The AR-180 is quite a formidable competitor in the civilian semiautomatic rifle market, carrying on its stamp both innovation and durability. Weighing just a shade over 6 pounds with an 18-inch barrel and carrying a 1-in-12-inch twist rate, the initial AR-180 was designed to accommodate the standard 55-grain .223 bullets. Its true 5.56mm chamber made it versatile enough in shooting different applications, using either 5.56mm NATO or .223 Remington.
The AR-180 was neither too expensive nor overly innovative and, worse yet, would face tough competition from most, in part due to its proprietary magazine system incompatible with those of the AR-15. This problem had been rectified by 2001, as the newly reformed ArmaLite issued the AR-180B utilizing a polymer lower receiver and utilizing the common AR-15 magazines. Mark Westrom, president of ArmaLite, said, “Building a new AR-180 was just a natural progression for us.” The AR-180B received rave reviews for its lightweight build and excellent balance with improved features, including an effective non-detachable compensator and the option for a match-trigger upgrade. At its price tag of $660, it became an instant hit among less-end budget-conscious law enforcement departments.
But it fared poorly in the market and went out of production in 2007, seemingly doomed to an obscure footnote in firearms history. It now seems that in one of history’s peculiar ironies, the AR-180 has become highly sought after in the market, probably because of its scarcity and very interesting design history. In 2019, the WK180-C, a modern descendant of the AR-180 lineage, was sure to spark renewed enthusiasm. WK180-C, made in Canada by Kodiak Defence on commission from Wolverine Supplies, brings AR-15 compatibility in barrels, muzzle brakes, and triggers among other parts, while retaining most of the uniqueness of the AR-180.
Its latest iteration, the WK180C Gen 2, which landed in 2022, brought a raft of new features and ergonomic enhancements. To that end, it sported a slim, lightened lower receiver, a non-reciprocating cocking handle, an external bolt catch, and an extended handguard. It has an 18.7-inch chrome moly medium-heavy barrel, a STANAG 4694 rail for mounting optics or iron sights, and was designed for both recreational shooting and hunting. The free-float railed handguard has over fifty M-Lok slots to attach accessories.
The WK180-C features a new and improved, adjustable gas valve for superior performance with a wide array of ammunition types. This gives the user the ability to fine-tune their rifles so that they operate optimally with either 5.56 mm or 7.62x39mm rounds.
That the AR-180 would survive from such a troubled design to a highly marketable civilian rifle says much about its resilience and its innovations, which simply refused to go away. The continuing refinement of the WK180-C ensures the spirit of the AR-180 lives on and well, taking that cutting-edge modern advance and special characteristics that have captured the hearts and imaginations of many firearm enthusiasts.