The Takedown Dilemma: Henry, Ruger or Marlin?

By The Maj

When it comes to anything labeled “Survival”, the market place has been experiencing a bit of a boom as of late.  When the market place couples “Survival” with “Firearm”, the boom seems to go nuclear in an instant.  Such has been the case with many of the less expensive takedown rifles in the market place.  Much of the fervor surrounding such firearms can be attributed to the overall firearms and ammunition scare that has been ongoing since Obama was reelected and further fueled by the gun debate that followed the tragedy in Newtown.  Give these compact firearms a perceived niche in the survival/prepping world and it creates a backorder nightmare for those interested in acquiring one.

The concept of the takedown rifle has been around for a very long time.  Early designs date back to the 1800’s and were primarily marketed for hunters and sportsmen utilizing public transportation to reach their destination(s).  Naturally, if you were boarding a train or ship and you did not want the other passengers to know you were packing a rifle, a takedown was the way to go.  As with most other firearms, changes in the market place and everyday life made the necessity of a takedown rifle less prevalent and many models faded into obscure or military applications.  For many years the military drove the manufacture and design of these compact, storable rifles primarily for use as aircrew survival weapons.

Their popularity has never been higher than it is today.  I am certain that some of it is the “cool” factor and even some can be attributed to functionality or specific need.  There are many advantages for a takedown rifle for prepping and the most obvious is their ability to be taken apart and stowed in an inconspicuous manner.  The more popular brands weigh in at 4.7 pounds or less, broken down they range from 18.5 inches to 16.25 inches in length, and fully assembled  they range from 37 to 35 inches in length.  Regardless of the specifications and advantages, many are flocking out to snatch them off the shelves as soon as they hit the local FFL.

The question is, is a takedown rifle what you need for your own unique situation?

I spent all day this past Saturday on the range putting the Henry US Survival Rifle, Ruger 10/22 Takedown, and Marlin 70PSS through their paces.  These are the three most popular takedown rifles on the market today and what I found might help you to answer whether you need to add one to your inventory or not.

Henry US Survival Rifle, AR-7:

Henry AR7 US Survival Rifle

Leave it to Henry Rifles to take a design and improve upon it.  The AR-7 was the civilian version of an Air Force survival rifle designed by Eugene Stoner, which Henry acquired the rights to circa 2007.  As you can see from the picture, the rifle disassembles and fits into its own buttstock which is “water resistant” (Henry claims it will float and it may but don’t bet on it).

Fully disassembled and stowed in the butt-stock, this rifle is 16.5 inches long, weighs 3.5 pounds, and there is room in the butt-stock for two 8 round magazines.  The stock is ABS plastic, the barrel and receiver are Teflon coated, and assembly is no trouble for anyone remotely familiar with firearms.  The receiver is slotted to accept optics (even though there is nowhere in the stock to store them), and the rifle is equipped with adjustable rear peep and fixed post front sites. The Henry AR-7 is chambered in .22LR and what you see is what you get.  At first glance, this is the perfect BOB or throw in the trunk of the car rifle.

On the range, the first thing I noticed “odd” about the AR-7 is that the stock fits funny and seems to be offset somewhat.  This did not affect the overall performance of the rifle, but it was the first thing that struck me when I sighted down the rifle.  I ran 50 rounds of Remington Thunderbolt ammo down the barrel to warm the rifle up without incident, then proceeded to fire another 300 rounds of Thunderbolt ammo through it.  Out of 350 rounds, I had zero FTF and 3 FTE or mis-feeds.  One of the mis-feeds can be attributed to operator error because I put pressure back on the magazine which caused the round to hang up.  An important note here, the magazines do not have a bottom plate, so they cannot be easily cleaned and the top of the magazine is actually the feed rail for the receiver so rough handling of the magazine could cause you some significant issues.

Accuracy of the AR-7 was about as I expected.  At 25 yards, the rifle is good for roughly a 50 cent piece, which is good enough to get you dinner.  At 35 yards, it provides 12 oz soda can accuracy and at 50 yards you will be within an 8 ½ x 11 inch piece of paper consistently.  So, out of the box, the AR-7 is not a tack driver but would you really expect to be able to drive tacks with a rifle you can stow in its own butt-stock?

What about options you say?  Well, the AR-7 is a meat and potatoes takedown rifle.  It is available in camo and extra magazines are available on the market but I could not locate or even see how any aftermarket add-ons would be available.  The slotted receiver does provide options for adding optics but you will have to plan for storage of the optics in the stowed position.  Overall, the AR-7 performed about as I expected.  Accuracy was not great but it would get you by in a pinch, the storage in the “water resistant” butt-stock is a nice twist and make packing in the BOB easier, and with an MSRP of $280.00, you can pick one up at most gun stores for $250.00 or less.

