Henry AR7, anybody own one?

[ColbyBruce]

Years ago I owned AR7’s made by Armalite and Charter Arms. Mine were purchased used and were well worn. I am interested in buying a new one for my grandson’s upcoming birthday. If you have recent experience with one of these please voice your opinion of these new Henry rifles. Thank you.

 

[Grayfox]

I had one for a while. Interesting concept, but in reality, it just feels awkward to shoot.
Decent rifle, acceptable accuracy. The trigger sucked. Heavy and gritty. Fortunately, its a very simple mechanism and a bit of stoning improved it greatly.
The biggest problem is the plastic front sight. Its meant to be windage adjustable side to side, but it doesn't take much of a bump to move it. Its easily knocked out of zero.
Frankly, I'd buy the grandson something better.

 

[021]

I have one. It surprised me how well it shot, but the trigger could be better. I ran across a deal on it and couldn't resist.

 

[Rob613]

I had one, fun but not really practical.

Looking gimmicky/different, M6 Scout.
Looking right of passage, 10/22.

 

[DWalt]

I had one, fun but not really practical.

Looking gimmicky/different, M6 Scout.
Looking right of passage, 10/22.

I have two, neither is a Henry. One is a Charter and it shoots tighter groups. It is sold as a survival rifle, and that is its highest and best use. I would not buy one for a kid as starter gun. There are far better .22 rifles for that purpose available. I'd look for a good condition used bolt action or pump .22. I am partial to Remingtons but there are lots of Savage and Mossburgs out there.

 

[Imissedagain]

Saddle up Cowboy and ride on over to a Winchester 9422,
or head in that direction.
Bolts, Pump, Ruger 10/22, proper stock size, maybe adjustable
or any rifle that he won't have to be on the inside of the barn
to hit it.

Pic of grandson's birth gift.
Now almost seven.
Archery?
Was required before using firearms.

Passed on an AR7 long ago.
Worth saving for/buying something better, new/used
at today's price.

G&A '81 pic
They do float.

 

[teletech]

The Henry I bought had poor accuracy, a very easily knocked-off front sight, an awful trigger, and showed a lot of wear after not that many rounds. I also went through a couple stock back-caps because they would crack. Plus funky ergonomics. Cool to have a "Bond Gun" on the cheap and might have utility as a survival gun, but total pass on a first .22. You can't go wrong with the 10/22, but for me a nice vintage Marlin does a lot of good shooting for very little money.

 

[kwill1911]

Unless you need the ability to load it into the stock and it still float (and who would?) there are much better options.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I had one. I actually liked it pretty well, but not enough to keep it when I needed funds for a different toy.

Trigger was rough. Started out horrible, but improved throughout a thousand rounds or so.

It was fairly reliable, as long as I didn't mix up mags from my Charter Arms. They ain't messing around when they say to use Henry mags only!

Accuracy was quite acceptable for a gun like that. ergonomics were a little funky, but manageable. I considered it a silly, fun little plinker and it filled that role quite well.

 

[mtgianni]

Depending on age either a chipmunk, lever or a CZ bolt. I dislike the idea of an auto for a first gun.

 

[OKFC05]

Have one Henry survival rifle: crude, clumsy, maybe OK for a survival rifle.
Not at all suitable for a kids rifle, IMHO.

 

[Bald1]

OP makes no mention of this being a first rifle. His grandson could be 30 yrs old. We don’t know. I think they are pretty cool. They accurate enough to hunt with. And work great as a survival rifle in backpack or saddle bag. Which is their intended use. I intend to buy one this winter and play around with it. The one I shot recently had no front sight looseness and trigger was acceptable.

 

[Norton 750]

My first rifle was a 10/22 which I still have. Dad issued one round at a time early on, and Ruger actually makes a single shot mag adaptor. The Henry is cool because it is a survival rifle, and when I was younger I was all in for that "living off the land in an emergency". A Prince Albert tin housed my survival kit for every hunting trip. For that it is great fun and not expensive. A gimmick gun? Maybe, but as a kid I really got into it.

 

[mauser9]

I would look into a Ruger American compact in 22 L.R. or 22 magnum instead. Synthetic stock and 18 inch barrel makes for a good survival and hunting/target rifle.

 

[Goony]

An amusing review of the Henry AR7: The Rimfire Report: A Henry AR-7 Cautionary ReviewThe Firearm Blog

A couple of things I noticed as opposed to the earlier Charter Arms produced AR7 is that this latest iteration has a rail atop the receiver and there's provision in the stock to stow two extra magazines instead of just one.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Lots to consider

The AR7 is more costly than I imagined. I am no fan of the Ruger 10/22, as I have owned a half dozen and never had one that worked properly. The Ruger American, if available in a youth model, threaded barrel, .22 magnum might work for him. I could also put together a AR-15 in 300 Blackout for him, as I have 1/3 of the parts lying around.

A bolt action .22 Hornet would be nice to find.

 

[waffles]

I had the original Armalite model with the marbled looking stock. It was a supremely cool rifle, and actually surprisingly reliable and easy to shoot with. The packing into a stock bit ruled, and the floating part seemed really cool. It was also just limited. No good way to mount optics (the current henrys have a rail, but cant stuff the optic into the stock), no good way to mount a can, and the thing is just too damn bulky in its stowed form to bring along on backpacking trips. These days the AR7 is for the cool factor, and if I was a kid I'd love that, but the takedown .22 game is dominated by the Ruger 10/22 backpacker if weight/space isnt a concern, or the one I personally love, the Chiappa lil' badger, which I absolutely take hiking/backpacking frequently. Cheap, light, compact, accurate, great trigger, easy to mount a can. If the portability of the AR7 is one of the driving factors, this beats it.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

My college buddy had one in the 1970s, whatever manufacturer it was then. The floating stock was cool, the absence of a forearm made it a little tricky to shoot. Survival rifle ? Not much good against anything bigger than a chipmunk, a squirrel, a bullfrog.

 

[CajunBass]

I always wanted one to stow in the wooden box I had in the back of my Jeep, with things like a sterno stove, some canned food and such in case I was ever stranded in the wilds of central Virginia, where I might have to hike a half mile or so to a hard surface road or a phone (pre-cell phone days) to call for help. Never knew how long I might be "stranded" out there.

Never did get one...or get stranded.

 

[RMFnLA]

The Henry I bought had poor accuracy, a very easily knocked-off front sight, an awful trigger, and showed a lot of wear after not that many rounds. I also went through a couple stock back-caps because they would crack. Plus funky ergonomics. Cool to have a "Bond Gun" on the cheap and might have utility as a survival gun, but total pass on a first .22. You can't go wrong with the 10/22, but for me a nice vintage Marlin does a lot of good shooting for very little money.

Except, IIRC, it was described as being .25 by Q; I never did understand that.