light backpacking rifle advice

stewacide said:
It's a real shame they don't try to make it more packable. I hate strapping stuff to my pack / generally keep everything inside, which the AR-7 should allow for by the Marlin definitely not. And if I can't pack it the take-down hardly seems to serve any purpose... in fact, what is this gun intended for?
Click to expand...

I strap mine to the side of my pack. Frankly it sounds like your mind is made up already anyway, but dont knock the papoose if you have never owned one.

To me, the papoose is like adding a compact lightweight modular system to the side of my pack. The carry case contains the gun with a mounted 4x scope, cleaning kit, and about 300 rounds of ammo. All my shooting needs in one waterproof spot on the side of my pack weiging under 4.5 lb. Total.

I had an AR-7, and frankly i thought it took up too much valuable space inside my pack which i wanted for other stuff. It was gimmicky, unreliable, and cheap feeling.
 
I had an AR7 by Charter Arms.

The only thing it was reliable for, was barrel leading.

And jamming.

And the miles of backtracking, looking for the mags, which would drop loose and hang up in the mag well, if you brushed the release lever, then drop out later.

I bought it new, and sold it for a fair loss. Didn't miss it when it was gone!
It was light weight, but really bulky, with the factory stock. It would be a wise choice, if you decide on one, to look at alternative stocks. All that room in the factory one, and it didn't occur to them to make some space for a box or two of ammo. Silly.

If you want a take-down semi, I'd look long and hard at the Papoose. If you are really hard up for saving some weight, find a used stock and butcher it down, either by hollowing it out, or shortening it.
Or find a nice chunk of lightweight wood and carve a stock. Etc.

If a semi isn't a need, look at the kids size guns like the old Cooey models, the newer Crickets, or the TC Hotshot types. Maybe the old single shots at TradeEx will suit you. Or possibly, one of the new Stevens Favorite models.
Any of those could be carried in a holster or sheath on the side of the pack, fairly ready for opportunities that may arise, but without eating up a lot of interior volume.

Cheers
Trev
 
Thanks. You guys have me pretty well scared off the AR-7 now; will get the Papoose. It just bugs me to spend so much money on high-tech lightweight camping gear and get a gun that's any heavier than necessary. I love DIY stuff so I'll probably look into either making my own lighter stock or something aftermarket if that'll save much weight.

Re: single-shot, wouldn't save any weight but would lower hunting success so don't see the point. A break-open .410 might be an interesting alternative as a small game gun tho', although almost certainly heavier (right?)
 
Well, a Boito Backpacker .410 is quite small and you can shoot slugs at the "big game" ( rabbits ) and use shot for grouse. Doubles as a good bear banger too. :) Simple, fool proof gun.
More "oomph" than a 22 but less range and not exactly "minute of grouse head" accuracy.
I have a holster for mine, can strap it onto my belt, the ATV, my pack .......
 
...actually reading some more reviews/impressions, I think a lot of the trouble some people report with the AR-7 is from using standard .22 ammo, when it needs high velocity ammo to cycle reliably.
 
stewacide said:
...actually reading some more reviews/impressions, I think a lot of the trouble some people report with the AR-7 is from using standard .22 ammo, when it needs high velocity ammo to cycle reliably.
Click to expand...

That is a problem on the newer henry models. But just one of the many problems with this guns design. They also have other issues pertaining to the magazine big time. Most people dont comprehend how important the magazine is when it comes to semi automatics. The feed lips have to be perfect for it to feed properly, and the AR-7 i had was only "reliabe" with 1 out of the 4 magazines i had for it. It did shoot mini-mags ok most of the time, but even then, it wasnt all that accurate, and was tough to get a good cheek weld with the wonky plastic stock. Also the "rifled liner" wrapped in teflon they pass off as a barrel is an insult. The materials are cheap... on and on and on. believe me, it was a huge anti climax for me to own that gun, because i wanted one very badly! I was smitten with the concept, but in the hand it just failed to deliver. It has no bolt hold open, crap sights, no recoil buffer, plastic barrel with a thin metal insert, 37 pound trigger pull, nowhere to store ammo, had to be re-zeroed every time i took it apart...

The papoose has last shot hold open, excellent sights, good recoil buffer, stainless steel barrel, awesome reliable magazines, and mine holds it's sight zeroed between takedowns to within 1/4 MOA at 60m. The papoose is reliable quality, the AR-7 just simply is not.

But if you really want an AR-7 though, get one. Otherwise you'll never know how they are, and you might get very lucky and get a good one. If you dont like it you can sell it and step up to a papoose.

As far as the single shots, if you get good with one it is much more handy than a sharp stick in the bush. The T/C hotshot is only 3 lb. and has an overall length of just 30 inches.
 
mikeystew said:
The carry case contains the gun with a mounted 4x scope, cleaning kit, and about 300 rounds of ammo. All my shooting needs in one waterproof spot on the side of my pack weiging under 4.5 lb. Total.
Click to expand...

...wait...300rds of ammo (that's at least a little bit of lead), cleaning kit, a WATER PROOF case...a small optic scope...all under 4.5 pounds?

And that includes a quality stainless rifle too?! How much does the rifle weigh, 2 lbs!?!

I'm not doubting you, just not used to rifles weighing that little! I'm from the FN C1 side of things (army days) and now the M-14, but I'm considering a rimfire for 2012...and this Papoose has me interested to say the least.

