Henry Survival Rifle / AR-7

Henry Survival Rifle / AR-7

by alphacharlie6
(Rapid City, SD)

Henry Survival Rifle

I keep my Henry Survival Rifle, which when taken apart and stored in the hollow stock, fits neatly in my "go bag", a Camelback Commander backpack.

Total cost: $185 for the rifle and $45 for the pack, both on sale. I also bought an extra clip (holds 8 rounds), and keep some extra rounds in a couple of small empty matchboxes. The rifle is compact, very lightweight and fairly accurate. A good choice. I didn't bother to put a scope on it, since most of the shots on small game I'd probably be taking will be within 50 yds.

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Henry Survival Rifle / AR-7

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Jan 27, 2012
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It'll be fine, in time. NEW
by: Ted

I fired my AR-7 for the first time last weekend. After thourghly cleaning and oiling the rifle I began by checking shot groups at 20 meters. I understand many rifles need a "break in" period. That said, I fired 200 rounds of mini mags and had 27 failure to fires. None of the 200 rounds fired extracted. I had to manually extract each round. I believe this rifle will eventually function well. I will update this when I get to that point. On a positive note: firing off hand, standing, the rifle fired 3" groups consistently. I feel this is excellent considering the rudimentary sights. I don't regret purchasing this rifle at all. Again, I'm sure after its break in it will serve me well.

Jan 01, 2012
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Henry AR-7
by: Aaron - Seattle

I bought a Henry AR-7 and love it it is very reliable as long as you use HV ammo, like aguila supermax CCI velocitor or Remington Viper or Yellowjacket, it cycles great and is accurate enough to hit clay pidgeons from 50yds standing and then the shards of the broken clay using some sort of suppourt, the rifle is extremely light and broken down fits very nicely in a pack the original stock needs to be sealed just to be sure it will float mine had a very small hole in it and a little bit of epoxy filled it fine. I put a telescoping stock that converts it to an AR-15 pistol grip they are interchangeable. AR-7 industries makes accessories for it and sells replacement parts and high cap 15 rd magazines for it. The telescoping stock reduces its compactness a little, but the extra weightj of the stock makes the rifle very well balanced and easier to carry and shoot accurately. I've shot Charter arms and the armalite versions and had been disapointed with the reliability, as long as you keep the Henry version oiled well , no matter how dirty it is it will work fine, I put about double The oil I would put in any other gun. I've put about 5,000 rds through it and apart from the 250 rd break in its worked like a swiss watch. Of course with rimfires you have the occasional misfire but as long as you use quality ammo its kept to a minimum. Henry has made a great rifle and AR-7 industries supplies great parts and accessories, they also stock stuff for the M6 and the 10-22, Oh the "carrying case" that it comes in is just like a cardboard box with a handle, however the box is made out of plastic, you need to buy a new one.

Oct 30, 2011
Rating

BETTER THAN EVER
by: BIGDAVE54

I just bought my AR-7 two weeks ago. It fires great and was not hard to zero in. I have shot mostly CCI STINGER ammo in it with no FTF or misfires at all. After shooting a little over 200 rds. of CCI I tried shooting some bulk ammo from Mexico I bought a few years back when things were tight in the ammo market. It fired most of that with ony 2 hangups. I went back to CCI again with out a hitch.
Henry has done a remarkable job cleaning up the action in this little rifle. Itried one on sale at a range not far from here about25 y. ago...The trigger pull was about 20 lb.or more.This was in the Charter Arms days.I thought someone had tried to slick up the action and screwed it up. The last couple of yrs. I heard people saying that Henry had bought the rights to manufacture it...I'm glad they did. The action is smooth and the trigger pull is probably 3 lb. or less with mine.Ask to shoot one at your local range. I just like the novelty of shooting one and watching the old 007 movies and seeing how those guys fitted one out. I'm not a bit sorry I have one...My wife wants one of her own now that we shoot together at the range nearby.

