AR-7 Scope Mount

[yankytrash]

Hey, call me crazy, but I kinda like my Charter Arms AR-7 Explorer. Only ammo that seems to jam in it is the SSS 22lr, and that's really more of a FTF issue because of the longer bullet.

She's outfitted with the collapsible stock/pistol grip, and a shrouded barrel, so the storage thing isn't an issue.

Anybody found a scope mount for these monsters that works? I heard the one that replaces the side plate twists around, so I'd like to avoid that one. The receiver metal looks like pot metal, and I don't think I'd trust it to be drilled/tapped either.

Maybe one that somehow clamps to the receiver like the Solow mount for the Ruger Mk I & II pistols? Or what's the metal the receiver's made of? Maybe I could tig a weaver rail on it.

 

[yankytrash]

Just measured a MkII's receiver vs an AR-7's receiver. They're exactly the same - 1" diameter. I'm gonna order a Solow tonight and try it out. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[gun-fucious]

the side mount is the only one i have seen
http://www.ar-7.com/access/access.html
http://www.lisc.net/p628.htm

does the henry have a different reciever?
http://www.henryrepeating.com/survival.cfm

 

[yankytrash]

Ya, the newer Henry's have the 22 rimfire scope rail built in now.

 

[gun-fucious]

well it seems to me a new henry is gonna be cheaper than altering the olde blunderbus.

And, Its on Sale! $136
http://www.impactguns.com/store/ar7.html

maybe you need a camo one

 

[yankytrash]

The new Henry's are crap. As a matter of fact, from what I hear, it's hard to find any AR-7 that feeds reliably.

I know mine feeds well, I know it's capabilities, I'm not taking a chance on another one. Picked this one up for $100, had $200 of aftermarket parts on it already. Plus, mine's preban, thus allowing the telescoping stock and any other goodies I may decide to add later. Always thought a small silencer would be cool if I ever scratched the change together for it.

 

[GeneralTJWillys]

I know I'm dredging up an old thread, but I have a Charter Arms version of the AR-7 and it too, was a jam waiting to happen, until a slight modification was made.
My father and I took a small piece of aluminum plate and epoxied it to the front of the trigger guard. It took some time finding the right thickness and wedge shape, but since then, we've not had a single round of ANY ammunition cause a jam.
If anyone is interested, I can take and post some pics of this mod.
I love this little rifle. Originally, I bought it for my father when I was a teenager. I'm now 40, and my father passed in 2005 and the rifle has since found it's way back to me.
I just finished completely dis-assembling it for a good cleanup. Probably the first time it's ever been apart.
It started jamming due to buildup from years of use, but little care.
It once again shoots flawlessly and still accurately (given the crude peepsight).

 

[GeneralTJWillys]

OK, so I'm dredging it up again, but here are some pics of the modification I made.
It seems the clips do not fit very well, at least, this was the problem on my AR-7. Now shimmed, it shoots flawlessly with any ammo I feed it.

The mod on my rifle is admittedly crude, but then, it's just a shooter and I wasn't going for aesthetics, just proper function. So here's what I did;




Shimming here pushes the bottom of the clip away from the trigger guard, thus pushing the top front of the clip farther up into the chamber/feed area, also changing the entry angle of the fed round.

It feeds smooth and effortlessly regardless of the brand or style round I use.

 

[Quentin]

Hey thanks for that, General! I bought a Charter Arms AR-7 decades ago and it's always jamed. Maybe I should dig it out again and see how your mod works on it!

 

[thunder173]

That's an interesting idea sir. I think I'll give it a go as well. Mine works pretty well with the original magazine,..but occasionally has a fail to feed still. Never found an after market that worked at all. I like the concept of the AR-7,..warts and all,...just wish it could work a bit better.......

to the OP,..My AR-7 has a built up ridge on the receiver,..looks "almost" like the typical
.22 dovetail mount,...but it's not grooved,...has straight sides.

The long and short of it,..I put a set of Weaver .22 claw type mounts on it, ...with a cheap Tasco 3x7 .22 scope..... and cranked the mounting screws down really tight. It holds,...it doesn't walk,..and it shoots pretty good to 50-75 yards. I check the mounting screws pretty regular,..and don't beat on trees with it. Seems to come back pretty close to zero when I do take it off.

Works for me,...ymmv.....

 

[GeneralTJWillys]

YW. Hope it works out for you all as it did me.

Before you do a permanent epoxy job, though, try taking a toothpick, or something similar and placing it where my shim is as a temporary solution on your own guns. BTW, the shim on mine now gives a slightly snug fit to the clip as it is inserted. But just slightly!! Just enough to keep it where you want it.

Then, grab a bunch of different ammo, and go shoot them to see if this fix will work for you guys too. Different ammo, different shooting speeds, try it all. I do, however, suggest that, if the gun has not been cleaned in a while, that you give it a good cleaning first. Eliminate any other known reasons why it may jam, stove-pipe, or otherwise malfunction.

This is the way I found that this fix worked for mine.

If it does not work, then you've really wasted no time on the epoxy fix.

 

[GeneralTJWillys]

By the way.....since this was kind of a thread hijack of yankytrash's original, I'm going to start a new thread titled "AR-7 ammo jam fix" or something similar.
Otherwise, people may not find it here.

And, sorry Yankytrash, for hijacking this thread! Eventually, I'm planning on machining my receiver to accept a set of scope rings for this gun too.

 

[GeneralTJWillys]

Thread is now up in the "Gunsmithing and Repairs" section;

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6704586#post6704586