ArmaLite AR-7

Last updated
AR-7
AR7rifle.jpg
ArmaLite AR-7 survival rifle with 8-, 10-, and 15-round magazines
Type Survival rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1959–present
Production history
Designer Eugene Stoner
Designed1958
VariantsArmaLite AR-7 Explorer;
Charter Arms AR-7 Explorer;
Charter Arms Explorer II Pistol;
Israeli Pilot's Survival Rifle;
Henry U.S. Survival .22
Specifications
Mass2.5 lb (1.1 kg)
Length35 in (889 mm)
Barrel  length16 in (406 mm)
Cartridge .22 Long Rifle
Action Straight blowback-operated
Rate of fire Semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity 1,080  ft/s (329  m/s) to
1,280  ft/s (390  m/s)
(varies by type of .22 Long Rifle cartridge)
Effective firing range109  yd (100  m)
Feed systemStandard 8-round magazine. 5-, 10-, 15-, 25-round magazines available.
SightsAperture rear and drift-adjustable front.

The ArmaLite AR-7 Explorer is a semi-automatic firearm in .22 Long Rifle caliber, developed in 1959 from the AR-5 that was adopted by the U.S. Air Force as a pilot and aircrew survival weapon. [1] The AR-7 was adopted and modified by the Israeli Air Force as an aircrew survival weapon in the 1980s.

Contents

The AR-7 was designed by American firearms designer Eugene Stoner, who is most associated with the development of the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle that was adopted by the US military as the M16. The civilian AR-7's intended markets today are backpackers and other recreational users as a takedown utility rifle. The AR-7 is intended for users of recreational vehicles (automobile, airplane, or boat) who might need a weapon for foraging or defense in a wilderness emergency.

History and design

The prototype of what would become the AR-7 was designed by Eugene Stoner at ArmaLite Inc., a division of Fairchild Aircraft. The rifle shares some of the features of the bolt-action AR-5, another takedown rifle designed by Stoner for ArmaLite and adopted by the United States Air Force in 1956 as the MA-1. [2] The MA-1 was intended to replace the M4 Survival Rifle and the M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon which was a superposed ("over-under") twin-barrel rifle/shotgun chambered in .22 Hornet and .410 bore, using a break-open action. The AR-5 had the advantage of repeat fire over the then-standard M6, using the same .22 Hornet cartridge. When the AR-5 was adopted as the MA-1 but was not placed in issue due to the number of usable M4 and M6 survival weapons in USAF inventory, ArmaLite used the research and tooling for the AR-5 in developing the AR-7 for the civilian market. [3]

ArmaLite AR-7 Explorer internal parts assembled (left sideplate removed) AR7 Internal Parts.jpg
ArmaLite AR-7 Explorer internal parts assembled (left sideplate removed)

The AR-7 uses a blowback semi-automatic action in .22 Long Rifle but retains the AR-5/MA-1 feature of storing the disassembled parts within the hollow stock, which is filled with plastic foam and capable of floating. [4] [5] Like the bolt-action AR-5, the AR-7 was designed as a survival rifle for foraging small game for food. The AR-7 is constructed primarily of aluminum, with plastic for the stock, buttcap, and recoil spring guide. The bolt is steel. The original barrel was aluminum using a rifled steel liner; barrels of some production models have used all steel barrels, others have used barrels made of composite materials. [6] The AR-7 measures 35 inches (89 cm) overall when assembled. It disassembles to four sections (barrel, action, stock, and magazine), with three parts storing inside the plastic stock, measuring 16 inches (41 cm) long. The rifle weighs 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg), light enough for convenient backpacking. The rear sight is a peep sight, which comes on a flat metal blade with an aperture (in later production two different size apertures available by removing and flipping the rear sight), and is adjustable for elevation (up-down). The front sight is adjustable for windage (side-to-side). Accuracy is sufficient for hunting small game at ranges to 50 yards (46 m).

