Talk me out of a new build Henry AR7

[xrMike]

I would rather get a takedown 10/22, put on the magpul stock and be done. Lot more options, parts, aftermarket, etc.

I have a 10/22 takedown my friend has a AR 7. They are not even in the same league the AR 7 is a cheaply made gimmicky novelty gun. The 10/22 breakdown is a quality gun you can give to your grandchildren in 50 years. Only plus I see for the AR 7 is for backpacking
I put a Nikon scope and a bipod on my 10/22 breakdown still fits in the backpack it’s awesome

But the big problem with the 10/22 takedown is that it doesn't float! That's the deal killer on a survival gun like this, it needs to float! You can lose your 10/22 in a boating accident, but not your AR-7!!!

Kidding of course. I agree with both of you actually. 10/22 takedown (especially with the cool magpul backpacker stock) is better made, better quality for a .22 rifle like this. With MUCH more aftermarket upgrades. If you can only get one, get the 10/22. But fortunately I can have both. I'd never get rid of the AR-7. It's just too cool. And it's the only gun I've ever won in a raffle, so there's that...

I wouldn't say it's "novelty or gimmicky". It was designed for a narrow, dedicated purpose and it serves that purpose well. AND it was designed by the famous Eugene Stoner. And it's been used and issued by the U.S. and Isreali air forces. So "novelty/gimmicky"? No. Cheaply made and not very accurate past 50 yards? Yes.

I can guarantee you'll never see a 10/22 takedown used in a James Bond movie, but you HAVE seen an AR-7 used in one.

I do want one of those magpul backpacker stocks for my 10/22 though. Very sexy! There was a steep discount at Amazon going for a while where you could get them for $40-something (saw it in the "Deals and Coupons" forum here), but now they're back up to $80-something again...

Should have jumped on that, but I snoozed too long.

[nedgun]

No mention of Savage 64 takedown, mine has been a good shooter and reliable. More compact than my 10/22 takedown with Magpul stock. Fun shooters both.

[M1NM]

This belongs in the rimfire thread, but try this stock out. I have one with a fixed stock. Makes it feel like a bb gun. Just get a higher rings for an optic and you're good.

https://hagadefense.com/1913-stock-adapter-for-the-a-r7/

My AR7 runs like a champ. It's the newer Henry version

$95 for a stock. I only paid $40 for the gun when I bought it new for our daughter around 1977. She still has it.

[nitroxdiver]

Here is a very rare AR-7 variant. The Israelis took Armalite rifles and modified them to be pilot survival rifles. They used FALgrips and made their own wire sliding stock, which also held two additional magazines. They used a sight protector from their K98 rifles and a UZI sling. It all broke down into a very compact package.

http://tpsarms.com/m6takedown.aspx

[SVT-40]

I wonder why TPS Arms didn't make them with 16" barrels. The originals had 14" barrels, so it's obvious why they didn't make them like the originals. But why did both Springfield and TPS choose 18.25" barrels when there's no reason to do so?

The main design criteria of the M6 was to be lightweight and compact. A 16" barrel achieves that, an 18.25" barrel does not.

Minimum legal barrel on shotguns is 18"

[k1dude]

Minimum legal barrel on shotguns is 18"

Doh!

My bad. Rant withdrawn.

[stevec223]

[tacticalcity]

Me, talk you out of spending money? Never!

[44fred]

OP
Have you looked into Pack Rifle?

[bohoki]

fine i'll show you mine

ramline magazine l1a1 stock and grip foldy foregrip

[23 Blast]

Talking you out of buying a new gun?

Why, that's just positively un-American!

I've always sort of eyed the AR7s. They're an intriguing little gun, and breakdown guns in general I find really cool. I'm still regretting selling 10/22 breakdown. I sold it before the Magpul backpacker stock was available.

The AR7, as a shooter, is inferior to almost any other .22 rifle, based on the various reviews I've seen ad articles I've read. However, it is perfectly adequate as a survivalist backpacking rifle and fits a niche that there's almost no real competition in. The other breakdown rifles, like the 10/22 and Papoose, aren't as compact when broken down, and also don't have that cool feature of being able to float.

Dang - I may have talked myself into also buying one!

[nd4spdbh]

Not gonna talk you out of it! Heres my post from awhile back on the Henry AR7 - probably another 500+ rnds since then. No issues other than your typical 22LR things caused by dirtier ammo. Always shot bulk ammo, thing loves aguila 38/40gr high velocity stuff. Iron sights donking golf balls at 30-50 yrds through the smaller aperture isnt a problem even between barrel removals.

Get it. I have the Henry in the timber camo. Its a fun, neat decent lil gun. No its not a 10/22, no its not a tac driver, but you dont buy it for that. You buy it for its oddity and compactness.

I have a 4x compact scope on an cantilever mount with 2 50rnd boxes of 22 in its own lil amazon hard case + the gun all stored in the smallest of amazon ukulele cases. Super easy to grab n go out for a day of plinking or throw in the camp trailer

I have now probably 500-600 rnds through it with all of 2 or 3 FTF's and 2 or 3 FTL. In all cases of FTF/FTL it was due to ****ty Winchester whitebox ammo that has the same problems in my STUPID RELIABLE Ruger mark 2 Target competition.

With the 4x scope if i haven't had much coffee that morning (its a LIGHT gun so it moves around a bit if you are jittery) I can do quarter to half dolar sized groups at 30-35yrds with the whitebox ammo.

Things of note:
1. I did polish the trigger sear and while I had it apart I popped a piece of heat shrink around the trigger to soften the edges and that made a huge difference in the smoothness of the trigger and feel on the finger.
2. It needs high velocity stuff to cycle properly>1200fps, standard velocity/just below sub sonic is a crap shoot, and slow stuff like CCI quiet not a chance it will cycle. That stated you can hand cycle cci quiet through it no probs as its not enough to get into a situation like the standard velocity which had a propensity to stovepipe half ejected cases.

Talking you out of buying a new gun?

Why, that's just positively un-American!

I've always sort of eyed the AR7s. They're an intriguing little gun, and breakdown guns in general I find really cool. I'm still regretting selling 10/22 breakdown. I sold it before the Magpul backpacker stock was available.

The AR7, as a shooter, is inferior to almost any other .22 rifle, based on the various reviews I've seen ad articles I've read. However, it is perfectly adequate as a survivalist backpacking rifle and fits a niche that there's almost no real competition in. The other breakdown rifles, like the 10/22 and Papoose, aren't as compact when broken down, and also don't have that cool feature of being able to float.

Dang - I may have talked myself into also buying one!

See above.... Ill tell your wife sorry.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I love takedown long-guns, and have decided they're the focus of my small collection. As for .22's, I'm looking at grabbing a Marlin Papoose and maybe a 10/22 takedown, eventually, but the new build Henry AR-7's are an obvious choice for my collection, too.

Anyone have any experience with the newest version of this older design?

Fun to shoot? This wouldn't likely fill any gap other than a range toy/fun gun. Have a PC carbine and Win Model 12 for defensive/camp work, but my kids love shooting .22's so maybe it'd come along just for fun.

They aren't that expensive and can actually be used. Do they have their limitations? Sure. Do they have their problems/eccentricities in each iteration? Yep.

But, if it's just for 'fun' and it fills a niche in a 'collection'... why not?



* Note: I used to own the Charter Arms version and decided, years ago, that it didn't fit the niche I was after for a .22 LR at that time. More recently, I've been giving the Henry Arms version a closer look again; but, have gone with other options in a takedown .22 LR... for now.