TFB Review: Brownells Gen3 BRN-180
Welcome back to another TFB review. Over the last few years, we have covered the various generations of BRN 180 rifles from Brownells. Brownells recently released the newest generation of the BRN 180 and I’ve had some time with it and after several hundred rounds, I have a good feel for where this rifle is at. Brownells certainly made a number of big changes to their BRN 180 lineup in order to modernize it and allow for the platform to be suppressed more easily. Let’s take a closer look at Brownells Gen3 BRN-180.
Specs
The newest variant of the BRN 180 has the goal of modernizing for shooters today bringing Eugene Stoner’s original AR180 design into the 21st century. Older generations had a reciprocating charging handle on the right side similar to an AK platform, as well as other features that have been updated recently. The biggest change with the newest generation is the fact they moved the charging handle to the left side of the rifle and made it nonreciprocating. This allows you to easily charge the rifle without having to twist the rifle like you would with an AK platform.
The other big change on the newest generation of BRN-180 is the full top rail along with a modernized handguard and new adjustable piston system that allows for the rifle to be suppressed easier than the models offered before. The internal piston system has a setting for suppressed as well as unsuppressed allowing you to easily switch between the two settings. Just like the previous generations, all the BRN-180 new models have their recoil system internally housed in the upper receiver allowing for the user to install a folding stock or bufferless system.
This allows for more options when it comes to configuring your ideal rifle setup. Brownells has also made an effort to seal the weapon system with a rubber dust cover in the openings instead of leaving large open surfaces on the receiver like previous models. This rubber system isn’t perfect but allows the charging handle to be easily manipulated while offering much more protection against debris and dirt getting into the receiver. The new 3rd generation BRN-180 is out now and MSRP on the upper receiver is $1,199.99.
Range Time
I took the new BRN-180 upper and put it immediately on the lower receiver I built for previous generations of the BRN-180. In the first few rounds, I did have a double feed and the tolerances on the bolt were tight. After the first magazine, I had a failure to load where the gun didn’t fully cycle and load the next round. I broke the gun apart and threw some synthetic lubricant on the bolt carrier group along with a tiny amount on the upper receiver which immediately cured any feeding issues. In total, I have roughly 880 rounds through the upper receiver now and it has been completely reliable after the first two magazines. The newest BRN-180 is an extremely soft shooting rifle with a new piston system. Small updates like the QD mount on the handguard allow for easier sling mounts and do not require aftermarket QD mounts to be installed on the M-LOK sections. This just makes life easier and although it’s not essential, it’s certainly nice to have extras that make your life easier.
The left side charging handle makes reloads easy as well as gives you options for getting the rifle charged back up. You can either hit the bolt release on a traditional AR15 lower or you can pull the charging handle back and let it go into battery. Either way, it’s less effort and faster than the older generations of BRN-180. The recoil impulses on the rifle are straight back making it very easy to fire follow-up shots. Having quick follow-up shots that are accurate really makes this a fun weapon system to fire. Combine that with the fact you can build it out differently depending on the barrel length and intended use. I’m really happy with the changes made to the latest generation of the BRN-180.
Accuracy and Reliability
When it comes to accuracy, I tested the BRN-180 at 100 yards with a couple of different ammo types. For testing, I used the American Eagle 55gr 223 Rem ammo as well as 55gr PMC X-Tac 5.56mm. For a match-grade ammo option, I used the fantastic SIG Match 77gr ammo that I typically will test more AR platform rifles as well. When I was testing accuracy, I would fire a group of 5 to get a consistent group. I did three times for each ammo type for a total of 15 rounds per ammo type meaning I fired a grand total of 45 rounds for accuracy testing. First off the American Eagle ammo grouped an average group of 2.36” at 100 yards. Next up was the X-Tac ammo at 2.05” when averaged out which is pretty good for regular 5.56mm ammo. Finally, the SIG Match ammo grouped a total of 1.91” with the best group being 1.82” so the BRN-180 can certainly be accurate with quality match ammunition.
I’ve already touched on the initial reliability with a couple of small issues, but once I threw a lubricant on the bolt carrier group and put more rounds through the gun, it was 100% reliable. I ended up cleaning it after 880 rounds and there didn’t appear to be any abnormal wear marks or damage internally to the firearm which is also a good sign for longevity. I’m not very stressed about the initial hiccups of the rifle since there are plenty of firearms that sometimes have tight tolerances and need a moment to break in to be 100% reliable. That’s why it’s always a good idea to go out and shoot your firearms at least 100-200 rounds before starting to worry. If the problem persisted it would be something to worry about but since it was cleared up, I’m really not concerned with it.
Suppressor Options
Since this new generation of the BRN-180 is better for suppressors, it’s not bad to look at some suppressor options. The biggest thing to keep in mind is the fact it has a short stroke piston system, which means that it will cut down on the amount of gas being thrown back into the receiver. It bleeds the gas off at the front so there’s little to no over-gassing. As a result, these rifles are great for traditional baffle suppressors and don’t need the newer flow-through suppressors even though they are a great option! Let’s take a closer look at some good suppressor options for the new BRN-180.
The Dead Air Sierra 5 is a fantastic option, especially with the Xeno adapter to have modern performance with that classic muzzle look. The Sierra 5 is a compact option which is a big plus when you already have a longer barrel length like the 16” variant of the BRN-180. With a length of just under 6” and being just under a pound, this is a small lightweight option for both full-size rifles as well as the shorter options. I am a big fan of this suppressor and it’s a great overall suppressor at a good price.
Technical Specifications:
Weight: 13.3 ozLength: 5.72”Diameter: 1.55”Materials: Stellite baffles, 17-4 PH Stainless SteelFinish: High temp Cerakote, Nitride adapter and mountAttachment: Xeno (included)
Silencer Shop makes getting suppressors easy and you can buy the Dead Air Sierra 5 suppressor from the link below.
Dead Air Sierra 5
CGS is becoming a rising star in the suppressor community with a number of universal lock-ups and high-quality cans for various calibers. The Hyperion is one of CGS’s titanium suppressors that is just 15.1oz despite having fantastic noise suppression and offering exceptional durability while keeping the overall suppressor lightweight. If you are looking for a lightweight and durable option for high round count while keeping the sound suppression, the CGS Hyperion is an exceptional choice
Technical Specifications:
Length: 9.5 inchesWeight: 15.1 ouncesDiameter: 1.75 inchesBuild Materials: TitaniumFinish: S-Line, PVDFull-Auto Rate: YesBarrel Restrictions: 10.5″ minimum for 5.56mm
The CGS Hyperion suppressor is also available at the Silencer Shop.
CGS Hyperion
Overall Thoughts
The BRN-180 has always been an interesting call back to the original AR-180 that Eugene Stoner designed after the classic AR-15. The 3rd generation of the Brownells BRN-180 is an updated modern take on the classic AR-180 with a number of improvements over the previous generations. The nonreciprocating charging handle along with the modern updates really makes this the best version I have tested to date.
What do you guys think of this modern take on the classic BRN-180 in the comments below? If you have questions about the BRN-180 or firearms in general feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next review.
TFB is proud to partner with Silencer Shop as our preferred vendor for all of your NFA needs. Whether you are searching for a new suppressor, SBR, or trust, Silencer Shop is here to provide a seamless and fast service for your next NFA purchase. Head over to www.silencershop.com to begin your NFA journey.