Another thread somewhere on this forum discussed how a Canuck Papoose owner got some of his best rimfire accuracy of all time from his. I think he was talking 3/8" at 50yards, which I think is pretty good really. I'm assuming he never owned an Anshutz, but that would be a HORRIBLY unfair comparison anyway! But for an actual "bring it outdoors and use it" gun for modest prices, sounds like you get your money's worth with this little Marlin takedown.

How much does the Papoose rifle itself weigh?

Does it come with iron sights, or is this a scope-only kind of thing? And if it does come with irons, is the rear a notch, or an aperture type?
 
RickR1100 said:
...wait...300rds of ammo (that's at least a little bit of lead), cleaning kit, a WATER PROOF case...a small optic scope...all under 4.5 pounds?

And that includes a quality stainless rifle too?! How much does the rifle weigh, 2 lbs!?!

I'm not doubting you, just not used to rifles weighing that little! I'm from the FN C1 side of things (army days) and now the M-14, but I'm considering a rimfire for 2012...and this Papoose has me interested to say the least.

Another thread somewhere on this forum discussed how a Canuck Papoose owner got some of his best rimfire accuracy of all time from his. I think he was talking 3/8" at 50yards, which I think is pretty good really. I'm assuming he never owned an Anshutz, but that would be a HORRIBLY unfair comparison anyway! But for an actual "bring it outdoors and use it" gun for modest prices, sounds like you get your money's worth with this little Marlin takedown.

How much does the Papoose rifle itself weigh?

Does it come with iron sights, or is this a scope-only kind of thing? And if it does come with irons, is the rear a notch, or an aperture type?
Click to expand...

Rifle itself weighs just under 3.5 lb., sights are folding rear leaf and high vis ramp front with cover. My cleaning kit is a pull through with patches which weighs not much at all either, and a small travel bottle of hoppesand a travel toothbrush. Honestly with ammo it's probably more like 5 lb. total with the case. And mine with a 4x scope can shoot 1/2"-3/4" with little effort at 50m.

I'll try to take a pic of it in it's case with all the gear on a scale later on.
 
That'd be cool, thanks! Maybe a couple showing it both together for shooting, and disassembled into it's major components too, if it's not too much trouble!

How much do they go for typically, in Canada?
 
IMG_0035.jpg


Either of these weighs a bit more.
I had a Papoose mind you and sold it. I loved it but how many takedown rifles does one guy need.
My Co-worker has it now and loves it too.
Mine was accurate and reliable.
The Norinco is more accurate now that it wears a peep sight.
The Springfield is quite accurate but hard to shoot. It does shoot Buckshot and slugs too so its perhaps the most versatile of takedowns.
I recently bought a Henry Mares leg, but it is a very close range proposition, quite difficult to shoot any farther than 15yds. Very portable and cool though.
 
RickR1100 said:
That'd be cool, thanks! Maybe a couple showing it both together for shooting, and disassembled into it's major components too, if it's not too much trouble!

How much do they go for typically, in Canada?
Click to expand...

First, you can typically find these for $239 plus tax in Canada.

I took some pics today as requested, alright... turns out I exaggerated a little. Last time I weighed my kit was before the addition of another mag, scope etc, so I was trying to guess, and i grossly underestimated the weight of bullets. The case can hold nearly a brick of ammo, so it's up to the person carrying it how much extra weight you want to carry.

Here is what I weighed, it's my rifle taken down, 1.5 - 4x bushnell scope, 2 mags, 100 rounds of ammo, spanner/screwdriver, and a small cleaning kit. Also I must correct myself, the case is not water proof, it floats with the gun inside, but I also treated it with spray silicone to help it shed water better in the rain. It is water resistant. Drop it in the lake though, and while it will float, your gun will get wet.

0dcae5db.jpg


Here is the whole lot on the scale at 5 lb 2 oz
76431a87.jpg


And the scoped rifle at 3 lb 13 oz
669593be.jpg


And some other features...
Hi vis front
a48309a6.jpg


Folding rear leaf
7dd30959.jpg


Stainless steel barrel nut and receiver threads
79b5a31c.jpg

05a368a7.jpg


Dual extractors, 6 o'clock firing pin, last shot hold open...
13092ce8.jpg

4666fa10.jpg


And it shoots CCI standard velocity extremely well! This to me is most important. This 50m group was shot without needing to re-adjust my scope between takedowns. It was dead center before takedown and this is how far to the right it shot after re-assembly. POI only moved about 1/4" to the right after taking the barrel off. Usually it doesnt even move that much. It's always minuite of squirrel head at 50m.

b64d5d5a.jpg


And obviously, fully free floated barrel lol :D
256ab2f6.jpg
 
Last edited:
mikeystew, thank you very much for the detailed review and pictures! Gives me a much better idea of just what is offered...and it looks good!

Is the receiver stainless, or aluminum? Or is it normal carbon steel with a coating?
 
I had a Papoose for my airplane survival kit. I sighted it in and was shocked at how accurate it was. I am sure I could have done partridge head shots with it.

Once I lubed it, it was 100% feed, fire and eject.
 
I'll second the Browning take down. Mine's a tack driver with the bare irons. I'm kind of a die-hard ironsight guy anyway, but I wouldn't want a scoped rifle if I was just stumblebumming through the bush (YMMV, everyone hikes a little different). Only downside is reloading the mag is a bit awkward.

I've always had a bit of a crush on the AR-7, but I've yet to shoot one. It does seem to get more bad press than good :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom