[Negative20]

Which holds the edge in accuracy and reliability? I'm looking for a decent backpacking/camping rifle. Nothing I would use in a SHTF situation of course...just something to take out pests. I really like the fact that the M6 scout can handle .22LR and .410ga. Thanks in advance for your advice and opinions!

Regards,

- N20

[Jaywalker]

I have no experience with the Scout, but my AR-7 isn't particularly accurate - two inches at 25 yards is typical. I can't shoot a pistol that well at 25 yards, so it is an improvement.

Jaywalker

[Caseless]

I have been shooting my Henry AR-7 and Marlin 70 PSS for the past year and a half. Both are take-down rifles. Both weigh under 3 pounds. The M6 Scout is a single shot, so I didn't buy it.
IMHO during range shooting sessions,
The Henry AR-7 is more accurate. 2 inches at 25 yards, 4 inches at 50 yards. Marlin P70 is more reliable, probably jams less than once every 250 rounds. All the bad things you hear about AR-7 unreliability is true. My Henry AR-7 is advertised as the most reliable AR-7 ever made, but the design (feed ramp on magazine rather than the barrel) just doesn't lend itself to reliable operation. All shooting is done unsupported and standing. Ammo is cheap Federal bulk pak from Walmart. Both rifles are stock: no scope, no trigger work, etc.
I think the only reason my AR-7 is more accurate than the 70PSS is because it comes with an aperture(peep) sight. I just can't shoot tight groups beyond 25 yards with the Marlin's semi buckhorn style open sights.
The stainless steel Marlin is a piece of quality work compared to my AR-7(aluminum receiver, ABS plastic encased barrel).

My recommendation is a Marlin 70 PSS Papoose. Add a quick detachable scope mount if you want pin-point accuracy. Hope this helps.

[Jaywalker]

I agree with Caseless. If I were buying a new takedown, it'd likely be a Papoose. FWIW, though, my Charter Arms AR-7 ($15 - yes, fifteen dollars, in 1975 off a closeout table) has never malfunctioned. I'm told that puts me into a pretty exclusive class of shooter.

Although, I still like the Browning Auto takedown. It's less than 5 pounds, and...

Jaywalker

[Bottom Gun]

Caseless,

Maybe you should try a different brand of ammo. I have a couple of guns that won't work properly with the Federal ammo. I have others that love Federal.

My AR-7 is an original Costa Mesa Armalite. It has never malfunctioned in the 25+ years I've owned it. There's nothing wrong with the design of the rifle but various manufacturers of this rifle apparently have different quality standards.
I had a Charter Arms which wouldn't function with any kind of ammo.

The Browning take downs and the Norinco copies are great little rifles and more accurate than the AR or the Scout.
Another extremely accurate take down, if you can find one, is the Franchi but production was limited so they're kind of rare. I was lucky enough to find one and discovered it will outshoot the Brownings.

[Gordon]

Get an M-6 ! Get the Hornet option. Get it in stainless. My son's is very accurate; scoped with 2x leupold pistol scope on MY scout mount it shoots in 1" at 50 yards. You have the quick .410option with 1/4ozslugs at 1800fps or 000 buck (3 balls at 1100fps each weighing 60 grains!) . The .410 is death on quail with 7 1/2 shot, you wont starve!The .22 hornet does 2600fps with 45 grain bullets and almost 3000fps with those ultra explosive light weights. It can and was designed to take out light game (deer) and humans , far beyond what MY Costa Mesa Ar-7 is capable of. It folds real nice onto side or inside of a back pack..;)

[Caseless]

Bottom Gun, thanks for the advice.
I've tried Federal, Remington, Winchester, and Agulia; standard or hyper-velocity, you name it. Still, my Henry AR-7 will choke 50% of the time I go to the range. On a lucky day, it works thru an entire range session~100 rounds without any jam, but on the whole, I see it as a fun but non-practical gun because of lackluster reliability. Several shooters at my local range who own an AR-7 have the same experiences as I do.
You are probably right about certain manufacturers turning out better AR-7s. After 4,000 rounds thru mine, the steel and plastic chamber feeding area on the barrel have lost a noticeable layer of steel and hard plastic.
Finally, I hate these factory AR-7 magazines. They all have weak springs, causing failures to chamber the first round. On the other hand, this is such a cool rifle when it comes to appearance and design concept.:cool:

[Bottom Gun]

Caseless,

What is it doing when it malfunctions? Is your bolt moving freely and smoothly without a gritty feel?

Have you tried other magazines in it? The magazine plays a very important role in functioning a semi-auto and is usually the culprit when problems arise.
Maybe you should try picking up a different brand at a gun show or at one of the auction sites such as Gunbroker or Auction Arms. I just took a look at these two auction sites and they both have plenty of AR-7 mags starting at $10. It never hurts to have a couple of extra mags.

One other thing you may want to look at is the lube. .22 ammo leaves a lot of residue behind and oil attracts and holds it. Before long, your gun is full of black goop. I've been using dry lube on my .22's for a long time and have found they stay much cleaner and problem free.
You may want to try taking the bolt assy out (They're very simple guns to disassemble and assemble) and degreasing it and the receiver. Then use a dry lube on it. Remington makes a good one but it may be hard to find. Ace Hardware carries some made by Elmer's which also works very well.
I've found dry lube makes a big difference in keeping my .22's and my larger AR's clean and functioning properly.

Try what I mentioned above before you give up on your AR-7. They really are nice handy rifles when they're working properly.
Let us know how you make out.

[RandyB]

I have an m-6 and its ok on the accuracy. "the trigger" if it can be called that is much like squeezing a garlic press. I do like the .410 however and the slugs, OOO buck (S&B makes a OO buck with 5 vs. 3 OOO buck which I really like) If I was buying a new one I would go with the .22 hornet. My is .22 LR and leaves something to be desired.

[Intel6]

I have two AR-7's an original Costa Mesa version and a later Charter arms version and while the CA has worked pretty good, I have had some problems with the trigger on the Costa Mesa.

I have three of the M6's, two original SA production in .22 LR over .410 and one of the new CZ produced in .22 Hornet over .410. I happen to be a .410 and .22 Hornet nut so the M6's are right up my alley. I reload for both so I shoot them quite frequently.

I prefeer the M6 over the AR-7's. While the Hornet version is more powerful, the .22 LR is more versatile and probably the better choice for most people. If you don't reload for the hornet it can get expensive if you want to shoot it alot. I have the small 4x scope on the hornet version but use irons on the .22 LR's.