Talk to me about an AR-7....

[IrishPirate]

...So I came accross this little gem while watching Boston Legal (Season 1, Episode 10) and after a little googling and sorting through mixed reviews, I think it might something I want to add to my collection. It seems like a neat little gun (i guess James Bond uses it in Goldfinger to shoot down a helicopter......no need to comment) and something that would be fun to have. Before you ask, no I'm not planning on using it for a survival rifle! Just everyday, run-of-the-mill plinking fun.

However, before I go out and get myself one, I was wondering if anyone here actually owns one, and if there are any real problems with them? Apparently they are currently manufactured under the name "Henry US Survival Rifle". Please, any thoughts are welcome, and any actual experience you can share is most appreciated. Thank you

[EdinKali]

I have one. It only seems to like CCI Stingers. Anything else seems to jam in it. Fairly accurate for what it is. Very cheaply made. If you want a plinker I would spend your money somewhere else. Good as a survival rifle but that is about it. For the same amount of money I'd pick up a used 10/22 or something like this:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rem_nylon_rifles.htm

Have seen them used for $75-$100.

[brian.243]

I have one made by Charter Arms It is picky about ammo mine likes remington thunderbolts. Sights are some what crude. Large hole peep sight. It is the only gun I have with peep sight so I am not that familer with that type of sight. I find it accurate enough to hit water bottles and clay pidgens out to 25 or so yards. My nephew loves to shoot it

[bomb_on_bus]

seems like a good way to spend money!

Or you can send me the money and I will laugh at the idea of buying something like that for you

Theres plenty of other options out there that are way better for the same ball park price.

[IrishPirate]

I'm not saying that this is going to stop me from getting anything else. I've got a mossberg 702, i plan on getting a ruger 10/22, and I'm sure i'll find another .22lr that i want too. I want to know if it's worth about $100-$200 bucks. Not whether I should spend the money on something else.....I will spend money on more guns.........just if this is ALSO worth spending money on. A little conversation piece to have some fun with while also enjoying my other guns. Not looking to compete with it or anything, and I'm not going to bet my life on a .22lr when I've got a a Kel-tec that folds up just nicely for camping/survival. thanks

[BroncoBob]

Yeah I have one in name only as mine is more of a AR-7.5, it does like certain ammo preferring the CCI Mini Mags and Federal Copper Top. Once in a while I get a FTF but I'm not to concerned about it. The last time I took it out to Panoche Hills I was hitting 4" clays at over 80 yds consistently . Do I like my AR-7.5? Understatement! This rifle will not leave my collection. Got the bull steel barrel and shroud from AR7.com. Fabricated an adapter to allow me to fit my rifle with a standard A2 stock and pistol grip.

[SVPRApps]

DO NOT GET IT

I wasted a bit of money on it as well. It was $285 (brand new) out the door from Wild Sports. DROS / tax / lock included in the price.


i have one, henry ar-7 and its picky as hell about ammo. most of the gun is made of plastic. in fact, my barrel is "chipping" apart from shooting. 90 rounds so far until the trigger broke and the springs popped out.

and guess what, i pulled the bolt back and pulled the trigger and the internals popped around inside, rendering my gun useless and a paperweight. Most of this gun is plastic, the stock is ugly and like a toy

luckily i only bought it 3 weeks ago so henry arms sent me a UPS sticker (they pay both ways) so i can send it back so they will fix it for me.

the overall design of gun itself is bad, pulling the bolt and cycling the next rounds is a bit sticky. could be the magazines it came with or it could be the gun itself. I get FTF/FTE a lot. I may think its the ammo. but if its a good gun, then it wouldnt be picky about ammo would it?

the gun is compact because its just a removable stock/barrel. i'm pretty sure you can find better gun designs than that. the way they designed this thing was like an airsoft/paintball gun. one screw for the plates. and the plates keep all the internal springs under tension. as soon as you unscrew that thing, everything on the inside pops out and its a PITA to put it all back together. i'm fixing to send it back this week so they can fix it up for me

its basically 3 parts. removable stock/barrel and a receiver. get a marlin papoose but only the barrel is removable or stick with the ruger 10/22 and get a folding/removable stock for it.

[IrishPirate]

Thanks for the advice.....I'll have to carefully consider it then seeing as I don't want a hunk of junk that i can't use. I'll keep looking into it. thanks for the advice on things to consider.

[SVPRApps]

Thanks for the advice.....I'll have to carefully consider it then seeing as I don't want a hunk of junk that i can't use. I'll keep looking into it. thanks for the advice on things to consider.

I updated my rant a little bit. To be honest it's not worth more than $200. The selling points of this gun was just the screw in barrel/stock. That's literally it. It's compact, can be tucked away. Low profile, etc.

If you're going to spend $200+ get a ruger 10/22 and modify it. Another close contender for the "takedown" type rifle is the Marlin Papoose, but only the barrel can be removed. In my eyes, it's basically a Marlin 795 with a removable barrel. When I get more money, I'll be getting the Papoose or the 795 as a budget 22.

[nat]

I really like mine. It hasn't jammed and is a fun plinker. Cool to toss in a backpack. Mine is surprisingly accurate. I have the Henry version, but I really like Henry rifles.

[RogueSniper]

We have a thread talking about the NEW Henry AR-7. The jury is still out as to whether or not the new is also "improved" in engineering and mechanism. For all we know, it may only be cosmetic changes.

I've read a lot of info on this little guy, too. Magazine issues. Bolt and receiver issues. And, ammo specific. I would wait on getting one until we get a report on the new version.

[SVPRApps]

We have a thread talking about the NEW Henry AR-7. The jury is still out as to whether or not the new is also "improved" in engineering and mechanism. For all we know, it may only be cosmetic changes.

I've read a lot of info on this little guy, too. Magazine issues. Bolt and receiver issues. And, ammo specific. I would wait on getting one until we get a report on the new version.

Yep to the bolded...Bought it 12-26-09 @ Wild Sports for $285. Honestly Ruger 10/22 hands down

[repoman1984]

Yeah I have one in name only as mine is more of a AR-7.5, it does like certain ammo preferring the CCI Mini Mags and Federal Copper Top. Once in a while I get a FTF but I'm not to concerned about it. The last time I took it out to Panoche Hills I was hitting 4" clays at over 80 yds consistently . Do I like my AR-7.5? Understatement! This rifle will not leave my collection. Got the bull steel barrel and shroud from AR7.com. Fabricated an adapter to allow me to fit my rifle with a standard A2 stock and pistol grip.

Just gotta say that's pretty cool.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

...i guess James Bond uses it in Goldfinger to shoot down a helicopter......no need to comment...

Sorry, but I need to comment here. James Bond used the AR7 in From Russia With Love to shoot a man who is riding in a helicopter. The man was about to drop a hand grenade out of the helicopter onto James Bond, but dropped it onto the floor of the helicopter after getting shot. It was this fumbled hand grenade that brought down the helicopter.

That said, my AR7 was very accurate and reliable the one and only time I shot it. It's an AR7 Industries version that cost $169.95 out the door from Traders in 2001.

[BroncoBob]

Sorry, but I need to comment here. James Bond used the AR7 in From Russia With Love to shoot a man who is riding in a helicopter. The man was about to drop a hand grenade out of the helicopter onto James Bond, but dropped it onto the floor of the helicopter after getting shot. It was this fumbled hand grenade that brought down the helicopter.

That said, my AR7 was very accurate and reliable the one and only time I shot it. It's an AR7 Industries version that cost $169.95 out the door from Traders in 2001.

In the movie it was stated as a 32 caliber if I remember correctly.