No rimfire for SHTF

I have not shot the Marlin in maybe 20 years, so this is from memory. It also has a 4x Simmons I think short scope, so not apples to apples comparison here.. I bought it for fun use when duck hunting. In the afternoons, we would stand up 6 spent shotgun shells at roughly 50-75 feet and take turns seeing who could knock down all 6 with the 7 round mag, resting on the 2x4 rail of the front porch of the camp. Loser(s) paid for the beer next time out. We never measured distances, but it was far enough to make it challenging. The scope reticle would mostly cover the entirety of the target.

The Marlin is stainless first off. I like stainless by default, and for a "survival" item, even more. The trigger is much, much better. Not a match trigger by any means, but not the legally required units of today that almost needs two fingers to pull. The sights are probably a wash, but I never shot the Marlin without the 4x scope, so I'll avoid that comparison. And even though the Marlin requires a separate case to cobble everything together in one place, that case allows scope/dot type sights.

I believe based on memory that the Marlin groups better, but again, scope vs irons make that suspect. We were shooting 12g shells at 50ish or more feet, and routinely hitting all 6 in 6-7 shots. With bulk HV ammo. Sometimes there were many rounds of sudden death to establish who was on the hook for next weekend's beer supply.

I really meant my original post to be more of a review of the new Henry rifle, but since I made the comparison, I understand asking for details. Hope this helps.

davidsaidwhat said:

My BIL recently purchased the newest variant of the AR7 made by Henry.

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I took it to the range last weekend and was able to make 16 shot groups (two mags) at 50 feet slightly under an inch from sandbag rest. The groups were dead center with no adjustments needed. The stock sights are decent (fixed peep rear with two aperture choices, somewhat windage adjustable orange front that is a little too wide for my tastes), and the trigger has got to be 8 pounds or more and not anywhere near what I would call "crisp." But overall, it's a great little breakdown rifle that is very light weight, accurate enough, and serves its intended purpose well.

One side note, the stock is VERY thick, due to the need to place the receiver inside of it. It is not uncomfortable to hold and aim, but it's not great either. And there is a bias in the design for right handed shooters. The receiver is not centered, but pushed to one side, when installed. If you are left handed, be sure to check one out in person to make sure you feel the fit works for you.

I have Marlin 70SS that I like better by every measure there is over the AR7, but it's no longer sold I think. And it's a bummer that model did not come factory threaded. Still wondering if it's worth threading it since I have 4 other .22's that are factory threaded.
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Those are all fair assessments of the AR-7.
I don't think my trigger is that heavy but it is the old original rifle and in all fairness I haven't ever put my trigger pull guage on it.
The grip is a bit meaty now that you mention it but I have big hands so I never really considered it but can definitely see were some might find it awkward.

The main two things that I can see you didn't mention comparing the Marlin to the AR-7 is ,#1 take both into a very dusty dirty or sandy environment and without taking an additional case the Marlin isn't going to fair as well were the stock on the AR-7 is it's protective case.
#2 the AR-7 will float if you drop it in or lose it in the water due to capsizeing in a canoe or losing your footing crossing a body of water. I know hypothetical but it is meant to be a no frills survival tool.

XLR308 said:

Those are all fair assessments of the AR-7.
I don't think my trigger is that heavy but it is the old original rifle and in all fairness I haven't ever put my trigger pull guage on it.
The grip is a bit meaty now that you mention it but I have big hands so I never really considered it but can definitely see were some might find it awkward.

The main two things that I can see you didn't mention comparing the Marlin to the AR-7 is ,#1 take both into a very dusty dirty or sandy environment and without taking an additional case the Marlin isn't going to fair as well were the stock on the AR-7 is it's protective case.
#2 the AR-7 will float if you drop it in or lose it in the water due to capsizeing in a canoe or losing your footing crossing a body of water. I know hypothetical but it is meant to be a no frills survival tool.

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To address the items I forgot to address in the post above, yes, you are correct. AR7 is purpose built, and due to that purpose and build, it is "clunky" to me. I offered to sell my 70SS to my BIL and he wanted the Henry anyway. He obviously thinks like you do.

davidsaidwhat said:

To address the items I forgot to address in the post above, yes, you are correct. AR7 is purpose built, and due to that purpose and build, it is "clunky" to me. I offered to sell my 70SS to my BIL and he wanted the Henry anyway. He obviously thinks like you do.

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It's just a tool in my opinion not the best but not the worst it just serves its purpose for me fairly well.
I also have one of the little cricket synthetic rifles I toss in a back pack occasionally, it's so small it' almost looks comical but is surprisingly accurate and takes up shit for space and I can shoot it pretty well for how small it is.
Its almost as compact as the takedown and weighs less.

