Help me decide on my next pointless Rimfire...

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grelmar

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Ok, so it's that time again. I have a few spare bones and the CFC/CFP is pissing me off, so of course the natural response to this is to buy another pointless (but fun) rimfire.

I've narrowed it down to 2 candidates for consideration. Both are around the same $$ (well, within reason, one is actually a bit cheaper):

Option #1: Henry AR-7
I've wanted one of these for a long, long time. If you include the ones made by other manufacturers, the AR-7 has been on my radar for decades.
Pros: Semi Auto. Classic design. Simple. It Floats!!!!!
Cons: Picky about ammo (semi auto). While build quality is good, the mags are known to be a bit fragile, and the design itself is known to have the a few issues.

Option #2: Norinco JW-15 Back packer/Scope combo
Pros: Cheap, decent bolt action. Reliable. Can use my CZ mags. Crappy scope included!!!
Cons: A bit clunky/rough build quality typical of Norinco. Heavier and less pack-able (not really an issue, I already have pack rifle/survival rifle covered). Crappy scope included!!!

Other considerations:
I would lean towards the AR-7 first, but the JW-15 backpacker supply appears to be drying up, so who knows when I'll get another chance to pick one up if I pass on the opportunity now.

Anyone have any thoughts?
 
I would say that your mind is already made up. You've wanted a Henry AR-7 for a "long long time". For me, it would seem a no brainer. If your want towards this firearm hasnt changed in all these years, I would say that the Henry is all but yours.
 
There's something about the 13"bbl jw15 that I really enjoy other than the fact that it's very handy, shoots straight and cost less than $180 with a new fixed power Simmons 4x 22mag/Millet rings….I just haven't figured it out yet. Previous owner did a decent trigger job too(Crisp & Light).
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BigRhino said:
I would say that your mind is already made up. You've wanted a Henry AR-7 for a "long long time". For me, it would seem a no brainer. If your want towards this firearm hasnt changed in all these years, I would say that the Henry is all but yours.
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Kind of.

But the thing is, good chance the JW-15 Backpackers are going to kind of vanish never to be seen on the shelves again, or at least not see for a number of years until they make another run (as as happened with so many Norincos)...

The AR-7, on the other hand, isn't going anywhere. Even if Henry stops making them, someone will pick it up (doubt that Henry will stop making them - they're incredibly popular).
 
I have owned a Henry ar-7 and I was not a fan of it. I also had a Henry mares leg .22 and it was a much better gun, it's not on your list but it is loads of fun.
 
I wanted an AR-7 for a Long long long time... I owned it for about a month before i realized all the nay sayers were right. It is for the most part, a shi**y gun. Sold it and bought a marlin papoose... never looked back.
 
I badly wanted an AR7 until I borrowed one. I did buy a norinco back packer though, and it's not going anywhere. I also bought the Stevens version of the backpacker in 22 and 22 mag, i like the norinco better.
 
Another vote for the Norinco. I used mine pretty hard for 2 winters~still looks/shoots like new. Something liberating about a gun you can treat poorly in the field, and know it'll clean-up nice. 2 main strikes against it~crappy mag, and crappier iron sights. I had plans to scope it anyway, and bough a CZ452 steel mag to replace the crap-ola Norinco one. The rifle doesn't see much use these days, but when I open the safe...I'm awfully glad it's still sitting there. Norincos are still Norincos, but it's one rifle I can honestly say is excellent value for the price.
 
To be honest... they are both crappy... keep the money in your sock drawer until you have enough to buy something nice.
 
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I would buy the Norinco. I have had a couple of AR-7 Survival rifles. I bought the first one and the second one I took as a part trade on another rifle. I have neither of them now, as they really did not suit any of my needs or "fun gun" purposes. I would not buy another one.

The big thing is a very chunky and fat stock and a thin barrel with no forestock. It is not really comfortable for me to shoot, and hold. There were some feeding problems, especially the magazines.

