The AR-18 isn’t a household name like the AK-47 or AR-15, but don’t be mistaken—its design fingerprints are on today’s most advanced and reliable rifles.
Although it never caught on in its era, the AR-18’s low-cost production ethos, modular design, and short-stroke gas piston system of action quietly raised the bar for rifle engineering. Today, that same DNA appears in guns wielded by high-end military and police units everywhere.
Let’s count down ten of the most powerful contemporary rifles influenced by the AR-18’s lasting design philosophy.
10. SIG MCX
On first inspection, the SIG MCX appears to be a sleek, modular masterpiece—and indeed it is. Yet, a look under the hood discloses AR-18 heritage: dual recoil springs within the bolt, a revolving bolt head, and a short-stroke gas piston arrangement all mirror the original’s engineering. The MCX is the favorite of special forces troops due to its versatility and performance in harsh environments, remaining faithful to the AR-18’s no-nonsense reputation.
9. FN SCAR
The FN SCAR may be flashy, but the function is straight AR-18. Its modularity, short-stroke piston system, and sturdy build quality are all the products of the same thinking that brought us the AR-18. For battlefield versatility, the SCAR’s success in NATO and U.S. Special Operations Command shows that the AR-18’s influence has only increased with age.
8. HK433
Consider the HK433 the best of both worlds—taking elements of the G36 and HK416 and blending them with the internal architecture of the AR-18. From its monolithic upper to its ambidextrous controls and gas system to bolt carrier group, this rifle is a modern, streamlined take on a timeless design ethic. Sorry to say, it’s not going to make it into civilian hands anytime in the near future, thanks to export restrictions.
7. CZ BREN 2
Militarily practical construction, the CZ BREN 2 is typical of the AR-18’s long-term strengths: reliability, modularity, and simplicity of use in harsh conditions. With its short-stroke gas piston operation and adaptable configuration, it’s little surprise that this rifle has become the favorite among various European military organizations.
6. Steyr AUG
The Steyr AUG is most famous for its otherworldly bullpup shape, but it owes more to the AR-18 than appears at first glance. From its bolt carrier configuration to where it mounts its gas system above the barrel, the AUG is another rifle that steals from the original’s mechanical arrangement, albeit while concealing it behind an extreme outer shell.
5. SA80 (L85)
Britain’s SA80 series got off to a rocky start, suffering early from poor performance. But its essential pieces—bolt, carrier, guide rods, and stamped construction—all originated in the AR-18. Though drastically altered since its initial production, the SA80 is a bullpup variant of the AR-18 core design, demonstrating that good bones can survive bad publicity.
4. HK G36
Designed for contemporary battlefield environments, the HK G36 takes a page from the AR-18 book with its piston system, modular components, and light polymer bits. It’s a reliable shooter that has become ubiquitous in military and police services around the globe, all while inheriting important characteristics of the rifle that spawned it.
3. Howa Type 20
Japan’s Howa Type 20 is a full circle. Howa initially produced AR-18s under license, and the Type 20 is a direct descendant of that family. With a folding and adjustable stock, enhanced rail systems, and a polymer lower, it’s a completely modern rifle that still carries on the original’s innovative design, particularly in its gas system.
2. FB MSBS Grot
Poland’s MSBS Grot takes modularity to the next level by providing both bullpup and standard configurations with the same fundamental system. Similar to the AR-18, it’s designed for flexibility and performance. The short-stroke piston arrangement and monolithic design of the Grot demonstrate that the ghosts of AR-18 are very much alive in Eastern Europe.
1. HK416
Perhaps the most well-known rifle on this list, the HK416 became a legend in contemporary warfare from high-end special forces to counterterrorism missions. Its short-stroke piston design is a direct descendant of the AR-18 idea, providing improved reliability over direct impingement designs. The fact that the firearm used to assassinate Osama bin Laden has its origins in the AR-18 says a great deal about its design heritage.
The AR-18 might never have been a mainstream success, but its technical advances have resonated through generations of gun design.
Its ruggedness, simplicity, and progressive nature continue to live on in rifles carried by some of the toughest professionals on the planet. Unobtrusively, persistently, and inexorably—the AR-18 changed everything.