Topstrap said:

In the book "One Second After" it comes down to 22 rimfire rounds being a highly valued trading commodity.

Still think the lowly 22 rimfire is one of the most underrated cartridges available.

Topstrap

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I thoroughly believe that ammo is going to be like gold in the near future. After what happened a couple weeks ago it might be sooner than I thought.

nockhunter said:

A 22lr would be great for feeding you. Lots of small game and not so small game to be had with a single shot to the head.

Mike

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Kept my freezer full in the recession of the 80's. Night time, flashlight, round to the head, deer in the freezer.

MLone said:

Kept my freezer full in the recession of the 80's. Night time, flashlight, round to the head, deer in the freezer.

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At one of our farms, we used to comment that you could always tell when archery season was about to open...that's when you'd hear everyone making sure their .22s and .22 WMRs were zeroed and ready to go...

I have my grandfathers bolt action, Tube fed Stevens .22LR that he bought when he was 12. He used to regale me with stories of how his brothers and him would keep the family fed during the Great Depression living on a farm in the Dakotas using that rifle. They shared it and took down a lot of deer and small game with it. If that wasn’t as close to TEOTWAKI as a guy could get I dont know what is.

But I bet he never regaled you with tails of how many gun fights he won with it.
BTW, I didn't even make it through 500 rounds of Wolf Match Extra before I had a FTF. CZ457. Well maintained. Clean as anything. Hard primer strikes. Cause I tried it 3 times.
I am not discounting a 22lr, especially a pistol, as a viable tool to use to survive. And yes it will be lethal. But I don't personally believe it would be my primary weapon.
I plan to avoid every confrontation possible if the world ever turns back into the wild west. Cause getting shot with anything is on the bottom of my to-do list. But I personally hope who ever shoots me in The Walking Dead is using a 50 BMG to steal my bottle of water and half a bag of M&Ms...

10/22 . Nuff said

moosemeat said:

But I bet he never regaled you with tails of how many gun fights he won with it.
BTW, I didn't even make it through 500 rounds of Wolf Match Extra before I had a FTF. CZ457. Well maintained. Clean as anything. Hard primer strikes. Cause I tried it 3 times.
I am not discounting a 22lr, especially a pistol, as a viable tool to use to survive. And yes it will be lethal. But I don't personally believe it would be my primary weapon.
I plan to avoid every confrontation possible if the world ever turns back into the wild west. Cause getting shot with anything is on the bottom of my to-do list. But I personally hope who ever shoots me in The Walking Dead is using a 50 BMG to steal my bottle of water and half a bag of M&Ms...

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My grandfather survived a bunch of gunfights but as he was a tail gunner in a B17 bomber you called it correct as he was using a .50 BMG. He was actually pretty quiet about his time in WWII as I don't think he had a good time reaching 25 missions. I do remember that he was extremely claustrophobic.

With deer season upon us now, after you get your deer take the head and do a test with your 22lr to see if you can hit the head at 100 yards. I have heard the same story from my grandfather and my wife's grandfather about popping deer in the head during the depression. I am sure many animals were killed with the lowly 22lr . Personally I would rather use a smaller round and save the meat, and have as little noise as possible if I were trying to survive and feed my family.

A good reliable bolt action 22, with a good source of cleaning materials to keep things going would be ideal. Just look at what the mountain men used to use to keep their flint lock rifles clean. And you think with modern oils we couldn't keep a rifle clean today?

Now when you mentioned it I remember watching a YouTube channel where the owner propagated hunting a big animals (like wild hogs and such) with 22LR. While it is certainly true that with a good shot placement 22 LR can kill almost every living being, there are certainly good reasons not to do that. Who knows how many animals that douchebag wounded so they fled just to die in agony days latter. I can't find the channel for a dear life now, the guy wasn't kid but elderly dude

I have seen a few of those as well, and I always cringe at them. If you are doing it to just do it to try and show how "macho" you are, it is stupid. Now if on a survival instance I wouldn't hesitate to drop a deer at 50 yards with my 22. Though much larger game, and not knowing the bone structure, it would be stupid to shoot.

Though honestly I would more than likely be out with my bow and arrow. Knowing I am able to reuse ammo is better in my mind.

I think he even used .25 caliber air rifle on hogs. Horrible

I have seen a guy use a 177 on a hog. Stupid as hell to be honest.

shot this with the 50 cal smoke pole w/ round lead ball. It's good for hunting and SHTF. Shoot and tacti-evac in your own smoke screen after the shot!

When it came to low noise game acquisition- including wt deer- my grandfather’s weapon of choice was a 22 short.

BugIn762 said:

The Mandalorian and Lady Mormont.

I'm ashamed that I know that.

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Well.... It's also Oberyn Martell... and Lady Mormont, so....