Yesterday at Range Day, we got to shoot Brownells’ way-too-fun and popular BRN-180 upper on their newly announced BRN-180 lowers.
They’re out with two types:
100-036-374 BRN-180 Forged Lower Receiver
- Replicates appearance of original AR-180 lower
- Integral Picatinny Rail segment for easy folding stock or brace install
- Accepts most modern mil-spec AR-15 components
- $129.99 retail
080-001-382 BRN-180M Billet Lower Receiver
- Machined from solid billet for strength and durability
- Appears more like standard AR-15 receiver
- Integral Picatinny rail segment for easy folding stock or brace install
- Accepts modern AR-15 components
- $149.99 retail
The forged lowers aren’t in yet, but should be shortly. Also new is a short-barrel version of the BRN-180 upper, which is called the BRN-180S, strangely enough. Here’s the Brownells press release . . .
Hot on the heels of one its most-exciting SHOT Show launches ever, Brownells has unveiled the BRN-180S – the new, short-barreled version of the BRN-180 complete upper assembly debuted at the 2019 SHOT Show.
Designed in conjunction with Primary Weapons Systems and FM Products, the BRN-180S retains all the desirable features of its big brother, but has a 10.5″ barrel for those wishing to build an AR-180-style pistol, or –with the required ATF paperwork and tax stamp – a short-barreled rifle (SBR).
Another new feature on the BRN-180S is a clearly-marked adjustable gas system, allowing the user to quickly tune the upper for either unsuppressed or suppressed shooting.
“The reaction to our 2019 SHOT Show announcement of the original BRN-180 was one of the largest, most-positive we’ve seen,” said Brownells Director of Product Management Paul Levy. “The most-common request from customers was for us to come out with a short-barreled version of the BRN-180. Thanks to PWS and FM Products, we were able to do that.”
Available for pre-orders now, the BRN-180S will make its first public appearance at the 2019 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits April 26-28, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Built around a short-stroke piston system, the BRN-180S drops onto any mil-spec AR-15 lower and makes it easy to attach either a folding pistol brace or folding stock.
Just like the BRN-180, the BRN-180S can be fired while folded.
Features of the BRN-180S Upper include:
- 10.5″ barrel
- .223 Wylde chamber
- 1-8″ twist rifling
- Twin internal guide rods
- Polymer ejection port cover
- Easy-to-remove M-LOK® handguard
- Original-style 3-prong flash hider
- Reciprocating side charging handle
- Adjustable gas system
Listed on the Brownells website as #078-000-537, the BRN-180S upper assembly retails for $799 and does not require an FFL to purchase.
To learn more about the BRN-180S, visit the Brownells BRN-180 page.
