Ar7 vs take down 10/22

[kris smith]

So I have a 10/22 I have had for a long time. But I want a small package rifle for shiggels. I wanted an ar7 but they also make the 10/22 in a stainless takedown I have no experience with the ar7. If you had your druthers what would you chose

[sanjoseskater]

I have a 10/22 breakdown with the bag my best friend has the Ar 7. Unless want to bring it backpacking the AR 7 sucks not a fan of it cheap, not a great shooter. My 10/22 is awesome with a Nikon scope and bipod quality firearm that will last a lifetime

[kris smith]

That’s what I was thinking of the AR 7 as I already have a standard 10/22 with a cheap scope on it I was going to try something new but I think I’m get the takedown

[TKM]

AR7 has a teenage neato feel to it but sucks as a real gun.

[sanjoseskater]

Originally Posted by kris smith

That’s what I was thinking of the AR 7 as I already have a standard 10/22 with a cheap scope on it I was going to try something new but I think I’m get the takedown

I put a bipod on mine and a Nikon scope and still fits in the bag barely with a bunch of extra magazine , also check out the mag pull breakdown stock for it looks pretty cool

[AR22]

Of those two..The 10-22 is heads above in quality..I have owned both those and a Marlin Papoose..The Papoose is the only one still here..

[kris smith]

Yeah I love the 10/22 I have. I want a breakdown version and when I’m shooting rimfire I’m shooting the ever loving piss out of them so quality has to be there.

[Oceanbob]

Kris did you miss last weeks thread…?

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1833182

[M1NM]

A friend had an original AR built one it was ok. I bought my daughter (at age 5) a Charter Arms one $39.00. It was a good youth gun for her but a real jam-o-matic. I don't know how the Henry ones are.
Buy the Ruger unless you want something superlight to backpack with.

[kris smith]

Ocean bob I don’t come into this chat ever. It’s probably my first time here. I spend what little time I do here in reloading. So yea I missed it

[M76]

The 10/22 is more substantial, you can’t go wrong with it

[M76]

Originally Posted by Ishootforblood

Wow. I couldn’t have said it better. But, I’ll add “gimmick” to the characterization.

Don’t forget “novelty”

They have their place, but not compared to a 10/22 TD

[subscriber]

Have an original Armalite made AR-7, and takedown 10/22: If you want to carry the gun a lot and shoot it very little, then the AR-7 might be OK. If you want to shoot it a lot then 10/22.

My AR-7 was made from very soft metal, such that parts peened each other to the point where the gun stopped working after 200 rounds. Fixable with a needle file, but a massive disappointment. At less than 5 lb, the 10/22 takedown is still very light, even if it is almost 2 lb heavier than the AR-7. The 10/22 takedown has the reliability and durability of the standard 10/22. The barrel lockup can be set tighter by hand, should it loosen with repeated takedown.

The Henry made AR-7 may be different.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Originally Posted by kris smith

So I have a 10/22 I have had for a long time. But I want a small package rifle for shiggels. I wanted an ar7 but they also make the 10/22 in a stainless takedown I have no experience with the ar7. If you had your druthers what would you chose

As I suggested in the thread linked to above, there are many options and, personally, I like the Savage. With that said, if it came down to a choice between an AR-7 and a 10/22 Takedown, then my druthers would be for the 10/22. Why?

AR-7

Lighter than 10/22 Takedown
Less expensive than 10/22 Takedown
Ever-so-slightly more 'packable'
Every iteration/manufacturer comes with reliability issues
Little that can be done to 'customize'

10/22 Takedown

Notably heavier than AR-7
More expensive than AR-7
Nearly as 'packable' as an AR-7 and the Magpul Backpacker stock makes it 'close'
Little reliability problems compared to the AR-7 (my 10/22 rifles eat virtually everything they're fed)
Less effort to assemble/disassemble
Greater magazine capacity
Significantly more 'customizable' than the AR-7
More readily adapted to optics
Greater number and availability of parts/accessories

In the end, there's nothing intrinsically 'wrong' with either one. I own and/or have owned both. But, to my way of thinking, in an head-to-head match up, I'd opt for the 10/22 Takedown based on having owned (it was sold off long ago) a Charter Arms iteration of the AR-7 for several years and having been experimenting with the 10/22 Takedown (in a Magpul Backpacker stock at the moment) for several months.

[jyo]

The Ruger 10-22 is miles better than any AR-7! Clunky little guns with tendency to jam---made by several companies in the past with QC all over the place---a one-trick pony (it floats!) that just isn't reliable...

[sealocan]

I didn't see anyone bring up the novelty feature of the AR7 rifle that most other rifles can't claim. If it's properly stored in its own buttstock it theoretically floats.
So I guess if you're canoeing down a rough river that might have a long shot chance to come in handy but then I saw a YouTube video where even when it's properly stowed/ packed away in its stock, it leaks, water gets in there eventually so I don't even know that it would float for very long.
As others have said the Ruger 10/22 Standard Version or takedown version is a better choice and has a much larger aftermarket, with items that include everything from new stocks, to new triggers and beyond.

It's my guess that the AR7 was something that ArmaLite thought they could sell to the Air Force or some military branches as an emergency survival rifle and then like most military things they thought they could sell it to civilians after that.