spartan00054
Member
Finally bought a new truck and am looking to outfit it with a compact .22LR rifle. I've done some homework, and I like the the Henry AR-7. Before I buy, I'd like to hear anything y'all have to say on the subject.
Considering an AR-7
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Birddog1911
Member
I had one about 25 years ago, made by Charter Arms. I liked it, and didn't have a lot of troubles. That said, I haven't heard many good things about the newer makers.
Go back a few days; there was a thread about these within the last week.
Go back a few days; there was a thread about these within the last week.
I would look at the Marlin Model 70PSS "Papoose." I have fired the Papoose but not the AR-7. The impression I got when comparing the two a few years ago is that the Papoose is a decent shooter .22 that just happens to come apart. The AR-7 on the other hand is more of an emergency gun thats slightly more compact but you wont really want too shoot that much.
garyhan
Member
I owned two Ar 7's, both by Charter. i bought the second just to see if it could possibly be as bad as the first. It was. Usually 4-5 jams in each 7 shot clip (with all types of ammo). Groups two inches at 25 feet (yes, feet). That said, I have no experience with current manufacture guns.
gary
gary
usp9
Member
I had one that was nothing but trouble. Cute, sort of fun, small, but not worth the effort. My advice; get a used 10/22, or some other known reliable rifle.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Had one back in the 80's, same experience as the others. Cool looking rifle that never functioned properly. Basically a toy.
No experience with the Henry either but I agree about considering a 10/22 or something known for reliability.
No experience with the Henry either but I agree about considering a 10/22 or something known for reliability.
I have one, wanna buy it? 
The one I have has been like most others have said; tends to jam every now and then, accuracy is decent but not as good as most of the .22's I have but hey...
James bond shot a Russian agent with one from 100 yards away in from Russia with love down with one; then he shot down a helecopter with it too!
In the movie "The Mechanic" Charles Bronson used an AR7 to take out a car during a race by shooting the front right tire out of a moving race car at like 100 yards and killed the driver.
With proof like this you should get one of these super rifles but I think they only work for hitmen and secret agents.
The one I have has been like most others have said; tends to jam every now and then, accuracy is decent but not as good as most of the .22's I have but hey...
James bond shot a Russian agent with one from 100 yards away in from Russia with love down with one; then he shot down a helecopter with it too!
In the movie "The Mechanic" Charles Bronson used an AR7 to take out a car during a race by shooting the front right tire out of a moving race car at like 100 yards and killed the driver.
With proof like this you should get one of these super rifles but I think they only work for hitmen and secret agents.
highlander 5
Member
Actually Mr Bond shot the passenger in the copter who was throwing grenades at him shootee dropped grenade and that was that. Anyway back to subject I had an AR 7 when they were made by Armalite (IIRC) nifty litle rifle never had the jamming problems that have been reported here,but every once in a while it would double or triple tap. In fact I bought the rifle not long after seeing "from Russia,with Love". Thought it was a movie prop till I saw it in the Shooter's Bible.
Sav .250
Member
The masses have spoken............
Don't
I hase owned AR-7s from Early Charter Arms to Henry.
None have exceeded my expectations, one is still rusting away in the insulation of my parents old house where I threw it in disgust.
Keyword to my post is "owned".
I will not own another one.
I hase owned AR-7s from Early Charter Arms to Henry.
None have exceeded my expectations, one is still rusting away in the insulation of my parents old house where I threw it in disgust.
Keyword to my post is "owned".
I will not own another one.
Carl N. Brown
Member
Magazines are the weak point in the AR-7 design. If the catch notch is worn, the feed lips sprung or the feed ramp (the tab at the front of the mag) is bent, the nose of the bullet will hit the barrel and not the chamber. Most AR-7 magazines have little pinch marks at the front to guide the cartridge and the last two mags I bought have an external spring for that purpose (these appear to be the magazines shipped with the Henry Survival Rifle). Round nosed bullets help, and carefully removing sharp edges from the chamber mouth may help (very slight radius). If this sounds like a FORD (fix or repair daily) or range toy, that's my impression.
Plus the bolt and springs are heavy for a .22 LR implying you need fairly powerful and consistent ammo (not bargain bulk pack). I have an early AR-7 by Armalite of Costa Mesa and use nothing but CCI Stinger in it.
Charter Arms took a while to make decent AR-7s (early bad production however toasted their reputation beyond recovery). Most of the Henry Survival Rifle version appear to be an improvement.
Still, I would recommend a Marlin 70P Papoose, the 19" barrel Marlin Model 60 or a Ruger 10/22 as a primary "truck gun", even though I have often taken my AR-7 to the mountain as a secondary gun.
Plus the bolt and springs are heavy for a .22 LR implying you need fairly powerful and consistent ammo (not bargain bulk pack). I have an early AR-7 by Armalite of Costa Mesa and use nothing but CCI Stinger in it.
Charter Arms took a while to make decent AR-7s (early bad production however toasted their reputation beyond recovery). Most of the Henry Survival Rifle version appear to be an improvement.
Still, I would recommend a Marlin 70P Papoose, the 19" barrel Marlin Model 60 or a Ruger 10/22 as a primary "truck gun", even though I have often taken my AR-7 to the mountain as a secondary gun.
jmorris
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I have one and it works fine. For a truck gun I don't use take down rifles because they all take time to put together. The browning 22's with their interrupted threads are the fastest to assemble but when I have a use for a truck gun, what I intend to use it for will be gone by the time most can even get to a stashed long gun much less one taken apart.
I prefer SBR's for the best of both worlds as it is compact and with a suppressor you don't have to waist even more time plugging.
This is my truck gun setup.
It is well out if sight from the outside.
Here is what an SBR'ed 10/22 looks like next to other take down .22's. Only one part and ready in an instant.
I prefer SBR's for the best of both worlds as it is compact and with a suppressor you don't have to waist even more time plugging.
This is my truck gun setup.
It is well out if sight from the outside.
Here is what an SBR'ed 10/22 looks like next to other take down .22's. Only one part and ready in an instant.
Marlin 45 carbine
Member
I have a Henry model. admit it took me a little 'tinkering' with to get trouble free but it now is. has a preference for MiniMags.
IMO there are better choices for a 'truck gun' .22.
it's my river - canoe gun, it floats and has a few times been in the drink.
you would do well to find a better boat in the water gun.
IMO the only way to improve on it would be to make a .22 Mag model as well. for large beavers, foxes, 'yotes or the occasional deer in the river cornfields. although the .22LR will do the job IF you can take precise aim.
mine's a keeper.
IMO there are better choices for a 'truck gun' .22.
it's my river - canoe gun, it floats and has a few times been in the drink.
you would do well to find a better boat in the water gun.
IMO the only way to improve on it would be to make a .22 Mag model as well. for large beavers, foxes, 'yotes or the occasional deer in the river cornfields. although the .22LR will do the job IF you can take precise aim.
mine's a keeper.
saltydog452
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Mine worked. Never loaded more than 5 rounds in the magazine though. It was an AR. It was more accurate than it had any right to be.
I used past tense, it is still in the garage somewhere. It did/does have limited utility.
I think a T/C would have more utility. Slingshots and a bag of marbles ain't awful for enterainment value.
salty
OhhhNo.
Mr Morris, that wounldn't just happen to be the nose of a Cobra showing in the image of your garage? If so, more images?...plz.
sd.
I used past tense, it is still in the garage somewhere. It did/does have limited utility.
I think a T/C would have more utility. Slingshots and a bag of marbles ain't awful for enterainment value.
salty
OhhhNo.
Mr Morris, that wounldn't just happen to be the nose of a Cobra showing in the image of your garage? If so, more images?...plz.
sd.
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Kingcreek
Member
I had a Charter Arms AR7 for a canoeing/camping gun years ago. It was awful. malfunction more often than bang.
Best thing about it was it floated.
Worst thing about it was... it floated. I would like to have sunk it somewhere forever but I sold it for $40 after telling the buyer it was junk and was glad to be rid of it.
Best thing about it was it floated.
Worst thing about it was... it floated. I would like to have sunk it somewhere forever but I sold it for $40 after telling the buyer it was junk and was glad to be rid of it.
wayne in boca
Member
I have one made by Survival Arms in Cocoa Beach Florida(the 3rd manufacturer),and I like it a lot.Bought it used for 100 bucks.It has never malfunctioned even once,and is quite accurate.I had it for 10 years before I realized that the rear sight is elevation adjustable.Used to shoot two inches high at 50 yards.Now it shoots bullseyes at 50 yards.I would not part with it.
Quentin
Member
I bought a Charter Arms AR-7 back in the 1980s. Still have it, it's just barely good enough to keep. Very picky with ammo, I agree about using high velocity ammo.
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