Armalite AR18 info.

[twowheelinjim]

Hello all, I have just received an Armalite AR-18 rifle from my father-in-law. All I know about these types of rifles is I remember seeing one in the first "teminator" movie. Ever since I was a kid I always wondered what type of rifle it was, and now I finally got one. My son is not highly enthused by it since it does not have a wooden stock and it's not a truly military surplus rifle. I guess he doesn't know about the IRA. Any way, I was wondering if any of you gentlemen knew the history or own one. It seems like a pretty neat design. It has a piston driven bolt and a folding stock. That alone makes it seem superior to my AR-15 but I haven't had the chance to shoot it yet. After I figured out how to take it apart, I noticed it appears as if has not been fired. I'm basing this on how my AR's looked when I first got them, and how they look now after a few hundred round were fired through them.
This rifle was built in Costa Mesa and the serial number is S03XX. It belonged to my father-in-law's Dad. It would be nice to figure out when it was built but I can't find any charts or data for this rifle. Any info will be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Information

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[Bruce McAskill]

While not used by the US military it was used in some third world countries. The design was to make a rifle that was cheaper to make then the M-16 and used stampings. It was made in two or three different parts of the USA at different times IF I remember correctly as well as being made in the UK. It really did not turn out to be a successful design as there were no real advantages over the M-16. It did have a few problems in that it took it's own magazine which was not interchangeable with the M-16 magazine. I seem to remember Stoner wanted it to interchange but was over ruled by the company making them as they owned the design for it at the time. Hopefully someone else knows more and will post about it.

[RCS]

There is a long post about the AR-15, AR-18/0 magazines down a little way on this forum. The Costa Mesa AR-18 is worth the most in value, also you have Howa and Sterling. Most of the magazines fit either AR-18/0 or AR-15. The Michell 75 rd drum will also fit the Costa Mesa AR-18.

[Badger]

There is a long post about the AR-15, AR-18/0 magazines down a little way on this forum.

AR-18 magazine ?

Regards,
Badger

[Charlie Xray]

The AR18 (AR180 semiauto) was made by Armalite in Costa Mesa, CA and for them by Howa in Japan and later Sterling in the UK. The Costa Mesa is most desirable and the best of the lot. Next comes the Howas and then the Seirlings, with the early Sterlings being pretty good rifles and later ones a bit less well made. Costa Meas made the fewest and Sterling the most as I recall. Story goes that they were excluded from testing by the US in Nam because the Japanese constitution (Howa being the manufacturer at the time) did not allow the sale of weapons to nations at war. True story???

The system is superior to the M16 IMO, but the AR18 never got the benefit of field testing to wring out its flaws, and it has a few, the weakness of the folding stock being one. They are very nice rifles and great shooters. I have one and like it better than the M16/AR15. A period Armalite scope made specifically for it is worth as much as a rifle (I am told). I have seen the Sterling rifles at gun shows for a bit over a grand lately. Costa Mesas higher.

They will accept M16 magazines, but they must be modified by cutting a small slit on the right side for the AR18 mag catch - easily done. I also find the protruding mag stop on the left side of M16 mags sometimes has to be compressed slightly, as the mag goes deeper into the AR18 mag well than on an M16. Left protruding, it gets pressed inward in the AR18 mag well and sometimes jams the follower. This mod can be tricky, and I have a tool made from a chunk of railroad rail to use as an anvil.

The Armalite brand was bought by Springfield Armory, Inc., and they once sold an AR180B with a non-folding one piece lower/stock that was molded of a poly material. They have been withdrawn and it is speculated they are retooling the design for release with the folding stock and stamped steel receiver. That remains to be seen.

CX

[twowheelinjim]

Thanks for the info guys. I have decided to lube the rifle and take to the range for it's maiden voyage. I received this rifle from my father-in-law. It was originally purchased by his father sometime in the late 60's. I have an ammo can full of magazines so I won't be modifying any AR magazines. I'm glad his father horded so much stuff. I was already looking at milling a block of steel to fit inside a standard AR-15 magazine to use as an anvil for flattening the higher portion and to mill the slit on the opposing side with a 1/16" endmill. if this rifle had any U.S military significance I would probably donate it to a museum since I have an AR-15 I like to shoot regularly.

[browningautorifle]

Don't try to flatten the high portion, just dremmel it out or the magazine will ripple in that area.

[RCS]

When I first saw a photo of the L85A1 field stripped, I saw the AR-18 type of bolt carrier, cam pin and bolt, with the two recoil springs like the AR-18.

My question: Were any variations produced in the UK without the "bullpup" configuration ?

[Charlie Xray]

Looks to me like the L85A1 uses the AR18 design in bullpup. But I don't recall anyone admitting that. I am thinking there was another rifle very similar to it but it escapes me now - The South Korean assault rifle?

CX

[RCS]

The Daewoo looks like a AR-18 but is more like a M16 inside - was there another ?