[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Armalite (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 8/14/2015 9:42:51 PM EDT
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Was reading a New Yorker article about the IRA, and one of the paragraphs really intrigued me:
Hughes had been a merchant seaman before joining the I.R.A., and one day a sailor he knew showed him a brochure for a new assault rifle from America—the Armalite. “We all fell in love with this weapon,” Hughes recalled. The Armalite was ideal for urban warfare: lightweight and powerful, with a retractable (folding, ya fooking idiots!  ) stock that made it easy to conceal. According to Hughes, Adams dispatched him to New York to procure Armalites, using a network of sympathetic arms dealers. Hughes devised an ingenious plan to ship the guns back to Ireland. In 1969, the Queen Elizabeth 2 began making stately transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York. The ship had a crew of a thousand; many of them were Irish, and some secretly worked for Brendan Hughes. And so a ship named after the Queen of England was used to smuggle weapons to the I.R.A. On Belfast’s streets, graffiti heralded the guns’ arrival: “God made the Catholics, but the Armalite made them equal.”And of course what thred on this topic would be complete without a link to My Little Armalite. 
I dunno, I kinda like the ghetto spot-welded-sheetmetal vibe: 
I've never really cared for the non-reciprocating charging handle of the AR. What can I say, I'm a Garand slut  (I want to be able to slam that bolt into battery, and a fwd assist is a piss-poor substitute). Not that that skinny charging handle looks to be good for much of that  . And I've always felt that recoil spring module hanging out of the ass end of the AR like an oversized hemorrhoid was one of the real weaknesses of the design; much as I appreciate the engineering aspect of direct-bore-axis-action, it makes folding stocks impossible. 
Looks like they are running around a kilobuk on GB, so comparable to an AR. Even aside from what I think are definite engineering advantages, there is that intangible "not-too-many-people-got-one-a-THESE!!!" goodness. But then, it doesn't take standard AR accessories, or standard AR/STANAG mags (tho I understand they can be modified to fit).
So what sayeth the hivemind? Anyone own one? Coolest thing since sliced bread?  Interesting curiosity?  Or do you rue the day they were created? 
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| I have a sterling with the original armalite scope. Stormwerkz makes nice rails and accessories. The folding stock and bolt hold back are the weak points. Stock trigger pull is stiff. Parts supply is iffy -some 180B parts will work. Dead nuts reliable, eats steel case like candy. I will never part with it. |
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Quoted: The AR18/180 was a landmark weapon. Its action served as the inspiration for other guns such as the HK G36, IIRC. Neat rifle, though the folding stock lock always seemed flimsy to me. I've seen and sold a few originals, and their scope mount with its unique QD function is interesting. never seen a B model, though I'm curious how they hold up. They, like the A1, are an epitome of lightweight iron sight goodness |
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Quoted:
I have a sterling with the original armalite scope. Stormwerkz makes nice rails and accessories. The folding stock and bolt hold back are the weak points. Stock trigger pull is stiff. Parts supply is iffy -some 180B parts will work. Dead nuts reliable, eats steel case like candy. I will never part with it. Enjineeerin geek sez tell me moar. 
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Quoted:
Enjineeerin geek sez tell me moar. Quoted:
Quoted:
I have a sterling with the original armalite scope. Stormwerkz makes nice rails and accessories. The folding stock and bolt hold back are the weak points. Stock trigger pull is stiff. Parts supply is iffy -some 180B parts will work. Dead nuts reliable, eats steel case like candy. I will never part with it. Enjineeerin geek sez tell me moar. If you are careless when disassembling the rifle by removing the upper and then letting the hammer fall you can damage the hold back and a replacement is very hard to find . The stock hinge could be stronger. Minor quibles really. Just Be careful breaking it down and don't butt stroke anyone. |
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A low serial number Costa Mesa sold on GB an hour ago. $1200, because it was mislabeled as a 180B. Like 1200 serial. I got this recently in the EE and its my new favorite toy. The original Costa Mesas have 1/14 barrels. This is a Sterling.  Dad really likes it. Scratched his name into the paint on the handguard and tried to claim it as his own. |
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Quoted:
NDS sells a billet lower for the 180B now. I'll get around to getting one for mine one of these days. Quoted:
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I was really hoping Armalite would put out a refined version of the 180B but it never happened.
