Gold & Silver Forum - Henry RA Survival .22

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Henry RA Survival .22

As far as small and easy to transport...what do you guys think of this?

http://www.henryrepeating.com/h002_survival.cfm

Quote:

Henry Repeating Arms has tooled up to manufacture a new and improved version of the famous U.S. Air Force AR-7, now known as the Henry U.S. Survival rifle. This compact and lightweight sportsman�s rifle is ideal for all outdoorsmen, including campers, backpackers, hunters, fishermen, boat owners and target shooters. And it can still serve its original purpose as a survival rifle for pilots.

Henry Survival rifle disassembled
http://www.henryrepeating.com/images...rvivalopen.jpg

The Henry U.S. Survival rifle is ultra-lightweight, weighing in at a scant 2.5 pounds. The unique design allows the rifle to break down easily into three pieces in seconds. This enables the barrel, action and two 8-round magazines to fit comfortably into the tough ABS synthetic waterproof stock. No tools are needed to assemble or disassemble. Once disassembled and stowed, it is only an incredible 16 inches long. Carry it in your backpack with room to spare.

To assemble, simply attach the receiver to the stock, insert the barrel, screw on the barrel nut and you�re ready to fire. In seconds, you�ll have the security of a semi-automatic rifle without the bulk and weight of a full size firearm.

The Henry U.S. Survival rifle features a steel barrel that is covered in a tough ABS plastic and then coated in Teflon. This unique barrel design allows the gun to balance properly and remain lightweight, yet withstand tens of thousands of rounds. The entire receiver is also coated in Teflon, making the Henry U.S. Survival rifle the most weather-resistant of any AR-7 ever made. As an added feature, the receiver rib is now grooved for easy installation of a scope.

The rifle is capable of feeding both standard and high velocity .22 Long Rifle ammunition. Available in black, silver or camouflage finishes.

I'm thinking along the lines of something small and easy to transport in a backpack for hiking, camping, BO, etc. Or are there better options for quick, light and easy to transport and carry that you guys would recommend?

Thanks in advance for your help...sb :rose:

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

Extremely poor accuracy and horrendous trigger pull, other than that it's great. :sarc:

For backpacking purposes you'd be far better off with a Marlin Papoose which has superb accuracy.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

Second vote for Marlin Papoose, I own one - very sturdy and reliable breakdown .22. I chose it over the AR-7 after I felt how flimsy the AR is.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

Thanks, guys...I knew someone here would be able to give me good advice!

Much appreciated...sb :rose:

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

I'll also vote for the Marlin Papoose. I have a friend who has one and it very nice all the way around. My dad had a Charter Arms AR-7 from the mid '80's. It was 100% junk. Nice idea but really poorly made.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

The newer Henry version is better than the Charter Arms version. However, I have to agree that the papoose is the way to go.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

I'm not a fan of a shiny barrel tho.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

For a true "survival rifle," I can't see going semi-auto. Even if you discount the idea that parts break and actions get clogged when you can't clean them properly, there is still the idea of extremely limited ammunition. A .22 rifle like this isn't supposed to be a battle rifle. It's a tough and weatherproof tool to help you get food. In that context, I prefer the Springfield Armory M6 Scout to the other choices. I think SA has quit making them but you can still find them used and on gunbroker. Mine is the US made version with .22 LR on top and .410 on the bottom. It folds for storage if you remove the stupid trigger guard that some lawyer made them add to the original Air Force design. You can also pop out a single pin to take it down to two pieces.

SA later imported a version made in the Czech Republic. And you could get that one in .22 Hornet. That would make harvesting a deer more realistic in an emergency situation but .22 LR is just so darn useful!

They are tough and reliable. They use their ammo sparingly. And mine is as accurate as my eyes can shoot with the simple iron sights. You can get a scope mount but that just seemed wrong to me.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=134321049

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=134566770

No .22 LR version on gunbroker. Think people are holding on to them since there must have been FAR more of them actually sold. The .22 Hornet version didn't come out until near the end of production.

Gregg

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

I handled a display AR-7 and felt that it was too tinker-toyish.

I went with the Marlin Papoose. Only issue I've had with it is the scope
mounts tends to slip on the Marlin.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

We have 2 AR-7 (Henry reapeating Arms survival rifles). For 2 of our backpacks. They haven't given any issues, are super lite weight, they float and they are accurate for a iron sight .22

The older ones had many issues I understand my 10year old daughter loves hers.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

Disclaimer: I have not shot or handled the Henry

I'm not overly impressed with the papoose.

I have a buddy that brings his along quite a bit.

1. After a couple hundred rounds the barrel starts coming loose.

2. The action seems unreliable. We constantly have to take is apart to replace a pin. Basically a Marlin model 70 POS

3. Plastic sights

For a .22 survival rifle I would forget bout it folding, back packing is another scenario all together. If I needed a 22 to survive it would be a bolt action. Something simple, and solid, and reliable would be on my list.

I currently own a Winchester Wildcat in 22 lr. A drunk monkey can clean it, and the bolt is pretty simple to take apart and clean. Oh yeah it has METAL SIGHTS.

Maybe not a great survival rifle but it sure as hell beats a papoose or a henret ar7.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

I think that part of the idea behind survival rifles is that they are exceedingly light and they can fold up and/or break down so that they are easily stored or carried. We don't know when we will be faced with a survival situation but the convenience of having a foldemup POS is certainly better then being stuck out somewhere with your bolt action long gun resting in the gun safe.

