the muleskinner
Member
I'm looking for info on the Henry US Survival rifle. Is this just a novelty, or collector gun? Does anyone have one?
Henry US Survival Rifle
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The Henry version of the Armalite AR-7 has never been a U.S. issue survival weapon.
And neither was the Armalite version AR-7, first made in the 1950's.
It was designed by Eugene Stoner of AR-15/M-16 design fame, and developed by the Armalite devision of Fairchild Aircraft as a proposed Air Force survival weapon.
At the same time, they submitted the AR-5, a bolt-action .22 Hornet.
The AR-5 was adopted in 1956 as the MA-1.
The AR-7 was not, and has never been an official U.S. survival weapon.
The Henry version is what it is.
A compact little civilian gun that stores in it's own stock, and sometimes works, or not.
rc
And neither was the Armalite version AR-7, first made in the 1950's.
It was designed by Eugene Stoner of AR-15/M-16 design fame, and developed by the Armalite devision of Fairchild Aircraft as a proposed Air Force survival weapon.
At the same time, they submitted the AR-5, a bolt-action .22 Hornet.
The AR-5 was adopted in 1956 as the MA-1.
The AR-7 was not, and has never been an official U.S. survival weapon.
The Henry version is what it is.
A compact little civilian gun that stores in it's own stock, and sometimes works, or not.
rc
kiawahman
Member
Because of the fickle performance problems of the Henry, I strongly suggest you consider the Marlin 70P Papoose (22LR) made of stainless & synthetic, and uses a receiver modeled after the most-trusted and ever-popular Marlin M60, (assuming you want something to shoot as opposed to a wall decoration).
Some early model 70P's were blue & wood and aren't all that hard to find in mint condition, but the current 70P in SS & synthetic makes more sense in a survival rifle. The 70P barrel unscrews and both parts of the rifle fit securely inside a zippered pouch that floats. Seven round mags come with the rifle and nickle plated Marlin ten round mags are readily available.
The open sights are great, the rifle itself is accurate. I put a new $10 Tasco scope on ours to compensate for bad eyesight (and it stills fits inside the pouch). The gun shoots 2" tight groups all day long at 50 yards using Federal or CCI ammo.
Some early model 70P's were blue & wood and aren't all that hard to find in mint condition, but the current 70P in SS & synthetic makes more sense in a survival rifle. The 70P barrel unscrews and both parts of the rifle fit securely inside a zippered pouch that floats. Seven round mags come with the rifle and nickle plated Marlin ten round mags are readily available.
The open sights are great, the rifle itself is accurate. I put a new $10 Tasco scope on ours to compensate for bad eyesight (and it stills fits inside the pouch). The gun shoots 2" tight groups all day long at 50 yards using Federal or CCI ammo.
Used a friend's Marlin Papoose (Stainless) and concur that it is a nice takedown rifle.
I have also used the AR7 and was not so impressed. If it was me, I'd take the Papoose.
I have also used the AR7 and was not so impressed. If it was me, I'd take the Papoose.
theotherwaldo
Member
I've had AR-7s. You can do better. I don't think they'll be collectible for a good, long time.
My understanding of the military's problem with the AR-7 is that the .22lr is an expanding or "Dum-Dum" bullet, which was banned from warfare by the Geneva Convention.
My understanding of the military's problem with the AR-7 is that the .22lr is an expanding or "Dum-Dum" bullet, which was banned from warfare by the Geneva Convention.
mainmech48
Member
I've always been a fan of the concept behind the AR-7. If it's ever executed properly, it'd be a very useful addition to the outdoors person's kit.
The problem as I see it is that that's never been the case. I've owned at least one example from every outfit that's made them and have had at least some shooting experience with many owned by others.
The basic design is sound, IMO. Where it all falls apart is in the materials and manufacturing. "Built to a price, not a set of specs" pretty much covers it.
Manufacturing tolerances were deliberately 'generous' to speed assembly and materials specs were sacrificed in the interest of absolute economy. Poor QC oversight of vendor-produced parts seems to have been a big factor with all of them.
Of the several I've owned, my original Armalite was the best. It's the only one that didn't have one or more parts fail in-service and the only one that functioned with any acceptable reliability. Even it took some serious tweeking and trying several different magazines before it'd work decently.
Unfortunately, it was stolen along with the rest of my "survival duffle" from the trunk of my car many years ago. All of the others suffered from chronic parts failures, poor functioning including "doubling" and an FA incident and constant feeding issues which couldn't be fixed with new mags or ammo changes.
The last one I'll be buying, a Henry, had the barrel sleeve crack at the extractor cut after fewer than 500 rds. Since Henry won't let me just send them the barrel and shipping the entire rifle both ways at my expense ("Lifetime Warranty" my aching butt!) would cost me nearly two thirds of what it cost originally it lives in its little box at the back of the safe.
If "survival" use in any stretch of the imagination might actually be on your mind - buy the Marlin and a floating case for it.
The problem as I see it is that that's never been the case. I've owned at least one example from every outfit that's made them and have had at least some shooting experience with many owned by others.
The basic design is sound, IMO. Where it all falls apart is in the materials and manufacturing. "Built to a price, not a set of specs" pretty much covers it.
Manufacturing tolerances were deliberately 'generous' to speed assembly and materials specs were sacrificed in the interest of absolute economy. Poor QC oversight of vendor-produced parts seems to have been a big factor with all of them.
Of the several I've owned, my original Armalite was the best. It's the only one that didn't have one or more parts fail in-service and the only one that functioned with any acceptable reliability. Even it took some serious tweeking and trying several different magazines before it'd work decently.
Unfortunately, it was stolen along with the rest of my "survival duffle" from the trunk of my car many years ago. All of the others suffered from chronic parts failures, poor functioning including "doubling" and an FA incident and constant feeding issues which couldn't be fixed with new mags or ammo changes.
The last one I'll be buying, a Henry, had the barrel sleeve crack at the extractor cut after fewer than 500 rds. Since Henry won't let me just send them the barrel and shipping the entire rifle both ways at my expense ("Lifetime Warranty" my aching butt!) would cost me nearly two thirds of what it cost originally it lives in its little box at the back of the safe.
If "survival" use in any stretch of the imagination might actually be on your mind - buy the Marlin and a floating case for it.
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