American 180, 18.5″ Barrel 22LR
Scarce American Arms Model 180 M2 Fully Automatic Class III/NFA “22 LR” Machine Gun
Serial #:
Manufacturer; American Arms International
Model: American 180 M2
Type: Machine gun
Gauge: 22LR.
Barrel: 16 3/4 inch round
Finish: blue
Stock: plastic and walnut
Class: Class III
What a neat little fully automatic rifle manufactured by the American Arms International Company. These were originally designed in the late 1970s as a semi-automatic version with the fully automatic models being introduced in the early 1980s. The underside of the receiver is stamped: “AMERICAN ARMS INTL. S.L. C. UT./AMERICAN 180 M-2”. They were designed to look like a Thompson SMG but used a drum magazine mounted horizontally on top of the action somewhat like a Lewis or Russian DP-38 machine gun. The drum magazine holds 177 rounds of the very popular and easy to obtain 22 LR ammunition.
These handy little rifles can fire in either Semi-Automatic or Full-Auto (from an open bolt), a finned barrel like the 1921/28 Thompson SMGs, to aid in cooling. They have a cyclic rate of 1200 rpm which could be quite devastating even for the 22LR. It has a side-mounted cocking handle, a fixed blade front sight and an adjustable rear sight patterned from the M1 Carbines. They were very unique at the time and still are today. They have a high impact brown plastic buttstock and forend with a blue/black metal finish.
Condition
Excellent with 97% of the original finish overall showing handling minor wear and test firing. The plastic components are all in excellent condition. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), Class III, Fully Automatic Weapon which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, (BATF) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.