beretta Neos or AR-7 henry survival rifle?

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Torghn

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This might seem like an odd question as they are fairly different firearms, but I'm looking at either to fill the same role.

I'm looking for a backpacking/hiking .22LR. The AR-7 make the most sense as rifle, but I've been told it can be finicky and unreliable and to just stick with a quality semi auto handgun. They both weigh about the same and since the AR folds up into the stock they take up roughly the same amount of room in a pack.

A scope can be mounted on the Neos which the AR7 can't do and still be folded up so this may help equalize the accuracy issues.

I guess I'm leaning towards the neos, but having never fired either I'd like some input.
 
Neither. Go with a Marlin Papoose. Some do have some feeding problems, but those can usually be fixed with an afternoon at the range with a pair of needle nose pliers- to adjust the magazine lips.

I have seen Neos with both accuracy and reliability problems. The grips have a weird angle to them, and the safety dug into my thumb joint when I shot one. Their trggers aren't very good either. AR-7 feel very awkward, and has a history of reliability and durability issues.
 
I thought about the Papoose, the only concern is it's over twice as heavy and 40% longer. Weight and size are are very large concern when backpacking.

Is it that much better?
 
No experiance with a neo but ive had several ar7's and they are pure junk, do yourself and your $ a favor and get a springfield armory m6 scout, it breaks down with one pin and takes up maybe a little less room than an ar7, plus you will never have any issues and it shoots 22lr and 410 shotgun over and under
 
the papoose weighs about 4 lbs, maybe less. it is super accurate, and super reliable, based on the mod 60 action. the Ar 7 is the most perfect survival rifle ever built, to use as a doorstop. they are innaccurate, and as unreliable as
Cain or Judas. I don't know if Henry fixed the probs they had, and there is another shop, called Majestic Arms, out of new york, that does a wonder job on them, and makes them even lighter, with a Alumalite carbon fiber bbl, but you are goin to pay for that rifle. I still wouldn't take the chance, unless I was going to deff get one from Majestic.
That being said, any of the Survivalist/ SOG/ warrior trained dudes will tell you; a Pistol in 22 lr, with a long bbl, is the best overall choice. Simply becuase, you can basically carry them in a holster or pocket, with a string for a lanyard, if you had to. and if you lost either or any piece of a takedown, you would have a useless weapon. The Beretta is a good choice, comes with a full rail, easy to take down, easy to put back together, and accurate.
 
I have a Neos. I works very nicely as far as function goes, is well-made and acceptably accurate with its preferred ammo (once you master the crumby trigger pull). I'm very disappointed that the expected range of accessory items hasn't materialized, especially "fatter" grips and thinner front sight blades.

I've owned several AR-7s, at least one example from each manufacturer. The only one that didn't suck was my original Armalite. The Henry version that will be my last one currently lives in its little box in the safe because the barrel shroud casting cracked at the extractor cut after less than 500 rds and I'd have to spend about 80% of the cost of a new one in order to comply with Henry's policy dictates in shipping, etc. to get them to honor their "lifetime warranty".

There's a nifty looking carbine conversion available for the Neos. It costs about $290. If it's available as a complete weapon, I'd try one instead of the pistol or the Henry. It might not be as lightweight as the AR-7, but it takes down quickly without tools, wouldn't take up a heckuva lot more room, hold more ammo in its magazines and be an order of magnitude more durable and reliable.
 
Why not get a Handi Rifle? Have the barrel cut to 16" and it won't take up any more room than the AR7 would. You won't be limited to .22lr either.
 
+1 Beretta NEOs
It has a wierd grip angle and the trigger is a little crappy :(
BUT it reliably eats anything, shoots accuratly and it breaks down VERY easily plus mags are only $9.
DSCF3064.jpg
 
the ar7 is a great toy and ideal for wasting an hour with as long as somebody else paid for it
but unless somebody has sorted out its many problems and employed a quality gunsmith to build one don't bother.
Brilliant idea badly done maybe if I win the lottery get Holland and Holland to build some:D
 
I do a lot of hiking and I went with the Papoose. I owned an AR-7 not much to like other than the barrel fit in the stock. The Marlin eats every thing andis very portable. I had a Neos but my wife took it for her own. It is a great pistol but I use a Beretta 87 target model for my pistol.
 
Check out the Rossi youth combo .22/20ga This comes in a zip up pouch that holds the entire package. You can do a heck of alot more with this set up than just the .22 alone.
 
you can scope a smith 22a as well. heck, you can scope a ruger or browning if you want. I just can't get on the neos train. to me it just looks wrong, feels wrong, and is WAY to big. the rifle looks better. they make buckmark rifle too. just to keep throwing out options.
 
Chipmunk 22lr rifle, synthetic stock. Then take a drill with a 1" wood bit and drill a few holes in the butt stock.

Serious backpackers look for weight savings as little as a quarter of an ounce. I know one guy who packs a doggie tooth brush instead of a regular one, because it is a rubber thimble with brissles on it.
 
I still think it is funny, ask about two guns, and 1/2 dozen people immediately recommend something else.

I have no experience with the two you have queryed, so I cannot help there. I do like the suggestions of the single-shot Crickett or H&R/NEF or Rossi. I have the Crickett, of those three, passed on the syn stock though. Got it for fun, and became the first "flashy" gun I own.

Some beautiful single-shot rifles :

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236852&highlight=Crickett
 
I own the Beretta and think it's a great little pistol. My father owned the AR7, and while it is a novel concept, neither of us liked it much. It jammed regularly.
 
The AR-7 is just about the last 22 rifle I'd buy. I would rather carry a Ruger pistol and I could probably shoot it just as accurately as the rifle (when the rifle works).
 
if you want an improved trigger and better sight radius you can special order a 7" silhouette model neos and it will have the smoothest trigger (mine does), does not compare with the average neos, the only way to get one is find someone who special ordered one and is willing to sell or order directly from beretta.
 
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