Performance

Reliability of the AR-7 is highly dependent on the condition of the magazine and on the ammunition used, perhaps more so than with other models of semi-automatic .22 caliber rifles. The feed ramp is part of the magazine and is subject to damage from mishandling. Flat-nosed bullets tend to jam on the edge of the chamber of the barrel. The transition of the cartridge from magazine to barrel can be smoothed by minor beveling of the chamber of the barrel, by using round-nosed as opposed to flat-nosed bullets, and by paying attention to the condition of the feed lips and feed ramp of the magazine. Later production magazines include an external wire spring to align the cartridge; earlier magazines used two pinch marks at the top of the magazine body, which in use could become sprung open or worn.[ citation needed ]

All iterations of the AR-7 from the ArmaLite to the Henry U.S. Survival rifle use a bolt and dual recoil springs that are heavy compared to most other .22 semiautomatics. The AR-7 requires high-velocity ammunition for reliable functioning. The manufacturers recommend use of 40-grain (2.6 g) round nose bullets in high-velocity loadings. It is possible to manually load a single round into the firing chamber, allowing use of flat-nosed bullets or low-velocity or subsonic ammunition.

The barrel takedown nut tends to loosen during firing and may need hand-tightening to maintain both accuracy and reliability.

ArmaLite sold the design to Charter Arms in 1973. According to some accounts posted by enthusiasts, this is when quality began to deteriorate. [7] Barrels were said to have a tendency to warp. Other sources state that the first production at Charter had problems which were corrected in later production runs. [3]

Production history

(Summary of information available in The Blue Book of Gun Values)

AR-7 variants

ArmaLite AR-7 Explorer

Original ArmaLite barrels had a steel liner in an aluminum shell. The stock was a foam filled plastic shell with internal recesses for the receiver, barrel and one magazine and did not accept the receiver with a magazine in place. The original ArmaLite stock retained buoyancy longer than some later stocks by other makers. The receiver did not provide for a scope mount. The rear sight was a peep aperture, adjustable for elevation. The front sight was drift-adjustable for windage.

Argentine variant

The AR-7 was also manufactured in Argentina as the Sistema de Armas .22 LR Fire de Brenta. [8] It came with various barrel lengths, shrouds and fixed rifle stocks as well as pistol grips with retractable stocks.

Herter's Outdoor Supply

Herter's, Hy Hunter and American International Distributors marketed .22 replicas of the Broomhandle Mauser (as "Bolomauser"), Thompson submachine gun (as "T-62 Civilian Defense Model") and M1 Carbine made on AR-7 receivers and barrels. [9]

Charter Arms AR-7 Explorer

The Charter Arms AR-7 Explorer rifle replicated the ArmaLite AR-7 Explorer with variations in finish.

Charter Arms Explorer II pistol

Explorer II pistol with 8 inch barrel Charter Arms Explorer II pistol.jpg
Explorer II pistol with 8 inch barrel

Explorer II was a pistol version of the AR-7. [10] It resembled a Broomhandle Mauser. The receiver had a built-in pistol grip with no provision for the rifle stock (the internal parts are interchangeable between rifle and pistol). The rear sight of the pistol was an open notch adjustable for windage and elevation. The Explorer II front sight was integral with the barrel shell and was not adjustable. The magazine well in front of the trigger guard would accept any magazine designed for the rifle. A spare 8-round magazine could be carried inside the grip. The most common barrel was six inches (150 mm). Optional barrel lengths included eight inches (200 mm) and ten inches (250 mm).

Alignment lug is on barrel underside Charter Arms Explorer II takedown.jpg
Alignment lug is on barrel underside

Because the U.S. 1934 NFA regulations set the minimum rifle barrel length at 16 inches (410 mm), Charter Arms made the barrels of the Explorer I rifle and Explorer II pistol non-interchangeable to prevent installing the pistol barrel on the rifle. The AR-7 barrel has an alignment lug that mates a notch in the receiver. The rifle receiver notch and barrel lug are on top; the pistol notch and lug are broader and on the bottom. If a Charter Arms factory-made pistol barrel were installed on a rifle, the extractor on the bolt would be opposite the extractor slot in the barrel, preventing the bolt from closing (plus the front sight would be upside down). Modifying the pistol barrel to fit the rifle, or modifying the rifle receiver to accept the pistol barrel, would be "making a short barrel rifle" legally requiring federal registration on an ATF Form 1 with payment of a $200.00 tax.

Conversely, after the Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Thompson/Center Arms Co., [11] modifying the pistol to accept the rifle barrel and/or stock, or modifying the rifle barrel or stock to fit the pistol is legal so long as you do not have the rifle stock attached at the same time as the pistol barrel. It is legal (as a pistol) to have the rifle barrel attached with the pistol grip; there is no federal maximum pistol barrel length.

