Charter Arms Explorer-Survival Rifle

[FPH]

I have a NIB .22, semi auto, 5 round mag.  This rifle completelty breaks down and fits into the plastic stock......Any reliability issues with these rifles?

Thanks

[Dixie Dude]

I've heard the Marlin Papoose and the Ruger take-down 10-22 are better and more accurate.  Ruger is the heaviest.  Never shot one, but have a Ruger 10-22 and I once had a Marlin Papoose.  Marlins magazines are not the best and you had to have a tool to tighten an loosen the barrel, but the case was floatable.   

[FPH]

This rifle  is assembled completely by hand......no tools required..................have not shot it yet.  Don't know about the floating asspect either.

[bilmac]

I had one for awhile. I guess it worked all right, but I could never console myself to the huge size and clublike appearance. That's why I had it for awhile.
 
  I think the designers went way too far in making it so it would float. You don't see those ol boy alligator hunters on the tube using this abortion

[FPH]

Are you referring to the Charter Arms or the Marlin?

[Ranger99]

had the charter arms for a long time.
nothing wrong with it. sure, it's not a
forged and milled rust-blued and highly
figured walnut masterpiece, but it's just
what it's supposed to be.
a stored away and not-quite forgotten
piece of gear that stores easy, and makes into
a semi-auto .22 that can pop you a bunny
or squirrel for supper, or night time camp
watcher.
if you let if it get full of dirt and mung, i'm
sure it would jam like any other firearm.


if you look around, extended mags can be had.
i still have a ram-line or 2 .

[jlwilliams]

I had one.  At first I really liked it.  Then came winter.  I took it to the range on a cold day and it wouldn't go through a full mag.  Cleaned and sold it that day.  They may not all be unreliable, but the one I had wasn't going to participate on cold days.  A fair weather only 'survival' rifle just won't do.
 
  I have long though that the same concept done in a bolt action would be a winner.  Packable into the stock, floats, all those features; but make it in a manual action.

[Dixie Dude]

Now that is a good idea.  With a short legal 16" barrel and a short bolt, magazine fed, and the bolt gun would be slimmer than the auto, and thus the stock could be slimmer.  Barrel and receiver together, bolt and a couple of mags in the stock.  Simple, thin, and short for carry.  Marlin has bolt guns they could do this with. 

[Rex in OTZ]

I had two at the same time (1992), My first id found behind the seat of a junked out truck that was sitting at the dump the other was given to me by a coworker, one dump find functioned just fine with certain types/brands of ammo,  the other that was give to me was horrible, it didnt matter what mag was used, yes they are temprature sensitive (Nothwest Alaska they dont work that great). they work ok at short distances when its warm out (40yds MOA coffee can) in a plinking situation, I'd find it difficult to recomend one as a survival gun.
in the end I traded both Ar-7's for a single shot Iver Johnson 12ga, for small game hunting, which I later on traded it and a old western Auto 30-30, for a Springfield M-6 scout in 410/.22lr It was horrible and I was able to trade it off for a decent quality Ruger .44mag carbine (best trade ever).
 
id say for a light weight .22 get a Crickett bolt action singleshot .22, or for a decent hunting .22, get a Browning SA-22 and never look back.

[detnight]

Do a search on AR7's and you will find sites to buy any and everything to customize the gun. These guns have been made several differant companys over the last 30yrs

[BUGEYE]

id say for a light weight .22 get a Crickett bolt action singleshot .22, or for a decent hunting .22, get a Browning SA-22 and never look back.

My choice is that crickett.  mine is sighted for 35 yards with the peep sight (I've done some front sight mods but too long to tell here) and with a dry bolt works perfect in the winters here.  it's minute of squirrel head at that distance.  It also has a great trigger.

