Henry AR7 Survival Rifle

Well, this is all your fault. My wife is holding you responsible. I decided I wouldn't buy one unless it was the camo version. Went to Hamburg today and wouldn't you know it - the guy I bought an AR from last year had both the black and camo versions on his table. He was willing to include the tax and NICS in the price but I still wasn't going to deal.

The wife said you weren't really going to buy it were you? Then, the clock hit Noon and the girlie started singing the National Anthem. I took off my hat and put my hand over my heart (as did EVERY person in the auditorium). After the song was over and everyone cheered I told her yes I am.

PS - it was still less than her monthly horse board payment. That's my story and I'm sticking to it....
 
My Dad got an original around 1960 or so, probably not long after these guns were first marketed. As I recall, it was reasonably accurate considering the very basic peep sight. Forty or fifty years later, the plastic stock suffered a huge crack after being stored in a closet for a long time. I don't know anything about the newer guns.
 
Rock, I bet if the stock cracked on a Henry they’d replace it no questions asked
 
Jim, I’ve been accused of being an enabler before. They really are good cheap fun. Take it to camp and take it on boat. I bet Skipper and Gilligan wished they had an AR7. Who knows, you could get stranded on Strawberry Island lol.
 
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Bald1 said:
. Who knows, you could get stranded on Strawberry Island lol.
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My Dad courted My Mom on Strawberry Island, as did I with my wife-to-be. My kids swam there when they were little. When they closed off the cove I was running a tiller tinny with oars. I said "they ain't keeping me out of there during fishing season", so I raised the motor and paddled in.....once, it was too much work. Now I have a Whaler and it doesn't have oars.

Nifty little toy. It will go with my revolving rifle. Can't have too many .22's.
 
I was looking into one a few years ago. Didn't pull the trigger though. If memory serves they were developed as a survival rifle by the Air Force — or something like that?

Nifty little gun.
 
rockquarry said:
My Dad got an original around 1960 or so, probably not long after these guns were first marketed. As I recall, it was reasonably accurate considering the very basic peep sight. Forty or fifty years later, the plastic stock suffered a huge crack after being stored in a closet for a long time. I don't know anything about the newer guns.
Click to expand...

Stocks can be found on eBay fairly regularly.
 
SnidelyWhiplash said:
The Henry AR-7 has made up for the Charter Arms version which was a problematic beast at best.

My Henry is a nice piece...but I admit my original Armalite AR-7 is my favorite of the two...a bit cruder and very picky about magazines...it only functions well with a genuine Armalite magazine...it's still fun to shoot and surprisingly accurate.
AR-7-targets.jpg
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Not a fan.
Sometimes they don’t return to zero after taking apart and putting back together.
I’ll take a 10/22 with a folding stock over the Armalite/Henry any day.
 
My neighbor passed away a few years back. Most of his guns went to his son. A few left. One was an AR7 Survival Rifle. His wife for the life of her did not know where the barrel went. After some time it was figured out! OOPS! Bob
 
smoothshooter said:
Not a fan.
Sometimes they don’t return to zero after taking apart and putting back together.
I’ll take a 10/22 with a folding stock over the Armalite/Henry any day.
Click to expand...

You must have missed the part about my AR7 being way cooler than my 10/22. Cool matters.
 
They are outstanding little rifles that come in a neat little package! I love my Henry. I wish Ms. Masterson would give me lessons.
 
Tried out my new toy at camp last weekend. Tried 3 different ammo brands, one was even std velocity, and it took them all without a single hickup.

Even watched "From Russia With Love", to see James Bond use one. When the Chief gave it to him he actually called it an AR7. The first use was with a silencer and a scope. The second time he was on the run and shot down a helicopter with it. (hit the invader in the arm and he dropped his grenade inside the helo.

Can't wait till Summer. I'll keep it handy at camp and shoot down any drones that may come by.....
 
Onomea said:
...
If memory serves they were developed as a survival rifle by the Air Force — or something like that?
...
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The AR-5 is the USAF rifle - a bolt action .22 Hornet. The semi-auto .22 evolved from it.

In the early 60's, I had one of the model kits discussed in this American Rifleman online article. A young cousin broke it, sadly, given the current pricing the article claims. My Charter Arms has held up better. A gift from my then girlfriend, she's held up well too.



Relic Of A Different Time: The Lindberg AR-5A Replica | An Official Journal Of The NRA

"The Lindberg AR-5A replica appeared around the same time the U.S. Air Force adopted the rifle in 1956. ... the replica was part of an ArmaLite/Fairchild promotional push of the AR-5 that included articles about the rifle in magazines like Popular Science.

Production numbers of the Lindberg AR-5A replica are unknown, but they certainly exceeded the two dozen or so AR-5s produced by ArmaLite."
 
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smoothshooter said:
Not a fan.
Sometimes they don’t return to zero after taking apart and putting back together.
I’ll take a 10/22 with a folding stock over the Armalite/Henry any day.
Click to expand...
I will take a Ruger 10/22 Takedown with folding stock and threaded barrel any day over any of the AR7 style rifles.
 
pjpjr said:
I will take a Ruger 10/22 Takedown with folding stock and threaded barrel any day over any of the AR7 style rifles.
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And I’ll take a S&W J frame over a Rossi any day. That’s not the point. This was a simple review of a fun inexpensive gun that many people have dismissed as a gimmick without actually shooting one. I’m not comparing it to anything. Just giving my opinion on THIS rifle.
 
pjpjr said:
I will take a Ruger 10/22 Takedown with folding stock and threaded barrel any day over any of the AR7 style rifles.
Click to expand...

Everyone MUST have a 10/22. It's simply that iconic. I bought one years ago.

Of course the price is more than double the AR7. Also, it may be a "takedown", but the pieces are too long to fit in a little package like the AR7.

Regardless, the folding stock version is not legal in NY.
 
Interesting enough, my buddy let me shoot his Charter Arms AR7 last Thursday. I just shot it at 15 yards, standing and unsupported, but it was easy to shoot quarter size or less groups. I was pretty surprised.
 
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