American-180
Illinois Arms Company (ILARCO) · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1972
Also known as: American 180, Casull Model 290
Overview
The American-180 is a US-designed, Austrian-manufactured (Voere/ILARCO) .22 Long Rifle submachine gun introduced in the early 1970s. It feeds from a top-mounted spinning pan drum holding up to 275 rounds and fires from an open bolt at around 1,200 rpm. Marketed to police and prison agencies, it was pitched as a high-volume, low-penetration suppressive-fire weapon.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2600 g (91.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4500 g (158.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 900 mm (35.43") |
| Barrel Length | 470 mm (18.50") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Magazine Capacity | 177 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Drum |
| Muzzle Velocity | 320 m/s (1050 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 130 J (96 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 1200 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
Calibers
- .22 Long Rifle · primary — also known as .22 LR, 5.6x15mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Pan Drum Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector
- Features: Top Mounted Pan Magazine, Spinning Drum Feed, Optional Laser Sight, Adjustable Sights
Variants
- American-180 Short Barrel — Short Barrel
Service history
Operators
- Utah Department of Corrections
Conflicts
- Rhodesian Bush War (1964-1979)
Production
Estimated total produced: 10,000 · Production years: 1972-1985
Approximate; produced for police, prison and civilian markets before discontinuation
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Richard Casull
Discontinued: 1985
Notes
Manufactured in Austria by Voere under contract; marketing and assembly handled by the Illinois Arms Company and later American Arms International. Drum capacities ranged from 165 to 275 rounds. A higher-velocity .22 ILARCO (shortened .22 WMR) chambering pushed cyclic rate to around 1,500 rpm.
Background
The American-180 took its name from the roughly 180-round capacity of its early prototype pan magazine, and was an early adopter of a factory laser-aiming option. The high volume of small .22 LR rounds was sold to prisons as devastating yet less likely to over-penetrate cell-block walls.