The AR-180 was a semi-automatic rifle that had flopped in the civilian market very early on but recently showed a resurgence. Essentially an AR-15 ‘Lite,’ the AR-180 weighed just a bit over 6 pounds and had an 18-inch barrel with a 1-in-12-inch twist rate, perfect for the 55-grain .223 bullets that were most prevalent at the time. The true 5.56mm chamber enabled it to fire both 5.56mm NATO and .223 Remington rounds.
Although designed to be innovative and have a price that created market demand, the AR-180 still had big competition problems, partially due to its proprietary magazine system, which would not work with AR-15 magazines. This problem later was rectified when, in 2001, the “new” ArmaLite came out with the AR-180B, which used AR-15 magazines. “Building a new AR-180 was just a natural progression for us,” said Mark Westrom, president of ArmaLite. Light in weight, overall balance, and new innovative features, like an effective non-detachable compensator and the ability to be fit with match-triggers, were almost universally lauded. And with a competitive $660 price tag for law enforcement, this rifle proved especially attractive to many cash-strapped departments.
However, the AR-180B never sold particularly well and finally ceased production in 2007, appearing doomed to become merely a footnote in firearms history. In an odd twist, interest in the AR-180 appears to have gained new life in the market, possibly due to the rarity and enormously different design heritage of this weapon system. In 2019, a modern descendant of the AR-180 lineage, the WK180-C, greatly stirred new interest. The WK180-C, made by Kodiak Defence in Canada but commissioned by Wolverine Supplies, brings forward AR-15 compatibility regarding barrels, muzzle brakes, and triggers, among other parts, to the fore while still retaining the core personality of the AR-180.
The WS-MCR, the other modern variant, is essentially a refined version of the AR-180B. Much like its predecessor, the rifle was non-restricted and semi-automatic but came in calibers like 5.56/223, 224 Valkyrie, and 7.62×39. WS-MCR was aggressively marketed as truly adaptable since most parts from an AR can be fitted directly into it, the stock, trigger, barrel, and muzzle devices. The forend has a hinged 1913 Picatinny rail and includes M-Lok slots to mount accessories.
Although early on there were some problems with the build quality to include 3D printed parts and plastic crush washers, these have been taken into account by more recent versions. Added a steel side panel on the receiver, medium profile barrel, and integrated shell deflector, the WS-MCR features one of the better triggers out there. Specifically, this breaks 7 pounds, compared to the WK180C’s 12-pound trigger.
While not commercially successful as a weapon in and of itself, the AR-180 and its modern descendants, the WK180-C and WS-MCR, have found their place today within the civilian market. It is this adaptability, coupled with its modern features and improvements, that gives them the added advantage of being able to use AR-compatible parts and makes them quite formidable competition to firearm enthusiasts and competitive shooters alike. With further evolution, these rifles could secure their place in history among all semi-automatic rifles.