George C. Scott and the AR-7

[sigp220.45]

I thought about putting this in the Lounge, but I have poor luck with movie posts. I always get the usual: "I want 2 hours of my life back", or "Hollyweird is full of libtards, I haven't been to a movie since Gone With The Wind". Maybe I'll fare better as a gun thread.

TCM currently has "Rage" on demand. Its a 1972 film that my Dad took me to when I was 13. He was a big George C. Scott fan. I hadn't seen it since then, until I watched it the other night. It is a revenge film - GCS is a Wyoming rancher who is accidentally dosed with nerve gas by the Army. I won't spoil it any further, but there is a scene with a cat that stayed with me from 1972 until now. When George gets at it, he goes all in.

His weapon of choice is the AR-7, which he puts to good use.



Oddly enough, when GCS plays an Indian (John Rainbird!) in 1984's Firestarter, he breaks out the AR-7 again.



Unfortunately, many of my gun purchases are movie-driven. I bought a Colt Python solely on the strength of the pimp-shooting scene in Magnum Force. I've resisted an AR-7 purchase, mostly because of reports of spotty reliability, but I feel my resolve slipping.

Anyone have good/bad experiences with one?

 

[murphydog]

I have a Charter Arms version from sometime in the last century. Works fine, don't take off the side plate without enclosing the gun in a plastic bag as small internal springs will fly off, never to be seen again .

 

[Slufstuff]

The AR-7 appeared in two James Bond movies, From Russia with Love, and Goldfinger. It was pretty modernistic for 1963 and 1964, but I think the take-down feature was what caught the director's eye.

 

[Valmet]

I've always found them to be oddly-cool little guns, thanks for sharing the cinematic info.

 

[Pharis]

I have one, it's made by Armalite, Costa Masa, Ca. . Nice piece of history and it shoots well given a h.v. round like CCI mini mags.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Dad (85) has a Charter Arms version from the early 80's, it never had a single problem. It is unfired!

Ivan

 

[DWalt]

I have two, a Charter Arms with some use showing and a Survival Arms which is like new. I don't think I paid over $30 each for them at yard sales. Both are reliable, but the Charter shoots tighter groups, even though that is not too important for a survival gun. I think the original Armalite AR-7s have the best reputation, but I don't remember ever seeing one of those. You can get all sorts of aftermarket upgrades for them, even barrels, but that doesn't appeal much to me.

 

[garyez]

Went shooting in the mid-1970s with a friend who brought one along for me to try out. Remember that I had more fun doing the assembly and take down than actually shooting the rifle to the great amusement of my friend. Had to do that several times! Could not understand how all the parts fit so nicely into the stock and such a lightweight firearm. We shot several boxes of ammo without any jams and I was impressed with the accuracy of the iron sights, but I remember wondering about how could a super cool James Bond use such a dinky rifle?

 

[Texas Star]

Went shooting in the mid-1970s with a friend who brought one along for me to try out. Remember that I had more fun doing the assembly and take down than actually shooting the rifle to the great amusement of my friend. Had to do that several times! Could not understand how all the parts fit so nicely into the stock and such a lightweight firearm. We shot several boxes of ammo without any jams and I was impressed with the accuracy of the iron sights, but I remember wondering about how could a super cool James Bond use such a dinky rifle?

So, what did you think of the crutch gun in, Day of the Jackal? Very ingenious (sp?)...

 

[gonerydin]

I have the version made by Henry Repeating Arms. It's good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gunnails]

Rage is also on YouTube.

Rage (1972) - George C. Scott - Drama Full Movies - TICK PR - YouTube

 

[Ranger98]

My Henry US Survival version has been flawless using CCI Mini Mag ammo.

 

[CajunBass]

I've never owned one, but back in the 80's when I was into Jeeps, I wanted one to go in the "survival box" I carried behind the rear seat (CJ-7). Never did get one though.

Why I needed a "survival box" here in Central Virginia I have no real idea. About any place I'd have gotten into trouble, would take almost 15-20 minutes to walk out to the closest house.

Still, every time I see one, I'm tempted...

 

[SuperMan]

Have one of the original Armalite models and it runs great. The major reliability issue is that the feedramp is built into the magazine so it you have a poorly made magazine the gun will never feed right.

Posts from other sites:

AR 7 at 100 yards | Bushcraft USA Forums

Henry Survival AR-7, Semi-automatic, .22LR - Survivalist Forum

I like the original Armalite guns over the current Henry version as the original has an aluminum barrel casing vs. a polymer for the Henry.

Bob

 

[gonerydin]

Have one of the original Armalite models and it runs great. The major reliability issue is that the feedramp is built into the magazine so it you have a poorly made magazine the gun will never feed right.

Posts from other sites:

AR 7 at 100 yards | Bushcraft USA Forums

Henry Survival AR-7, Semi-automatic, .22LR - Survivalist Forum

I like the original Armalite guns over the current Henry version as the original has an aluminum barrel casing vs. a polymer for the Henry.

Bob

To what advantage?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[steveno]

I had all but forgotten and about the movie "Rage" until I seen it a few days ago. it was kind of a reminder of the incident at Dugway Proving grounds. "The Day of the Jackal" and the crutch gun is one of my favorite movie.

 

[SuperMan]

To what advantage?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

...put a scope on a Henry and start shooting...when the polymer heats up the shots start walking off the target...

 

[Grayfox]

I have one of the Henrys living under the back seat of my truck.
Neat little rifle, but the trigger was a bit heavy. I took it apart and just a little light stoning improved it greatly.
With ammo it likes, mine will group about 1" at 25 yards. More than good enough for the intended purpose.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Since first seeing Bond use one in the early 60s...... it was a gotta have! But never did...... hey.....I was only 9 or 10!!!!! Had to settled for a take down Stevens Favorite!

Did pick up a Ruger Take Down about a year ago to go with my Nissan Frontier Pro4x !!!!! Added a folding stock and Bushnell TRS-25..... LOL I feel very "Bondish"

 

[S&WIowegan]

I remember well the death of sheep near Dugway Proving grounds. This was denied by the Army for years. Hell they may still deny it. My Army hitch was spent in the Army Biowarfare Research labs. One of my Army buddies was transferred to Dugway as punishment for some Article 15 transgression. Dugway sent him back! The Army next sent him to Fort Richardson Alaska which he didn't like because beer and cigarettes were too expensive.

I never doubted the Army killed those sheep.