Mar 12, 2011
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Hey Big Tone
by: Anonymous

Hey Big Tone, do you Aussies still call jerks "Ankles".
Rons. A Yank who fought alongside Aussie SAS [and later fought with, you and your damned recreational fighting] in 'Nam. For those who don't know, it's: have a beer, have another, or two, or more, go outside, beat the living hell out of each other. Carry the loser, if there really is one inside, buy him a beer, or two, or more. Repeat, have the most fun time of your life! And make a friend for LIFE.

Mar 12, 2011
Rating

Old AR 7s
by: Ron

I had one of these little .22s in the early '60s. Made by Armalite. I found it accurite and fun. No jams! When I went to US Marine Corps Mountain Survival School I wished I had one. [Same for Jungle Survival School in Panama] I brought in food, pheasant, grouse [no, not on the wing. I wish I was that good. On the ground. Head shots], rabbit and squirrels. Later, as an instructor, at MWS, I shot game and gave it to students. [They need to know how to cook it too, if they do] Yes, I'm looking for, and going to buy another. By Henry Arms, I hear they have room for a second magazine in the stock.
Good hunting, good shooting, eat well.
Ron.

Dec 12, 2010
Rating

tsk tsk tsk anonymous (yawn).............
by: BigTone

I base my observations about this rifle on actually owning one and carrying it for about four years in Arnhemland in Northern Australia working as a professional big game hunting guide for the last twenty years now. Just for shts and giggles i walked out of my consession once, 290kms with a small daypack, an axe and that rifle just to see how hard it would be. Would i do it with that rifle again, no.
I know what this little rifle can do, and what it claims it can.
This website asks for informative and non-bitchy general comments (good or bad) thereby hopefully helping the less experianced make their own decisions as to what would make a handy game getter in a survival situation. Now please dont get me wrong, i love the AR-7, it's light, looks cool and makes a mean hollywood asassins sniper rifle.
I know my spelling leaves alot to be desired but dont worry, my wife says i more than make up for that inadiquacy.
Remember little mate, opinions are like a'holes, everybody's got one. Mine's just probably not as bitchy, illinformed and personal as some.

Dec 12, 2010
Rating

Animosity
by: Anonymous

Okay, from what i have seen with this rifle it is a good choice for carrying and reliable to users that know how to take care of it. And big tone? Don't bash something, or try to bash something, by using big words and misspelling them.

Jul 31, 2010
Rating

AR-7 OK but.............................................................
by: Big Tone

The wings wrapping around the action break pretty easily if the rifle is dropped.
The rifle has a propencity to constantly jamb and is VERY finnicky with what it likes to eat (this is OK if you dont mind using it as a bolt-style single shot).
It's extreamly light weight, great for backpacking but certainly not condusive to a prolonged survival type situation for instance - Could you expect to still be using your Henry or AR-7 after 5 years (or even one year) of a fair- dinkum survival type situatoin? I say NOT LIKELY.
Great consept but Gimmiky and designed to catch "weekend survivalists"
Steel is strength, steel is reliable. Forget the plastic fantastic, too much maintenence for too little confidence.

Oct 11, 2009
Rating

Henry Survival
by: Anonymous

I went with the Henry Survival as well for a pack rifle. Up the power with CCI Stingers and a head shot would down a deer or an orc if nothing more powerful is available. Mine came with 2 mags. Didn't yours?

These got a terrible rep when Charter had the license to make them. Henry has really done a good job with these and mine is accurate as it needs to be, shooting MOS (minute of squirrel) and very reliable.

I would have preferred a Springfield M-5 but they have been out of production for many years and the rare one that comes on the market is quite pricy.

Oct 10, 2009
Rating

Restrictive
by: Wayne

The AR-7 is a good survival (for food) for the right-handed shooter, but it's offset so us leftys have to lay our heads way over the stock to adequately see the sights. In my humble opinion, a better rifle is the Springfield M-6. a .22 and .410 guage over/under with an open-framed stock for carrying extra survival items. But they went out of business (last year, I think). However, you are right in the fact that it is a good survival rifle.
Good luck.

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Henry Survival Rifle / AR-7

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Henry Survival Rifle / AR-7