In the United Kingdom this rifle is a Section 1 Firearm requiring a Firearms Certificate to buy or acquire.

AR-7 Industries

AR-7 Industries made solid steel barrels much heavier than the AR-7 barrels by ArmaLite, Charter or Henry.

Henry Survival Rifle

In 1980, the design and production rights passed on to Henry Repeating Arms and the compact rifle was slightly revised, resulting in improved reliability and durability. The AR-7 is now (2018) known as the Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 rifle. An ABS material replaced the original stock plastic, which was prone to cracking and failure. The receiver recess in the Henry stock allows storage of the receiver with a magazine in place and the rifle is normally sold with two magazines. The latest versions of the Henry allow for storage of three magazines total, with two in the stock recess, and one in the receiver. The modern Henry U.S. Survival Rifle floats on water for a while either assembled or stored, although it is not entirely waterproof and will sink eventually. The rifles now include a full Teflon coating on the outer surface. Henry added a 3⁄8 inch (9.5 mm) Dovetail rail (aka Weaver .22 Tip-Off Mount rail) on the top of the receiver for attaching a wide variety of optics. Henry introduced a 5-round magazine for jurisdictions that limit magazine capacity for hunting wild game.

Israeli pilot's survival rifle

Another variant was made by ArmaLite and sold to the Israeli Military for use as pilot/aircrew survival weapons, replacing the 9mm Beretta 1951 8-shot handgun. The Israelis further modified these rifles, adding a telescoping stock, a pistol grip from a FAL-type rifle, shortening the barrel (to 13.5 inches (340 mm)), and adding a front sight based on the K98k Mauser. The shoulder stock held two magazines, with a third magazine in the receiver, plus forty rounds of ammunition stored inside the pistol grip. After Israeli service, some of these rifles were re-imported into the U.S. by Bricklee Trading Company for sale on the civilian market. The barrels are marked with the BTC identification as required by U.S. law on imported guns. The Israeli version commands a premium among collectors. In order to comply with U.S. Federal law on minimum rifle barrel length of 16", a 3-inch muzzle brake was permanently attached. [12]

Operation

The AR-7 functions as a simple or plain blowback semi-automatic. The AR-7 is a light firearm with a heavy bolt and twin recoil springs.

Aftermarket modifications

The fact that both the barrel and stock are detachable has led to a plethora of after-market accessories, similar to those available for the Ruger 10/22. Barrels, stocks, and grips, of varying finishes and utility, can be added to the rifle. These include collapsible stocks, wire-framed stocks, pistol grips, flash suppressors, shrouded barrels, high-capacity magazines, telescopic sights, reflex 'red dot' sights and other occasionally fanciful-looking hardware, some at a cost greater than the rifle itself. Such accessories often make it impossible to use the original floating stock for storage of modified parts. [3]

The current Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 has a 3/8" scope sight rail integral with the receiver to accept standard Weaver-style "Tip-Off" rings. For earlier makes, B Square supplied the Charter Arms AR-7 Explorer Scope Mount Base, an accessory bracket with a 3/8" rail. The base attached by the receiver side plate screw (the Charter Arms side plate screw is longer than that of the ArmaLite). This base can be used on the ArmaLite and the Charter Arms Explorer rifles and the Charter Arms Explorer II pistol. However, with the base in place, the rifle receiver will no longer fit the recess in the stock for storage. (The B Square Charter Arms AR-7 base is not needed on the Henry version and will not fit the Henry receiver.)

Apart from the highly modified AR-7 Israeli survival rifles, most AR-7 models lack provision for a carry sling. AR-7 owners have adapted slings designed for use on guns without modification, such as universal shotgun slings designed to cup the shotgun buttstock at the rear and clamp to the barrel or magazine tube at the front. Given the light weight of the AR-7, 2.5 pounds, a proper length of parachute cord with a slip knot at either end can be used as a sling or lanyard.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colt AR-15</span> Autoloading rifle

The Colt AR-15 is a lightweight, magazine-fed, gas-operated autoloading rifle manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company ("Colt"). The rifle is a derivative of its predecessor, the ArmaLite AR-15, an automatic rifle designed by Eugene Stoner and other engineers at ArmaLite in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M1903 Springfield</span> American bolt-action main battle rifle

