The perfect Truck Gun (Vehicular Long Gun) is an elusive animal. Even my taste changes with time as one day I might favor an AR pistol and the next I’d secretly drool for a Serbu Shortie shotgun.
It is obvious that a Short Barrel Rifle with some collapsible stock would be the almost perfect answer for compactness and firepower, but they are expensive animals and subject to NFA rules and tax stamp. But what if you needed a long gun now that could be hidden pretty easy inside a vehicle, somewhat easy to assemble, be immune to most any environmental challenge of being forgotten inside a car and not expensive? How about the Henry US Survival AR-7? Check the video:
What makes the AR 7 attractive is the price as it retails for $280 in the all black configuration which is a bit more than the NFA stamp on an SBR. It comes with 2 magazines for 16 shots and I can imagine a couple more mags can be attached somewhere outside the stock (think something like the M1 carbine magazine ammo pouch) for a total of 32 rounds in hyper velocity .22LR which might not be a Velociraptor stopper, but still will manage to keep somebody at bay far enough to count.
This is obviously not a stand-alone weapon but something to compliment your everyday carry sidearm to try keep people at distances over 25 yards, specially if you have several possible individuals coming your way that may see a long gun, decide you are not an easy prey and go someplace else for mischief or perhaps a properly placed shot, even with a .22LR is likely to modify uncouth behavior far enough before it becomes troublesome.
Again, the AR 7 may not be the perfect Truck Gun, but it beats flowery speeches and requests for mercy shouted across the block at a decent price.
Your thoughts?
.22LR is fantastic for target practice and beginners, but I’d be thrilled if you could get that thing in larger handgun calibers. I love the part where the stock doubles as a storage container.
You will get a longer reach in .22LR than most if not all regular pistol calibers. However same gun in .22 Magnum? Now that is an idea.
It won’t work in 22wmr, too delicate and the action is too short.
In terms of the visual of an armed prospective victim, it’s highly unlikely an attacker will be able to accurately tell the caliber. .22LR and 5.56mm (.223Rem) have nearly identical bore diameters, and from a distance > 20 yards are pretty much indistinguishable to non-“gun nuts” (and maybe even to them).
I can also see the utility of this one in terms of a backpacking long gun. It looks really lightweight, and collapses down to a small size.
Plus, it’s inexpensive enough to almost not cry over if it breaks or gets lost. 🙂
3.5 pounds and I think it floats if it falls in a body of water.
I don’t quite have the gumption to float-test mine. It shoots well, although I wouldn’t subject that extremely lightweight barrel to a lot of rapid fire.
Mine likes CCI minimags, CCI’s hunting loads, hot Aguila stuff, and miraculously cycles Aguila SSS somehow.
It takes THREE mags in the storage compartment now. One in the action (you can assemble the gun with the mag in) and two in storage slots. Extra mags (call HRA and order) are compact, I’d just tape a baggie to the stock and rip it off if needed, dumping the mags in a pocket. I don’t think a stock pouch would work, the stock is oddly shaped and the mags are tiny.
Thanks for the info! See people? we have all kinds here and even some that actually know their stuff 🙂
Funny enough, that was my trunk gun during my high school years- in the early ninties, before the dark times… before the AWB.
Mine being the old Charter Arms version. Worked pretty good, but the thinner tab on one of the sides snapped off- so find a good spot to put it in your trunk.
A “Truck Gun”? Sure, for bouncing around under the seat its great but when I think of a truck, car or any vehicle firearm I think any firearm has to be readily accessible so, if I had the AR in my vehicle it would have a buddy that I didn’t have to put together.
P.S., I don’t have a AR-7 but have always wanted one, I’m an avid off roader.
I did make the point that this is to compliment the sidearm you should already have on you with plenty of BBs and not a primary.
I use a cheap hi-point 9mm carbine i bought used with 3 10 rd mags. Fairly short, clips under the flip-up back seat of my F150
I own one of these from back n the 80s when they were made by Charter Arms. Nifty idea, and better than a sharp stick in the eye (and it DOES float — you know i tried it), But lousy accuracy and not a reliable feeder without VERY hot .22 ammo. (At least mine.) The breakdown 10/22 would seem a better choice. Add a couple of 25-round after market mags and you have a box of .22LR at your command.
The 10/22 breakdown is a gorgeous rifle, but it would be a tad too bulkier and not quite the throw-under-the-seat-and-forget-about-it gun like the AR 7. More expensive too. If you have the space in your vehicle, great and the price is not bad but not inexpensive if you can find the damn things I hear as everybody and Mr. Smith wants one.
As for accuracy & reliability on the AR 7, apparently Henry has done a great job with their version although I am guessing it won’t be used as an Olympic rifle anytime soon.
Damn you Robert, you had to mention the other takedown rifle in my wish list…. 🙂 No…wait, I am forgetting the 2 Copilots I want.
Another option to consider for an inexpensive trunk gun is the Rossi Matched Pair, chambered in both .22LR and 20 gauge. While it’s only a single-shot firearm, having the shotgun option is useful for both survival use and social work.
Sub 2000 in 9mm. They can easily fit inside truck tool boxes designed to go behind the bench seat and you can easily store a dozen 33 round Glock magazines back there. It’s more expensive, but hot 9mm’s out of a longer barrel is enough to take down my biggest fear up here in Ohio, coyotes. The things keep getting closer and closer to the house every year. And I’ve seen them in the fields all around my route home at night and I can hear them yipping from inside my bedroom before I fall asleep. They’re everywhere man…
I have shot two different versions of this rifle…both were total jam-o-matics. Better to put that money into a sling shot!
I went with the Hi-Point in 9mm. It is pickey with ammo, but is the same caliber as my pistol (different mags of course). Purchased before the last 6 months of crazy for roughly $260 new. Like most firearms where they really get you is with the price of magazines. Its ugly and holds less than 10 in the mag, but for what I foresee using it for it works. I would love to replace with a folding Kel-tec chambered in .223, but according to the law I’m required to feed my children everyday multiple times. 🙂
“but according to the law I’m required to feed my children everyday multiple times”
Darn! Again stepped on by The Man!
FREE MY PEOPLE!
LOL