Or, hell, for that matter, reproduce the originals. NDS sells a billet lower for the 180B now. I'll get around to getting one for mine one of these days. Damn, you, pp. I had written that one off the list. Since I haven't fooled with retro stuff in a while, I hadn't looked at NDS.
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Fuck terrorists, even if they're not muslims.
That said I love my Howa. Ar180 thread link from the retro forum |
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Damn, you, pp. I had written that one off the list. Since I haven't fooled with retro stuff in a while, I hadn't looked at NDS. Quoted:
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I was really hoping Armalite would put out a refined version of the 180B but it never happened.
Or, hell, for that matter, reproduce the originals. NDS sells a billet lower for the 180B now. I'll get around to getting one for mine one of these days. Damn, you, pp. I had written that one off the list. Since I haven't fooled with retro stuff in a while, I hadn't looked at NDS. There is someone fooling around with uppers that might use AR barrels. We're really hoping that someday soon you'll be able to buy a new 180 that takes AR mags. I honestly think I could love my 180 more than an AR15 if if had a rail on top, modular handguards, and a sturdy folding stock. |
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Quoted:
How do you like the FAL? Quoted:
How do you like the FAL? Who, me? Serviceable weapon, "right arm of the free world" & all that. That being sed, rear-lockers are no bueno for ultimate accuracy. As the Wiki article points out,:
Compared to the smooth lines of the AR-15, the AR-18 faced criticism over its stamped and welded construction, which had demonstrably greater tolerances in parts fit. However, the rifle proved to be both reliable and very accurate at all ranges up to 460 metres (500 yards).
<snip> The bolt itself is of similar configuration to the AR-15 with 7 radial locking lugs engaging corresponding recesses in the barrel extension, and the extractor in place of the 8th lug. |
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I have two of the early AR-180's -- a Costa Mesa and a Howa -- that I bought new back in the day. IMO, this design is inferior to the AR-15. The stamped and welded fabrication is a weak point.
The Korean K2 is better -- folding stock, piston action, forged receiver, accepts standard magazines, etc. The Koreans took the best features of the AR, the AK, the FAL, etc., and put them all together in a package that makes sense. |
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Quoted:
I have two of the early AR-180's -- a Costa Mesa and a Howa -- that I bought new back in the day. IMO, this design is inferior to the AR-15. The stamped and welded fabrication is a weak point. The Korean K2 is better -- folding stock, piston action, forged receiver, accepts standard magazines, etc. The Koreans took the best features of the AR, the AK, the FAL, etc., and put them all together in a package that makes sense.