The M1903 Springfield, officially the U. S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1903, is an American five-round magazine-fed, bolt-action service repeating rifle, used primarily during the first half of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ArmaLite AR-15</span> American assault rifle

The ArmaLite AR-15 is a gas-operated assault rifle manufactured in the United States between 1959 and 1964. Designed by American gun manufacturer ArmaLite in 1956, it was based on its AR-10 rifle. The ArmaLite AR-15 was designed to be a lightweight rifle and to fire a new high-velocity, lightweight, small-caliber cartridge to allow infantrymen to carry more ammunition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CAR-15</span> Carbine of the United States

The Colt Automatic Rifle-15 or CAR-15 is a family of M16 rifle–based firearms marketed by Colt in the 1960s and early 1970s. However, the term "CAR-15" is most commonly associated with the Colt Commando ; these select-fire carbines have ultrashort 10.5-inch (270 mm) and 11.5-inch (290 mm) barrels with over-sized flash suppressors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ArmaLite AR-10</span> Battle rifle

The ArmaLite AR-10 is a 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle designed by Eugene Stoner in the late 1950s and manufactured by ArmaLite. When first introduced in 1956, the AR-10 used an innovative combination of a straight-line barrel/stock design with phenolic composite, a new patent-filed gas-operated bolt and carrier system and forged alloy parts resulting in a small arm significantly easier to control in automatic fire and over 1 lb (0.45 kg) lighter than other infantry rifles of the day. Over its production life, the original AR-10 was built in relatively small numbers, with fewer than 10,000 rifles assembled. However, the ArmaLite AR-10 would become the progenitor for a wide range of firearms.

The ArmaLite AR-18 is a gas-operated assault rifle chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. The AR-18 was designed at ArmaLite in California by Arthur Miller, Eugene Stoner, George Sullivan, and Charles Dorchester in 1963 as an alternative to the Colt AR-15 design, a variant of which had just been selected by the U.S. military as the M16. A semi-automatic version known as the AR-180 was later produced for the civilian market. While the AR-18 was never adopted as the standard service rifle of any nation, its production license was sold to companies in Japan and the United Kingdom, and it is said to have influenced many later weapons such as the British SA80, the Singaporean SAR-80 and SR-88, the Belgian FN F2000, the Japanese Howa Type 89 and the German Heckler and Koch G36.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stoner 63</span> NATO modular weapon system

The Stoner 63 is a 5.56×45mm NATO modular weapon system. Using a variety of modular components, it can be configured as an assault rifle, carbine, top-fed light machine gun, belt-fed squad automatic weapon, or as a vehicle mounted weapon. Also known as the M63, XM22, XM23, XM207 or the Mk 23 Mod 0 machine gun, it was designed by Eugene Stoner in the early 1960s. Cadillac Gage was the primary manufacturer of the Stoner 63 during its history. The Stoner 63 saw very limited combat use by United States forces during the Vietnam War. A few were also sold to law enforcement agencies.

The Ruger 10/22 is a series of semi-automatic rifles produced by American firearm manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co., chambered for the .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge. It uses a patented 10-round rotary magazine, though higher capacity box magazines are also available. The standard carbine version of the Ruger 10/22 has been in production continuously since 1964, making it one of the most successful rimfire rifle designs in history, with numerous third party manufacturers making parts and accessories for upgrading and customization. The 10/22's aftermarket is so prolific that a complete 10/22 can be built without using any Ruger-made components.

A gunstock or often simply stock, the back portion of which is also known as a shoulder stock, a buttstock, or simply a butt, is a part of a long gun that provides structural support, to which the barrel, action, and firing mechanism are attached. The stock also provides a means for the shooter to firmly brace the gun and easily aim with stability by being held against the user's shoulder when shooting the gun, and helps to counter muzzle rise by transmitting recoil straight into the shooter's body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leader Dynamics Series T2 MK5</span> Assault rifle

The Leader T2 MK5 Series firearms were chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and manufactured by Leader Dynamics of Smithfield, NSW, Australia (1978-1982/1983). The Leader was the brainchild of British weapons designer Charles St. George. It was originally a contender for a 5.56 mm Australian military service rifle to replace the then-issued Lithgow L1A1 SLR and Colt M16A1 rifles. What was unique about this endeavor was that Australia had never designed or manufactured its own commercial gas-operated semi-automatic rifle. The rifle was abandoned when the Steyr AUG was adopted for use by the Australian military.

