Range report on my new AR180B

[Hootbro]

Two weeks after getting my new AR180B I finally hit the range yesterday. First of all, I tore down the rifle and recleaned and lubed with CLP as I do with all new guns before going to the range. Finally at the range I had a fail to go into battery on the second shot using the factory ten round mag using SA battle pack ammo. Extraction took two bears and a forest ranger to get it to extract. With all the hunters sighting in their bolt actions, they were having a good laugh at my expense. :( Anyway, I proceeded with the remaining 8 rounds with no problems. I then used a 30 round thermold with the SA stuff having a fail to go into battery every 6 to 10 rounds. I then went into my remain magazines (British, Thermold & U.S.G.I) shooting Wolf with the above same results. Frequency of error seem to go down using USGI mags and the factory 10 rounder.

While I was somewhat pissed, I know that a few things may contribute to the cycle errors before claiming warranty work. I know that Wolf is not recommened by Armalite and will not fault them for it not working properly in that regard. Plus the British mags seem to be more tempramental in this rifle from previous posters. My currently plan is to buy some commercial Winchester from Wally World and use USGI mags and run another 150 rounds down range to get it through the 200 round break-in Armalite recommends.


Hootbro

[oclvtrek]

Hootbro,

I've experienced similar problems when breaking ih a brand new AR. First, use some top commerial ammo for the first 200-300 rounds. I won't use SA battle pack, PMC or Wolf to break in a new rifle any more. I've also had trouble with the British magazines and Wolf ammo when used together. I can use Wolf in USGI mags and I can use the british mags with Q3131A or M193 but never together for some reason. I think the finish on the inside of the mag and the laquer on the Wolf is a bad combo.

Hope this helps

[imanaknut]

Hootbro, I have an AR-180B that was one of the nicest bolt actions that I ever owned. What seems to be the problem is that Armalite holds the 180B to the closest possible tolerances, and it takes over 200 rounds to really start to loosen the thing up, OR, a secret way to make it function better earlier. While you are watching TV, sit on the couch and rack the bolt back and forth several hundred times. This will loosen up the mechanism and turn your semi-bolt-action into a true semi-auto. I have read many reviews, and heard many owners say the same thing. There is nothing wrong with your 180B that a little use won't fix. Mine was the most frustrating firearm that I ever bought, but after cycling it a few thousand times, it has become one of my "prefered shooters".

[Hootbro]

Thanks for the input guys. I have conversed with Armalite and done some measuring for myself and have come to the conclusion for now that it is more mag and ammo related than anything. It seem the current British steel mags and Thermolds actually ride higher in the mag well than USGI mag. It seems this creates a drag on the bolt carrier that hinders the feed stroke. Some recommendations have been to stick to USGI or file on the offending mags. I will being doing the former.


Hootbro

[Hootbro]

Originally posted by oclvtrek
...... I can use Wolf in USGI mags and I can use the british mags with Q3131A or M193 but never together for some reason. I think the finish on the inside of the mag and the laquer on the Wolf is a bad combo.

Hope this helps


I think with the Q3131A and the M193, the better success seems to be the hotter Military load. Thanks for the info.

Hootbro

[zouavexx]

Keep us posted, Hootbro!

[imanaknut]

Hootbro, I use USGI excusively. Still had a problem, but do agree the hotter loads worked best. Good luck!

[Hootbro]

Finally got to the range again today. The AR180B ran like a champ with no problems I can attribute to the weapon. Using some Thermold mags and Wally World Winchester 55gr ammo, I shot 160 rounds with no reported problems. Only when I tried to reuse the British SA80 mags, did I run into problems. These mags have run through my Bushmaster with no problems but are a no-go with the AR180B. These mags are dimensional different from USGI mags by riding a few thousandths of an inch higher in the mag well cause FTF problems. I also shot a few mags of SA M193 ammo and some 55gr Wolf with no problems using the Thermolds and USGI mags. Having shot close to 250 rounds today and with probably 400+ rounds total through the gun, I can say it is broken in. I can say with confidence that this weapon will run 100% using good ammo and correct USGI mags.


Hootbro

[imanaknut]

That Winchester in the white box is Isreali made and a true 5.56x45. A much hotter load.

That was another problem that I had with my 180B, if the mag sat slightly higher in the well, the carrier smashed into it. A well placed dremel cut fixed that. Yes, I hated modifying the carrier, but now my AR-180B is a pleasure to show off.

[Hootbro]

Originally posted by imanaknut
That Winchester in the white box is Isreali made and a true 5.56x45. A much hotter load......

For the record it was actual "Made in the USA" Winchester and not the Israeli. I was quite suprised by the accuracy and felt it to be as powerfull as some of the Lake City I have shot in the past.


Hootbro

[AKMIKEFMJ]

What kind of accuracy are you guys getting from your 180B's ??? Are they as dependable as a good AR-15 in your opinion ??? Thanks..... Mike

[Hootbro]

Originally posted by AKMIKEFMJ
What kind of accuracy are you guys getting from your 180B's ??? Are they as dependable as a good AR-15 in your opinion ??? Thanks..... Mike

First of all, I do not consider myself a accurate shot but I will hit a target in the kill zone everytime. AS for accuracy with my AR180B, I have been gettin 1"-1 1/2" groups using a cheap 4X scope and Winchester Q3131A ammo. Then again, I am more of getting quantity down range than trying to knock the dick off a gnat at 100 yards. :D These are very capable rifles once the 500 round break in is done.

Hootbro

[BluesJunkie]

Hootbro; I Just Brought A AR180B After Many Months Of "Scraping
Up The Funds". Before Shooting, Cleaned Bore With My Otis
Cleaning Kit. Cycled A Snap Cap[A-Zoom] Several Times Also Did The Same With A Brass Dummy Round, All Went Well. Fired 11 Shots/Cleaned Per Armalite's Break In Procedure. Every Thing
Went Fine, However I Noticed Some "Live Rounds" Could Not Be Ejected...Bad News. Once I Proceeded To Shoot 2 Shot Cycles
Things Did Not Go Well. Poor Extraction Of The Fired Round Caused The 2nd Round To Jam/HangUp. Pondering This I Was Discouraged[My: AR15 Bushie/DR200 Dawoe/Ruger Min14/AK In
223/SAR-3/ BushMaster Assault Rifle...Never Did This!!]. As I Sat
At My Shooting Range...Thinking...Duah !!Chamber Brush!! So Following Otis's Procedure, I Drenched The Chamber Brush, The
Otis Sales Rep Gave Me[Nice Folks..Also Gave Me A AR-15 Cleaning
Kit], With Light Oil And Cleaned The Chamber. After Running
Severals Cleaning Passes, I Tried Feeding/Ejecting "Live Rounds"
With Rifle Pointing In A Safe Direction. Much Better! A Few Live
Rounds Resisted A Bit But Not As Bad As Before. Firing 2 Shot
Cycles...Much Better. Still Uncomfortable About Slight Resistance
Of Some Live Rounds Extracting/Unloading Rifle. I Cleaned The
Chamber Again, Let Set OverNight. Next Day Cleaned Bore.
Cycled SnapCap And Dummy Brass Round..No Probelm. Tried
Cycling Live Rounds Several Times..No Probelm. Test Fired
Multiple Shots...Perfect. Must Have Had Some Gummy Oil In The
Chamber That The CLP Could Not Cut With A Patch Only. Did Try
A Few Shots With My England Magazine With Green Follwer I Gots
From Midway...Worked Good[After I Cycled Dummy Rounds]. I
Think A Little Honing Or Crocuse Cloth On The Feed Lips Can
Fine Tune These Mag's. England Mags Work Great In The DR200.
I Did Not Care For The Follwer In The Mag That Can With The
Rifle, I Changed The Follower...Nice Mag. I Adjusted The Front
Sight So To Get The Rear Sight Center For Windage As Armalite
Suggested...Real Neat. Only Negative, Is The Upper Receiver
Wiggles Just A Bit When Locked To The Lower. I Would Like A
Easy Disconnect Pin To Separate The Upper Recv'r From The
Lower. Good Rifle I'd Buy Another And Scope It If I Had The Funds.

[Hootbro]

Good job with the rifle Bluesjunkie. :up: That reminds me that I have yet to run a chamber brush on mine. :D

Hootbro

[StooperZero]

.I might get one ONLY if I can get an EVIL one ...No offense if you got a post- Hootbro but I think it looks cheesy . I liked the old glossy black parts better....:D Something about that folding stock and flash hider,,not to mention that special little lug on the end:D

[Richard Simmons]

Mine is still shooting high even with the front sight raised about as high as I feel comfortable without it falling out. I read somewhere that some folks have had to replace the front sight post. I'm the second owner so I'm not looking to return it under warranty. What front sight can I use to get my POI down? TIA

[thedaledoe]

they make taller front sight posts for ar15's.. if the same one isnt used in the 180B's(i dont know jack about them so forgive me if im way off) im sure someone makes them somewhere.

[Richard Simmons]

That's what I'm wondering if any old AR sight will work or if it's something specific? Wish I had saved the article or could remember whrer I saw it. IIRC it mentioned having to cut down or modify the AR sight that was used. I may just pick up a couple at this weeks gunshow. They can't be all that expensive, can they?