Wiki [Paris Hilton]"That's hot."[/Paris Hilton] |
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Quoted: /thread Quoted: Quoted: I have a FA AR18. I like it a lot. I am a AR/M-16 guy, the ar18 feels like a toy. And firing in FA it pulls up and the right. /thread A Battle rifle? Sure but it is fragile. The stock is piont one. The sights are nice. It is a Ar/ak designed by Stronger. Ar ish bolt, not 100% the same. The mags are close. And the fire controls. It has a piston, like an Ak a BCG and recoil springs like an am and the charging handle. It's stamped steel like an ak. It is very light weight. |
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Oh and my 18 Will choke will choke on some ammo b/c the chamber is very tight. My m16 will eat that shit up.. Which make is it? What mags do you have? That's been one thing I've found that kinda sucks is old factory mags are expensive. I only have 3 that weren't converted AR mags. |
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Quoted: Which make is it? What mags do you have? That's been one thing I've found that kinda sucks is old factory mags are expensive. I only have 3 that weren't converted AR mags. Quoted: Quoted: Oh and my 18 Will choke will choke on some ammo b/c the chamber is very tight. My m16 will eat that shit up.. Which make is it? What mags do you have? That's been one thing I've found that kinda sucks is old factory mags are expensive. I only have 3 that weren't converted AR mags. I have one mag. It is a factory 20rd. That was blocked to 5 rds with a wire stop. I removed that. I'll get more mags or convert some one day. I am not really looking to burn this barrel down.. |
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Fuck terrorists, even if they're not muslims. Meh, tough call. The Founding Fathers were considered terrorists by the Crown. Tho to be fair, northern Ireland still votes to be part of the UK, so clearly the people are not 100% behind the IRA (or at least 51% are not). And so far as that goes, could someone give me cliff notes on what all of that is about?  The New Yorker article never really said. The Catholics & Protestants hate each other, and somehow the British are involved, which is why the IRA shoots them from time to time.  Whole things' pretty opaque to a Yank.
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My first black rifle was a 180B. Decent gun. Polymer lower, you had to be careful when the upper was unlocked from the lower--the hinge under the barrel was also polymer, and could break if you allowed the upper to swing free from the lower. There was some play between the upper and lower at the rear when mated, it always annoyed me, but supposedly did not affect the function of the gun. The muzzle brake was one piece with the barrel, which could also be considered a downside. The B did accept AR magazines. The scope mount was interesting, a spring loaded vee slot on the bottom engaged a sort of wedge plate atop the receiver. As mentioned, there are rail attachments now that engage the original wedge plate. The ears of the rear sight could interfere with conventional scopes, wouldn't expect a problem with RDS and such.
That's very interesting about new uppers and lowers being made. Will they accept AR mags without modification? Vulcan/Hesse was making so called 180s a few years ago. Junk gun, keep away from them. |
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Gun Labs is going to make new uppers, and already has the "B" style fire control sets in production. Combine that with our lower and you can have a modern. new production AR-180. http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/NDS-18S_right.JPG http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/NDS-18S_left.JPG http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/18_vz_58.JPG Right On!
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Quoted: If you are careless when disassembling the rifle by removing the upper and then letting the hammer fall you can damage the hold back and a replacement is very hard to find . The stock hinge could be stronger. Minor quibles really. Just Be careful breaking it down and don't butt stroke anyone. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I have a sterling with the original armalite scope. Stormwerkz makes nice rails and accessories. The folding stock and bolt hold back are the weak points. Stock trigger pull is stiff. Parts supply is iffy -some 180B parts will work. Dead nuts reliable, eats steel case like candy. I will never part with it. Enjineeerin geek sez tell me moar. If you are careless when disassembling the rifle by removing the upper and then letting the hammer fall you can damage the hold back and a replacement is very hard to find . The stock hinge could be stronger. Minor quibles really. Just Be careful breaking it down and don't butt stroke anyone. What's the safest takedown procedure? Hammer back, safety on? |
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Quoted: Gun Labs is going to make new uppers, and already has the "B" style fire control sets in production. Combine that with our lower and you can have a modern. new production AR-180. http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/NDS-18S_right.JPG http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/NDS-18S_left.JPG http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/18_vz_58.JPG I'm so turned on, I could drug someone.  |
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Quoted:
What's the safest takedown procedure? Hammer back, safety on? Quoted:
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I have a sterling with the original armalite scope. Stormwerkz makes nice rails and accessories. The folding stock and bolt hold back are the weak points. Stock trigger pull is stiff. Parts supply is iffy -some 180B parts will work. Dead nuts reliable, eats steel case like candy. I will never part with it. Enjineeerin geek sez tell me moar. If you are careless when disassembling the rifle by removing the upper and then letting the hammer fall you can damage the hold back and a replacement is very hard to find . The stock hinge could be stronger. Minor quibles really. Just Be careful breaking it down and don't butt stroke anyone. What's the safest takedown procedure? Hammer back, safety on? Yes. And IIRC sometimes the stamped steel hammers could break during dry fire. It's best just to not ever dry fire a 180. |
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Meh, tough call. The Founding Fathers were considered terrorists by the Crown. Quoted:
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Fuck terrorists, even if they're not muslims. Meh, tough call. The Founding Fathers were considered terrorists by the Crown. No, the Foudning Fathers were considered rebels. The comparison is ludicrous, because the IRA often deliberately targeted civilians, and bombed places in London, far from the battlefield. The Founding Fathers didn't send fighters to England to start fires, or kill civilians - and I don't believe they killed civilians just for siding with the crown. |
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No, the Foudning Fathers were considered rebels. The comparison is ludicrous, because the IRA often deliberately targeted civilians, and bombed places in London, far from the battlefield. The Founding Fathers didn't send fighters to England to start fires, or kill civilians - and I don't believe they killed civilians just for siding with the crown. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Fuck terrorists, even if they're not muslims. Meh, tough call. The Founding Fathers were considered terrorists by the Crown. No, the Foudning Fathers were considered rebels. The comparison is ludicrous, because the IRA often deliberately targeted civilians, and bombed places in London, far from the battlefield. The Founding Fathers didn't send fighters to England to start fires, or kill civilians - and I don't believe they killed civilians just for siding with the crown. Do you even equivocate, bro?
And to quote a popular book, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." |
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Quoted: No, the Foudning Fathers were considered rebels. The comparison is ludicrous, because the IRA often deliberately targeted civilians, and bombed places in London, far from the battlefield. The Founding Fathers didn't send fighters to England to start fires, or kill civilians - and I don't believe they killed civilians just for siding with the crown. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Fuck terrorists, even if they're not muslims. Meh, tough call. The Founding Fathers were considered terrorists by the Crown. No, the Foudning Fathers were considered rebels. The comparison is ludicrous, because the IRA often deliberately targeted civilians, and bombed places in London, far from the battlefield. The Founding Fathers didn't send fighters to England to start fires, or kill civilians - and I don't believe they killed civilians just for siding with the crown. John Paul Jones raided England and stole some earl's cutlery and tea service. I imagine that was considered an act of terrorism. Then he learned to play the bass and became a member of the greatest rock band of all time so all sins were forgiven. |
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Do you even equivocate, bro?
And to quote a popular book, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Fuck terrorists, even if they're not muslims. Meh, tough call. The Founding Fathers were considered terrorists by the Crown. No, the Foudning Fathers were considered rebels. The comparison is ludicrous, because the IRA often deliberately targeted civilians, and bombed places in London, far from the battlefield. The Founding Fathers didn't send fighters to England to start fires, or kill civilians - and I don't believe they killed civilians just for siding with the crown. Do you even equivocate, bro?
And to quote a popular book, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." Oh great EdSr, bless thine fowl fornication foreigner who dost wasted his time on teener tards, in noblest effort of education, so we may no longer suffer their foolishness. In Aimless' name we pray. Amen. |
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Just need a replica folder and you are set
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NDS sells a billet lower for the 180B now. I'll get around to getting one for mine one of these days. Quoted:
Quoted:
I was really hoping Armalite would put out a refined version of the 180B but it never happened.
Or, hell, for that matter, reproduce the originals. NDS sells a billet lower for the 180B now. I'll get around to getting one for mine one of these days. |
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[b]Quoted:[/b
John Paul Jones raided England and stole some earl's cutlery and tea service. I imagine that was considered an act of terrorism. Then he learned to play the bass and became a member of the greatest rock band of all time so all sins were forgiven. I had a college history class that covered JPJ, and this kid I sat next to wrote an essay about him, then included a footnote that it was also the name of zeppelins bassist, and he got points deducted for it.
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