Let's take a look at an interesting suppressor host option, the Brownells BRN-180 Gen 3. These uppers take the retro influences of the AR-18/180 family and adapt it for modern use.
This article was sponsored by Brownells. Images taken from Brownells.
AR-180 Background
The AR-18 (and AR-180 semiautomatic version) is a historical oddity these days, but it has been hugely influential. I wrote about my AR-180 as one of my first articles here at TFB. It is a rifle that looks like little else on the market today. The receivers are made from stamped sheet metal, folded and welded into place. Think of how an HK-style receiver is made, but rougher and more squared off.
I like the rough-and-tumble nature of the AR-180, but I also like what it has done for firearms development and technology. The AR-15 preceded the AR-18 (that's why the number is lower...), and some elements of the design clearly influenced the AR-18. Both are lightweight .223/5.56 rifles with rotating, lugged bolts and similar control layouts. The biggest internal difference is the short-stroke piston system of the AR-180. The bolt rides in a carrier with two recoil springs nested inside, rather than the external spring and buffer found in the AR-15. If you have ever taken apart an MCX you have seen a very similar layout.
![My Sterling, British-made AR-180]( "My Sterling, British-made AR-180")
My Sterling, British-made AR-180
![AR-180 fitted with a Magpul RLS sling]( "AR-180 fitted with a Magpul RLS sling")
AR-180 fitted with a Magpul RLS sling
The BRN-180 Project
Brownells was one of the key players in the "retro renaissance" of the last several years. We are spoiled for options these days, but that was not always the case. Carry handle uppers were hard to find, and when they were available, they were quite expensive.
Brownells recognized the opportunity and started a retro lineup. It included models representative of interesting historical AR models like the 605 (the original “dissipator” rifle), M-16A1, and early AR-10 models. This branched out into clones of the HK416 series and more recent uppers like the 733 and M-16A4.
The AR-180 was another interesting historical gun that is not easy to find, but that people wanted to buy. Brownells wanted to revive this gun, but they decided to create a modernized version rather than a strict copy of the original. Making guns with stamped steel and welds is an uncommon method, and the BRN-180 dispensed with that to use more modern means. It also did away with the old-school two-piece handguard and replaced it with a free-floated aluminum rail much like the ones seen on standard ARs these days.
BRN-180 Gen 3
The most recent revision of the BRN-180 brings it even more into the modern era. Changes from earlier versions include a left-side charging handle, redesigned handguard, and a different bolt cover shroud. The improved charging handle design is the most obvious change. The older style was a dogleg handle extending from the bolt carrier out of the ejection port on the right side, as was seen on the original AR-180. This new model moves the charging handle to the left side and makes it nonreciprocating. The handle itself also slants down to keep it clear of optics, much like the aftermarket bolt handles seen on some Sig 550-series rifles. The rubber gasket that keeps dirt out of the charging handle slot also looks like it takes inspiration from the SG550.
![silencer saturday 398 brownells brn 180 gen 3]( "silencer saturday 398 brownells brn 180 gen 3")
One common gripe with older generations of the BRN-180 was the disassembly process. The twin recoil springs and buffer were not captive to the upper. With the rear takedown pin released and the upper receiver opened, the springs and buffer would launch from the gun. The newest version fixes this and keeps the whole unit together during disassembly.
Brownells offers several different versions of the BRN-180 Gen 3 upper, including:
This is Silencer Saturday, so suppressor compatibility is one of the main things we are interested in with this upper. The gas system is adjustable and incorporates suppressed settings. On .223 versions, there are three settings: adverse, normal, and suppressed. The .300 Blackout models add an extra adverse setting, which is useful with subsonic loads. Of course, the barrel threads are the standard ones you would expect in both calibers.
The 13.9-inch model has a pinned and welded muzzle device, bringing the barrel length to 16 inches for legality purposes. The muzzle device is a PWS flash hider with 0.900x24 TPI threads. Many silencer mounting systems are compatible with those threads including the Plan B and Rearden Atlas.
