AR-7 Collapsable .22 Rifle

[dieselcruiserhead]

I found one of these little .22s online locally and it really peaked my interest. It appears to be somewhat of a famous gun. I thought it would be pretty neat to keep a .22 conveniently in your truck for a variety of reasons, without having to always be hauling a gun. Besides the fact it floats, packs lightly, etc.

Had anyone ever used one? What are the common problems I should look for and do people recommend them?

[BIGdaddy]

i hear that most of the problems come from the magazines. the feed lips get tweeked and you get some ftf and fte's (failure to feed, failure to extract)

good mags equal good performance, though.

Its a neat package and would do well as a backcountry game getter. For a more robust takedown I'd probably choose a marlin papoose, though...thats a nice gun.

This one, at a good price, can't be beat, however. (a good price being under $200 or even $100 in some places)

I like Springfield armory's M6, too. thats a cool break open shotgun/.22 with storage in the butt stock for ammo or survival kits. not made anymore, but can be found second hand for around $300.00

[dieselcruiserhead]

The actual one shown is only $150 which I liked...

[SunTzuNephew]

I found one of these little .22s online locally and it really peaked my interest. It appears to be somewhat of a famous gun. I thought it would be pretty neat to keep a .22 conveniently in your truck for a variety of reasons, without having to always be hauling a gun. Besides the fact it floats, packs lightly, etc.

Had anyone ever used one? What are the common problems I should look for and do people recommend them?

I've had a couple. Quality has been all over the place, from bad to very bad....accuracy was only so-so, the stock only holds 1 magazine (and no way to carry more), sights are abysmal and can't be improved (or it won't fit in the stock), and on two of mine the barrel locking nut would shoot itself loose in 2 or 3 shots. Oh, and my original Armalite manufactured version the finish was apparently applied by dunking the receiver in a bucket of fairly low quality paint.

The Malin Papoose is about as convenient and much better made.

[pyro4fun]

My friend has one of these and its OK but I have heard about Kel-Tec's version its a little larger but from what I have heard allot more accurate and in all a better rifle. Just my opinion. If your going to get a rifle get something worth your money.

http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/su16b.htm

[SunTzuNephew]

The SU-16 is a fine little weapon. It fires the 5.56/.223 round, uses STANAG (M16) magazines, folds compactly. I have one as a survival kit gun for the airplane.

[BIGdaddy]

My friend has one of these and its OK but I have heard about Kel-Tec's version its a little larger but from what I have heard allot more accurate and in all a better rifle. Just my opinion. If your going to get a rifle get something worth your money.

http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/su16b.htm

yup I've handled those quite a bit. very nice gun.

the price of around $500-600 is a bit steep, though. for that money, I'd just buy a cali-legal ar15.

the only cool thing is that it splits in half, making storage easier, though the su16ca is still too big to fit into a normal backpack without the barrel sticking out.

maybe neither here nor there.

[dieselcruiserhead]

Papoose looks awesome. I found this pretty killer youtube video on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32FgaIb66bM

[teotwaki]

I like the looks of the Papoose a lot, especially the use of stainless.

The AR-7 is really meant for shooting small animals from short distances. By short, maybe 100' or less. If it was stolen out of your truck you wouldn't shed a tear.

[ntsqd]

After some considerable tune-up I got a Charter Arms version AR-7 to shoot quite well. As delivered the sear had to go uphill, which didn't do much for accuracy. That one had a hole on each end of the rear sight blade. The one in position as delivered was quite a bit larger than the other, but the other worked a whole lot better. A wire brush and some bright finger nail polish tuned up the front sight.

Oh, and they don't deal with heat very well. Exhaust heated floor boards can melt the butt cap. BT, DT.