That's the only reason why I haven't bought one already. The charging handle is all crooked and cock-eyed! Looks like a jack-in-the-box crank. It's near the pic rail where your optic mount would be so you can rake your hand on it.
@@muffemod pretty sure you can get any aftermarket charging handle you want. also its easy to take off so you wont need any type of machine to break down the bolt to get it out
Honestly, not that bad considering all the engineering they needed to do to get this round on the AR-180 platform. I don't know of many piston operated .300 Blk uppers. Maybe the honey badger? but i think that's direct impingement.
Michael Manoni sig. $2,000. This is an alternative to it but I’d rather have the sig. Less chance I make a bad lower for the 180 and it cost more in the long run.
Michael Manoni PWS (primary weapons systems) and Adams Arms. Both are adjustable gas pistons. Amazing uppers and excellent customer service. Both also also have 5.56 uppers but PWS is .223 Wylde. Same thing tho.
@@mjmanoni The real key is that this action is bufferless, so folding stocks are back on the menu. Folding braces are too, or even just a sling attachment point for pistols.
@@mjmanoni , as @onesilentarrow stated PWS (primary weapons systems) also produces a piston operated systems, the difference is they use a long piston, as opposed to the 180s short piston. Brownells also openly credits PWS with assisting them on the design of their 180.
Something to consider before you purchase, just know that all the parts are Proprietor , nothing in this upper interchanges with regular AR-15 ( kinda goes without saying ) but it’s important to know that if you have any issues with BCG .. etc,etc. there is as far as I know ( I’ve looked ) only one place you can get parts ,, and that is Primary Weapons System, the actual manufacturers of the 180. I like it, but if you have issues out in the field you can’t just switch a part out like you could with the another AR ( if your like me you have a couple AR’s ) But other then that a pretty cool rifle .
Definitely a future purchase for me! I wish you guys made a 12.5 - 14.5 inch version of the 5.56 (223 Wylde) variant. 10.5 inches isn't the best for 5.56 (223 Wylde) in terms of velocity. A 12.5 - 14.5 inch barrel would be perfect in terms of a shorter package. Do you guys know when you'll have the 5.56 variant in stock again?
I totally dig this upper. I have the PWS MK109 (300BLK) and I would love for PWS to bring back the long barrel 300BLK but in 13.7". I truly believe that the 300 in an AR upper (15 or 18) is the future for home/self defense/sm-med hunting (eg hog). BUT Brownells, please make this in 13.7 in 300 BLK--I want the extra burn. And yes, for those that don't know, ballistics does demonstrate that for 300BLK after 9.75" bbl, accuracy and velocity increases.
For the hopeful Gen 3 BRN-180, could Brownells change out the dust cover with something that resembles the Galil ACE as well as offer the AR-180 B style charging handle.
Make spare parts for the entire upper. Too many reviews of the first gen being worthless paper weights because they couldn't get a proprietary part....
Too many reviews? I can think of 5. All were improperly torqued barrels. (And another 5 or so with dust over issues.) all things that were resolved. If you have more info please pass it along.
@@Izzy235634 I'd love to see them expand this concept to different calibers but I'm not sure they'll be able to achieve the reliability with those rounds unless they redesign the lower receiver. 7.62x39 and 6.5 grendel in the AR platform are notorious for feeding issues especially when dealing with mags larger than 10 rounds. I have both. Personally for 7.62x39, I really like the PSA KS-47 that gets around this issues by taking AK magazines on the direct impingement AR-15 platform. While .300 Blackout was never part of Eugene Stoner's AR-180 platform, the lower-receiver and magazines do not change so the only thing that needed to change was a barrel and to adapt the gas system. I don't think we'll see them engineer new calibers unless these sell really well and they design a lower receiver that better accommodates it. But who knows! Even if it didn't work properly, I'd love to see it!
awesome info, i really wanted the 18 inch 223/556 upper myself, seen some reviews on youtube and people seem to really like this new "retro" design piston upper. i wonder if someone did a torture test regarding the gen 2 version and i wonder how it performed?
Difficult with how the auto sear normally interacts with the back of the M16 carrier. A transfer bar or plate could work, make it get pulled forward and back slightly by the carrier. Sadly though, I don't think there's enough market demand for that kind of model.
@@DustyGamma Ah, a small part to consider when looking at what they have done building this upper from nothing. Yes there are several designs with a simple plate with connecting rods what would allow the bolt back and then just grab the auto sear when the bolt goes forward. Demand would be more than justified for adding what is basically one part simple part. There are a lot of M16s out there and there are a ton of post samples. MG people spend money, so you could add $200 to the price and I would not blink. People with $20K+ guns getting the chance to turn it into an AR18, for under $1k for the upper... they will sell enough to make it worth while. I might even buy multiple uppers, getting one in short and one longer. Its a simple enough part that if they don't do it, I might get one and just modify an upper to run FA on my registered lower. I am sure some MG guy will soon. However I would much rather have it done correct from the factory. A lot of people write off the FA guys but we spend money! Look at Lage manufacturing and what he has done with Macs.
Hey @Brownells I have a first gen Ben 180s and would like some spare parts for it! It's been reliable but with how much it gets used something will eventually fail. 7000 plus or minus 500 rounds and it has not malfunctioned.
We need an ambidextrous charging handle in the forend. Easier reaching gas adjustment system. Tool-less forend removal screw. Give it a swing mount so it can be torqued with your fingers. Bullpup lower since this has no recoil tube.
If Brownell's makes a '180 with a 20 inch barrel I will jump at the chance to buy one. Twenty inch is the bare minimum length for 5.56 mm. I want the barrel with a 1 in 12 twist. Will stick with M193.
I'm kinda curious why this upper HG doesn't allow muzzle devices like the YHM QD? You can't mount that QD muzzle device without placing stress on the your receiver since the HG won't fit under/inside.
Any idea when its available in Germany? I want to put a different upper on my sabre defence lower and the 180 would be ideal and with all the improvements i want to wait for the Gen 2
Can you swap out for longer hand guards? For example getting the 10” upper, but planning on having a live on suppressor and want a more integral look with a 16” hand guard? Is it wide enough to begin with? I take it the bottom nut for hand guard attachment means we can’t swap it out for a separate company/length hand guard to get the look we want?
Are the bolt carriers the same for the 7.62x39 and the 5.56MMx45?(Reason why I ask is can I just change the bolt and barrel to change the chamber without having to buy a whole different BCG for the BRN-180?
Took my 300 blackout BRN-180 to the range today to shoot 220 grain subs and discovered that none of them shot stable. They tore severe keyholes in my target sheet. Any suggestions?
Is there a sling attachment option rearward portion of lower? I’ve put one together with SB tactical folding brace using a standard AR-15 lower and want someway to sling it.
It’s two minor changes, not that big of a deal. But this is what the gun industry is like, every year there’s new “improved” versions of what you already shelled out money for.
I have the Gen 1 180s and the only difference on the 10.5 inch one is the handguard is no longer QD and requires the tightening screw which could improve it's stability when things heat up. Luckily, I never opened it! I never got around to building anything due to COVID and ammo supply shortages. So I called Brownells and lets just say we're working it out.
