Take-down 22's

[woofert]

Seeing that there isn't really a forum for this and that 22’s have been in the range reports as of late, I thought I’d post my question here.

I’m looking for a take-down 22 for backpacking. What I’d really like is some type of kit for a 10/22, but if not, than which is the better take-down 22?

Thanks,

woofert

[Optimus Prime]

Henry makes AR-7s that break down and pack into the butt stock.

http://www.henryrepeating.com/h002_survival.cfm

[Milsurp]

Marlin used to make a papoose rifle. Here's a link to one on gb http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=115059095

[k98k792]

The Henry AR-7 is a jammomatic,worst gun I have ever owned.

[Buelligan]

K, Thats a shame ,my AR7s run fine.

[nevada]

I have a Papoose and a newish AR7. The AR7 is half the weight of the Papoose. The Marlin is less ammo sensitive, both work fine with CCI mini-mag or Remington Golden Bullet. This is in my guns only. All 22s seem to have a preference for certain brands, but CCI MM seems to work in all 22s. Both of mine are more accurate than I am. The papoose comes in a soft case. The AR7 carries everything in its buttstock. The AR7 is more compact because of this. The AR7s action isn't meant to be taken apart to be cleaned, the Papoose can be. The AR7s cycling action when firing is noisy, the Papoose is smoother and quieter. I haven't shot either a lot, but my impression is that the AR7 is a true emergency rifle, and the Papoose will will last longer in general fun plinking and target shooting, since it seems to be an altered standard Marlin 22 rifle. The AR7 has a steel rifled tube inside the plastic barrel. The Papoose is an all steel barrel.

[Buelligan]

My ar7s , are OLD SCHOOL . 1 is 1960s Armalite and 1 is 1970s Charterarms . I dont like the OEM mags , but they are ok. I use Ramline 25 rounders. They seem ok. I will get some pics up in a few days or mybe NOW.

[Buelligan]

The top one is Chaterarm ,I buoght it when I was 16 in the late 70s. It was my mall Ninga gun from back in da day. I threaded it for for an AR15 flash hider , and for some weird reason it wont go all the way on now. The bottom one is a Armalite from the 60s . I bought it in 82 , I thought it was so cool and funny looking , I had to get it. Now I cant find the mags and all of the gear that I had for them. I bet my WIFE has some thing to do with this.She likes those two rifles and gets them out some time .

[nevada]

I had one from back when, all steel barrel. Darned if I can remember what happened to it. I still realy like the everything in the buttstock theme.

[Buelligan]

The Armalite has a steal barrel.

[Old Jimmy]

Marlin makes a lever action .22 that comes apart to put in a backpack .

I had a AR-7 and mine jammed all the time also.

[GearShanty]

I've always wanted an old Steven's Favorite take-down in .22lr.

Savage makes them now, but they're just not the same to me.
http://www.savagearms.com/30gtd.htm

For about the same price, you can find an original one, but it will most likely show about 70-80 years of wear.

[Buelligan]

I think its hit or miss with the AR7. My X girle friend bought one in the lat 70s too , and hers was fine like mine. DAG I gave Her an M38 CARCANO too . Man that thing was cool. Oh well I paid $20 bucs for it at a gun show, WHAT EVER.

[Buelligan]

OH this is the trick I do to all of my AR7s. I stretch the recoil springs all most to a1/4 inch, then I use a garden hose rubber washer in side the barrel nut. This keeps it from cycling to fast, witch will jam it up, the washer keeps the barrel tight . Mine would get lose real fast. I all ways wanted a lighter hammer spring, but never got one. I tryed to slick up the trigger and hammer contacts, but that just made it go full auto (that was fun) so i welded them and filed them back to spec. ATF GUY, its not full auto any more that was an mistake that I will never do again, SORRY please forgive me.Thank you sir now I can sleep at night.

[amd65]

I have owned a couple Charter AR-7's, and they have all been great. I currently have an AR-7 rifle, and the Explorer II pistol version they made for a while. Picked up both cheap years ago. Another great Gene Stoner design. Originally, they were 22Hornet, and bolt repeater, but looked just like the AR-7.
Another option would be the Chinese knock off of the Browning 22 byATD.

[bigbear77]

I'm a backpacker, too, and tried the AR-7 route. What a POS that thing turned out to be. Nothing I tried would make it feed reliably -- which is pretty much the point of a survival gun, don't you think? I would have thrown it in a lake but the dumb thing floats...

Finally ended up taking a 10/22 and adding a folding Ram-Line stock (the light one with no internal metal frame) and replacing the heavy factory steel barrel with a Butler Creek carbon fiber barrel. Very light, compact, and fairly weather resistant. I'm now a very happy camper! (You saw that one coming, right? :wink:)

[okie shooter]

Not quite survival, but the breakdown norincos/brownings would work in a pinch as a take down backpacking rifle too.

[jfowl31]

I had a 10/22 with a Butler Creek stock I think that had a button you pushed on the end of the stock, and it would fold in half, unlocking the barrel so you could swap barrels with ease. I shot 17 mach 2 or 22lr depending on what my mood was.

With this stock and a carbon fiber bull barrel, you'll have a match grade survival rifle that you can buy tons of 50 round mags to load up and keep with you. The Magnum Research 17 mach 2 barrel I had would shoot MOA all day out to 100 yards. I killed more animals with that rifle than any other I've ever owned............... traded it for a pistol and have regretted it ever since. It sat at McBrides Guns for a long time..... don't have a clue if they ever sold it. I had well over $1K put into it..... Only stock piece was the receiver.

But back to the question, a base model 10/22 and a quick change stock would be the best survival 22 in my eyes... all the others are too finicky for me to want as a backpacking/survival rifle.

[jfowl31]

Here ya go.... start with a BASE model 10/22 and then buy this... http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/857626

Then you'll be EXTREMELY light weight, with the ability to detach the barrel and fit the rifle in a backpack, AND get Ruger 10/22 reliability and accessories.......... Makes me want to go buy a new 10/22






BUT, my new favorite 22 rifle which is basically what you are looking for is a Walther G22. Its a bullpup, so its already really short. Really accurate, and points better than any other 22 IMO. Downsides are that its only got 10 round mags, and its on the heavy side.

[cz759]

Bought the Armalite/Fairchild 30 years ago from a guy that needed to liquidate some stock, paid a whoping $25.00. Still have it, I think. Very light, accurate and the darn thing will float. Never had a problem. WHy a .22 cal? for SURVIVAL look into the Kel-Tec foldong .223 a little more expensive, but a lot more bang for the bucks
Good luck:rolleyes: