up hella fast considering the caliber. That being said it's operating system is pretty good.

[@pixnstix]

No. It was a great design. The Brits completely screwed up when they copied/stole the design for their SA180, but did not realize that it needed TWO springs on TWO guiderods on the bolt carrier. The Brits used one.

[@MacroAggressor]

@@clothar23 I must be missing something. I don't understand why this would heat up more quickly than an AR15?

[@coaxill4059]

@@MacroAggressor Less mass. The AR 15 as mentioned is made from solid milled blocks of aluminum, so the thickness and the density of the metal is greater. This, being made from stampings, is a very thin metal with less material. I'd assume that this in combination with the large heavy gas piston soaking up heat would mean that initially it'd feel fine, but after a critical point is reached and the heat starts dissipating into the receiver, that heat would spread quickly throughout the gun giving you no comfortable way to touch any of the metal parts. That, and unlike the AR15 this thing has a bolt handle that just appears to be a bent metal rod plugged into the side of the bolt. That thing is gonna get very hot.

[@simonhonneyman4053]

@@pixnstix I might be remembering it wrong but the SA80 (SA180 to you) still does have a duel guide rod and springs. Granted my experience is mainly based around working with the L98a1 (the cadet rifle) and the L86A1 (the LSW) while I was in the cadets a good 15 years ago haha Think the main problems with the SA80 ( L85A1) were bad manufacturing, terrible tolerances and crap magazines. The concept is it just needed to be built properly, which HK Proved.... And maybe made a tiny bit lighter haha....

[@immimm9586]

"down along the falls road that's were I long to be..."

[@remytherat1357]

A comrade on me left and another one on me right...

[@pjmeis5226]

And a box of ammunition for me little ArmaLite

[@grahamlopez6202]

And it's down in Crossmaglen, that's where I long to be

[@grahamlopez6202]

I'm gonna buy a saracen to go with my ar180 and drive around screaming WHOS LAUGHING NOW HAHAHAHAH in a very thick irish accent

[@SunflowerSocialist]

Lying the dark with the Provo company!

[@robpetoletti826]

One of my favorite rifles. I fired a few but was never able to aquire one back in the day. Great video, thank you!

[@ConservativeWolf]

Buy one of these Ian. We the people need to see a mud test on this rife on inrange with you and karl.

[@corwinhyatt519]

I don't see it doing any better than the AK did. The AR-180 has very similar weak points from what I can see.

[@jonathanwelch1118]

@@corwinhyatt519 They recently did a test of it with the BRN180, it performed hand over fist better than the Kalashnikov. It may not be a classic AR18/180 but it very much has the same operating system and openings. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYi9ZqeDlqmlnqM

[@FIREBRAND38]

19:58 or a duplex reticle. Excellent video as always. As far as military sales it's unbelievable to me that a rifle introduced in 1963 had iron and optical sights calibrated in yards. And fan as I am of the flip type L sight having the choice between 100 & 200 yards for a 5.56mm cartridge is a non-starter.

[@samuelbadger4371]

Wait, so AR doesn’t stand for “assault rifle????” (I’m being sarcastic don’t murder me)

[@FrostyFoxDrake]

Sammablam AR Fanboy > *heavy breathing*

[@DarkKatzy013]

No it in fact was a propaganda term used by the Nazis party during ww2 to describe a "storm rifle" used by their paratroopers......

[@Maxsimodem]

Spike Darkblade no, the Sturmgewehr, being german for assault rifle, was an ENTIRELY different gun. The AR series of guns has nothing to do with World War II. I suppose you could argue that people uninformed on firearms could ASSUME that “AR-15” meant “assault rifle” due to acronym bias, but let’s give people the benefit of the doubt and just assume it’s mis-information from the media.

[@DarkKatzy013]

@@Maxsimodem what ? You sir are way off subject 😂. I said nothing about the AR-15 at all. The only thing I said was what you just repeated. Whom is listening to the dunder headed media ? So yes in fact the "assault rifle" was coined by the "Nazi" high command please go educate yourself. For your information Strumgewehr literally means assault rifle in English. It took me two fucking seconds to find it again on Google. Missinfomation is no excuse for stupidity.

[@Maxsimodem]

Spike Darkblade did you forget what comment you originally replied to? Because I didn’t; in response to a comment about the myth that the AR in AR-15 stands for assault rifle, your response concerned the propaganda term for the MP-44: a German weapon called the Sturmgewehr, a compound word containing sturm (storm) and gewehr (gun). To be honest, I don’t even know where you got that from; German propaganda and the Sturmgewehr have nothing to do with the AR series of rifles.

[@andrewgould8924]

3 years late, but it might have taken me this long to realize. The majority of all modern assault rifles owe the ar-18 a nod of acknowledgement. thanks Ian, I appreciate what you do!

[@themadkraken1912]

I honestly think it looks really good aesthetically. I would've put a picatinny rail on top instead of worrying about a proprietary scope mound and maybe kept the stock just a cheap stationary block of polymer but it was a really good idea and I wish it had seen more success.

[@thekornwulf]

That is effectively what has happened for the Canadian market

[@LIV2500]

I mean, you couldn't have because the AR18 was designed in the early 60s and produced '69-'85 and picatinny rail wasn't a thing until '95.

[@grantfuller1316]

Ian, you are doing the lord's work. All jokes aside, this man is a blessing to us all.

[@erikenqvist9081]

By the gods, they're beautiful.

[@ihcfn]

I wondered if I was the only one who admired their rugged looking construction. Seems I'm a sucker for stamped sheet metal!

[@stevepalpatine2828]

Looks like an ugly pos personally. Tastes differ I guess.

[@cortex8239]

@@stevepalpatine2828 You have POS taste then

[@stevepalpatine2828]

@@cortex8239 I don't give a fuck what your opinion is.

[@JE-ed6te]

Best gun channel on the web! Just one correction… if not already mentioned - @ 7:23…The charging handle does not engage the angled portion of the dust cover thus forcing it open … the dust cover pops open the moment the bolt carrier group begins moving rearward due to contact between a beveled “ramp” cut into the rear of the carrier making contact with the forward portion of the ball/detent “catch” of the dust cover…

[@trevorthefilthyrat3742]

Reminds me of Dublin Ireland. Don't start your car, Walk home tonight.

[@tomaszskowronski1406]

Dublin is in Regular Irleand. Provos were running around in Northern Irleand. Try Belfast, or Derry (the London part is silent)

[@grumpofitzgerald4350]

*Bogside, Derry

[@borisdorofeev5602]

Hey car, you're pretty cool, don't go to parking lot tomorrow.

[@crazysilly2914]

And it's up in Kenosha, it's where I long to be Protecting gas stations with /k/omandos next to me A comrade on me left aye another one on me right And a mag of ammo for me little Armalite I was stopped by antifa, they said: "You are a swine" He hit me with his rifle and she kicked me in the groin I begged an' I pleaded, all my pronouns were correct But all the time I'm thinkin' of me little Armalite And it’s up in D.C., it's where I long to be standin' in the light with the MAGA army A patriot on me left and another one on me right An' a clip of ammunition for me concealed Armalite Well this brave FBI man came marchin' up our street 60 woke police he had lined up at his feet "Come out ye cowardly terrorists, come on out and surrender" He cried "I'm only jokin'!" when he heard the Armalite And it's down with the rebel company, it's where I long to be Lyin' in the dark in silicon valley A rebel on me left an' another one on me right A clip of ammunition for me Armalite 15! Well the SWAT team came to visit me, t'was in the early hours With Saracens an' Saladins an' Ferret armored cars They thought they had me cornered, but I gave them all a fright With the armor-piercin' .308’s off me little Armalite And it's up in Kenosha, it's where I long to be Lyin' in the dark with commandos next to me A patriot on me left an' another one on me right A clip of ammunition for me little Armalite Well the reds came to Kenosha to riot just for fun The DNC had told them “The cops are on the run" But communists and neoracists, while on patrol at night, Say: "Remember Kyle slaughter and that bloody Armalite”

[@crazysilly2914]

@@tomaszskowronski1406 Or Enniskillan

[@ammarchetta]

Once again Ian, thanks for a great video. Another thanks for the work that both you and Karl do at In Range

[@Axemantitan]

The Irish Republican Army frequently used the AR-180. They called it the "Widowmaker." Also, the Howa deal explains why the Type 89 uses the AR-18 operating system, since they already had the technology.

[@benhardsatrio8222]

AxemanTitan Have no way to confirm this, but from what I heard the JSDF even issued some of the Howa-produced AR-180s that didn’t leave Japan on a limited basis to gather user feedback and data that would eventually lead to the Type 89 rifle. Gas system is similar, how to separate the upper and lower receiver is similar, windage and elevation adjustment is similar, bolt is similar, and the general layout also highly resembles it. It’s probably safe to say that the Type 89 is the one that mimics AR-18/180 the closest of all the rifles that copied its operating system.

[@TheTruth-xp2of]

@AxemanTitan The "Widowmaker" is actually the reason production of this gun was discontinued in Japan. It was discovered that some AR180's exported to the USA were being converted to full auto and used by the IRA. This was raised as an issue in the Japanese legislation, prompting the law changes that ended HOWA's production of the gun.

[@TheTruth-xp2of]

@@benhardsatrio8222 Yes, this is true. The ones issued to the JSDF as a test prototype had a few versions (wooden/polymer furnishings), as well as a selectable 3 round burst mode.

[@i_dodge_trees]

Why is everything ever called widowmaker

[@Kikiapina]

@@i_dodge_trees Because once you kill the husband, the wife is a widow. Thus, widowmaker

[@kansaspatriot2051]

I owned an AR-180 for several years and really enjoyed shooting it. It was very accurate and definitely had the fit-n-feel of the FAL. My only complaint was the magazines, but once I figured out how to adjust some AR15 mags, it worked like a charm. The finished product was reliable, accurate and fun to shoot.

[@SunflowerSocialist]

🎶 A comrade on me left and another one on me right, and a clip of ammunition for my little armalite 🎶 🇮🇪

[@scout3058]

I know where there is an original AR-18 (Cali version). It's up in Johnstown PA. It belonged to my father. It, and some other firearms (MAC11, .22 Pen, original AR-15 etc) belonged to my father. When he died, my stepmother refused to follow the accordance of his will, so I never got them. She gave them to her son in law instead (he married my stepsister). My father recieved the guns from my uncle, who had purchased them, or been gifted them, by Robert Macnamara after his time as SECDEF. My uncle got to know him through building "storage vaults" for the CIA (my uncle owned The Magna Group at the time). My dad had me clean the AR-18 for him while I was home on boot leave from Parris Island (1988). Thanks for making this video. It was really cool, and heartbreaking at the same time.

[@scottr.hampton2474]

I was issued an AR-180 for a time in the U S Army. I found it superior to the M-16's I had before and after during use. I wished many times after having it that I could have kept it through the rest of my tours of duty.

[@Bert2368]

The US military bought and did troop trials of 5,000 AR 18s (selective fire; the AR 180 is semi auto only). Yes, they were better liked by most than the AR 15. But they were never accepted and never went through the long shakedown to eliminate "teething" issues all new military weapons seem to require once the boys get their hands on them and discover all the unforeseen ways troopers can break stuff...

[@justinhedrick5656]

I just bought an AR-180 last month. It's a great little gun, very light and comes up on target very quickly. It's a fun range toy. Thanks for doing a video on it gun Jesus.

[@tadget0566]

Is an SA 80 basically a bullpup AR18 the similarities internally it’s virtually identical

[@ForgottenWeapons]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aojXgIKCncR5bqs

[@wierdalien1]

Yes

[@johnfisk811]

Shame they didn't just buy a licence and make it as is in Enfield and not try to 'liberate' the system and muck about with it. Or at least hire Eugene Stoner to do the bullpup conversion.

[@wierdalien1]

@@johnfisk811 or just get stirling to do it. They already had the licence and they could, you know, build guns

[@AlanEvans789]

@@wierdalien1 Pretty sure that by the beginning of the 80's Sterling had been, or was in the process of being taken over by Royal Ordinance anyway. So it probably didn't matter too much.

[@scottr.hampton2474]

Your video on these got me to thinking. Our 180's had a few differences from yours shown. Markings were from Armalite, no other manufacture. The construction appeared to be of the Sterling issue. Ours did have the retention holes in the rear sight shroud for the bolt carrier retainer guide rail unit. The forward connecting pin was captured like the M-16 to prevent loss. The muzzle brake was of the M-16 Bird Cage type. The charging handle was straight out with a larger round knurled tube. The mounting bracket on top of the upper receiver was more substantial, retaining zero. The scope was of the Sterling era weapons only with MIL-SPEC sight pattern. Our forward grips had more holes all around with groves for better grip. We were issued a forward mount bi-pod that clipped into the bayonet bracket. The legs when installed folded to the rear. It did have some left to right swing, and adjustable length legs. The main leg parts were stamped with detent cut rods capped with a flat round foot and a small part of the leg stuck out beyond. The four Lefty shooters in the unit did have a tang added as a brass deflector that was of little use. I'm not sure of any more concerning where these came from, or whatever happened to them after I left the unit. Serial #'s were A then seven digits starting at 101 to 501 with the zeros slashed thru.

[@jansenart0]

The AR-15 is the X-Wing, the AR-18 is the Z-95 Headhunter.

[@RikiRicklets]

Jansen Art no

[@bluecaptainIT]

In terms of popularity? Yes, probably. In terms of which one came first? Nah, the opposite.

[@jansenart0]

@@TheFirstCurse1 I have to agree. Feel free to edit your comment too.

[@KyrVod]

That....that checks out, yeah.

[@motorcop505]

Merrry Christmas, Gun Jesus! Much love from Delaware! My old police department still owns several AR-180s to the best of my knowledge. We used MP-5s as patrol rifles when I was on the job and now they use M-4s for the SWAT Team at least. I loved my MP-5 and recently bought a MP-5 copy, the GSG-522, which is a dream. I want to get a 9 mm GSG MP-40 one day (soon with all the gun grabbers out there). The AR-180’s look like a blend of the AR-15 and a FAL G-3 with a folding stock.

[@bruceinoz8002]

In Australia, the Leader T2 and its successor, the AAA SAR are VERY similar internally, apart from having a 3-lugg bolt and investment-cast trigger and hammer.

[@boredandagitated]

Glad you made this. When the Brownells upper came out I searched to see if you had a vid but there wasn’t yet. Stoked to see the original!

[@williestyle35]

The Brownells is over on InRangeTV.

[@justsomeguy6240]

Hey this is that gun that the Terminator used alongside an automatic SPAS-12 to fight an entire police station in 1984.

[@dhclassicwasstolen]

Sounds realistic

[@innovacraft]

I'll be back.

[@skylerbenoit1103]

Yes. AANND also was used IRL by the IRA (Provisional Irish Republican Army) during The Troubles.

[@dude126]

Enjoyed re-watching this. It's the first time I've noticed that the AR18's mag release was on the right side. Enfield moved it to the left side on the SA80 and was one of the early identified flaws was that hitting the weapon on your body or equipment could drop your mag. Leaving it where it was would have prevented this.

[@mitchellline3398]

Ian:"ANy army that doesn't use an m16 uses the ar 18 as it's basis" AK: "Am i a joke to you?"

[@clothar23]

Honestly there may be more AR-18 variants out there than AK variants or at least as many. The AR-18's operating system got around.

[@mitchellline3398]

@@clothar23 It may have gotten around but nowhere near to the same extent as the AK. Over half the world militaries use some kind of AK

[@conroypaw]

Western army. I'm sure he meant western army. There's the odd Finnish / Israeli / South African weapon here and there, but for the most part, if it shoots 5.56x45mm NATO, and it isn't an AR-15 based operating system, it's most likely an AR-18 based system.

[@AICW]

QBZ-95: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@CaptainGrief66]

@@AICW The QBZ family has a short stroke gas piston identical to the SVD/SKS and an Stoner style rotating bolt. Nothing original there.

[@johnmckenzie8585]

It looks like that little tab on the inside edge of the dust cover (when closed) is what causes the dust cover to pop open. It's resting in the channel machined into the right side of the bolt carrier, and it seems like the angled surface would cam the dust cover open as the bolt carrier goes rearward, long before the charging handle would contact the forward edge of the dust cover.

[@darksamich1173]

Dang who would’ve thought I’ve had a universal disassembly tool on my desk all along

[@able506]

proud to be the owner of one of the few costa mesa rifles love that thing so much

[@richardsolberg4047]

Have a Sterling made one , great rifle .. have 1 in scope mount for mine . uses the integral mount ,but add your own 1in tube optic

[@LOUDcarBOMB]

Obligatory My Little Armalite reference.

[@123shelty]

With a comrade on my left and another on my right?

[@animalmother9970]

But consider COME OUT YE BLACK AND TANS.

[@alejandrorivas4585]

Where they wearing kinky boots?

[@SunflowerSocialist]

Are you a merry Ploughboy?

[@anubis432]

I'm glad ian finally did a video on the ar180. He's mentioned it frequently when comparing some other guns to it but he never had a video on one until now.

[@SurgingApocalypse]

The design of the Japanese Type 89 rifle looks very similar to the AR18, wondering if that's just coincidence🤔

[@boymahina123]

Not really.

[@thecrazymadbull]

21:42 he says the Type 89 is a descendent from the ar-18 rotating bolt muli-lug gas piston design

[@berniemacandasideoffries]

The Japanese Type 89 is just an AR18. They're manufactured by Howa using all the same tooling they used to make the AR18s

[@SurgingApocalypse]

@@thecrazymadbull Ahh, I should pay more attention 😅

[@Hibernicus1968]

I used to have a Costa Mesa AR-180. It's one of the guns I really regret selling. I'm pretty sure the dog-leg bolt handle was not done out of any concern to make the rifle more ambidextrous, but mainly to ensure your hand was out of the way of the dust cover. Moving the part of the charging handle you grasp upward and forward accomplishes this, and making it easier to reach over the rifle with your support hand is a by-product. The placement of the charging handle on the right side of the receiver is actually more wrong-hander friendly even were there no dog leg, as you can use your support hand (the right for a lefty) without having to reach over anything. You'll note to that when the modern Armalite company brought out the AR-180B a few years back, it eliminated the dust cover entirely, and along with it, the dog-leg handle. The AR-180B just had a straight charging handle.

[@Paulnikon]

I remember seeing a new one for sale (AR180?) in a hardware store in Naples FL. Probably in 1984.

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Absolutely awesome Armalite AR's !!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for showing them , Ian

[@FiendTheKing]

It cracks me up that Howa made the Type 89, as close to a carbon copy of a gun they used to be licensed to produce. The Japanese rifle is closer to this gun then any of it's other descendants.

[@1991tommygun]

There is a few AR180B in Canada, there is also a couple company’s making the ws-mcr and wk180c which are made in Canada, modern versions of the 180B

[@jovangrbic97]

What's the manufacturing process for the ugly spots with yellowing around? A weld that has been ground, or a pin peened over or brazing/

[@Aimless6]

looks like a spot weld with copper electrodes. they could have used /some/ effort to pretty up the welds. and it almost seems like the anti-corrosion treatment was done on the flat steel, before bending.

[@killertruth186]

@@Aimless6 It does make the rifle look cheap, but it is expensive on the market.

[@mm981kcolg]

The yellow spots with small points in the center are plug welds. The shallow dimples without points are spot welds. See for example at 16:06, you can see both. The dimpling on the lower where it meets the stock and on the magazine housing where the hinge attaches are spot welds, while the yellow dots in the center are plug welds. Both types of weld are employed in similar circumstances where pieces of sheet metal are placed flat against one another. Spot welds are much faster to make, while plug welds are much stronger and can handle dissimilar thicknesses and materials better. The ugliness of the plug welds stems from them being hastily made, usually the welder would take care to fill them properly and avoid making peaks and voids. The color is caused by the filler material, either it being yellowish to begin with, or how it reacted to further treatments like parkerizing afterward.

[@SuperAsdf21]

Yeah I had Project Binky flashbacks with all those plug welds!

[@jacobhuisman3489]

The old GunLab video of you tearing apart that terrible Vulcan Arms AR-180/FAL abomination was my introduction to you Ian, and remains one of my favorite videos over five years later.

[@onkelmicke9670]

Were the Irish rifles produced by Howa or Stirling?

[@JonD19827]

Stirling would be my guess, easier to smuggle if the factory is a couple hours away

[@generalilbis]

Good question...my understanding of the timeline would have AR-18s being made by Sterling at the the time the IRA started using them. Would be easier to source them since they'd be coming from England...BUT I have to figure shipments of Sterling-made rifles would be guarded carefully vs. laxer monitoring of Japanese made AR-18s since Japan had the rule about not selling to nations engaged in warfare.

[@crocholiday409]

It is my understand that is was the Howa rifles, even though Sterlings seem like they would have been easier to acquire.

[@ShortT-RexLikeArms]

At least some were Howa since it started a controversy that ended up restricting japanese weapons exports.

[@828enigma6]

I read somewhere many came from the US, having been purchased here by IRA supporters, then smuggled to Ireland.

[@aftermx1852]

Great vid, I had one back in the 80's . It's a nice gun to hang on a wall and tell your friends how many times it jammed.

[@GunsNGames1]

*Blessed be the AR*

[@themidnightrambler4865]

The first "black rifle" I ever owned was an Armalite AR180. I used it in combat rifle matches back in the early 1980s. It was built by Sterling. Sterling built AR180s got mixed reviews. Mine was accurate and completely reliable. The fit and finish of my Sterling was not great, but it worked great. I traded ,or sold , that one off, in the late 1980s. I bought another one, around 1995. That one was made by Howa, in Japan. The fit and finish on the Howa was much better than that of the Sterling. The Howa was also completely reliable. I always viewed it as a "collector" piece and only shot about 500 rounds through it. Eventually, I sold it to a collector, who was very happy. My experience with Armalite AR180s was 100% positive. I found them to be of simple design, rugged, accurate, and reliable.

[@spliffburger]

last time i was this early the treaty of versailles was still intact

[@bl4cksp1d3r]

Ouh shots fired :D

[@EuroRhodes]

@@bl4cksp1d3r pew pew pew

[@j.scottmcdonough562]

I had an Australian Leader T2 based on the same basic set up but the bolt was attached to the guide rods so it all came out as one unit.

[@sethmoyer]

This design was clearly good since pretty much every space age futuristic gun uses the same operating system.

[@1337penguinman]

The action was amazing, just the rifle built around it wasn't up to the AR-15 standards. The 15 was years ahead of its time. There's a reason we still use it today. Plus, anyone who wanted a cheap, simple, piston gun would go for the AK. This just kind of fell into a niche that no one really was interested in.

[@justsomeguy6240]

Did it come with a 12-gauge Autoloader and an Uzi 9mm? And a Phased Plasma Rifle in the 40-watt range?

[@SitInTheShayd]

These are popular in Canada because unlike the AR15 these are non restricted

[@killertruth186]

Got to thank the media and anti gunners (even gun grabbers) for that.

[@Patrick27542]

“I was down in the Bogside, it’s where I long to be. Lying in the dark with a Provo Company. A comrade on my left and another on my right, and a clip of ammunition for My Little Armalite.”

[@Slava_Ukraini1991]

"well this brave RUC man came marching up our street. six hundred british soldiers he had lined up at his feet. come out ye cowardly fenians, come on out and fight. he cried Im only joking when he heard the armalite"

[@hato_popo]

Ian sensei! "Howa" is pronounced as "Hōwa", like "Ho" in "hose"!

[@skategreaser]

I heard they were licensing to CZ in an attempt the keep their Howas in Czech...

[@hato_popo]

@@skategreaser I've never heard of it. Are they making AR18 or Howa's sports rifle, like Howa 1500?

[@borisslyt]

Anyway, Ichihachi-chan has got her video.

[@EuroRhodes]

@@skategreaser I see what you did there *snickers*

[@skategreaser]

@@EuroRhodes glad somebody caught it...

[@TheMoghrabimahmoud]

U r a God send for us firearm enthusiasts

[@xnopyt13]

The Howa ar180s are probably the only post war Japan made “modern” gun you can buy in the US (because there are Howa bolt actions).

[@leopoldodelgado5819]

Majestic video as always, this guy is the god of weapons.