I got one: Original piston drive 5.56mm Armalite AR-180 (Sterling)

[imarangemaster]

Here is a little eye candy. I will post more pics later with scope, bayonet, bipod, mags,
etc.

[smac61]

I have a nice Cosa Mesa AR-180 I need to sell. Can anyone tell me if the current blue book pricing is accurate?

Thanks,
Sean

[imarangemaster]

The Costa Mesa seem to sell for a little more than the Sterling. Sterlings are SELLING for about $850-950ish. I paid $925 for mine with an original 1970s vintage AR180 scope mount and three magazines. Mounts go for about $100.

[jmoore]

I sold my Costa Mesa in mid 2010 for ~US$1100. And that was after I had "ruined" it by making it work w/ M16 mags (except the plastic Magpuls etc.) The mag release still pivoted, but it pushed a custom spring loaded "L" that engaged the '16 mag's catch hole. Also had to make a form block to massage the relief area on the left side of the lower receiver.

[arado]

The only .223 rifles I have both have pistons. My Ruger Mini 14 and my daewoo 200. I despise the cartridge. Gary

[jmoore]

I despise the cartridge. Gary

Why? It's not the "end-all be-all" round, but it does far better than a 9mm submachinegun. Or the .30 Carbine. Or a full auto 7.62x51 that weighs under ten lbs. It even works well on deer out to a couple of hundred yards.

[arado]

Why? It's not the "end-all be-all" round, but it does far better than a 9mm submachinegun. Or the .30 Carbine. Or a full auto 7.62x51 that weighs under ten lbs. It even works well on deer out to a couple of hundred yards.

It lacks hard target capabilty and range. I employ 8 Mauser 198 in my Zastava M76. It penetrates 15mm+ mild steel and effective to 1200 meters. I don't shoot deer or people. kept in reserve. Gary

[imarangemaster]

I like the 5.56mm, but it has it's limitations. That's why I have two 7.62x39s: An AK and a VZ58!

[Bill Hollinger]

The .223 40gr BTHP is a great round for coyotes! It opens them like the parting of the Red Sea!!!

[proditto]

During the years that I worked with Sterling I debugged the first production guns. We had a number of problems with the tooling from the US. The later guns were very reliable especially with the steel magazine. The alloy magazines tended to wear the lips! Later I produced a LSW with a quick change barrel and a 7.62x39 version. The later used a modified AR18 magazine.The two prototypes were in the Pattern Room collection.