The ArmaLite AR-30 is a bolt-action rifle manufactured by Armalite. Based in part on Armalite's AR-50 rifle, the AR-30 is available in three cartridges; the .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua. It was introduced at the 2000 SHOT Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claridge Hi-Tec/Goncz Pistol</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Claridge Hi-Tec and its antecedent the Goncz High-Tech Long Pistol are semi-automatic pistols designed by Hungarian inventor Lajos John Goncz. This unique firearm features a telescopic bolt design encased in a tubular upper receiver with a forged steel frame, button rifled match barrels, and 16-round magazines standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takedown gun</span>

A takedown gun is a long gun designed to be taken apart, significantly reducing its length, making it easier to store, pack, transport, and conceal. A variety of barrel, stock, and receiver designs have been invented to facilitate takedown. For example, the hinged design of many break-action firearms allows takedown. Some regular firearms can be modified to allow takedown after custom gunsmithing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beretta ARX160</span> Assault rifle

The Beretta ARX160 is an Italian modular assault rifle manufactured by Beretta. Developed for the Italian Armed Forces as part of the Soldato Futuro program, the ARX160 was launched in 2008 as a commercial weapon system independent from the Soldato Futuro ensemble, complete with a companion single-shot 40×46mm NATO low-velocity grenade launcher, called the GLX160, which can be mounted underneath the rifle or used with an ad hoc stock system as a stand-alone weapon.

The Winchester Model 1890 is a slide-action repeating rifle produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in the late 19th and early 20th century.

ArmaLite, or Armalite, is an American small arms engineering company, formed in the early 1950s, in Hollywood, California. Many of its products, as conceived by chief designer Eugene Stoner, relied on unique foam-filled fiberglass butt/stock furniture, and a composite barrel using a steel liner inside an aluminum sleeve, including the iconic AR-15/M16 family. While the original ArmaLite ceased business in the 1980s, the brand was revived in 1996, by Mark Westrom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adaptive Combat Rifle</span> Assault rifle (Remington ACR)

The Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR) is a modular assault rifle formerly designed by Magpul Industries of Austin, Texas, and known initially as the Masada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AR-15–style rifle</span> Class of semi-automatic rifles

An AR-15–style rifle is a lightweight semi-automatic rifle based on or similar to the Colt AR-15 design. The Colt model removed the selective fire feature of its predecessor, the original ArmaLite AR-15, itself a scaled-down derivative of the AR-10 design by Eugene Stoner. It is closely related to the military M16 rifle.

The Zastava PAP are a series of Serbian sporting rifles based on the Zastava M70 and Zastava M77B1. They are nearly identical to their military counterparts, but lack select-fire capability and have been modified with a number of sporting features designed to comply with firearms imports laws in the United States, where they are primarily marketed.

References

  1. ↑ The AR-7 exotic weapons system, Paperback: 63 pages Paladin Press (1982), ISBN   0873642422
  2. ↑ Pikula, Sam (Maj), The ArmaLite AR-10 Regnum Fund Press (1998), ISBN   9986-494-38-9, p. 35
  3. 1 2 3 Duncan Long, AR-7 Super Systems, Paladin Press, 1990.
  4. ↑ Armalite history PDF Archived 2008-10-01 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ AR5 flotation: Stevens, R. Blake & Edward C. Ezell. The Black Rifle: M16 Retrospective. Cobourg, Canada: Collector Grade Publications, 1987. (Page 22); AR7 flotation has consistently been mentioned as a selling point in advertisements since 1959.
  6. ↑ AR-7 Survival Rifle
  7. ↑ The Infamous AR7
  8. ↑ Sistema de Armas cal. 22 Lr "Fire" de Industrias Brenta Manual, at Full Aventura, FABRICAS ARGENTINAS de ARMAS database.
  9. ↑ Hy Hunter Firearms Mfg. Co, Inc, advertisement Archived 2014-10-16 at the Wayback Machine , Guns magazine, Jan. 1962.
  10. ↑ Charter Arms Explorer II
  11. ↑ "United States v. Thompson/Center Arms Co., 504 U.S. 505 (1992)".
  12. ↑ Jeremiah Knupp, "The Unlikely Resilience of the AR-7 Survival Rifle", American Rifleman, 27 Dec 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.