Brownells BRN-180 Short Stroke AR-18 Style Rifle 5.56 18” Folding Stock
SOLD FOR: $1,251.00
LSB#: WY250318BR142
Make: Brownells
Model: BRN-180
Serial Number: 180-05046
Year of Manufacture: Modern
Caliber: 5.56 / .223
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Short-Stroke Gas Piston, with folding stock fed by AR15 magazines.
Markings: The right side of the receiver is marked, “MODEL . BRN-180 / CAL . 5.56X45mm / S/N . 180-05046” with “SAFE / FIRE” around the safety. The left side of the receiver is marked, “BROWNELLS INC. GRINNELL . IA” with “SAFE / FIRE”. The left side of the upper receiver is marked, “BRN-180”. The pistol grip is marked “B5”.
Barrel Length: 18.5”, 20.5” with four prong flash hider.
Sights / Optics: The rifle has a 21” picatinny rail for the mounting of optics and accessories. Currently mounted is a set of Fab Defense flip up back up polymer iron sights.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The furniture set includes a 13” M-LOK forend, a B5 systems pistol grip, and a folding solid stock with rubber buttpad mounted to a picatinny rail on the rear of the receiver. The length of pull is 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the stock. The furniture shows some very minor scattered handling wear with no real notable marks or marrs. The stock functions correctly. Overall the furniture is in about Excellent condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: This rifle includes one Magpul P-mag Gen M2 30 round magazine in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Anodized Black
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion in the bore. The feed ramps are smooth and shiny showing only minor copper fouling. The flash hider has some minor carbon fouling and verdigris. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its metal finish. The exterior of the rifle shows only very minor handling marks with none being notable. The barrel shows some verdigris under the gas port to the piston. The screw heads are sharp and the pins are un-marred. Overall this rifle is in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action function correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle includes the magazine.
Our Assessment: The Brownells BRN-180 in 5.56 with an 18.5″ barrel is a modern evolution of the original Armalite AR-18, a rifle first developed in the 1960s as a more affordable and easier-to-manufacture alternative to the AR-15. The AR-18 utilized a short-stroke gas piston system and stamped steel construction, influencing numerous later designs like the British SA80 and the G36. Brownells’ BRN-180 keeps the spirit of the AR-18 alive with a monolithic upper receiver, modern materials, and a refined short-stroke piston system, making it cleaner-running and more reliable in adverse conditions. The 18.5″ barrel variant adds increased velocity and range, making it suitable for both target shooting and practical rifle applications.
This specific setup with a folding stock (enabled by the BRN-180’s self-contained recoil system), four-prong flash hider, B5 Systems pistol grip, anti-walk trigger pins, and FAB Defense backup iron sights is a well thought out blend of classic design and modern modularity. The folding stock provides compact storage and transport without needing a buffer tube, while the flash hider helps mitigate muzzle flash. The B5 grip improves ergonomics and control, and anti-walk pins ensure trigger reliability during high round counts or rough use. FAB Defense’s iron sights are rugged and low-profile, rounding out a solid build for both historical enthusiasts and modern shooters. Please see our high quality photos via the link and best of luck with your bidding!!!-R.L.