[Flynmoose]

I have an AR7 made by Henry. It is a great little rifle. It developed a FTF that was taken care of very promptly by the good people of the Henry company. For what it is intended for it does it well. I read somewhere that the original prototype by Armalite was a bolt action in 22 Hornet.
FM

[Ranger99]

there was a bolt ar-5 hornet by armalite.
the ar-7 was a stepchild of the ar-5 in
that they used some of the tooling and
concept from ar-5 for the ar-7

[Drilling Man]

I have a NIB .22, semi auto, 5 round mag.  This rifle completelty breaks down and fits into the plastic stock......Any reliability issues with these rifles?

Thanks

  My experience with them was, the "ear" breaks off the stock easily, and they jam easily...
 
  DM

[FPH]

Do a search on AR7's and you will find sites to buy any and everything to customize the gun. These guns have been made several differant companys over the last 30yrs

Thanks, there is a wealth of knowledge and products.  I never would have guessed.

[jparedes]

I have one, and I'm no impressed with the 4" groups it makes at 50 yrds.  Maybe somebody from Henry is reading this and can give some advice on how to get better performance.  As a comparison, my old neglected and dirty Marlin 60, makes 3/4 groups at 50 yrds.

[Ranger99]

then again, they're not meant to be
a target rifle. it's meant for ease of storage
and packing away as a j.i.c. firearm.
you could still shoot a deer in the ear
with a 4" at 50 rifle. at bow range,
most any edible animal would gone, and
i sure would think twice about going into
someone's camp if they were aiming
one my way.

[lakota]

I have the Henry version and I like it. Its picky about ammo but as luck would have it the gun likes the Federal Hollow points that come in the bulk 525 round boxes. I even had an article published by Backwoodsman Magazine about the ugly little booger. It is a gun that defiantly needs a little attention every now and again. Its not going to cycle thousands of rounds between cleanings without a hiccup like some .22 autos do.

[lakota]

I have one, and I'm no impressed with the 4" groups it makes at 50 yrds.  Maybe somebody from Henry is reading this and can give some advice on how to get better performance.  As a comparison, my old neglected and dirty Marlin 60, makes 3/4 groups at 50 yrds.

Is your front sight loose in it's dovetail? Mine was. I put teflon tape on it to make it snug. I sighted in and when I was satisfied with zero I marked the sight removed it and glued it back in. The front sight is in need of a makeover in my opinion. Maybe Henry addressed it with the newly designed rifles they have out now.

[sert01]

I had a Charter Arms model AR-7 back in the late 70's. It was a great little shooter and was handy to stash in my truck or canoe. I had to get rid of it as it started double tapping and going full-auto on me. I shot it so much that it must have worn the sear down on it.I wouldn't hesitate to get another one if I was in the market for one.

[wolverine_1]

Had a Charter Arms AR 7 and Explorer pistol in the 80's.  Don't remember about the reliability, but the AR had a warped barrel.  Traded them for a car.  Just got a Henry AR 7 and took it to the range today.  Not a tack driver, but ok for squirrels and rabbits at 25 yds or less.  Liked Remington Yellow Jackets, but had FTFs with Federals.  I think it will be just great for a "survival" rifle as it is billed.  Plan to keep it in the trunk with a box of Remingtons for that unplanned/unexpected emergency overnight camping trip.

[cwlongshot]

I have one too. The bolt becomes worn and can fall out and lost so watch that. (I bought a spare) Magazines are not everywhere altho seller on eBay think they are gold plated....  FORGET standard vel ammo!! Use HI VELOCITY and it works well. Keep it clean too. The accuracy is hamstrung by poor sites shot off a bench I am easily shooting 2'' groups.

I keep it for camping/survival with my camping stuff.

CW

[tacklebury]

Think the only way I'd want one was if I didn't have my Papoose.    I camoflagified mine with Duct tape 25 years ago and it's still camo'd and working well.    I've completely worn out 2 magazines so far and will probably go through more in time.    It's almost as accurate as my full size model 60.  hehe
 

[greg916]

I had one back in the late 70's. Had no problems with mine. Been thinking of buying one of the Henry versions.