I know that there has been a lot of (mostly negative) discussion around here about the AR-7 type rifles, especially the new Henry (et-al) concoctions. How were the original Costa Mesa Armalites? Were they more robust, accurate, and/or more reliable?
ARMALITE AR-7 Explorer
- Thread starter mp510
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Sir Aardvark
Member
They float just as well as the newer ones.
I am not sure what you mean by "Costa Mesa" - are you referring to the Charter Arms model?
I am not sure what you mean by "Costa Mesa" - are you referring to the Charter Arms model?
Ifishsum
Member
LOL that pretty much sums it up.
I had a Charter Arms incarnation and it was a POS. Took me a long time to get rid of it because it was so cool, but I did come to my senses eventually.
esmith
Member
Are you talking about the explorer pistol or the rifle itself? A lot of people complain about the rifle not cycling. Supposedly this is because a lot of people don't use high velocity .22 in it. People often get angry because the gun doesn't work and automatically hate it.
VA27
Member
I owned one of the 'original' Armalite AR7s. I wish I still had it. 
I've had one of the Charter Arms also. It was every bit as good as the Armalite. Wish I still had that one, too.
I have heard that Henry has their act together on the AR7 now, but I haven't got one yet, having all my money tied up in a Papoose and a Browning SA.
I've had one of the Charter Arms also. It was every bit as good as the Armalite. Wish I still had that one, too.
I have heard that Henry has their act together on the AR7 now, but I haven't got one yet, having all my money tied up in a Papoose and a Browning SA.
Gator
Member
He's talking about the original AR-7s, the one designed for the military; before Charter Arms got involved. I'd sure like to have one!
rangerruck
Member
if you want small and light , that takes down, and doesn't have to float, go with a Feather, a Marlin papoose, or a Majestic arms.
I had an origional, actually twice, and sold them both within a month. just to good for floating, i suppose.
I had an origional, actually twice, and sold them both within a month. just to good for floating, i suppose.
Glockman17366
Member
For those of you who own them...how is the Papoose?
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loose cannon
Member
ive owned 2 papoose's;1 was a blue early manuf gun i sold cause i needed the cash.the other a newer stainless gun.both worked as well as you can expect a 22 semi auto to work.good guns!
the newer one have a max mag capacity of 10rds and are stainless.
all in all;ar7 and papoose on a table?i grab papoose.
the newer one have a max mag capacity of 10rds and are stainless.
all in all;ar7 and papoose on a table?i grab papoose.
rangerruck
Member
some of the papoose came in a named case and called the 70 hc, it came with a factory 25 round mag!!!! Schwing. The papoose is very, very good.
saltydog452
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I have an AR7 from the mid 80s.
It works with CCI MiniMag. Don't know about any other brands.
only came with one mag though and i didn't load it to max capacity.
It was more accurate than it had any reasonable right to be, but my eyes were better then.
salty.
It works with CCI MiniMag. Don't know about any other brands.
only came with one mag though and i didn't load it to max capacity.
It was more accurate than it had any reasonable right to be, but my eyes were better then.
salty.
351 WINCHESTER
Member
My neighbor got one at a garage sale for $7. Her son brought it over to show it to me. I cleaned it and took it out back to test fire. JAM O MATIC.
The bbl. is incredebilly light. Maybe alum. Who knows, who cares?
The bbl. is incredebilly light. Maybe alum. Who knows, who cares?
AK103K
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I had one of the Charter Arms AR7's for about 20 years. It was reliable for the most part. You had to take the side cover off once in awhile and blast the insides out or it would double and triple when it felt like it. The only thing that really went wrong was the butt cap cracked when I tried to put it back on while winter camping.
esmith
Member
Was it jamming or just not cycling? Did you try using high velocity 22? A lot of people also blame the firing pin for not cycling it because some of the models have large pins which creates too much resistence in the bolt so it doesn't hit the primer hard enough.
jerkface11
Member
Yes the barrel is aluminum and no it doesn't have a liner. If you're lucky it may even be straight!
Gator
Member
The barrels on all AR7 makes are either aluminum (early) or composite with steel liners.
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