I Have This Old Gun - Armalite AR-180 Rifle

[@halfcantan1208]

Very popular in Ireland this gun

[@rascal0175]

Spin it any way you like. The Howa 180 I owned was a great rifle and I much preferred it over the AR-15. It had a folding stock for convenience, an optical sight that compensated for trajectory out to 500 yards and did not foul itself when it was fired. The early M-16 I was issued in 1969 was junk in comparison. After shooting it troops learned to take the M-16 in the shower to flush the action clean so the armorer would accept it for turn in. The M-16 bolt required lots of scrubbing with a bore brush to remove carbon deposits from the self-fouling gas system. I stayed in the military over the long haul and worked in law enforcement (state and federal) for more than 30 years. The M-16s and M=4s were much improved but were hindered by the gas impingement system. My last M=4 even broke a bolt when shooting frangible ammunition in training. My 180 never let me down. Too bad it couldn’t use M-16 magazines, but those can be modified for use in the 180. The thing that hurt the 180 was the military was fully on board with the AR-15 design and not about to change in the midst of the Vietnam war. Too bad, as the AR-18 was likely the better design,and would have been improved over time, as the M-16 has. And in this day and age some folks are moving to piston powered AR-15 designs. Like the Studebaker Avanti automobile of 1962 vintage, the 180 was just ahead of its time.

[@robertdeen8741]

Was not most of the issues rectified when the propellent was changed? That and not telling the GIs it was self cleaning. Isn't that about the same time they started issuing cleaning kits and the cool comic book with the big breasted blonde instructing proper cleaning and maintenance? Wish I had a copy of the comic.

[@FirstnameLastname-do1px]

@@robertdeen8741 you’re right, he’s just one of these goofy boomer fudds who talk about how ar-15’s are ‘plastic’

[@rascal0175]

@@robertdeen8741. The transition to ball powder hindered, not helped, the M-16. As a Vietnam era infantry veteran I never was told the M-16 was self-cleaning. To the contrary, we were told to constantly clean the M-16, as in daily, and we were issued cleaning kits with LSA and bore cleaner. The early M-16s lacked chrome plated chambers and bores, which worked so well in the AK rifles. The piston gas system of the AR-18 never got as dirty as an AR-15. Yes, there was a comic book issued to GIs with a large breasted female guiding you through cleaning the M-16. When working in counter-terrorism I was issued an M-4. It was a far better rifle than the Vietnam era M-16, though I had to carry a spare bolt, which I never had to do with the AR-18. The only thing I find wrong with the AR-18 design is that it was late to the party.

[@PODSMPSG1]

that was in Terminator

[@SeanDahle]

Yep in the police station massacre scene

Oh it's down in Crossmaglen, that's where I long to be, flying in the dark with a provo company...

[@a.c.2499]

Looks like the FAL and M16 had a baby.

[@JeezUriah]

Very popular in Alberta Canada too - be do be doo!

[@royboiiiluo6178]

In Taiwan, the ROC army adopted the rifle that was designed based on AR18 their native design called T65/T65K2 rifle, it was further developed into T86/91 rifle, the Japanese Howa Type89 and Korean K-2 also were heavily influenced by AR-18 in their design process

[@LF12468]

This guys meat hook is just slapping the sh$t out of that trigger.

[@shawnkelley9035]

I have a Costa Mesa AR-180 that I got way back in the 80’s right after I got out of the US Army Infantry. Have put thousands of rounds down range with her without one failure. Something I can’t say about my M16A1. To me the AR-180 is a great rifle.

[@Da1AboveA11]

It will be back!

[@victorjohnson7512]

Arnold used one of these in the first Terminator film to destroy the police station.

[@michaelhughes3302]

Left out the part where IRA got their hands on these. Used them to some success I believe. Nicknamed them the Widowmaker.

[@elflakeador09]

Always thought the folding stock looked interesting.

[@panthermartin7784]

Loved by the IRA, me Armalite..

[@josemfernandeza5979]

"...the only gun he'd get there is an Armalite to his ear" 🎶

[@Sandhill1988]

Just like the ACR... that is a superior platform in every way shape and form that's going to die a slow painful death because the military didn't adopt it and the civilian population was screwed by the manufacturer with promised upgrades and caliber swaps and never got them.

[@vaporhtrail4350]

Reminds me of a FN FAL

[@johnmarston1108]

they should realy remake a lot of these cool old guns

[@maritimemisfits3360]

These are still in production from multiple companies.

[@Quicky7682]

Russian PPHS 43 is the greatest SMG of the WW2 even up to the present day.

[@erich.2550]

Why this wasn't adopted over the Mattel 16 is beyond me. All it needed was a chrome lined barrel.

[@MasterVideoStudios]

Because the M16 is a vastly superior rifle

[@bevans7772]

I’ve got an AR180B. Boomers like it, mostly because they don’t know the difference between the AR180 and the later produced AR180b. Although not a stamped receiver, I’d still rather have mine than a BRN-180

[@georgekontalexis8436]

Is there a weapon that uses the bolt of the ar18 and a long stroke piston system of stoner 63 or a kalashnikov piston system?

[@jeroendesterke9739]

The AR180 was truly a gun deliberately designed and built with a very limited lifespan in mind - so much has been stated in magazines and books a great many times before. I find it therefore very strange that these guys sit there pontificating as their 'findings' are unique. The AR180 is a milestone in the history of firearms design and that aspect should be taken into account.

[@victordesouzasperduto]

this weapon can be sucs in battle,but is beautiful

[@Paladin1873]

I have an original Costa Mesa AR180. It's very 70s/80s, neat in concept but not terribly durable. Mine has been a safe queen for decades. The dumbest thing the designers did was relocate the magazine latch so you could not use unaltered AR15 magazines. You can modify GI mags to work, but the result can be problematic. The Japanese Howa made rifles are considered the best built, while the English Sterling was a bit flimsy even by AR180 standards. The Armalite 180B was an abortion not worthy of discussion. If you see one, run away. They bite.

[@MadMaxMFP-dc6kw]

Colonel K I have a Mesa version, a dremel can take a standard M16 mag and make an AR 180 MAG in less then 30 seconds. The rifles are finicky, but with good ammo, mine at least, can out shoot or outlast any POS Colt or any other after market AR 15 out there. Guess I got a sweet lemon. I own them all, Colt, Bushmaster, RRA,DPMS......My go to in SHTF is the AR 180. Cheap ammo, crap function, It is a reflection of what you feed it.

[@maurodeiana1838]

Incredibile rifle made by Eugene!!💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪🙊

[@slaughterhound8793]

I always liked the AR-18, or at least the idea of it. Wish it would have done better.

[@maritimemisfits3360]

Check out the NDS 180 or the Jard 180. Since AR-15s become prohibited in Canada these have become very popular up here. I have one from Kodiak Defense.

[@oisingartlan6067]

🇮🇪

[@paulwiggins183]

In condensing the story you guys have royally confused the details, leaving some confusion in your wake. And the ''euthanasia'' comment was ridiculous. But the point concerning the subsequent adoption of the operating system was well made. Cool.