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Centerfire Rifles - Semiautomatic or Gas Operated Centerfire rifles, carbines and other gas operated rifles. |
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My featureless AR180 project (NDS18S OLL)
My first AR180 was a Sterling that I got in about 1982, and used as a LEO trunk weapon until I stupidly traded it for a "real" AR-15! I bought my second Sterling made Armalite 180 when I was living in Mississippi IN 2009-2010, and sold that when I knew I was moving back to California in 2012. At the same time, a good friend offered me an original, low serial number Costa Mesa manufactured AR180 for a price I could not say no to (99+% finish, two original AR18 20 round magazines, and two steel AR18/AR15 30 rounders, all 99+% finish).
This was just as I was leaving Mississippi, so I bought it, and the Costa Mesa AR180 went to my buddy's in Elko, NV on the way back to CA. (since Armalite AR180s were banned by name here in 1990). I really haven't shot it more than a couple times in the last five years. Here are some some pictures of my Costa Mesa AR-180, taken in Elko, before the divorce of upper and lower! For a long time, I was content to leave it in Elko, and just shoot it when I went to the desert. I wanted to leave it original. As I approach 65, though, I realized I wanted to enjoy it my AR180 without being a Californication felon, or having to go to Nevada to shoot it. I am taking the upper half of the Costa Mesa mfg. AR180 and and mating it to a NDS18S forged lower (which is legal in California as long as fixed magazine or featureless). I am finishing it out as a California legal, featureless, NDS18S. Top half will be Costa Mesa - the original piston drive 5.56 - and the bottom half will have an AR180B fixed stock on the NDS18S lower. Yes, the upper will have more wear than the lower, but I'm too damn old to care about that. I am going to have fun with this gun before I get too old to enjoy it! Here's everything except the stripped NDS lower (which I get out of the LGS on the 10th.). AR180B LPK completion set and butt stock from Big Rix, and the stock adapters from Stormwerkz. I already had a standard AR LPK and the assorted grips for the non-180B stuff for the lower. To be featureless to comply with the communist edicts of Californication, I got a CAV brake to replace the three prong, the AR180B stock is fixed, and I will use either a MMG or an A@ grip with a Monkieboi grip wrap (depending on which feels best). Nice thing about the CAV brake, it is the same dimension as an A1 or A2 bird cag, and my M7 or M9 bayonets still fit. Last edited by imarangemaster; 06-05-2017 at 7:05 PM.. |
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#6
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I have MMG on my Colt SP1 Carbine clone (all Colt, except stripped NDS-601 lower), Kydex paddle on my AK, and Magpul MIAD with Exile Machine fin on it on my 20" flat top. I will see which I like best on this. My Inland M1 Carbine and Kel-Tec SU16B are featureless by design. |
#9
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I don't believe in safe queens, so when I got to Nevada on the way back, we went to the desert and cranked out some rounds. I often wonder if Sullivan or Stoner ever handled it. You sure see where the Stoner 63 gets some of its lines! Last edited by imarangemaster; 06-06-2017 at 8:35 AM.. |
#10
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I read there was a offlist early ar180 not the B either. The howa? Stuck with sterling mags though.
The big rix stock looks good. I think the grip wrap would be more comfy but the mmg is good to. Looks like it's gonna be a great build. |
#11
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Picked up my NDS18S lower yesterday. Wow, that is one nice piece of forged aluminum. VERY sturdy lower. May get time to put it together and hang it on the upper today or tomorrow. PICS forthcoming.
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#13
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Sweet! Everything went together perfect. With the AR180B and NDS18S lower, the bolt hold open is set for AR15 magazines. The AR180B upper has clearance for it, but the original AR180s do not. Their BHO is contained below the level of the upper, and a spring detent acts against the bottom of the upper to keep it from engaging until the mag is empty. WELL, I refused to cut a mint Costa Mesa upper to make a notch.
The armorer/tinkerer in me kicked in: I modified the AR180B BHO by flattening it out straight, then bending the end up at a 45 degree angle. I filed the rear edge of the mag follower at a corresponding angle. The result is that it feeds the last round from the AR15 magazine (with modified follower), without a hiccup, and actuates the BHO when the mag is empty...ALL without screwing with the original upper. The bonus is, that by using this angle instead of the AR180 low step, the mags still actuate the AR15 BHO when empty. That was actually the plan. Now I can modify the rear of all my Magpul followers in ALL of my 30s so all will work in either my AR180 or my AR15 SP1 Carbine! Pics tomorrow, including the modification. |
#17
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That's pretty sweet. I still have couple Sterling 40 rounders... pristine from what I recall, maybe some scuffs from banging around in a crate with parked GI mags.