Ruger 10/22 Takedown:

Ruger 10-22 Takedown

Ruger capitalized on the popularity of one of their best platforms and turned it into a takedown rifle.  Since its debut, this has been a hard firearm to find because people have been scooping them up faster than Ruger can make them.  Who can blame them?  Most shooting enthusiasts have had a 10/22 in their collection for years, so the natural next step is to acquire a takedown for their collection.  As the name would state this rifle breaks down into two pieces and reassembles without the use of any special tools.

Fully assembled, the Ruger 10/22 Takedown is 36.75 inches when equipped with the 16.6 inch barrel and 37 inches when equipped with the 18.5  inch barrel.  Yes, in true Ruger fashion, you have the option of a standard barrel or tactical barrel which is threaded and finished off with a flash suppressor.  Broken down, the maximum length on the rifle is roughly 20 inches and it can be stored in a backpack style case.  The empty weight on the rifle is 4.67 pounds.

The case is well constructed (although I am not crazy about the red, Ruger eagle on the outside of it), zips open to store the receiver and barrel in separate compartments and has an extra barrel or scope sleeve.  There are also extra pockets on the outside of the case for extra magazines and ammunition.  With some ingenuity, the case can be externally mounted to most bugout bags.

The Takedown is available in black synthetic stock and stainless or alloy barrel, but you will see other production models out there with a camo stock (many of these were dealer models early on, which I suspect will become available as production increases).  The Takedown accepts the standard 10/22, 10-round magazines as well as many of  the aftermarket high capacity magazines, which is a huge plus in my book.  The sights are standard flip, adjustable rear and fixed post front.  The receiver is tapped to accept a scope base and with a compact scope attached the barrel will still fit in the carrying case when disassembled.  Coming in at just under 5 pounds, 4.67 to be exact, the Takedown is not the lightest of the most popular takedown style rifles, but it is a manageable weight.

At the firing line, I was comforted by the fact that the 10/22 Takedown had the same feel as the 10/22 I have had in the safe for years, even complete with the “squishy” trigger common to the 10/22.  I ran 350 rounds of Remington Thunderbolt through it (50 warm-up / 300 evaluation) and the Takedown performed flawlessly with each round using the standard Ruger 10-round magazine.  I then ran another 50 rounds through it using aftermarket 25-round magazines and the results were the same.

Accuracy for the 10/22 Takedown was great for a takedown rifle with iron sights.  At 25 yards it held a quarter, at 35 yards it was between a quarter and 50 cent piece, and at 50 yards I managed to keep everything on a Post-It Note.  With optics, I would reasonably expect it to drive tacks at 50 yards.  Also, between the 10-round magazines and start of the 25 round magazines, I disassembled the Takedown and reassembled it to see if there would be any affect on accuracy – there was not.

Options?  Well, it is a Ruger 10/22 and you can bet the aftermarket guys are already gearing up for production of stocks and other items to complement the Takedown.  Most of the modifications I have seen to this point have been custom jobs on existing 10/22 stocks but I have seen some Takedowns fitted with folding/collapsible stocks already.  Also, since the receiver accepts the standard 10/22 magazine, there is already a whole host of aftermarket magazines available.  Overall, the Ruger 10/22 Takedown performed better than I expected from a takedown rifle.  Accuracy was what I would expect out of a standard 10/22, the case offers nice storage options for the rifle and accessories (even though I wish Ruger would make the subdued versions more readily available), and the options already available, as well as those sure to come, give it a big thumbs up from me.  MSRP for the Standard Ruger 10/22 Takedown is $399.00 ($419.00 for the “Tactical” Model), which means it will probably run you around $350.00 once the buying craze begins to calm down.

Marlin 70PSS:

Marlin 70PSS

I can remember the first time that I laid eyes on the Marlin Papoose series of rifles and I got my first 70P for Christmas in the early 80’s.  I have no idea how many thousands of rounds I have put down range in that old 70P but my son still shoots it to this day.  Most in that series of rifles fell by the wayside over time, but the Model 70PSS still remains in Marlin’s inventory.

Similar to the Ruger Takedown, the Marlin 70PSS breaks down into a barrel and receiver.  While the 70PSS goes together easier than the other two models mentioned above, it does require a barrel wrench to tighten the ring on the barrel to the receiver.  Overall length of the 70PSS fully assembled is 35.25 inches, it is equipped with a 16.25 inch stainless barrel, and the length disassembled comes in at 19 inches.