![silencer saturday 398 brownells brn 180 gen 3]( "silencer saturday 398 brownells brn 180 gen 3")
![PWS flash hider on the pinned and welded 13.9-inch upper]( "PWS flash hider on the pinned and welded 13.9-inch upper")
PWS flash hider on the pinned and welded 13.9-inch upper
If you are looking for more info on the BRN-180 Gen 3, check out Matt’s review from earlier this year. As of writing, all models are in stock and ready for order from Brownells.
This article was sponsored by Brownells. Images taken from Brownells.
AR-180 Background
The AR-18 (and AR-180 semiautomatic version) is a historical oddity these days, but it has been hugely influential. I wrote about my AR-180 as one of my first articles here at TFB. It is a rifle that looks like little else on the market today. The receivers are made from stamped sheet metal, folded and welded into place. Think of how an HK-style receiver is made, but rougher and more squared off.
I like the rough-and-tumble nature of the AR-180, but I also like what it has done for firearms development and technology. The AR-15 preceded the AR-18 (that's why the number is lower...), and some elements of the design clearly influenced the AR-18. Both are lightweight .223/5.56 rifles with rotating, lugged bolts and similar control layouts. The biggest internal difference is the short-stroke piston system of the AR-180. The bolt rides in a carrier with two recoil springs nested inside, rather than the external spring and buffer found in the AR-15. If you have ever taken apart an MCX you have seen a very similar layout.
My Sterling, British-made AR-180
AR-180 fitted with a Magpul RLS sling
The BRN-180 Project
Brownells was one of the key players in the "retro renaissance" of the last several years. We are spoiled for options these days, but that was not always the case. Carry handle uppers were hard to find, and when they were available, they were quite expensive.
Brownells recognized the opportunity and started a retro lineup. It included models representative of interesting historical AR models like the 605 (the original “dissipator” rifle), M-16A1, and early AR-10 models. This branched out into clones of the HK416 series and more recent uppers like the 733 and M-16A4.
The AR-180 was another interesting historical gun that is not easy to find, but that people wanted to buy. Brownells wanted to revive this gun, but they decided to create a modernized version rather than a strict copy of the original. Making guns with stamped steel and welds is an uncommon method, and the BRN-180 dispensed with that to use more modern means. It also did away with the old-school two-piece handguard and replaced it with a free-floated aluminum rail much like the ones seen on standard ARs these days.
BRN-180 Gen 3
The most recent revision of the BRN-180 brings it even more into the modern era. Changes from earlier versions include a left-side charging handle, redesigned handguard, and a different bolt cover shroud. The improved charging handle design is the most obvious change. The older style was a dogleg handle extending from the bolt carrier out of the ejection port on the right side, as was seen on the original AR-180. This new model moves the charging handle to the left side and makes it nonreciprocating. The handle itself also slants down to keep it clear of optics, much like the aftermarket bolt handles seen on some Sig 550-series rifles. The rubber gasket that keeps dirt out of the charging handle slot also looks like it takes inspiration from the SG550.
One common gripe with older generations of the BRN-180 was the disassembly process. The twin recoil springs and buffer were not captive to the upper. With the rear takedown pin released and the upper receiver opened, the springs and buffer would launch from the gun. The newest version fixes this and keeps the whole unit together during disassembly.
Brownells offers several different versions of the BRN-180 Gen 3 upper, including:
- 16-inch .223 Wylde, 1:8 twist
- 13.9-inch .223 Wylde, 1:8 twist
- 9-inch .300 Blackout, 1:6 twist
This is Silencer Saturday, so suppressor compatibility is one of the main things we are interested in with this upper. The gas system is adjustable and incorporates suppressed settings. On .223 versions, there are three settings: adverse, normal, and suppressed. The .300 Blackout models add an extra adverse setting, which is useful with subsonic loads. Of course, the barrel threads are the standard ones you would expect in both calibers.
The 13.9-inch model has a pinned and welded muzzle device, bringing the barrel length to 16 inches for legality purposes. The muzzle device is a PWS flash hider with 0.900x24 TPI threads. Many silencer mounting systems are compatible with those threads including the Plan B and Rearden Atlas.
PWS flash hider on the pinned and welded 13.9-inch upper
If you are looking for more info on the BRN-180 Gen 3, check out Matt’s review from earlier this year. As of writing, all models are in stock and ready for order from Brownells.
