Video: The Unstoppable AR-7 Survival Rifle

by
posted on December 6, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Does it float? Yes, but be reasonable. 

 

The Henry AR-7 is a survival rifle, not a personal flotation device. While the original ArmaLite models had foamed-filled stocks of Cycolac, the latest Henry U.S. Survival Rifle uses a hollow stock made of a more modern and durable plastic. In either case, the stock cap is not designed to provide an indefinite waterproof seal, so the stocks’ cavities eventually take on water, causing the gun to sink. How long will it stay afloat? With the rifle stored inside, the Henry lasted about two minutes—or six minutes with the gun assembled. Realistically, either amount would allow the survivor to recover the gun and get back to the critical task of securing meat for the pot.

Watch the video above by contributor Jeremiah Knupp, which supplements his American Rifleman feature story on the history of the AR-7 survival rifle.

For more, visit HenryRifles.com.

Additional Reading:
The Unlikely Resilience of the AR-7 Survival Rifle 

Latest

hunter with rifle
hunter with rifle

Reloading The Stalwart .308 Winchester

For more than 70 years, the .308 Win. has been one of the world’s most tested and versatile cartridges—and it’s still far from obsolete.

The Rifleman Report: Tried-And-True Attributes

In this August 2025 issue, we explored how several entirely different kinds of firearms, and a classic cartridge, possess the tried-and-true attributes that make them effective for self-protection or hunting—even though none is as popular as the modern sporting rifles, semi-automatic pistols and specialty chamberings that account for much of today’s gun coverage.

C&H Precision And Grounds & Rounds HQ Grand Opening

Cavalier Attitude Global Holdings, parent company of eight industry brands, will officially host their grand opening celebration in September with raffles, concerts and the unveiling of Grounds & Rounds, a combination coffee bar and gun range.

“Mine Beat Them All”: Great Britain’s “Baker” Infantry Rifle

Famous in both fact and legend, Great Britain’s Pattern 1800/1805 "Baker" Infantry Rifle has become one of the Napoleonic Wars’ most enduring firearm designs.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 25, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Studying Ammunition Developments Of The Early 20th Century

In the mid-1920s, the U.S. Ordnance Dept. faced a problem: How do you measure improvements in ammunition design if everyone is shooting at different distances and recording different results?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.