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ArmaLite AR-18

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
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Armalite AR-18 - 5.56mm

The AR-18 Rifle was developed in the early 1960s as a low cost alternative to the AR-15 Rifle and was produced by Armalite in the U.S. and manufactured via contract by Sterling of England and Howa of Japan. The AR-18 was a (5.56mm) select fire assault rifle that used simple stampings for ease of manufacture. The Semi-automatic Civilian version of the rifle was called the AR-180. Hoping to capture the third world market as an alternative to the more expensive M16 assault rifle, Armalite was set for a disappointment, when the U.S. Government commissioned, bought and then gave away hundreds of thousands of M16s during the course of the 1960s and 1970s (to stem the tide of Communists arming 'their side' with free weapons). Armalite discontinued AR-18 production in the late 1970s.

Specifications

(1963 - 1980)

Type: Assault Rifle

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO,

Capacity: 20,30,40 round box magazine

Fire Modes: Safe/Semi-Auto/Full-Auto (700-800 RPM)


The Armalite AR-18/AR-180 has been used by the following actors in the following films:

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Armalite AR-18 with 30 round magazine 5.56mm
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AR-18 fitted with scope with stock folded 5.56mm
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AR-18 with scope and sling fitted 5.56mm
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Modernized AR-180B by Armalite that accepts AR-15 / M16 magazines but does not come with a side-folding stock (requires aftermarket parts and modification to the rifle to accomplish this) - 5.56mm
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The SAR-87, an advanced AR-18 derivative that was under development by the now-defunct Sterling Armaments of Dagenham.


Films

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator in The Terminator. The character acquires a semi automatic AR-180 in the gun store and (as explained by director James Cameron in later interviews), it is assumed that the Terminator used his own 'technical knowledge' to convert them to fully automatic fire in the hotel room.
Actor Character File Title Date
Ray Walston Thug Edgar Whiney Silver Streak 1976
The Enforcer 1976
KGB Assassins The Spy Who Loved Me 1977
Venezuelan soldiers Sorcerer 1977
. Phoenix Police The Gauntlet 1977
Sherry Jackson Abigail Bratowski Stingray (AKA: Abigail Wanted) 1978
Michael Gothard Michael Corben For Your Eyes Only 1981
Derek Thompson Billy Downes Harry's Game 1982
Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator The Terminator 1984
Pierce Brosnan James Bond Tomorrow Never Dies 1997
Treva Etienne Ark Tribesman The Last Train 1999
Andrew Connolly Concannon Shergar 1999
Nathan Fillion Mal Reynolds Serenity 2005
Colombian Rogue Unit soldier Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia 2009

Television

Actor Character File Title Date
Christopher George Mr. Bravo S.W.A.T. 1975
Lewis Collins Bodie The Professionals 1977-1983
Ismael Carlo Salvador The A-Team 1983-1988

Gerald MacRaney (Simon & Simon) is seen in an episode using an AR-180 in a shootout with car thieves

Video Games


Additional history

  • Although never adopted officially by any Armed Forces, it did somewhat serve as a testbed for weapons such as the Sterling SAR-87, SA80, SR-88, H&K G36 etc. The AR-18 was notoriously supplied underground to the Irish Republican Army hence the Armalite and Ballot Box strategy. The rifle is now once again being manufactured by Armalite as the modernized AR-180B, with new Polymer Lower receiver that accepts AR-15/M16(STANAG) magazines. The original AR-18/180s had a "similar looking" magazine to the AR-15 but it was a proprietary design and the magazines for the two rifles were NOT interchangeable unless modified; a cut out space on the magazine to catch in the magazine well was on different sides for each weapon, but a skilled armourer could modify one magazine to fit in the other. The new version allows for the usage of the vastly more common AR-15 magazines. Despite being once again manufactured for the civilian shooter market, none of the new Armalite guns with the synthetic lower receiver have appeared in any movies or television shows yet.