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#18
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More: The BHO tab was originally a stair step affair that rose up 1/8", then over 90 degrees to be the actuator that engages the square edge of the BHO activator on the magazine. I flattened it in a vise, then marking then, bent the last 1/4" or so upward at a 45 degree angle. With the BHO all the way up, only the tab that engages the mag follower extends up above the level of the bottom of the upper receiver. Before, it needed a 1/4" notch cut in the bottom of the upper to move upward. As you can see, only the small back rectangular area on the rear of the mag follower, needed to be filed at a 45 degree angle to match the angle of the BHO actuator tab. Because of the design of the standard AR15 BHO ( a long tab extending forward) it still hits the follower on the front of the 45 degree slope, and activates the BHO.
Last edited by imarangemaster; 06-12-2017 at 12:07 PM.. |
#19
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I still have a couple 40s somewhere, from when I had my 2nd Sterling. Not too worried about it, though, as 30s are as long as I like to use. 40s (and 50s!) are REALLY long, LOL
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#20
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I hear you. I prefer 20's myself.
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#21
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My Magpul Gen 3 30s are full of MK262 MOD1 77 grainers for my 1/7 twist SP1 Carbine clone, so I won't bother with those followers right now (as the Costa Mesa upper is 1/12" twist and need M193 55 grainers). All of my Aluminum USGI 30s, though, I will modify to work in both platforms...
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#23
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Thanks, but the rest of the Costa Mesa is waiting patiently in my buddy's gun safe in Elko. I will shoot it on the correct lower when I visit him, and who knows, I may even move to Free America some day!
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#25
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Right now I am using IMI Razor 77s. I have shot them side by side with the Black Hills, and they are as accurate and group exactly the same POI/POA. Widner's had them, as well as Selway Armory, SGAmmo, and Lucky Gunner. Even from a 16" at 200+ yards, from a 16" Kel Tec SU16B or my SP1 carbine clone on NDS lower, it whacks coyote DRT.
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#26
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#27
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Yep, it is expensive, but it is GOOD! There is a reason it is preferred by real life operators (at least according to my nephew who was a Marine Sgt. in Afghanistan). It even preforms well from 12" barrels. Don't get me wrong, I'm not even a 'wannabe' operator. I'm just an old, busted up 'usetobe" ex-military and retired LEO - that believes in peace through superior firepower!
Last edited by imarangemaster; 06-19-2017 at 2:06 PM.. |
#28
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Mr RangeMaster, "a man after my own heart" the AR180 was my first AW long gun I ever bought! Way back in the 80's. I still brag about it to this day to my two sons, on its reliability and accuracy. 3' inch groups at 100 yards all day long. Reading your article gives me hope to one day change its format to commiefornia compliant, to once again enjoy that badboy!, And show these youngsters that ol' school firearms are nothing to laugh at. To this day I would first rather pick up that 180 over their HK MR'S, Scars, galil's, Super V's and finally steyer aug's. Thanks again for your article.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T677A using Tapatalk |
#29
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i really feel that if they had used standard un-modified AR mags for the 180 back then, it would have flourished. The AR180B was too little, too late. A poorly designed polymer receiver prone to breaking killed it. I just got a Stormwerks scope mount and a cheap, armored 4X. I run iron sights, but want a 4x to pop on sometimes for coyote busting. The AR180 scope mount design absolutely re-zeros every time. |
#30
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I've been looking at those beautiful Nodak lowers for awhile now and would love to build an AR-180, but for the life of me I have not seen or heard of a kit available anywhere at any time. Is there a source of kits that is still left?
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#31
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Sorry for delayed response. Contact BigRix on the AR15.com board. He is usually on the retro forum. There were some SAR80 kits that I believe could be adapted, and even a few AR18 kits. If there are any to be had, he would know.
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#33
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#35
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I wish Photobucket hadn't gone full retard. I hope you have your images saved somewhere else.
I use imgur.com and it'll be a PITA if they copy photobucket.
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#36
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Yup. I will basically just stop uploading photos for forums. |
#37
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Do you believe that? $400 a year just to post to forums... I will start uploading JPEGs or not at all. I venture to say their extortion effort will fail. They are already so crammed full of pop up ads and full screen advertisements, that it is a pain to use. When usage of photobucket goes to zero, advertisers are not going to be happy. Just as paying to advertise on B;logs is only worth it if people read the blogs and click on the advertisements, if no one uses photo bucket anymore...no clicks on ads.
Last edited by imarangemaster; 06-30-2017 at 11:06 AM.. |
#39
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+1 on imgur - they've never pushed for money etc.
I find images hosted somewhere like imgur to be much more convenient than hosting on each forum, as it's easier to img tag them and you can post them to multiple forums.
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#40
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Finally sighted it in, using a M16A1 25 yard sight in target. POI is 2.2 cm below POA at 25 yards for 250 battle sight (the way we did it in the 70s). Left side is two holes in one. The trigger on the original Costa Mesa AR180 lower is a dream, but the DPMS FCG I am using in the ND18S OLL is not as good. I think I will get another Colt SA FCG like on my 602 build. |
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