Armalite AR-17 Shotgun 12ga Pictures Read Introduction

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dbmjr1

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In a van, down by the river
This shotgun, an Armalite AR-17 came into our shop and I got it at what I thought was a good price.
It has a broken extractor/ejector on the inside of the receiver. It was difficult for me to photograph with my phone and my limited photography skills.

I am neither an expert in Armalite, nor am I an expert on the AR-17.

Armalite made these shotguns in 1964-1965. Supposedly there were only 1,200 assembled, but this one has a serial number in the 1300's. Sources say that parts for 2,000 firearms were made. Where those parts are is a mystery to me.

I am posting this because I could find very little about this firearm on the web. I have yet to locate a schematic. If you can help with this, I'd be grateful.

My goal is to document the entire process of disassembling/assembling this very rare shotgun. Then, perhaps, produce a YouTube tutorial.



Without further adieu, . . .

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Overall view (I'll get a better picture in the sun)





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The barrel lettering.





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The barrel lug is held by this extension.





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Typical multi-lug bolt that you would expect to see on an Armalite product.
Note the broken extractor/ejector. The other extractor is sufficient to eject a shell.
It's my opinion that with two captured extractors the inside extractor had it's claw broken off by feeding this shotgun as a single shot. This is a controlled feed system, I think.





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Another attempt to show the broken extractor/ejector.




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A picture of the barrel extension. One of the few steel parts.




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Barrel end and choke tube. A bit unusual.



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Out of focus Sheeba photobomb
 
Interesting shotgun, I recall seeing one many years ago in a gun shop. I have seen that type of choke tube system before, but they were not very common, kinda ahead of their time.
 
The choke tube system seems similar to the Lyman screw-ins that preceded it in the 40’s and 50’s.

Cool gun. Maybe the extractor can be replaced by copying the other one, or modifying one from another gun?
 
Forgotten Weapons did a review of this shotgun. In case you haven't seen it, here is the link.



The review gave the same production figures that the OP gave.

With the exception of the barrel extension the barrel is listed as being aluminum. Do you know if the barrel has a steel sleeve in it?
 
I know nothing about these other than I handled one at Buff Cobb's Gunshop south of Tallahassee Florida in the 1970's. ( I was his shop's version of that guy sitting on the barstool next to the Co-Coaler machine, drinking a Dr. Pepper and noshing on a pack of cheese crackers trying to learn the magic of owning a gun shop during that period)

They were called "The Golden Guns" by folks back then and are remarkably light weight.

Thanks for posting these pictures and good luck with the tutorial and repairs.

-kBob
 
Interesting shotgun, I recall seeing one many years ago in a gun shop. I have seen that type of choke tube system before, but they were not very common, kinda ahead of their time.

It is interesting. I have yet to measure the constriction of the choke tube I have. I plan on getting a thread protector made, so that I can shoot it cylinder bore.

Fascinating! Never knew this gun existed. Thanks for sharing this.

You are most welcome.

The choke tube system seems similar to the Lyman screw-ins that preceded it in the 40’s and 50’s.

Cool gun. Maybe the extractor can be replaced by copying the other one, or modifying one from another gun?

I've got it apart. The extractor/ejector is right in front of me. I'm currently blueprinting it. The plan is to make several from a skill saw blade.

Forgotten Weapons did a review of this shotgun. In case you haven't seen it, here is the link.



The review gave the same production figures that the OP gave.

With the exception of the barrel extension the barrel is listed as being aluminum. Do you know if the barrel has a steel sleeve in it?


Aside from the extension, which is as long as the chamber and forcing cone, the barrel is not sleeved with a steel liner
Ian, (Gun Jesus), and one other Youtube video are all that is currently out there. Those, and the wikipedia page are my only sources for information.

I know nothing about these other than I handled one at Buff Cobb's Gunshop south of Tallahassee Florida in the 1970's. ( I was his shop's version of that guy sitting on the barstool next to the Co-Coaler machine, drinking a Dr. Pepper and noshing on a pack of cheese crackers trying to learn the magic of owning a gun shop during that period)

They were called "The Golden Guns" by folks back then and are remarkably light weight.

Thanks for posting these pictures and good luck with the tutorial and repairs.

-kBob
Yes, they were advertised as 'The Golden Gun'. You'll find that in my hash tags. Every shop needs that guy who hangs out. We have several. We keep a couple of chairs, some magazines, and a fresh pot of coffee for that crowd.



________________________________________________________________

I shot the shotgun yesterday, Sunday 8/5/18. It shot fine, but did not eject. As I predicted, it did extract just fine.

________________________________________________________________

Today I've taken the gun apart. More Pictures.

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Take out this pin to remove the trigger group and the lifter. Note the spring and the spring guide inside of the receiver, that act on the lifter.





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The recoil pad snaps on/off to expose a single aluminum screw that holds the butt stock on the receiver. There is a steel bushing insert that had some rust from electrolysis.




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A bottom view inside of the receiver with the trigger group removed.




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A top view inside of the trigger group. I have not disassembled the trigger group yet. It looks simple enough though.




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With the bolt in the forward position, retract the detente holding the charging handle, and rotate it out of the bolt. The bolt will then go forward, along with the recoil assembly.
It comes apart much like any other AR bolt. Pin--Firing pin---bolt carrier cam---bolt, etc.





20180806_101704%255B1%255D.jpg
T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶.̶ ̶ ̶I̶t̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶e̶x̶t̶r̶a̶c̶t̶o̶r̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶w̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶i̶t̶.̶ ̶ ̶I̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶c̶o̶p̶y̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶k̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶s̶a̶w̶ ̶b̶l̶a̶d̶e̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶o̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶s̶t̶e̶e̶l̶.̶ ̶W̶i̶t̶h̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶ ̶m̶a̶c̶h̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶l̶s̶,̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶e̶n̶c̶h̶ ̶g̶r̶i̶n̶d̶e̶r̶,̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶p̶y̶ ̶s̶o̶o̶n̶.̶
This is the ejector. Only the ejector.



Well, that's today's update.

I shot it five times. I missed five clays. The rumor that this shotgun does not swing well are true.
 
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T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶,̶ ̶a̶l̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶b̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶g̶u̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶.̶ ̶ ̶I̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶.̶ ̶ ̶I̶f̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶,̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶e̶n̶s̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶c̶h̶i̶n̶e̶d̶.̶

I was wrong about this. There is another extractor that fits into the bolt next to this piece.
 
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They were a "Wow factor" clays gun, built as a demonstrator of the AR design. That choke would be better for Trap than SC or Skeet. Once you remake the extractor, you should have a decent trap gun, though a bit light for a 200 round competition shoot.
 
Unbelievable! I never imagined I'd see this gun here!

Before 2018, there were only 4.5 websites that ever discussed the AR-17:

NRA Museum AR-17 page
NRA Museum's Facebook page
Chuckhawks website
A forum topic on Shotgunworld.com
Brief mention on GoneOutdoors.com

And a video from SHOT Show 2013

However, that wasn't how I was introduced to this gun. I first learned about this shotgun in 2014... it was from an anime episode.



Somehow, a Japanese writer found out about the AR-17 back then and learned enough about it to know about its lightweight construction and two-shot capacity. I have no idea how he could have learned this. The only mistake is that the show depicts the shotgun being reloaded by inserting a round from the side instead of the bottom as the InRange TV video showed, but it was a fine effort considering how gun unfriendly Japan is.
 
Japanamie and manga comics have long gone in for gun accuracy. For a bit 15 or so years back there was even a comic book named CZ75. Looked like a pretty good representation of a type 64 JDF battle rifle the victim was shooting in that clip.

Keep in mind that fifty years ago the folks in Japan were building pretty darned good zinc models of firearms, several of which I have had mistaken for real firearms....in two cases by a police officers on duty (note to self: case replica firearms when in public) There was enough interest to support such an industry. Today besides collectors they are important Cosplay accessories. Oh that mean Costume Play, think permanent holloween.

A friend that went to the world scout jamboree in Japan ( I think it was 1971 or maybe 72) caused a bit of a stir at US customs when he returned with zinc models (with working bits and which disassembled much like the originals) PPk, P-38, 1911A1, 1873 SAA, and 1928 Thompson with both forgrips. The 1911A1, P-38, and Thommygun all fired special reloadable blanks, the pistols single shot and the Chopper full auto or semi.

Back before the opening of China and the fall of the evil empire I longed for a replica model AKM, but the cost... when the real ones came in from China they were actually cheaper than the zinc models and when I first found out about zinc models they were as expensive as a real SP1 AR15.

I believe the AR17 CAN be single loaded by doing the roll in but may be wrong.

-kBob
 
Definitely a controlled feed system.

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:rofl::):D

It lives.

Later I'll take it apart again, and show y'all what I had to make.
It took two tries to get it right. ;)
 
Unbelievable! I never imagined I'd see this gun here!

Before 2018, there were only 4.5 websites that ever discussed the AR-17:

NRA Museum AR-17 page
NRA Museum's Facebook page
Chuckhawks website
A forum topic on Shotgunworld.com
Brief mention on GoneOutdoors.com

And a video from SHOT Show 2013

However, that wasn't how I was introduced to this gun. I first learned about this shotgun in 2014... it was from an anime episode.



Somehow, a Japanese writer found out about the AR-17 back then and learned enough about it to know about its lightweight construction and two-shot capacity. I have no idea how he could have learned this. The only mistake is that the show depicts the shotgun being reloaded by inserting a round from the side instead of the bottom as the InRange TV video showed, but it was a fine effort considering how gun unfriendly Japan is.


I hadn't watched the anime clip. Thanks.
 
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I shot an entire box of shells today. No malfunctions of any kind.

To say I'm pleased would be an understatement. :)
 
:thumbup:
Time to hit the Trap and Skeet ranges!

I love this shotgun, mechanically, but I'd much perfer to shoot my AyA side by side, or even my Mossberg O/U.
This really doesn't fit me well.

I think I'll finish documenting everything I can think of on this AR, shoot it a bit more to prove my new extractor, then pass it along.

The real joy has been playing with something that few have encountered, and providing any information I can for others.
 
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