The 70PSS does come with a floating, Cordura case with storage for the barrel, receiver, optics, and wrench but the case is nowhere near “tactical” in nature.  Also, there is not a lot of extra room for extra magazines or ammunition.  The case is functional as a store in the vehicle or boat case, but a secondary case would have to be identified for attachment to the BOB.

The stock for the 70PSS is a black, fiberglass filled, synthetic stock.  Magazine options include a 7-round and 10-round factory magazines.  Also, since the 70P utilizes the same magazine as the Marlin 795, there are high capacity, aftermarket magazines available for them.  The sights are standard dovetail with fixed front post and the receiver is slotted to accept some optics.  Overall weight of the 70PSS is 3.25 pounds, making it the lightest of the three takedown rifles in this category.

Having shot the 70P for years (wood stock) the awkwardness created by the lack of a forearm grip was no surprise to me, but most people will find it awkward the first time they pick it up.  Also, the trigger is a stiff trigger but it is common for rifles of this type.  After 50 warm up rounds of Remington Thunderbolt down the barrel, I ran another 300 through it utilizing 7-round factory magazines.  Out of those 350 rounds, I encountered 2-FTF and 4-FTE.  I then disassembled the rifle, reassembled it, and ran another 50 rounds through the 70PSS utilizing 25-round aftermarket magazines.  Utilizing the 25-round magazines, I experienced 7-FTE/mis-feeds.

Accuracy for the 70PSS was decent utilizing iron sights and produced 50 cent piece accuracy at 25 and 35 yards, while dropping to post card accuracy at 50 yards.  Having owned the 70P for many years and topping it with optics, I can say Marlin did not improve on the grooves on the 70PSS over time and you can expect to have to have some custom work done if you want to mount quality optics that will remain in place on the grooves.  Optics are an option though.

The Marlin 70PSS does have options for higher capacity magazines but the quality of the aftermarket magazines are nowhere near the quality of Ruger aftermarket magazines.  After magazines, there are not a lot of options available without some custom work, which I have seen.  Overall, the 70PSS is functional and accurate enough to be considered as a viable option for a takedown rifle in a survival situation.  If you have never fired a 70PSS, do not expect for it to fit like a glove the first time you shoulder it and I really wish Marlin would consider making some changes to their case to make it more “tactical” in nature.  MSRP for the Marlin 70PSS is in the $290.00 range which means you should be able to find one priced between $250.00 and $260.00.

Now, before you run out and buy one of these rifles, take the time to determine if this is something that actually fits your prepping strategy and plans.  All of these rifles serve a purpose and they are all chambered in .22LR so there are limitations to their use and functionality.  Also, do some research and read some more detailed reviews where people have taken the time to run different types of ammunition through them and “dirty” them up while putting them through their paces.  My range time and ammunition allotment was limited this weekend, so I do not have a recommendation on which rifle is “best” but “best” to me may not be “best” for you.  Personally, I like them all and can see practical applications for each.

 

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    • Tolik on August 17, 2013 at 3:36 PM
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    How about a mini 30 , better than all 3 of them , just as small , 7.62×39 is a good mid range cartridge . Not too weak , not overly powerful either . Ammo is cheap , even now , and at times actually easier to get than .22 . Plus , you and I both know that most people will get stuck in an urban area no matter how much they say they are a rural. Thats where the 7.62×39 will be of much more use , even if I was a downed pilot in the middle of the forrest , I would still rather have an AR, AK or a mini . 22 may feed you , but they are lacking in the protection department . Thats why military pilots have side arms . I would think that if you want the best of both worlds , than a .22 anything is not what you need , although it is better than just a knife .

      • The Maj on August 19, 2013 at 10:53 AM
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      The Mini-30 is a much different platform than the takedown rifles detailed here and it is not “just as small”, even when equipped with a folding stock. Now, on the same note, you will not hear me advocate for the .22LR as a defensive round but at the same time, the .22LR does have a place in the discussion of overall “survival” firearms – hence the popularity of the takedowns that has been occurring.

      The same arguments that you have made could translate to most AR platforms when comparing them to any of these takedowns and the defensive limitations of the .22LR. However, the takedowns offer options for many preppers where it may be more practical to keep a firearm in their vehicle, cache it for bugout use, or simply include it in their bugout bag.

        • Tolik on August 19, 2013 at 8:36 PM
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        Youtube , the AM15 , that is a defensive .22 , unfortunately , you will go through your ammo pile real fast ………but you will saturate the area lol .

        • Tolik on August 19, 2013 at 8:41 PM
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        I have a mini 30 , its fun . It does have a folding stock , one thing that I do is put it in a fishing rod tube , people see that and dont freak out ( or snitch ) made sure it has a big Zebco emblem on it as well as other fishing stickers . If I use the big pack , It fits in it fine without a disguise .

