Armalite AR-18 - Variants

Variants

The standard AR-18 versions manufactured by ArmaLite, Howa and Sterling differ only in minor details. Rifles were normally equipped with sling, cleaning kit (bore/brush), and a knife-type bayonet with scabbard. An optional bipod with case was available.

The AR-180 was capable of semi-automatic fire only and was externally identical in appearance to the AR-18 with one exception; the selector had only 2 positions, omitting the third "AUTO" position found on the AR-18.

Sterling manufactured a small number of sporter variants called the AR-180 SCS, of which only 385 were reputed to have been made. It had a large single-piece wooden thumbhole stock that replaced the butt, pistol grip and handguard of conventional versions. The metal parts differ in the lack of the ejection port cover, a PH prefix to the serial number and adapted safety and magazine release controls.

Sterling also manufactured small numbers of a short version, the AR-18S. This version used the same basic mechanism and folding butt, but had a 257-mm barrel and a length of 765mm (30 in) with the butt extended. The shortened barrel was fitted with a cone-shaped flash suppressor to address the additional muzzle flash resulting from the short barrel. Some examples had an additional pistol grip fitted to the underside of the handguard.

A 2.75 X 20 mm telescopic sight was available but few were sold. It was marked "ArmaLite", and had a quick-detachable, see-through mount that attached to an integral dovetail spot-welded to the top of the receiver.

Also of note is that bullpup conversions of the AR-18 and the Stoner 63 were fabricated by Enfield, the rival company of Sterling Armaments Ltd when developing the SA80.