AR-18 magazine ?

[Abacab]

I know it's an old thread and this is my first post, but I thought those that replied to this thread might enjoy my find.

A few months back I was wandering around the York gun show in PA. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a magazine in a dumpster of a display that had the AR-18 mag catch. I asked the guy to pull out the mag and found it was steel and parkerized. It also had the correct black AR-18 cut follower. However, the floor plate had no markings. Thinking I had a Sterling mag that someone swapped floor plates out on, I offered the guy ten bucks and he took it.

My memory failed me in that I forgot the Sterling mags had the hole punched in the side which this mag did not. I stripped and reparked the mag. I decided to do a little search on the interwebs when I came across this thread. Here are pics of my find - I think we now have two of these mags accounted for.Attachment 56071Attachment 56072Attachment 56073Attachment 56074Attachment 56075Attachment 56076

[RCS]

It is just like the NOS AR-18/180 magazine that I found in the envelope, it is not the Sterling. There are some 20 rd magazines like this 30 rd around tooAttachment 56077Attachment 56078
The Sterling bottom plate has a smaller hole and not near the detent to remove the plate

[Abacab]

So do you concur with my assessment your mag and mine are of the same origin? I'm trying to instill doubt in myself because the odds of me finding one of these by mere chance out of the corner of my eye at a gun show seem awfully low.

[AmEngRifles]

Abacab,

It is ENTIRELY possible to find the magazine you did, in the manor you did. MOST people have NO idea what they are, will therefore sell very cheap. You have the same magazine that kobren and I reference.

I would love to find out more about these mags. I do not think they were made by Armalite, in house, because I never recall seeing any literature that promoted them. A company in business to make profit will usually advertise their products.

The fact that kobren found one in ORIGINAL packaging is just incredible! In 40+ years of collecting and looking at AR-180 and Armalite history, I have never laid eyes on one in packaging. If I owned it, I would never open it.

[kobren]

The 30rd unmarked parkerized steel mag pictured is genuine ArmaLite Costa Mesa CA and I'v located plenty of documentation with photos to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. If possible I'd like to see photos front and back of the complete polycraft wrapper that looks like it's in almost new condition. I'v seen photos of a couple of these mags still sealed in the wrapper and they all look identical. I'm seriously leaning towards ArmaLite mfg their 20 and 30rd mags in house and not by a subcontractor.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

CIS in Singapore also did their own thing with a rifle having more than a passing resemblance to the AR-18.

Anyone have any clear data on the mags for these, especially the early ones?

[osjim]

I have an Armalite Costa Mesa Serial number in low 600's. I have had it for over 25 years. Rarely shot, has the Armalite proprietary scope. I also have the same magazine you are discussing and always wondered who made it.

[AmEngRifles]

I need to update this thread with a set of pictures. First off, thank you kobren for the valuable additions to this thread. It has helped me in a long search.

I have just purchased a new in wrapper early 30 round magazine for the M-16/AR-180 we have been reviewing. I think this is about the 4th mag I have come across in this style. This is the first one to have the kraft paper wrap. I paid a bit too much, but then again, it is all relative and this is the first one I have seen in a VERY long time. So price is fair.

I would like to include images of Sterling produced mags, because they seems to cause confusion at times. Sterling DID make a 30 round magazine in steel, just as they made a curve 20 and a curved 40. But once you see these, along with the original finish, you will be able to discern these from all others. All Sterlings have the manufacture's name on the base plate. There are a few small variations of the markings, but that leads down another road.

All Sterling mags and 20 round ARMALITE mags have the black plastic follower with a lowered bolt stop shelf. As far as I recall, and I need to find and inspect my "early-no name" steel 30's, like we are discussing, these did NOT come with the lowered shelf follower. If you have discovered otherwise, please let me know. I will add, that ANY mag, after all these years, could end up with a changed/replaced floor plate or follower. The mag displayed by Abacab that came from the gun show may have had it's follower replaced. I see it does have a follower with the appropriate 180 lowered shelf. If you didn't replace/modify the follower for use in the 180, you would end up with a locked open bolt and one round left in the mag. I used to file down or cut out the tab on M-16 followers that I modified for my 180's in earlier times.

While both the "no name" and Sterling steel 30 round magazines had "constant curves", not "compound curves" like the contract M-16 mags, they are of a different radius. Not by much, but it is evident when you place them on top of one another.

The one thing I find interesting about the nomenclature used on these poly kraft wraps is the reference to the AR-180 and NOT the AR-18. They do refer to the M16/AR-15, so I guess there was a strong enough recognition of the civilian market, they wanted to use those terms. Just interesting, if it was intended for military contracts alone, you would think they would have simply stamped them M16/AR-18. Something to ponder. As well, although a VERY MINOR point, is the way they spelled that out. It is as follows:

M16-AR-15-AR180

Most of the time, I consider that AR 180 is written in this way, "AR-180", with the dash between the letter and number. Small potatoes in the overall conversation.

OK, look for some photos in the not too distant future. This thread moves along SLOWLY! lol

---------- Post added at 01:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:44 PM ----------

The 30rd unmarked parkerized steel mag pictured is genuine ArmaLite Costa Mesa CA and I'v located plenty of documentation with photos to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. If possible I'd like to see photos front and back of the complete polycraft wrapper that looks like it's in almost new condition. I'v seen photos of a couple of these mags still sealed in the wrapper and they all look identical. I'm seriously leaning towards ArmaLite mfg their 20 and 30rd mags in house and not by a subcontractor.

I could see this. Aren't 30 round magazines featured in the original operator's manual? That would indicate a much earlier production date, as they had to supply those civilian 180s with Operators Manuals. The rifle hit the civilian market what year? 1969?

Just reviewed two on line manuals posted at BigRix AR180s page. In the earlier manual, those sent with Costa Mesa rifles, no pictures of 30 round mags. In the later Sterling produced manuals, they feature their own manufactured 30 round mag in the back, under accessories. So no help there.