bigfatdave
Member
you mean like how Henry updated the magazine design, recoil spring assembly, stock, and added a rail to mount an optic?
seriously, you just described the Henry US Survival Rifle
AR-7 info/pic thread!
- Thread starter CoyoteSix
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seriously, you just described the Henry US Survival Rifle
I understand the reasoning behind the new plastic front sight. It's designed to be finger adjustable for windage out in the field. The rear sight adjustment is a pain. The problem is that the front sight is so loose that it is conceivable that the sight could be completely knocked off of the barrel and lost. It is that loose. The accuracy of the sights on the AR-7 have never been a strong point.
However . . .
I happen to have an Armson OEG Max Duty .22 sight
http://armsonusa.com/armaxdut22si.html
I bolted it onto the rifle, and it works quite well. The new design functions fine. Packed up, it holds 24 rounds total in 3 magazines. Bolting the OEG on gives me a usable sight, and it only takes 3 or 4 rounds to zero in at 25 yards.
The AR-7 will never give the quick assembly and accuracy that the Marlin Papoose or the 10/22TD will, because both of those guns have both sights mounted only on the barrel. What the AR-7 does give you is a tight packing 22 rifle that can float and resist water intrusion when stowed. It is a compromise rifle suited to survival situations.
A better choice for a packable survival weapon might be the M6 Scout. Unfortunately, it is no longer manufactured.
However . . .
I happen to have an Armson OEG Max Duty .22 sight
http://armsonusa.com/armaxdut22si.html
I bolted it onto the rifle, and it works quite well. The new design functions fine. Packed up, it holds 24 rounds total in 3 magazines. Bolting the OEG on gives me a usable sight, and it only takes 3 or 4 rounds to zero in at 25 yards.
The AR-7 will never give the quick assembly and accuracy that the Marlin Papoose or the 10/22TD will, because both of those guns have both sights mounted only on the barrel. What the AR-7 does give you is a tight packing 22 rifle that can float and resist water intrusion when stowed. It is a compromise rifle suited to survival situations.
A better choice for a packable survival weapon might be the M6 Scout. Unfortunately, it is no longer manufactured.
jmorris
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The Browning 22 is the same and has a built in tube mag, so it can't be lost.
I have one of them too, you would be glad to have the shotgun barrel underneath as they make an AR7 look like a benchrest rifle. You can go through 10 rounds before hitting an 8" steel plate at 60 yds.
I wouldn't even bother using the 410 barrel at 60 yards. I had the rear sight milled off of mine, then mounted a short picatinny rail. Then I mounted a Marbles sight on the rail. By a happy coincidence, the 22lr barrel and the 410 with 000-Buck converge at about 25 yards.
The M6 Scout is a short range survival rifle.
I forgot about the Browning. It is a good rifle too. And Taurus had a series of takedown pumps and semi-autos that are also good.
The M6 Scout is a short range survival rifle.
I forgot about the Browning. It is a good rifle too. And Taurus had a series of takedown pumps and semi-autos that are also good.
Carl N. Brown
Member
The rail on the Henry Survival Rifles I have seen has been the Weaver Tip-Off 3/8" rail standard for .22 rimfires. Charter sold an add-on mount that used the action side plate screw.
Reliablilty problems with the AR-7 are usually magazine problems.
The feed ramp is a sheet metal tab at the front of the magazine, that is both user adjustable and can be accidentally bent.
The notch in the back of the magazine for the magazine catch will usually be worn in used examples, allowing magazine to sit too low so the nose of the bullet may hit the barrel below the chamber.
To keep the cartridge from popping out of the magazine and the bullet striking the barrel above the chamber, the older magazines had two pinches to hold cartridge as it fed; old magazines will be a bit sprung in this area. Replacement magazines for the later Charter and the Henry have a external spring to solve that problem.
Usually though an AR-7 will run well with a proper magazine and roundnose, high velocity .22 LR ammo
Reliablilty problems with the AR-7 are usually magazine problems.
The feed ramp is a sheet metal tab at the front of the magazine, that is both user adjustable and can be accidentally bent.
The notch in the back of the magazine for the magazine catch will usually be worn in used examples, allowing magazine to sit too low so the nose of the bullet may hit the barrel below the chamber.
To keep the cartridge from popping out of the magazine and the bullet striking the barrel above the chamber, the older magazines had two pinches to hold cartridge as it fed; old magazines will be a bit sprung in this area. Replacement magazines for the later Charter and the Henry have a external spring to solve that problem.
Usually though an AR-7 will run well with a proper magazine and roundnose, high velocity .22 LR ammo
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I've had one for 30 years. It is kind of niche gun and is cool in it's own way. Mine is reliable with the right magazine and ammo. Here's tip, the plastic stock that it stores in is very bulky/fat. It is not very conducive for back packing etc. Ditch it and make or buy an aftermarket folding or detachable stock for it. Not only will it be lighter but more convenient to pack away.
charlie fox
Member
I had a Charter Arms model I bought in 1984. It digested several thousand rounds without a bobble. I repainted it in 1990 and just passed it down to my son; I'm sure it will chug along for many tears to come!
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