The wikipedia article covers their history pretty well. As far as practical guns go they're pretty terrible. They're not very accurate, their ergonomics are crap, they aren't very reliable. Their only claim to fame is that you can fit the barrel inside the stock but for most people that's kinda pointless, and if you do need a takedown gun there are plenty of better options on the market. Originally they were supposed to float so they could be more easily recovered in a boat or plane crash but a) that's not a problem most people are facing and b) the current production models don't even float well anymore.
It's specifically designed as an ultra lightweight takedown survival rifle. It all stores within the stock and can float if submerged. It's not meant for any real usage other than "just in case."
I like mine, but it's far from stock. Target barrel allows me to juggle a water bottle at 60 yards easy, retractable tube boy was rather wobbly when I got it but a little electrical tape shim and it tightened up perfectly. I'd like to take the bolt and see if I can Black person rig up a receiver that takes better mags though. The 15 round straight mags don't work for shit, the standard 9 round mag works good.
Other than being pretty niche and 410 costing more than 50 BMG, I still have a soft spot the h koon snake charmer. I believe there is a reason there have been clones and copies of it since. I think they chose simple but meaningful improvements to compete with other bubba shotguns filling the same role. I don’t give a shit about the AR7.
Strengths: >packs up in a very compact and light package >easy to bring lots of ammo for it without taking much space >floats on water (for a while) >pretty cool >James fricking Bond
Weaknesses: >doesn't have fantastic durability, if you want a plinker, it's not going to last >picky with ammo (not a massive deal if you're foraging for small animals tho) >the Charter Arms ones in particular are rough and jammy as frick, avoid those >.22 from a rifle barrel isn't piss weak, but it's still pretty damn light if you ever had to shoot a bear, cougar, fend off a pack of wolves, etc
That last part maybe isn't the most likely, but it bears minding. For a wilderness survival gun, a shotgun is a very compelling option in some sense given many different tasks it can fulfill with different kinds of ammunition alone, though they're also bulkier and heavier by nature, as is the ammunition.
the AR-7 is designed as a survival plinking rifle. it has a dated design, but the older guns have a sturdy construction.
the old model typically has problems with loosing its seal when stowed, having a limited stowage for extra magazines, and iron sights only. there are also a year-model based issues for springs and other things, but those are more due to wear.
the new henry models have a problem with barrel droop when fired a lot. if you just shoot about 20 rounds a day this isn't a problem, but if you go through 200-1000 rounds in just one day, you may incur permanent barrel droop. this is because the new barrel is a plastic barrel with a steel liner. Henry claims this isn't a problem, but it is. however you can buy aftermarket aluminum barrel. the benefits of the new models is that they have better water tight sealing, more stowage, and a mount for optics.
the magazine is proprietary, but enough people have them that they are common enough. there are after market barrels but they are steel.
Very thick grip, comfy though. Gets dirty quick, like 100-200 rounds. Trigger is fine, sights are I think peep and a blade in front but toy-like. You can hold a few mags in it. I’d rather get a 10/22 charger with bipod and a red dot or little scope.
I've had one of the first henry repros forever and its pretty accurate. I did get an aftermarket solid barrel for it, but I never had any issues with the original plastic barrel w/ liner. I keep it in my trunk now, I've used it to hunt for bird and squirrel when innawoods, works well for that. Just keep it lubed and fairly clean, it isn't meant to be shot 1000s of rounds without cleaning, its a survival rifle.
its only good points are how small it gets for storage.
the floating gimmick is sorta functional gimmick.
everything else about it is garbage. the ergonomics are garbage, the sights are garbage, the magazines are garbage, the magazines reliabilty is garbage, the buildquality on most of them is garbage. the repeatability and consistent zero between takedown and reassembly is not a thing.
however when compared to no gun at all garbage is superior. which is cope since its a gun that makes nerf guns feel solid. the whole time you hold one it feels like if you wanted to you could break this pos over your knee.
My grandpa was an ex-airforce lumberjack and kept one in his truck and one in his boat. Apparently he bagged a ton of squirrels with it, never saw him use it myself though.
Inhereited them a couple years ago and took them to the range a few times. Fun to plink with but definitely fails to cycle more often than anything else I own. Don't use them much anymore but I keep one packed with my camping gear to remember him by.
Get a 10/22 takedown instead
This. Pretty much ends the thread.
AR7's are utter garbage. Pretty much built to gather dust, never used.
The wikipedia article covers their history pretty well. As far as practical guns go they're pretty terrible. They're not very accurate, their ergonomics are crap, they aren't very reliable. Their only claim to fame is that you can fit the barrel inside the stock but for most people that's kinda pointless, and if you do need a takedown gun there are plenty of better options on the market. Originally they were supposed to float so they could be more easily recovered in a boat or plane crash but a) that's not a problem most people are facing and b) the current production models don't even float well anymore.
Plastic lined barrel, pass
It's specifically designed as an ultra lightweight takedown survival rifle. It all stores within the stock and can float if submerged. It's not meant for any real usage other than "just in case."
It sinks more than it floats.
And coated, not lined.
with a pistol grip it looks like a dollar store tec 9
Bought one second hand from a guy I knew. It failed to eject after every shot. butthole didn't tell me when he sold it to me. Frick that guy.
I like mine, but it's far from stock. Target barrel allows me to juggle a water bottle at 60 yards easy, retractable tube boy was rather wobbly when I got it but a little electrical tape shim and it tightened up perfectly. I'd like to take the bolt and see if I can Black person rig up a receiver that takes better mags though. The 15 round straight mags don't work for shit, the standard 9 round mag works good.
Other than being pretty niche and 410 costing more than 50 BMG, I still have a soft spot the h koon snake charmer. I believe there is a reason there have been clones and copies of it since. I think they chose simple but meaningful improvements to compete with other bubba shotguns filling the same role. I don’t give a shit about the AR7.
Strengths:
>packs up in a very compact and light package
>easy to bring lots of ammo for it without taking much space
>floats on water (for a while)
>pretty cool
>James fricking Bond
Weaknesses:
>doesn't have fantastic durability, if you want a plinker, it's not going to last
>picky with ammo (not a massive deal if you're foraging for small animals tho)
>the Charter Arms ones in particular are rough and jammy as frick, avoid those
>.22 from a rifle barrel isn't piss weak, but it's still pretty damn light if you ever had to shoot a bear, cougar, fend off a pack of wolves, etc
That last part maybe isn't the most likely, but it bears minding. For a wilderness survival gun, a shotgun is a very compelling option in some sense given many different tasks it can fulfill with different kinds of ammunition alone, though they're also bulkier and heavier by nature, as is the ammunition.
the AR-7 is designed as a survival plinking rifle. it has a dated design, but the older guns have a sturdy construction.
the old model typically has problems with loosing its seal when stowed, having a limited stowage for extra magazines, and iron sights only. there are also a year-model based issues for springs and other things, but those are more due to wear.
the new henry models have a problem with barrel droop when fired a lot. if you just shoot about 20 rounds a day this isn't a problem, but if you go through 200-1000 rounds in just one day, you may incur permanent barrel droop. this is because the new barrel is a plastic barrel with a steel liner. Henry claims this isn't a problem, but it is. however you can buy aftermarket aluminum barrel. the benefits of the new models is that they have better water tight sealing, more stowage, and a mount for optics.
the magazine is proprietary, but enough people have them that they are common enough. there are after market barrels but they are steel.
Very thick grip, comfy though. Gets dirty quick, like 100-200 rounds. Trigger is fine, sights are I think peep and a blade in front but toy-like. You can hold a few mags in it. I’d rather get a 10/22 charger with bipod and a red dot or little scope.
The Kel-Tec Sub 2000 is more adequate.
I've had one of the first henry repros forever and its pretty accurate. I did get an aftermarket solid barrel for it, but I never had any issues with the original plastic barrel w/ liner. I keep it in my trunk now, I've used it to hunt for bird and squirrel when innawoods, works well for that. Just keep it lubed and fairly clean, it isn't meant to be shot 1000s of rounds without cleaning, its a survival rifle.
Mags not big enough
No aftermarket parts or cheap mags
Buy a 10/22
its only good points are how small it gets for storage.
the floating gimmick is sorta functional gimmick.
everything else about it is garbage. the ergonomics are garbage, the sights are garbage, the magazines are garbage, the magazines reliabilty is garbage, the buildquality on most of them is garbage. the repeatability and consistent zero between takedown and reassembly is not a thing.
however when compared to no gun at all garbage is superior. which is cope since its a gun that makes nerf guns feel solid. the whole time you hold one it feels like if you wanted to you could break this pos over your knee.
My grandpa was an ex-airforce lumberjack and kept one in his truck and one in his boat. Apparently he bagged a ton of squirrels with it, never saw him use it myself though.
Inhereited them a couple years ago and took them to the range a few times. Fun to plink with but definitely fails to cycle more often than anything else I own. Don't use them much anymore but I keep one packed with my camping gear to remember him by.
Goofy used one during the tragedy.
I've got one and the stock cracked, I don't even know how or when.
Floats/10
Better to buy a 10/22 and find some aftermarket kit.