There are many .223 caliber autoloading rifles on the market today. Most are based on the AR-15 design, and are well-built examples of that great rifle that has served this country and many others as the M-16 in its many variations.

Without going into the complete history of the development of the ArmaLite AR-15 and AR-18 designs, it will suffice for our purposes to understand that the AR-18 was an attempt by ArmaLite to improve upon the AR-15 design without infringing upon the AR-15 patents, which at the time had been sold to Colt by ArmaLite's parent company. These developments were taking place in the very early 1960s when the military leaders of the World were just warming up to the idea of a .223 caliber battle rifle.

The AR-15 design proved much more successful in gaining military contracts, so ArmaLite marketed a civilian, semi-auto version of the AR-18 as the AR-180. During the course of manufacture of the original AR-180, they were built in at least three countries; Japan, England, and the United States. There were a few small variations to the shape of the charging handle and the magazines used during the original run of AR-180s, but the basic design remained one of simplicity and reliability. While the AR-180 has been out of production for several years, there remains a loyal following of shooters who keep these great rifles in high demand, and to their delight and mine, the AR-180 is back in production by ArmaLite right here in the United States.

The original AR-180 used sheet metal stampings instead of aluminum forgings for the upper and lower receivers as a manufacturing advantage over the AR-15 design, but the most significant improvements were to the gas and recoil spring systems. Instead of the direct gas impingement upon the bolt carrier of the AR-15 system, the AR-180 used the piston and tappet gas system that had first appeared on the early German assault rifles of World War Two. Besides being not nearly as ammo sensitive as the AR-15 design, the AR-180 gas system allowed ArmaLite to use proven technology without infringing upon the patent then owned by Colt in the AR-15 design.

The dual coil springs used to return the bolt carrier in the AR-180 eliminate the spring in the buttstock of the AR-15 design, thereby allowing a trimmer buttstock that folded sideways on the AR-180. Overall, the AR-18 program, which resulted in the AR-180, developed into a simpler, and under some conditions more reliable, assault rifle. Keep in mind that during the early years of the AR-15, many problems with reliability were encountered that have now been overcome. The AR-18 at that time was a superior rifle.

The new AR-180 as built today by ArmaLite has taken the best features of the original AR-180 and combined them with a few features of the AR-15. The result is the ArmaLite AR-180B. The new rifle retains the light weight, slim profile, and great gas system of the original AR-180, while substituting a reinforced polymer lower receiver for the stamped lower on the original. The AR-180B also uses parts from the AR-15 for the trigger and magazine systems.

The AR-180B has a barrel that is just under 20 inches in length, has a one-in-nine inch twist, and is slim in comparison to most AR-15 type rifle barrels today. Thankfully, ArmaLite has not saddled the AR-180B with an HBAR-type barrel. Most AR-15 type rifles are fitted with barrels that are too heavy for their intended purpose. On a varmint or target gun a heavy barrel is acceptable, but it is a detriment to handling on an assault-style rifle. The polymer lower receiver, trim buttstock, and slim barrel result in a weight of only six pounds for the AR-180B, which is a full pound lighter than most 16 inch barreled AR-15s. The bolt operating handle is attached directly to the bolt carrier, eliminating the charging handle of the AR-15, and giving the shooter a simpler and better method of chambering a round. The AR-180B now has a fixed buttstock rather than the folding unit of the original, which was prone to breakage under rough handling.