Keystone Overlander - single shot "pack" rifle

chicharrones

chicharrones

needs more ammo
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Jan 19, 2010
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The other thread about the M6 survival rifle brought up the M4 survival rifle, which made me think of sliding stock rimfire rifles.

Lo and behold, Keystone snuck this little critter out. Looks like fun.

https://keystonesportingarmsllc.com/product/keystone-precision-overlander-pack-rifle-22-s-l-lr/

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/new-for-2023-keystone-arms-overlander-pack-rifle/

Capacity: Single Shot
Stock: Billet Machined 6061 Aluminum Black Anodized
Barrel: Threaded 16.125″ Carbon Fiber w/Thread Protector Cap
Sights: Front Metal and Rear Peep
OAL: Adjusts 31.75″ max to 26.375″ collapsed
LOP: Multiple Adjustments 13.5″ max to 8.125″ collapsed
Weight: 3lbs 8oz

crickett-overlander-3.jpg
crickett-overlander-4.jpg
 
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My comment made me look up the actual weight of the AR-7. The first one I came across was the latest Henry design with the orange inside the stock structure.

02E01C4F-BEEC-46E9-B3AF-5DED039EEA39.jpeg

And that wasn’t what I had remembered so I kept going until I found my previous generation one.

47ACE821-39F4-4C0C-BD38-354DBE3CC7EB.jpeg

Both of those weights are with 20 rounds of ammunition (loaded mags).
 
jmorris said:
My comment made me look up the actual weight of the AR-7. The first one I came across was the latest Henry design with the orange inside the stock structure.

View attachment 1155182

And that wasn’t what I had remembered so I kept going until I found my previous generation one.

View attachment 1155183

Both of those weights are with 20 rounds of ammunition (loaded mags).
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That's a huge difference in a gun that light. All due to the orange stock innards of the newer model?
 
That is awesome Chicharrones! Thanks for sharing. I a definitely getting one of those. I have been looking at small rifles to throw in my pack for summer backcountry fishing. I really like to hike back a few miles to get away from the crowds to fish. I have always waned to have a small .22 to take with me. I have used my Ruger 10/22 takedown and it does work great, but is a bit bulky for day trips. I have check out many websites and videos about making a small rifle from a Cricket, but never got around to it. I even considered buying the PACK-Rifle, but actually too light for me. I even tried "aiming" a fishing pole that weighed the same as the PACK-Rifle and just could not hold it steady without a support.

I can't wait to see one of these in the flesh!
 
The Henry is a semiauto repeater, rather than a single shot. We're trading a fat, oversized stock shell for a thinner, longer fixed barrel. I've always thought it would be interesting to revamp the Henry with a denser stock arrangement, NOT a container, but rather a half-clamshell which simply had recesses for the lockwork and barrel to snap into. If I had a 3D printer and an actual need beyond whimsy and nostalgia for the AR7, I would have made one already. With the difference in weights posted above, it's very obvious how much influence in overall weight the stock can have, so it would be interesting to design the skeletonized half-clamshell to see how much the form could be reduced of bulk, balanced against how much mass would be removed or added in doing so, since we'd give up the hoop stiffness of the large container shell.
 
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ECVMatt said:
That is awesome Chicharrones! Thanks for sharing. I a definitely getting one of those. I have been looking at small rifles to throw in my pack for summer backcountry fishing. I really like to hike back a few miles to get away from the crowds to fish. I have always waned to have a small .22 to take with me. I have used my Ruger 10/22 takedown and it does work great, but is a bit bulky for day trips. I have check out many websites and videos about making a small rifle from a Cricket, but never got around to it. I even considered buying the PACK-Rifle, but actually too light for me. I even tried "aiming" a fishing pole that weighed the same as the PACK-Rifle and just could not hold it steady without a support.

I can't wait to see one of these in the flesh!
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I'd have loved to have one of these Keystones back in my dual sport dirt bike and canoe exploring days.

Although, I would be tempted to trim the AR grip to a two finger height and trim the butt plate to match the grip height. All in the name of reducing bulk.
 
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Pretty cool. I hadn't even known about the M4 survival rifle until yesterday when chicharrones mentioned it. Ended up going to a Wikipedia article about it, then got sucked down a rabbit hole reading a 1951 Popular Science magazine, with all the advertisements and everything.

The Keystone Overlander looks like a nice interpretation or the idea, even if it isn't offered in ultra-cool .22 Hornet.
 
Spug said:
Pretty cool. I hadn't even known about the M4 survival rifle until yesterday when chicharrones mentioned it. Ended up going to a Wikipedia article about it, then got sucked down a rabbit hole reading a 1951 Popular Science magazine, with all the advertisements and everything.

The Keystone Overlander looks like a nice interpretation or the idea, even if it isn't offered in ultra-cool .22 Hornet.
Click to expand...

The .22 Hornet made a whole lot of sense in the pre-5.56x45 military days. For us civilians that just want to go out and have a nice break from the work week, .22 WMR or .22 LR makes a lot of sense.

I really like NoDak Spud's interpretation of the M4. Keystone carries that idea forward in a much lighter package. Considering the intended usage and weight loss, I think the Keystone could be a winner.

Marlin25N-NodakSpud-9.jpg

Marlin25N-NodakSpud-1.jpg
 
Nothing wrong with a Marlin 70 PSS Papoose.

About 3.25 lbs, and it’s a semi-auto takedown with stainless action and barrel and both parts under 21”.

Unlike the earlier AR-7, it will fire more than 2 rounds without jamming, and there are 25 round mags for it. Someone here custom made a sliding wire stock for one.
 
Speedo66 said:
Nothing wrong with a Marlin 70 PSS Papoose.

About 3.25 lbs, and it’s a semi-auto takedown with stainless action and barrel and both parts under 21”.

Unlike the earlier AR-7, it will fire more than 2 rounds without jamming, and there are 25 round mags for it. Someone here custom made a sliding wire stock for one.
Click to expand...

Going to have to find a used one. Especially if Ruger doesn't bring it back.
 
The Crickett is a dependable little thing and only slightly more complicated than a hammer. So far 4 GG kids haven't make a dent in the one I bough for the oldest when she was five. It's been going down the line as each get's old enough to shoot it and there is one left and I doubt her ability to ever hurt it. Old enough has been defined as someone sitting at a bench with each in their lap helping them until they are large enough to hold it on their own. Start them young and the younger the better

When it's no longer needed if I'm still able I may turn it into a home made version of the production one..
 
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