Tag Archives: Henry

Weapons

Golden Age of Tactical Lever Actions RIfles

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It was back in 2012 that I was pushing the concept of the Tactical Lever Action Rifle. The reason being was that California and other States were really mad at the AR-15 and the Lever Action Rifle was a lower profile option that was legal pretty much everywhere. The lever action is also a platform that was on day one, designed to be a Tactical Rifle. What do I mean by that? I mean the Lever Action was designed to be a rifle used in Conflict. The first ones were chambered in rather small calibers, had large (for the time) capacities and if you remember your history… Came out and gained popularity during the Civil War where some units acquired and outfitted everyone with those Lever Action Rifles.

Often called a “Cowboy Assault Rifle“, its purpose was crystal clear, and today things are no different. In fact, it’s better. We’re in a golden age of Lever Action Rifles. Everyone that makes a Lever Action Rifle – makes a version, or several versions that are dedicated to just that purpose. Conflict Resolution. Maybe even less Fighting Rifle and more Fight Stopping Rifle. They are coming out of the gate with features we only dreamed about back in 2011. Handguards with light mounts. Out of the box with ghost ring sights, optic rails, and even threaded barrels for making it un-loud. We can get rifles with these configurations in chambered in Pistol Caliber Cartridges from .38 Special, all the way up to .500 S&W Magnum. And rifle cartridges from .30-30 on up to .45-70.

Henry, S&W, Marlin, Winchester, Browning, Rossi, Mossberg, Patriot Ordinance Factory, Taylor, Chiappa, Uberti, Pedersoli… And I’m sure there are other brands out there… So many great options to choose from, regardless of what flavor you want. And companies such as Henry who had only ever made more traditional styled rifles… are no making them in Black, with those tactical upgrades already on the gun, in the box, straight from the factory.

Back in 2011 I think it was… these options didn’t exist. At that moment when I had to replace a broken stock on my then “Green Marlin”, the only option for a light weight stock, was Ramline. Here’s that rifle wearing that stock, with a rail on top, and a Red Dot. This configuration wasn’t the first, but it was one of them. One of the first “Tactical Lever Actions” in appearance as well as function.

Nowadays, things that require Customization can now be ordered off the cuff…

The problem with these builds is that they tend to delete those characteristics that make a Lever Action so delightful to use. The slim nature that makes it easy to grab and run with… The narrow profile that makes them easy to slide into and out of rifle sheaths… the light weight that lets them come up on target quick and easily.
The advantages they give are good though. Still sleaker than an AR or AK type. Lower profile so they stow nicely. Quicker to operate than a bolt action. And generally they are punching bigger holes than AR’s.
Another Downside to the Tactical Level Action. You used to be able to get into one and start building your setup for as little as 500 bucks. Now days a new one is going to cost you 1200 to 2000 and any and all Used Lever Action Rifles have all been scooped up.

Weapons

Henry’s US Survival AR-7

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The gun shop I work at is now stocking (Well, we got in a few of them) the Henry US Survival AR-7.

Normally, I’d avoid anything having to do with Henry rifles… Not that there is anything wrong with them, I just don’t favor them.  I don’t like Ranch Dressing either.  Nothing wrong with it, I just think it tastes like rotten mayo made for the devil’s own excrement… So it’s just a matter of taste.  Everyone likes different things, and this is why the Gun Industry has such a wide varieties of ways to kill things.

The AR-7 was originally made by Armalite for the US Air Force.  The idea was that this was a part of a Pilot’s survival kit should they be downed in a nice woodland area filled with tasty furry critters so the pilot could have a couple days of hunting before they get picked back up.  (Yes, that was intentionally tongue in cheek) I don’t know how many the Air Force picked up, but they did buy a few.  But not enough for Armalite to hold on to the gun… They sold it to Charter Arms for couple hundred bucks and a bag of roasted walnuts.  Charter made them for a few years and then just stopped.  Henry picked up the old design and is now making a slightly improved version.

Armalite, Charter, and Henry… this is a trifecta of Uncomfortable Dislike for me… As I am not fond of anyone having anything to do with this rifle.   Yet there is something about the little AR-7 that I like.  It’s very light, simple, and it does what its designed to do perfectly.  The gun its self though, is far from perfect… its sights are poor, its action is overly heavy and gritty, and its trigger… well, I have a house full of wall switches that have a better pull… Yet there is something about the collective whole of the little rifle that is most appealing.  It’s not that it is light, because it balances very awkwardly with it’s fat hollow asymmetrical stock.  It’s not that it’s cheap… you could buy a number of other .22 rifles that are more accurate and better built… just better rifles… for the same price as an AR-7.  And it’s not that I am planning on flying over Russian Wilderness on some mission that might get me shot down.  And it’s not that “It Floats”… because I was diving once in a lake and found one of these on the bottom.  (Okay, I had found an older Charter and it was filled with water… Evidently Henry has improved the Floating qualities) I’m not planning on going Kayaking with a rifle.     The AR-7 has an intangible quality to it… something I can’t quantify… but it’s there.  It’s Cool.  The AR-7 rifle is a Cool little rifle.  It’s stripped down and simple, like a rifle version of a Cafe Racer type Motorcycle.  Being Cool, the AR-7 makes no apologies for not having a forearm, good trigger, or decent sights… it doesn’t have to… because it’s Cool.

I’d love one if it had a folding stock instead of the bloated hollow stock.  And I’d love it even more if someone made a version in .22 Magnum.