The AR-7 Survival Rifle- Ultimate Quest

[thunder173]

So,..are there REALLY any companies out there that make a magazine for the AR-7 Survival Rifle,...or are we destined to have non-functioning single shots??

That's the question? Who has the answer.

I have an AR-7 that works so-so okay with the origional 8 round factory magazine and decent ammo. Like the concept,...but....:banghead:

I have tried several different sources for anything with larger capacity mags that actually work to no avail. Seem's like a great concept but with poor executuion.

What say you High Roader's?

 

[rcmodel]

Most all of the AR-7's I have had any dealings with were non-functioning single shots!

The old Armalites did work pretty good, but since then, it has been a crap-shoot whether they work or not.

I suppose you can get new mags from Henry.
http://www.henryrepeating.com/h002_survival.cfm

rc

 

[ronbuick]

what brand of AR-7 do you have, I have the Charter Arm AR-7 explorer, that I bought a 15 round clip for it maybe 25 yrs ago, I have had this gun about 25-30yrs, a couple of years ago I needed some info on this and what a run around circle jerk that was, then I
found out they are sold now by Henry's arms, but can not tell you about clip interchangability, do not know if this helps or not!

Ron

 

[thunder173]

The one I have is circa late 80's,..to early 91. Picked it up in a horse trade NIB from a local gun robber,..er dealer when I retired in 91. It's made by Survival Arms Inc,..out of Coco, FLA,...I think they started making them right after Charter Arms quit doing so,....been so many makers of it that it's confusing.

The aftermarket mags I have bought over the years simply won't feed. The feed ramp on the lip ends are usually too shallow, causing the bolt to jam the bullet forward well below the chamber. Have played with a couple that actually became hit or miss,..but weren't worth the effort. Would love to see some WORKING 15 rounder's for this. It's a nich gun for sure,...but,..it does launch a round down range. I'd just swap it out or give it away,..but I'd feel too guilty doing so. Lucky enuff not to be where they do gun buy backs,..or I'd sell it off to the ninnies and put the money toward a different platform.

 

[ronbuick]

taperedthunder, remove the barrel and chamfer the barrel end where the shell goes and I took
a Dremel round pointed tapered part of the kit, do not know what you call it and went in there and twirled it between my fingers and now it will shoot more than once with out jamming, if you look at the shell end of the barrel you will see what I mean, it has sharp transition for the shell to enter the barrel, but a chamfer works well and just do a little at a time, you will notice a difference!!
Ron

 

[TEAM101]

FME Clip or no clip, it is destined, from birth, to be a nonfunctioning single shot.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

ditto #5 and use CCI MiniMag solid nose. very few jams in my Henry made US Survival.

 

[ronbuick]

I can go out right now and pop off 10 rounds in my 15 round clip, cause I just keep 10 rounds in the clip, and no jamming, before I put the chamfer in I was lucky to get two rounds out before jamming, it worked for me, that I can say!
Ron

 

[rangerruck]

I say, dump the ar 7, and get an old tube fed remmy 240 or 241, take down, tube fed, that can shoot short, long and long rifle. Load the tube with 20 to 25 shorts, and let it rip.
Ar 7 is pretty much suck a dilly suck-suck.
Not sure on the Henry's , but we need some 1st hand knowledge on them.

Or find a marlin papoose, model HC, that stands for hi caps, and came with not only a 10 rounder but either a 15 or 25 round mag. the rifle takes down, and the carry bag floats...

 

[Hammerhead6814]

Check some Gun Shows. The RKshow in Springfield last weekend had a couple of dealers who had AR-7 magazines. They were all shapes and sizes, from all manner of manufacturers. I even saw this crazy banana-shaped AR-7 magazine that definitely held more than 10 rounds.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I say, dump the Charter/Survival Arms/Henry, etc, and get an original Armalite. I have had three, and all of them worked fine. Still have the older brown stocked version. Even the newer Armalite mags that I got work fine.

 

[Speedo66]

Had a Charter Arms AR-7. Didn't work, back to the factory, no change. Gone.

Enter Marlin Papoose 70SS. Love at first complete magazine.

And every one there after.

 

[thunder173]

Okay guys...I truly appreciate all the well intended advice,....and it's an established fact that the AR 7 generally sucks. But I have it. If I wanted to dump it,... I could,..and I already have several other 22's that will launch bullets fine thank you....including a takedown pump Taurus carbine that shoots slicker that snot,......and as I said,....the origional mag that came with the AR 7 new works ok with it,...most of the time.

But the question was and still is: Is there anybody that makes an after market magazine that actually works with this pos? It fill's a nich,..but I'd like to have a better,..maybe larger cap mag to enhance that nich. Can anybody answer the initial question please?? Does anybody make an after market mag that actually works in an AR 7???

 

[Molasses]

I've got one of the Armalite-made AR-7s. It works pretty good with the factory mag. Bought about half a dozen replacement 8-rd ones from Numrich/GPC that are spotty; some work great, some not so much. Likewise, got some 15-rders from one of the mail order outfits that haven't had much of a workout yet, but there was a lot of trouble the one trip they've made to the range so far. So I'm looking for good, reliable ones, too. Although I'm also hoping that they just need a chance to break in. Wishful thinking, I know.

I've also done a little bit of chamfering on the bottom edge of the chamber to basically make a feed ramp there to supplement the sorry excuse the mags usually have for one. It's helped some, but the source I got that advice from also cautioned to take it easy with how much one removes or it could leave too much of the case unsupported...