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.22LRGUY said:
Another vote for the Norinco. I used mine pretty hard for 2 winters~still looks/shoots like new. Something liberating about a gun you can treat poorly in the field, and know it'll clean-up nice. 2 main strikes against it~crappy mag, and crappier iron sights. I had plans to scope it anyway, and bough a CZ452 steel mag to replace the crap-ola Norinco one. The rifle doesn't see much use these days, but when I open the safe...I'm awfully glad it's still sitting there. Norincos are still Norincos, but it's one rifle I can honestly say is excellent value for the price.
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This kind of fits along the lines of what I was thinking. I have a bunch of mags for my CZ, so no need to invest anything there. Also have spare rings and a scope (somewhere, I'm pretty sure... I'll poke around through the boxes of random parts), so the iron sights are kind of a non issue.

hoytcanon said:
To be honest... they are both crappy... keep the money in your sock drawer until you have enough to buy something nice.
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That would be any given payday I don't need to spend $$ on dental work for my daughter. Kinda missed the point of the original question. The quest, in this case, is for a cheap, fun, gizmo gun, that I wouldn't mind wrecking.

Sometimes, a cheap gun is a good gun for what it is. I don't expect it to go up against my CZ or Anschutz for accuracy, fit and finish, etc.
 
Build a AR.

Says the long hair guy from the Battle rifle shoot.

I had a JW15A it was sweet, but anything over 50 yards and it wasn't so steller. CZ 10 round mags, all the CZ bolt tricks make it fun to tinker with. Stingers were the ammo of choice for that one. Mine had a factory adjustable trigger (you need a tiny screwdriver).
Sold it for what I paid for it as well.

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Innercity said:
Build a AR.

Says the long hair guy from the Battle rifle shoot.

I had a JW15A it was sweet, but anything over 50 yards and it wasn't so steller. CZ 10 round mags, all the CZ bolt tricks make it fun to tinker with. Stingers were the ammo of choice for that one. Mine had a factory adjustable trigger (you need a tiny screwdriver).
Sold it for what I paid for it as well.

vB9jb.jpg
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You never did get around to letting me shoot that AR, says the guy who screwed the pooch at the 200meter mark with his SVT-40...

I'm starting to think about what I'm going to do for an AR, which, oddly and in a roundabout way, is what is leading me to the current problem... I bought a 1911 to get all the gears rolling to exercise the "R" on my PAL, and the CFC is sitting on their dicks to push the transfer through, so my own form of retaliation is to buy another gun... Between the 1911, a case of ammo, and a bunch of walnut furniture for an No1 Mk III I'm de-sporterising, my boomstick budget is getting a little thin this month. The AR-7 and JW-15 were still within reason for blowing money just because I'm annoyed with the CFC.
 
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hoytcanon said:
To be honest... they are both crappy... keep the money in your sock drawer until you have enough to buy something nice.
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lol.... Somebody had to say it. But, the OP asked a fair question about an econo plinker for s_ _ _ _ & giggles. The Norinco Backpacker shoots better than some rimfires I've paid more than 2x as much for.
 
I have had a crush on the AR-7 for decades. Got my hands on a Charter, but didn't keep it long. Like many, I liked the concept more than the actual rifle. I haven't owned a Henry, nor handled one but read they are a touch more robust.

The Norinco jw-13 is a pretty nifty rifle(long or short). I'd like to see something in the same cost bracket perform as well.

hoytcanon said:
To be honest... they are both crappy... keep the money in your sock drawer until you have enough to buy something nice.
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So, you've actually owned one, or both?
 
Ok... Just to wrap up the thread...

After reading the advice in here and thinking on it, I decided to get the JW-15A Backpacker... However it turns out that the online retailer that said they had them in stock, did not actually have them in stock (and then I looked up reviews of this retailer more closely, and not many of them were positive, for exactly this type of reason).

Oh well, maybe they'll flood us again with another container full on of these days like Norinco does with a lot of their different firearms.

So, I went to WSS to kick some tires and console myself. Which turned out to be a bad (expensive) idea, because a little Mare's Leg just leaped into my shopping cart and begged me to take it home with me. Who am I to turn away such a cute little orphan of a gun?

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I love my ar 7.... it is a very very good gun... it's unique and always a conversation starter..it is also ridiculously light weight and accurate too... I would not trade it for the norc..or for that matter...trade it at all.
also...you cannot beat a semi that backpacks as well as it does :)
 
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