          • PJ on August 20, 2013 at 8:00 AM
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          The mini 30 is a nice platform, but given the choice I’d rather have the mini 14 because of the ability to shoot the same ammo than an AR15 fires. Affordable weapon with tons of upgrades available.

            • Tolik on August 20, 2013 at 12:14 PM

            That is true , I just dont like the.223 . The British have been trying to get us to switch to the 8mm , which is a far superior round for years .

        • Tom on June 26, 2016 at 3:39 PM
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        What about the Nemesis Arms Vanquish, multi-cal? A bit pricey but great on the breakdown and stopping power.

    • The Maj on August 21, 2013 at 8:30 AM
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    I am not a fan of the .223 either but you are entering the realm of personal preference here. Selecting a platform and/or a caliber comes down to the individual comfort and needs of each prepper. I can sit here all day and argue that 7.62×51 / .308 is far superior to anything else out there and someone will present just as valid arguments for .223, 7.62×39, 7.62×25, 7.62×54, etc, etc. for their choice of platforms.

    I am a long distance and stopping power type of person, hence my preference for 7.62×51 in my primary platform. I trade several things for making that choice including: heavier platform, ability to carry less ammo, less ammo available for scavenging (since it is less popular than others) and generally more expensive ammo to name a few. I understand those trade offs and get in return: a proven 1,000 meter cartridge, a more durable platform, a round capable of substantial penetration and stopping power, and readily available reloading components because of its popularity as a sporting round.

    In the end, it all boils down to what you need, what you are comfortable with, your budget, and a whole host of other factors that are unique to you. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the “perfect platform” and “perfect caliber” that is a one size fits all when it comes to selecting a platform.

    • John on September 6, 2013 at 8:08 PM
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    Weight. When your talking about walking away OR back home, weight x distance x whatever your comfortable shooting x will it feed me? Should be a decent formula for your pack rifle. Many people will tout different platforms and calibers. It all boils down to what you want.
    Me? I’m okay with. 22. Been feeding my family with it for ages. Ammos cheap, usually, and lightweight. I’ll take the Ruger takedown just for reliability alone. One rifle I would like to have seen in this review is the RAV. 22 backpacker model. It’s one I’ve been considering for awhile. Has anyone tried one? I’d be interested in what you thought of it.

      • PJ on September 9, 2013 at 11:06 PM
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      John,

      Glad you like the Ruger takedown, I do too!

    • Johnny on October 22, 2013 at 4:03 PM
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    The Henry is a good SHTF rifle just from the stand point of portability… the Ruger is more accurate but heavier and larger. The fact that the Henry components stows in the butt stock, makes it the perfect backpack rifle…

    • aylex on December 13, 2013 at 4:13 AM
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    I thought the .22 round is actually a good defensive bullet (at shorter ranges) because it lacks the velocity to over penetrate and therefore travels around inside the body causing internal damage..

    • The Maj on December 13, 2013 at 12:06 PM
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    Johnny: must have missed your comment earlier. You are correct, the Henry probably does win out on “portability” and “stow ability” over the other rifles I mentioned in this review. Your trade off would be on accuracy. As for me, I own all three and the Ruger is attached to my Bugout bag today. I found some surplus communication bags that work well for storing the Henry (with optics, ammo, and magazines) and work better than the bag provided by Marlin for the 70PSS. The Henry is attached to my daughter’s Bugout bag and the 70PSS is attached to my son’s (primarily because of his familiarity with my old 70P). All are considered to be secondary or backup platforms but my children’s sidearms are 22LR as well for two reasons – at their age, it is the best fit for them and it allows for duplication of ammo for the platforms. In the end it all comes down to what works for you and yours.

    Aylex: The argument surrounding the 22LR has raged for years. It is definitely a round that can be utilized for defensive purposes but it takes a well placed shot to be truly effective on a human target. Its characteristics do lend itself to “bounce around” causing internal damage in some cases but it may be a slow process when seconds count. On the same note arguments for the 22LR as a “survival” round tend to hold more merit in the portability of the ammo and overall versatility of the round itself.

    • Merle on December 15, 2013 at 3:01 PM
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    I believe in the .22LR round. With good ammo I regularly shoot my Ruger Mark 2 pistol with 2.5×8 power scope 300 yards with 4.5 inch groups. Its quiet and will kill about anything at closer ranges.

    1. Raising the BS flag on this one, unless your name is Jerry Miculek!!!

      22LR lacks consistency for 300 yard shots, no matter how good the shooter is.
      Can one hit at 300 yards with 22LR? Yes
      Can anyone post s 4.5″ group of 3 or 5 shots @300 yards w/22LR?
      That is the BS part!

        • Ron on May 7, 2017 at 9:55 PM
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        Totally agree, posting 4.5 inch grouping at 300 yards with 22 pistol is putting my BS Flag in the air. You need to be on TV with that shooting.

    • JAFO on July 6, 2014 at 11:49 PM
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    A simple Glock .40 is all you need. Along with an AR-15. You can also use a sling with the AR.

    Most US Soldiers use an AR with their gear bag and get along fine. I’m a survival expert and I did 2 tours in Iraq with blackwater. I was also in Force Recon in the 1990s. I did a tour in Bosnia as well.

    Anyways, we had provisions the live off the land for weeks until rescue. And we carried AR-15s, with night vision and our bags with no problems.

    Bugout bags are a joke and they slow you down. People are now doing this as a hobby in case of a zombie invasion, no matter how stupid that sounds, lol. Most of these packers are children as well. You don’t need all of that.

    A small army survival kit is all you need, along with a good knife, weapon, can, map, compass, and backpack. Oh yeah, the most important thing: A knife, can, and paracord. Lots of freaking paracord. I’m talking about as much paracord as you can carry. Out in the fields of bosnia, we used paracord like crazy in the field. You can even use paracord for fishing, camp, and hunting.

    • RIP on August 1, 2014 at 12:27 AM
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    JAFO, What Ranger Class were you in when did you attend HALO/HAHO? What years with Black Water wear at? Where did you attend dive school? Mr. Force Recon

      • Jeff on May 11, 2015 at 11:19 PM
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      I see JAFO never came back to discuss his service / training record. What a surprise 🙂

        • FullSpectrumSurvivalist on August 26, 2015 at 7:57 PM
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        Yea, Survival Expert my ass, I am one, and he don’t have a clue. Surviving a few weeks with supplies is not how it works, years with whit what you are packing and can fabricate in the field is what real Survival Experts think in.

    • RIP on August 1, 2014 at 12:30 AM
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    The Henry is an outstanding choice, one that few if any will be disappointed in.

  1. Very Good Article!
    I have seen the Henry for around $230
    But that was last year…

    • RugerFan on January 14, 2015 at 5:58 PM
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    I think many have missed the point of this article. It is not to discuss what is the best bug-out rifle or what caliber stops the best. It is a simple comparison of three take-down rifles, showing their different strengths and weaknesses for those who are interested in buying one. The Ruger take-down suits my needs the best, and I had already bought one before I had seen this article. As an owner of a regular 10/22, most of my magazines and other accessories fit, and I like the fact that when it is assembled, it feels like a ‘normal’ rifle. I can see the attraction of the small size of the Henry, and the light weight of the Marlin, but those are less important items to me. Any of the three are a good choice for what they are: 22LR rifles that can be disassembled and carried in a small space.

  2. thanks for the article. I’m considering the henry but comparison was sure appreciated
    .

    • Evan on March 21, 2015 at 2:18 PM
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    Great article, and all are great rifles each with their own pros and cons. It’s just personal preference, but the ar7 still appeals to me, however from what I have read, charter arms’ version is the one to avoid…

    • Evan on March 21, 2015 at 2:20 PM
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    Sorry, with armalite and Henry making good versions of the ar7

    • Kelly on March 23, 2015 at 9:36 PM
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    bauer 410/22
    Funky looking heavy but very accurate 75 -100 yards
    Or stinger up close
    The Rabbit

  3. Great article! The Marlin, the Ruger and the Henry are all great rifles. The main problem we’ve encountered with the Marlin Papoose was a lack of after-market parts and in particular a free float forearm handguard.

    At Ranger Point Precision, we specialize in Marlin rifle custom-builds and parts first and foremost. For the Papoose, we just launched a modular set of 3 parts (set under $150) that are compatible with 70P and 70PSS. They include: a free float handguard (similar to an AR-15) that also replaces the takedown nut for tool-less assembly and disassembly, an indexing accessory collar, and picatinny rails for the collar for attaching lights, lasers, optics and studs for two-point slings.

    Hoping these parts help make the Marlin Papoose even more appealing!

    • axelsteve on June 8, 2015 at 4:21 PM
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    I would go with the papose iether stainless or blued. I will stick with the marlin platform rather the Ruger or Henry . I am not worried about aftermarket parts. If you want a shooter get a Marlin, if you want an erector set (people born after mtv will not get the reference. Get a ruger. if you want a gun that for a fishing lure, get a Henry. I can mount a scope and trick out the trigger on a Marlin.

      • Resting-B-Face on June 29, 2016 at 11:21 AM
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      Born WAY after MTV…I’m entirely aware of what an erector set is 😂
      (29 year old female with two rare, complete, erector sets….we’re not all mindless goons!)

      Shooting with the Henry BTW…petite size fits my petite frame and packs small/light with sidearm .380 for my many solo backcountry hicking/bushcraft trips.

      Lots of weirdos in state parks or trails miles away from help and I’m not going to kindly ask you to “please stop”…rather shoot or slash THEN call the park ranger if ever the need arises.

        • Lee Handschin on July 31, 2017 at 3:09 AM
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        Dear RBF,
        I am going to be bush camping in Florida in the next two weeks for a couple months. Probably in the Ocala National Forest. I’m hoping to live off the land. Any ideas or suggestions?
        Thanks, Lee

    • Scouser on June 23, 2015 at 2:22 PM
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    Ruger 10/22 in the backpack
    .40 Cal on my hip
    .380 on my ankle
    AR 15 attached to my Bicycle which is in the back of my truck (second AR 15 inside the truck)
    12 GA Shotgun with Bird Shot in the truck
    Water Filter (Sawyer Products good for 1,000,000 gallons at Wal Mart)
    Pot to cook in and eat from.
    Cup to drink from
    Spork to eat with
    Ka-Bar knife to cut wood, skin an animal, protection if it really comes down to it.
    Lots of Paracord.

    Hide and not engage. If the truck dies I take the Bike. If the bike dies I walk.
    The last thing I have is the .40 and 10/22, all the rest are disposable as the situation declines.

    I don’t need to shoot 1000 yards, that gives away my position and attracts a firefight that I don’t want.

    I don’t want a ton of weight to carry around. I will hunt as long as the ammo lasts, I will fish using the Paracord as line. I will use local vegetation, I will eat bugs if I have too. I learned to trap and so did my family.

    I will formulate a plan to kill everyone I meet (only in a SHTF situation, I’m not crazy)

    At the end of the day, everything will run out, you can’t take enough to last forever. You can take tools that will help you survive and live a long life. The tools must be the best, don’t go cheap. A good quality Backpack is necessary and some thread to repair it. Small and light. I am prepared to lose it all. Your best tool is knowledge and training.

    • jhorien on June 24, 2015 at 7:14 PM
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    how much this survival air gun

    • Patrick Hall on July 19, 2015 at 12:13 AM
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    One thing to consider with a survival weapon is how loud the report of each caliber is. A .22 lr is much quieter than any of the other rounds mentioned, and is available in subsonic rounds. This could be a major consideration in a survival situation.

    • leavenosign on October 10, 2015 at 2:24 PM
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    Simply said, my shtf kit is between my ears and my k-bar is on my hip. Anything else, I can take from mother earth,,, or you, if you approach.

    • Roger on October 11, 2015 at 11:04 PM
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    I have an 10/22 with a folding stock, 2- BX25 mags, it’s a fun gun to shoot! I keep my Henry AR7 in my ALICE pack because it fits there so well. Neither is perfect, but for a SHTF situation I would take the AR-7 because it is so compact. I really wish Henry would make an up-graded version with a longer (22″) barrel, double peep sight, maybe .22 mag. version (which will shoot .22LR), and perhaps most important, a larger (wider) butt stock to allow you to carry more ammo internally as well as a small knife and ferro rod/lighter, finally, make the butt cap out of stainless steel and deeper so you have a container to boil water in, with a rubber O-ring to provide a better water-tight seal! Basically, a mini survival kit in one! Good Luck!

    • Susan on November 2, 2015 at 7:14 AM
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    Thanks for the review. I tested a Ruger 10/22 takedown today and think I’ll go back and get it in the morning.

  4. I’ve owned both the Henry and Marlin takedowns. The Henry is made of plastic and the receiver begins to get sloppy over time where it screws into the stock. All in all a good shooter.
    I still own the Marlin “Papoose” and enjoy it. It’s very reliable. I’ve purchased 10 rd and 25 rd magazines for it. The 25 rd mag fails to keep the bolt open when emptied, but otherwise a nice addition to the survival gun. I keep about 5 mags with it under the front seat of the Bronco for whenever…

    • Chaz McCabe on February 18, 2017 at 1:52 AM
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    Scouser: I suggest when you abandon your two AR15’s and your shotgun, that you disable them, so they don’t come back and KILL you!!! MR, EXPERT

    • HoosierHunter on March 2, 2017 at 7:25 AM
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    My choice would be a Ruger charger over either of the other two. While the reflex accuracy of a rifle is much better than the charger, the weight, size, and rested accuracy of the charger is fantastic. I use an original series (non-AR grip) version for squirrel and raccoon hunting in northern Indiana swamps/dense brush. With a rifle (Marlin Model 60), I was constantly cursing when the barrel or stock would get snagged. I then acquired a MK3 hunter and although conventional pistol accuracy was good, it doesn’t compare to the Charger. The other issue was noise. The MK3 is loud for a 22LR. Although the Charger is louder than a rifle, it still is much more quiet than a pistol. For me, if I had one 22LR gun to take when SHTF, it would be my charger and pockets full of ammo.

    • TJ on July 6, 2017 at 9:34 AM
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    I had an uncle who was a ‘junk man’ back in the eighties.He found a rifle like this on one of his junk runs and thought it was interesting but had no use for it so he gave it to me.
    It was green and missing the barrel. Would it have been a Henry? I’ve moved too many times to remember since then and lost it somewhere along the way.
    I wish I’d been able to hang onto it.

    • Jim on July 19, 2017 at 12:34 AM
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    I was really surprised Maj when you said “the 70PSS goes together easier than the other two models” and immediately followed up by describing the Marlin requires a wrench to attach the barrel. I have the Ruger 10-22 Takedown Tactical and it could not be easier to attach the barrel. Just slide the barrel into the receiver and give it a 1/4 turn twist. Done! Like you said Maj, I found the 10-22 Takedown is pretty much as accurate as my standard 10-22, which is a beautiful camo/stainless model BTW.

    Marlin’s need for a wrench makes it many times more difficult to put together IMO. The case for the Ruger 10-22 Takedown is quite nice. I have a nice Redfield Battlezone TAC-22 2-7x on it and it all fits perfectly into the case along with an AAC Prodigy Suppressor & more magazines and ammo than you would ever need to carry. I’ve used it to feed myself and my son out in the wilderness and between the discrete case and the suppressor very little attention is drawn to us even when we take down a moose very near civilization. Did I say moose? I meant mouse. 🙂

    • Markd on July 30, 2017 at 8:55 PM
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    Prefer the tnw Aero survival rifle the 10mm out to 100yrds has similar ballistics as a 30-30 using glock mags whats not to like.

    • Outlaw Telegraph Operator on August 26, 2017 at 5:07 PM
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    Who says you must use a wrench with the marlin 70p papoose? I just use my fingers…also have a short piece of pipe insulation for forearm…distributes pressure on barrel and very lightweight and accurate!

    • HERBERT VANEY on September 13, 2017 at 6:59 PM
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    WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE BROWNING TAKE DOWN .22 LR. BEING OLD SCHOOL I DO LIKE THE NICE WALNUT STOCK. CANNOT STAND POLYMAR.
    ALSO LOOKIG AT A TAKE DOWN INSTEAD OF BOLT ACTION DUE SORE BICEPS/SHOULDERS.
    THANKS.
    P.S. COULD I POSSIBLY GET ONE OF THE DISCONTINUED ONES, WHICH I PREFER.

    1. DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE IS REQUIRED FROM ME?

  5. Nice site.. enjoyable reading.

    • David Eugene Swiger on November 11, 2017 at 11:27 AM
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    I now have my second AR-7 and enjoy it even more than the first. I don’t hunt but for a small effective home weapon or something to get rid of small pest, it is perfect. Not to mention, it is very easy to use for target practice and/or teaching my family to shoot.

    • Jimmie Burleigh on November 25, 2017 at 3:46 PM
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    I had a Henry style ar 7 style rifle. Just like the henry it was fully contained in stock and floated but it was called a papoose

    Anyone knows this gun and who made it.
    Thought it was marlin but from what I seen only barrel comes off it doesn’t all self contain and float

    • Chaz McRae on March 2, 2018 at 10:55 AM
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    It seems like every time a review of .22 guns for “survival” situations is made, all of the “experts” come flying in to tell everyone about how easy it is to carry a backpack-mounted electric- powered 7.62mm Gatling Gun (like in the movie Predator) “So why would you want pipsqueak .22?” if you’re a REAL man?”

    Or we get the “All I need is this heah Ka-Bar and Imma gonna TAKE all YOUR stuff with it ‘cuz Imma BLADE MAN!” crappola commando types.

    • Rodney Sanchez on December 16, 2018 at 11:07 PM
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    The fist time I saw the take down rifel was in a James Bond 007 movie. It seamed to be greatly suited for the secret agent gendre. I guess that’s why I got one and I keep it my airplane for the survival utilization aspect of it.

    • Harvey on February 15, 2019 at 6:55 PM
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    I am constantly amazed that the best
    22 takedown of them all,and the oldest is never even mentioned.it is a little pricey….the Browning.very light,takes a couple of seconds to take down,perfect.my brother got his in the early 60s.I have two 10 22s they are alright but not th quality of the bar

    • TERRY Thompson on August 18, 2019 at 12:46 AM
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    Also there is a ROSSI that has 2 barrels 22LR and 410or 12 gage

    • Lee on March 9, 2020 at 4:08 AM
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    I’ve had two of the Charter Arms guns. One of the takedown Ar-7 & one of the pistol version. They were both jam-o-matics with TERRIBLE triggers & POOR accuracy. I do hear that the Henry rifle has been improved & maybe I might someday try one. The problem with that is that I am so satisfied with my Rossi copy of the old Winchester takedown pump rifle.

    • Stuart Scott on May 24, 2020 at 3:14 PM
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    I have had a Marlin model 70P since about 1990 or so. Got it on sale at Walmart for $60.00. I’ve put many thousands of rounds through it with almost zero issues. It has proven itself as a reliable and accurate rifle, I’ve taken many squirrels with it out to 50-60 yards. I’ve had various optical sights and it currently is wearing a red dot sight. Backpacking rifle?, check, farm truck rifle?, check, fun plinking rifle? check, training rifle for kids? check. As you may guess I love this little rifle.

    • Boomer Taylor on August 14, 2020 at 11:51 PM
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    I own a first generation Henry Survival. It only holds two magazines but this is not a gun you’re going to war with.
    On the plus side (baring in mind that I have not shot a new version), considering the platform, it is very accurate. If you put it together tightly and learn to properly “marry up” to the rifle, i can punch out a silver dollar circle at 25yds, all day long.
    The 10/22 may be able to be more readily accessorized and accurized but… It doesn’t float. The action and barrel don’t fit inside the stock, it has to have a case/pack/bag of some sort to facilitate its cary and, comparatively, it weighs a ton.
    You can fit a scope to it but you really don’t need one for the intended use and effective range of operation. It’s good to 100yds but, mostly, you’re going for rabbits, squirrels and birds at 75yrds. and under. But you can hit printer paper (well, I can) at 100yds. with no problem. Of course, the ammo you use has something to do with it, too. It will eat Thunderbolt all day long and, thanks to a reasonably light recoil/action, it doesn’t really have a brand it doesn’t like.
    Asking “which is the best rifle” is completely subjective. It depends upon your needs. But, for a lightweight, self-contained, durable, weather resistant, acceptably accurate rifle that lends itself to being tossed under the seat of a vehicle or a lightweight backpack, the an AR-7 has always been a good choice. (It does float, butt-end up, like a cork.)

      • Winfred Brown on September 4, 2020 at 6:17 PM
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      My first rifle was one of these AR-7’s. I had a 4X scope and for a gun that screws together it was extremely accurate. Took many squirrel and rabbit with it. Also made for a great gun to check my trap line as a kid.

    • Gary Vee Burns on September 10, 2020 at 4:39 PM
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    I have the Henry AR-7 and two Ruger Takedowns. I carry an extra loaded magazine stored in the AR-7’s receiver, naturally you cannot chamber a round without the barrel installed. I remove the magazine when installing the barrel, then re-insert the magazine. so I carry three loaded magazines in the buttstock with the rifle disassembled.

    I replaced the stock trigger on the original Ruger (Black Nylon Stock, Stainless Steel metal parts) with the improver Ruger BX Trigger. Noticeable improvement, still a bit mushy though. My second Ruger takedown (Strait wood stock, blued metal) will get a Powder River Precision Trigger, but I have not done that yet.

    Everyone has different Ideas, My Bugout bag has a Kel-tech PMR30, 22 Magnum pistol with two spare magazines and 200 more rounds of ammo, also a Sub 2000 9 MM that uses Glock magazines plenty of +P ammo.

    I plan to carry a AR-10 and M&P40C

    • perry rothenberg on September 28, 2020 at 12:19 PM
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    Problem was NY City forced me to surrender my AR-7 even though it is a minimal power rifle. Very disappointing.

    • Louie on October 9, 2020 at 6:07 PM
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    I see nothing about the Marlin take-down.Ido know that Marlin magazines fit the AR-7.

    • Claire Virga on November 1, 2020 at 11:12 AM
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    Sole purpose of a gun is to kill. Have you decided yet which one you will kill? What other purpose does a gun have?

    Better yet, how many will you kill at one time? Why else would you have one?

    • Scott Burkhart on November 6, 2023 at 9:13 AM
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    For what these cost, I can build a AR in 5.56 and when broke down is about same size as Henry.

      • PJ on November 6, 2023 at 10:27 AM
        Author
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      Very true Scott!

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