Henry Survival Rifle

[matmat417]

So ive been looking around at the henry website and saw the Survival rifle.. Looks awesome and stores in the buttstock.

So does anyone have one or had used one?

Help a brother out and let me know about these.

Thanks
Matt

 

[bamabiker]

A thread from a while back. Not specific to the Henry but related, I guess.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/220112-if-balloon-goes-up-survival-rifles.html

Well maybe not, after looking at the thread it looks like it went to zombie land.

 

[Raider]

I have one. Its okay but not great. Okay for light use. If I had the cash I would get a takedown Browning .22 auto, a Marlin Papoose or a takedown Marlin 39A. More money but a heckuva lot more gun.

Charlie

 

[Rule3]

I do not own one, but have messed with one.They are pretty neat but the sight alignment is a off center so it takes some getting used to. Henry makes good rifles but I just do not see what one would do with it??

If doomsday comes, what the heck are you gonna do with a 22 rifle? Kill a rabid squirrel??

 

[Erich]

If doomsday comes, what the heck are you gonna do with a 22 rifle? Kill a rabid squirrel??

Kill and eat all the deer you find with stalking and headshots.

The old AR-7s never really impressed me much in their implementation - I never found them accurate and I'd always seem to run into reliability issues. Charter Arms made them for a while, now Henry - maybe they've worked out the reliability issues. I found their triggers poor (as has been stated) and the rifle to be so light as to be difficult to shoot well. That said, they're kinda neat to throw in the truck or canoe.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I also second the Browning Auto-22, which even though is heavier, is much, much more reliable, accurate and easy to shoot. A floating compact case for it could be made easily enough.

I've seen several AR-7 style rifles with bent barrels over the years- I guess they really can't take a lot of abuse.

 

[1 old 0311]

From what I understand you can find 2 models: One with a BLACK insert in the buttstock and one with a red/orange. The red/orange is supposed to be the updated ones/more reliable.
I do not own one. If the balloon goes up I will sit here and enjoy the view with a bottle of Scotch, Cohiba cigars, and a .357 Henry.

 

[Straightshooter2]

The question is Matt, do you ever end up in situations where this would come in handy? Carrying a backpack while hiking in the mountains or out somewhere in areas where there are snakes that can shoot back (copperheads, rattlers or moccasins) and is cost a serious factor? If so, get the AR-7 and please yourself. If you just want a .22 to plink with, then get the Henry Golden Boy or something similar. I have the Golden Boy youth because of it's short carbine nature and if I ever had to sell off my .22s, the Henry would be the last to go.

 

[guy22]

Marlin Papoose, I have one and it is OK.

Have you ever thought about the S&W 15-22???

Mine has a fore grip carrying 20 rounds, and a wad of cleaning cloth. The hand grip with cap, carries a fire starter kit + small Bic lighter. The fake buffer tube has a mini mag flashlight, and a small bottle of CLP in it.

Extra ammo. Fire and light. With lube.

Just saying???
Guy22

 

[bhstokes]

I have one, and it's a piece of junk. The trigger pull is terrible, long, and rough. Sent it back to Henry for a "fix," and it came back a tiny bit better. It is still so bad, I simply do not use it. Get yourself a Marlin Papoose. One of these days, when I have the time, I'll sit down and work on the trigger, but the problem is, it's made out of such cheap steel, it may be a lost cause.

 

[DWalt]

"If doomsday comes, what the heck are you gonna do with a 22 rifle? Kill a rabid squirrel?? "

To my way of thinking, as a survival weapon any .22 rifle would be at the very top of my list - not for getting into gunfights (always to be avoided at all costs regardless of what weaponry you have), but for actual survival use. A good shot from a .22 at close range (up to 100 yards) by someone who knows how to use a rifle is adequate for killing most North American game, even up to Moose. Both the gun and ammunition weigh little, and ammo is the most easily found about everywhere.

I have a Charter AR-7 and it shoots a tight group at 25 yards. I never remember having a malfunction with it.

 

[CajunBass]

Back when I was younger, I did a lot of "off road" driving. Now "off road" here in eastern Virginia is a lot different than it is to you fellows out west. Not many places where you could get stuck or break down where you couldn't walk out to a house in 15-20 minutes, but that didn't matter. I had a "survival box" in the back of my Bronco/CJ's. I kept things like a few cans of grub, a Sterno stove, lighters, etc. in it. I always wanted one of those AR-7 "survival rifles" to go in the box. After all. It was good enough for James Bond in "From Russia with Love."

Never did get one. Other things kept getting in the way, plus the Jeeps were all soft tops and I didn't want to leave a rifle in the Jeep. I also didn't want to be be lugging it in and out of the house all the time.

I'm still tempted to buy one though. Who cares if there are better guns.

 

[30-30remchester]

I shot several of the early Charter Arms models that had terrible cycling problem. The son-in-law got a new Henry model for his airplane survival rifle. The one problem I saw with that rifle was the front sight kept falling off.

A few have question what good a 22 would be in a survival situation. I read a story of a man that lived for 18 months in far northern Canada. He took a 300 Win Mag, a 12 gauge, and a 22 rifle. This man lived off the land. He said during those 18 months he never took either the 300 or the shotguns out of their cases.

 

[Grayfox]

I ran across one at a pretty good deal and bought it just for S&G. As stated, the trigger sucks. I took it apart and a little polishing improved it quite a bit. Still not perfect, but usable. Also as stated, the front sight was a bit loose. Once sighted in, a drop of locktite fixed that.
Mine has been completely reliable and will shoot 1/2" or less at 25 yards with good ammo.
it is what it is. Its not a target rifle, a defense rifle or even a quality hunting rifle. Its a compact, easy to carry, easy to store rifle that you use when the SHTF and you got nothing else. For that purpose, I think it works quite well.
Mine currently resides under the back seat of my truck wrapped in an old G.I. wool blanket. Also survival gear.
BTW: I've discovered that an old G.I. first aid pouch is the perfect size to store two 50 round boxes of ammo and a couple of spare magazines.

 

[Farmer17]

Ruger has a new lightweight 16" barrel take down 10/22 and there are YouTube videos how you can put one in a modified Butler Creek folding stock that makes for a very compact package. The 10/22 is pretty much the gold standard for reliability in a .22 auto rifle and they can be made VERY accurate with a few drop in parts.

 

[Drm50]

I had one of these when 1st out, AR-7, by Armalite. It was reasonably accurate and functional. Chapter Arms ended up with
it. I had a couple of them and their Explorer pistol based on the
rifle action. They were junk, inaccurate and prone to jams and
breakage. Other than a range toy, not a dependable survival gun.
I have no experience with Henry made version. To me the only
neat thing about it is the self storing feature.

 

[mauser9]

Glad I purchased my R/A Compact in 22 mag from comments posted above. It is a bolt but very compact and the 18 inch tube is handy for deep woods hunting. For under $300 quality not shabby either.

 

[colt_saa]

The AR-7 has been around for more than half a century now. Cool little piece. It is what it is, if you can accept that you will enjoy it. It is never going to be a target rifle. If you want more than a small, fun, cute 22 plinker, then there are other choices.

I have had mine for decades. There are lots of aftermarket barrels and stocks available. The standard magazine is 7 rounds but there are 15s that were also available from the factory. Mine has been reliable with most ammunitions I have fed it over the years. I have used mine on various small critters at close range and it has done it's job quite satisfactorily

James Bond even used one to shoot down a helicoptor in From Russia with Love

I do not think I will try it out against anything that big.

 

[captainjohnsofd]

Bought mine 2 years ago. Have taken it to the range numerous times and have had zero trouble with it. So far it had fired all the ammo I have loaded it with, standard and high velocity. I also have a Henry .22 Lever Action which I am happy with also. Hard to believe they are manufactured in New Jersey.

 

[inspcalahan]

They are cool, but as others have stated, they are a niche gun. The ones I've handled had pretty crappy triggers and it's probably one of the most misplaced rifle magazine in the world - half the used ones I see at gun shows don't have the magazine anymore. Odd. Ok, it stores within itself and floats. If you're keeping it as a "always there and along for the ride" .22 in your boat, bush plane, or maybe tucked under a car seat (at first glance to the uninformed it doesn't look like a rifle) then it might just suit your needs.

If you're looking for a small, compact, accurate, reliable .22 (that doesn't relay on a magazine to break or lose) and it doesn't need to float - the Henry youth lever action model is the way to go! It's small, lightweight and doesn't need to be assembled. It's always ready to go. I always take on with me when I'm out in the woods. I've even bungee corded it to the handle bars of an old 3wheeler - fits just right.

All that said - I still think they are cool and can't for the life of me figure out why I don't have one yet.