Now if you do carry your bolt action long gun with you where ever you go then this obviously doesn't apply to you. But some of us prefer convenience. Perhaps its laziness on our part.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

I was told that if you are an NRA Instructor, you can write to Henry for an Instructor price list...here's the interesting part: I am under the (perhaps false) impression that the discount was as much as 50% off list.

-ed

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

Argentsum-- Understand your comments, but I'm just not sure what people mean when they say "survival rifle". What does that really mean.... Sure it folds, it is light, it floats, but lets be real. If your plane crashes I doubt any of that will matter.

When I think of survival I think of a financial collapse or a natural disaster, or what have you. In that case I would want my survival gear which would include a bolt action .22 along with a bunch of other guns.

If I had to have 1 .22 cal rifle in a survival situation of any kind and it was a choice between a modern bolt action, or a Henry ar7/ Marlin papoose, IT WOULD BE A BOLT ACTION. In fact I would venture to say that I would rather have a single shot 22lr rifle than I would the Henry or the Marlin.

Do I think they are cool? Sure. Would I have one? Sure? Could I fit a small bolt action or youth sized single shot in a discrete place of a truck, car, airplane, boat or whatever? Probably. Is any gun better than no gun? Yes. I just don't like the modern "survival rifle", much because they are no where near as reliable as a bolt gun. Hence if I needed it to survive I would rather be in possession of the latter.

Think about it.... The benefit of it being "foldable, floating, and light" are all for when you are not using it. Once you actually start using a papoose or an AR7 you will see what I mean. They are more geared towards storage and novelty than they are for shooting. The papoose has a bright orange plastic front site, and basically no forend. It is awkward to hold. It is extremely light.... it requires a freaking tool tighten down the barrel, and yet it still comes loose when it starts getting hot. So.... maybe the Henry offers more in this area. At least it all fits into itself. Another benefit that helps while your not using it, but better than the papoose in that it is not just a cheap rifle with a removable barrel.

Not trying to make you mad with my comment I am just giving my opinion so if you don't like it, then :fan:

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

I have a Charter Arms AR-7 which is a complete POS, but it floats...

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

I wanted a papoose, but I wound up with a Henry instead(long story).

I finally had a chance to put about 50 rounds through it today. I love it too.

My only two minor gripes is that the trigger pull was a little much not to bad and it's not balanced well, In the stable prone and sitting I didn't notice it but from standing it was an annoyance just before I pulled the trigger, but these were quickly forgotten once I was in my shooting mode. BTW no jams or miss fires on the standard Federal High velocity rounds.

Overall, it's not the best 22 rifle I've shot, but it does what it's supposed to do just fine. From siting it in, if a squirrel gets within 40 yards of me, guaranteed he's in my stew pot.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

browning made a NICE auto, loads thru the stock, a 90 degree turn and you have two pieces about 16 inches long. bottom eject.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

here is a pic, check gunshows,pawnshops.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike77777 (Post 1900430)

browning made a NICE auto, loads thru the stock, a 90 degree turn and you have two pieces about 16 inches long. bottom eject.

:dito: I have had two of them. One made in Belgium and the other made in Japan. The latter being much better finished than the Japanese version. They were flawless jewels. Another sweet on is their BLR lever action 22. I think they still sell both the auto and the lever action, though a bit pricey.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

Feather AT-22

Doesn't float but it breaks down into a small ~3lb package. (barrel come off)

Accurate, reliable and well built. Have had mine for 15+ years.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i3...VNet/AT-22.jpg

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhoggman (Post 1838696)

Sorry, hadn't checked back to see that somebody responded to my comment.

I've never needed to use the tool that comes with the papoose. Yes, if you fire it a bunch its best to retighten the barrel. I've hiked around with it and the barrel has never fallen off.

Nor do I find it difficult to shoot even though it lacks a forend. You can hold on to the barrel while you shoot if you prefer that stance. The barrel doesn't heat up like my Bushmaster Carbon-15 97S http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:F...AZ-C15R97S.jpg. <===Shameless plug. My other "survival" rifle :biggrin:

I would agree that bolt action guns are more reliable then any semi-auto but I really like the idea of a quick follow up shot in case my first shot misses. What good is reliability if the rabbit gets away?

Of course if your a crack shot and good hunter this might not be an issue for you. My eyesight isn't what it used to be so my needs are different.

Another idea would be to get a ruger 10/22 and modify with a folding stock if your worried about the barrel. No reason you couldn't do this with a bolt action .22LR and you'd have the best of both worlds.

I'd also agree with you about wanting a bunch of other guns. But I didn't think this was part of the conversation. The original poster wanted something small, ez to transport, quick, light, etc. I also got the feeling he wanted an out-of-the-box solution but I could be mistaken.

Lastly your post did not upset me. I prefer a bit of resistance to my posts as it helps me think through some of the things I've said and you do raise good points.

Thanks.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

I will take my 77/22 thank you very much. 100ys you are gone, do care what it is.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

I would think that one of those Thompson Center Contenders with a 16" 22LR barrel and a rifle stock would work the best.

Re: Henry RA Survival .22

Silver Belle,

I came by one several years ago and never bothered to shoot it. If you get to Minnesota, you can borrow it and see what you think yourself.

:36_1_63: