Changes in Canadian firearms laws have not been kind to licensed Canadian gun owners. However, they have promoted innovation in the market in order to comply with increasingly obscure laws. The Kodiak WK-180C is one such “new” design. Today we look at whether the Kodiak WK-180C is worth the price of admission.
History
In 2017 Kodiak Defence released the WK-180C to fill the market void of affordable 5.56 NATO non-restricted semi-automatics in Canada. The gun is a derivative of the AR-180B. The AR-180B was produced by Armalite in the early 2000’s, which itself draws heavily upon the AR-180 design of 1969.
Although it is at it’s heart an AR-180B, Kodiak made a few welcome changes to the design to make it more user friendly. First of all, a milled 6000 series aluminum series lower instead of the polymer lower of the AR-180B. In addition, Kodiak redesigned the charging handle to be swappable over to the left hand side. Finally, the design was fitted with a picatinny top and an M-Lok handguard update the design to typical modern sporting rifle standards.
Specifications
The Kodiak WK-180C is a general purpose modern sporting rifle. They come chambered in 223 Wylde and 5.56 NATO depending on the manufacture date. The difference between the chamberings is minor: a 223 Wylde chamber is optimized to shoot 223 Remington while still retaining the ability to safely handle the increased pressures of the 5.56 NATO. The barrels have a 1:8 twist, which will stabilize most 75 grain- class bullets.
The WK-180C weighs 7lbs and is a semi-automatic, short-stroke piston-driven action. It uses standard STANAG AR-15 magazines and accepts AR-15 triggers and grips. Ergonomics are very similar to the AR-15, which is to say, excellent. The rifle comes with a last shot hold-open feature. While the WK-180C does not come equipped with a bolt release from the factory, there are aftermarket bolt releases available.
The WK-180C comes with 5 round magazines, but 10 round LAR-15 pistol magazines are available and do function perfectly in the rifle. Unlike the AR-15, the rifles buffer tube is not functional and aftermarket folding stocks are available to increase the portability of the rifle.
The rifle is currently selling for around $1250 dollars Canadian. A thriving secondary market provides opportunities for shooters looking to find a rifle at a discount that don’t mind investing some time.
Strengths
The rifle functions well, with no malfunctions experienced through 600 rounds of testing. The recoil impulse, while slightly snappier than an AR-15, is still very comfortable for virtually any stature of shooter. With it’s slim handguard and light weight, the rifle handles more nimbly than many AR-15’s.
Accuracy was very good for a semi-automatic rifle around the $1000 dollar price point. The tested copy shot around 1.5 MOA with quality ammo. The accuracy was consistent with bullets ranging from 45 grain varmint loads up to 75 grain target loads. The tested copy shot the Federal PowerShok 64 grain load particularly well, regularly grouping around 1.2 MOA for 5 round groups.
Another strength of the rifle is its modularity. The vast AR-15 aftermarket means that almost any optic, grip, trigger, foregrip, lights, handguards, barrels, lasers, night-vision, or sling is a simple addition. For example, the author’s rifle wears a Hogue grip, Magpul-angled foregrip, and a Leupold 3-9×40 scope. Other available aftermarket improvements include bolt releases, brass deflectors, muzzle breaks, and folding stocks. Furthermore, the ability to swap the charging handle onto either side is a nice feature. Running the charging handle on the left side makes it much quicker and more ergonomic for right handed shooters and is a welcome feature.
Finally, the rifle is incredibly easy to maintain. For general cleaning the rifle easily disassembles with a single cartridge and all of the internals slide out without hassle. The gas system is slightly more difficult to access, but still easily disassembles with an Allen key. Because of the piston driven system the WK-180C runs much cleaner than comparable AR-15 systems.
Weaknesses
While the rifle has excellent reliability and good accuracy, it also comes with its fair share of weaknesses. Perhaps the most glaring weakness is the poor quality control. Out of the box the rifle had many parts that were egregiously over and under torqued. The handguard was very difficult to remove because of this, while the gas system had a screw that was so loose that had it not been found remedied likely would have resulted in a broken piston if fired.
Another quality control issue encountered was even more concerning. During operation using factory SAAMI spec ammunition, one of the locking lugs sheared off of the bolt during operation. This is incredibly concerning given the potential for a catastrophic failure if not immediately noticed. These quality control issues are compounded by the WK-180C’s short one year warranty.
Also, the WK-180C’s trigger is another shortcoming. The factory trigger is, to be blunt, awful. It is somewhere in the 10-12 pound range and has significant creep. Additionally, there are several false walls before it finally breaks. It is so bad it makes one yearn for a mil-spec AR-15 trigger. This can be remedied by purchasing an aftermarket trigger. However, it would have been nice to see a better trigger out of the box.
Other minor issues are the lack of a bolt release from the factory. This creates an awkward reach up the mag well in order to actuate the bolt hold open without a magazine inserted. Some may have concern for the openness of the receiver potentially allowing for dirt and debris to get in the action. Having hunted with the rifle it seems that this concern may be overblown but it remains something to consider.
Competition
While upon the initial release of the WK-180C there were relatively few affordable non-restricted AR-style rifles, there are now several other options on the market. The most popular of these is the WS-MCR. Other new competition will include AR-180B based offerings from Jard and Sterling.
Other non-restricted 223 autoloaders are available but are increasingly expensive. The Bushmaster ACR and the B&T APC223 are options but are well north of $2000 dollars. The Norinco Type 97 is also available and affordable. However, Norinco’s are known for their poor fit and finish and lack of quality control.
One of the minor differences is that the WS-MCR is heavier but also has a better reputation for quality control. This is due in part to the WS-MCR having steel inserts in the receiver to help increase durability where the charging handle runs. Apart from the steel inserts the rifles are incredibly similar and I would not expect any significant differences in accuracy and reliability. One thing to consider when comparing the two rifles is that the WS-MCR typically comes at $200 dollar premium.
Closing Thoughts
The WK-180C is a strong design with a lot of high points. Reliability, accuracy, and modularity are all solid. This makes this rifle very attractive as a varmint rifle, recreational plinker, or a competition rifle. The handling characteristics are good, especially with the left side charging handle. The relatively low number of similar options on the market further add to the allure of the WK-180C.
However, terrible quality control and a bad trigger mean that savvy buyers should look to the other options on the market instead. While the WK-180C may be a serviceable hunting rifle for coyotes or smaller deer, exposing the rifle to a high round count is gambling at best.