AR7 build

[am4x4]

Thought I would share my latest piece of gunf**kery.

I have been looking at the AR7 for a while, I really like how light it is and how small it packs up but I could not get past the ergonomics, especially for my kids which is who I was buying it for. Then I stumbled across a great deal on a NIB one on the consignment rack at a local shop. So now I have to fix it.

I designed a new stock that will be a combination of 3D printed parts and carbon fiber tube. Some pieces I cheated and modified files I found online, and some I designed from scratch. It will break down by removing the barrel and pistol grip then fit in this little keyboard case I found on Amazon. Packed up it will be about the same size as the factory stock and be perfect for dragging along on camping trips in case we decide to do some plinking. First part is printing right now.

[am4x4]

I also drew up and printed these little guys that snap onto the front of the magazine. If you have ever shot one of those you know there are not a lot of good places for your forward support hard to go so you tend to grab the front of the action/magazine kind of like a forward grip. Problem is the front of the magazine is two sharp ribs of sheet metal which is not comfortable to hold.

[Usmc0844spare]

On the one hand, given the whole purpose of this as a survival rifle that stores in a stock that will float, I am not sure of the point of this.

On the other hand, this seems like something I would try doing if I had the skill.

Can't wait to see finished product!

[echo1]

The AR7s are known as having feed issues, jam-o-matic, which is often caused by the shooter using the mag as a grip. On mine I put a piece of Velcro in the mag well base to give a little "up" at the lips. I also had a small forearm that fit the barrel profile. I hogged out a chunk to be able to clear the barrel nut and slide back onto the receiver for support. Then I put Velcro in the fabbed HG and on the barrel. I also put Velcro just behind the wrist so you can attach the HG to the stock when you break it down. It all worked out as planned. You can barey make out the mod in the photo, PAX

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[stormvet]

Very cool looking forward to the range report and finished product pics.

[am4x4]

The AR7s are known as having feed issues, jam-o-matic, which is often caused by the shooter using the mag as a grip. On mine I put a piece of Velcro in the mag well base to give a little "up" at the lips. I also had a small forearm that fit the barrel profile. I hogged out a chunk to be able to clear the barrel nut and slide back onto the receiver for support. Then I put Velcro in the fabbed HG and on the barrel. I also put Velcro just behind the wrist so you can attach the HG to the stock when you break it down. It all worked out as planned. You can barey make out the mod in the photo, PAX

image.png

I had thought about some sort of hand guard like that but I want to try this first. I have only taken this thing out shooting once and I was holding onto the magazine and didn't seem it didn't seem to cause any issues, but I will definitely keep an eye on it because you are not the first person I have heard that from. My mags fit very tight so I wonder if that was a bigger problem on some on the prior manufacturers guns

[am4x4]

Well after investing way too much time into a $200 gun it is done for now. Turns out the file I found online was not even close to fitting so I ended up redesigning most of it anyway. It is all together and functional but I will be getting a better 3D printer in the near future and when I do I will reprint everything just to get a slightly better cosmetic finish. I am also going to print an organizer for the case that will lock everything in place and have spots for three CCI 100 racks of ammo. One thing I am pretty excited about is that even with adding the scope the overall weight stayed pretty much exactly the same.

[am4x4]

On the one hand, given the whole purpose of this as a survival rifle that stores in a stock that will float, I am not sure of the point of this.

On the other hand, this seems like something I would try doing if I had the skill.

Can't wait to see finished product!

it still packs up to about the same size as the original setup, same length, just a little fatter. A big advantage is there is only one step to assemble it now instead of two. Plus I really got this for my kids to shoot when we are out camping, the ergonomics on the factory stock are terrible for an adult and pretty much unusable for a kid so something had to give. I don't plan on dropping it in the water but even if I did the newer AR7's are almost 1 pound heavier than the old ones, there is no foam in the stocks anymore, and the stocks are borderline water resistant, so they barely float, and not for long. Even just holding mine upside down would cause the butt pad to come off and dump the contents out, I read a review where the guy tried to see it floated and the same thing happened which required diving to the bottom in 8' of water to retrieve the parts, and he never did find the barrel.

[echo1]

You done good for what you're working with but there are better shooting .22 platforms. Everything done to an AR7 is a compromise for some other short coming. Good starter gun for youngsters but I'd rather have a 10/22 take down or a Papoose in my flying machine. I actually fly with a .357 lever & 4'' pistol when in the bush. PAX

[echo1]

"From Russia With Love" - 1963, 10/22 - 1964, PAX

[Level III]

This...




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[george223]

Charles Bronson also used an AR7 as a hit man when he took out a race car during a race in one of his movies. I think the movie was Violent City. Not sure

[bohoki]

fine i came back just long enough to show you my monstrosity

N9ai9ci.jpg

L1A1 stock and grip with my special adaper and grip filler ramline magazine clamp on rail and foldy grip

at one time i had the mitchell kit with the wire extendo stock and vented foregrip well shooting the gun would either cause the stock to kind of slip over my shoulder cause it was raked that way and the vented handguard would interfere with seeing the front sight

ramline magazines have a nub on the front and a nub on the back you have to file to make it fit your particular gun

[am4x4]

fine i came back just long enough to show you my monstrosity

N9ai9ci.jpg

L1A1 stock and grip with my special adaper and grip filler ramline magazine clamp on rail and foldy grip

at one time i had the mitchell kit with the wire extendo stock and vented foregrip well shooting the gun would either cause the stock to kind of slip over my shoulder cause it was raked that way and the vented handguard would interfere with seeing the front sight

ramline magazines have a nub on the front and a nub on the back you have to file to make it fit your particular gun

that looks slick. Does the foregrip being mounted to the barrel cause inaccuracy issues? People say is is a problem because the barrels are so flexy on these

[dfletcher]

^ Kind of interested in the magazine - this is specifically for the AR or is it a 10/22 modified?