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Henry AR-7 Survival Rifle
- easy
- Shop tier 1
- medium confidence
- Rimfire Rifle
- rimfire
- blowback
- takedown
- survival
- stows in stock
field strip ~2 min · reassembly ~3 min · detail strip ~20 min
Specifications
- Manufacturer
- Henry Repeating Arms
- Origin
- United States
- Category
- Rimfire Rifle
- Action
- Blowback
- Calibers
- .22 Long Rifle
- Capacity
- 8 rounds in the detachable magazine
- Production
- 1959–present (in-production)
- Also known as
- AR-7, U.S. Survival AR-7, Armalite AR-7 (original)
Model-specific safety
- A .22 LR round can be fired by a blow to the case rim, not just the centre. Keep ammunition out of the work area.
- A .22 LR case in a chamber is small and dull-coloured and is genuinely easy to miss. Use a light and a finger, every time.
- The whole rifle disassembles and stores inside its own buttstock. That means the takedown is routine rather than exceptional — but it also means the barrel and receiver connection is made and broken constantly, and it must be fully tightened before every use.
- Confirm the barrel nut is fully tightened and the receiver is seated in the stock before firing. A partially assembled takedown rifle is dangerous.
- Check that no magazine stored in the buttstock is loaded before you assemble the rifle.
- Do not dry fire.
Under spring tension
- Recoil spring
- Magazine spring
Easily lost parts
Barrel nut · Receiver retaining nut · Magazines stored in the stock
Tools
No tools required for the field strip.
Shop difficulty
Shop tier 1 Tier 1 — easy among rimfire rifles, for the full job: strip to the parts that get coated and put it back together working. Designed to come apart by hand: 36 listed parts, barrel and action off the stock on threaded nuts, simple blowback bolt. Loose parts (charging handle) can drop out, and the barrel nut must be tight, but there are no held springs or fitted parts.
Parts: 36 numbered parts (Henry U.S. Survival AR-7, all H002 series rifles, single 'Illustration of Parts' list (36 line items)), from Henry U.S. Survival .22 Instruction Manual for All H002 Series Rifles — Henry Repeating Arms Co., p. 10 henryusa.com [2].
Bench time: about 15 min to strip, 20 min to rebuild (estimate). Barrel and action off the stock by hand nuts; bolt, recoil springs, sights and trigger parts are few.
Small parts: 6 pins, 6 springs, 2 detents or plungers (counted from the manufacturer's parts list (one per key number unless a quantity is given))
What comes off for coating
- Takedown: barrel nut and barrel, stock takedown nut and action
- Action: side plate screws, bolt, charging handle and recoil springs, trigger, hammer, sear and springs, safety and detent ball, rear sight
Known pain points
- The charging handle can fall out of the action when it is lifted from the stock unless the action is kept right side up. (disassembly)
Source: Henry U.S. Survival .22 Instruction Manual for All H002 Series Rifles — Henry Repeating Arms Co. henryusa.com [2] — “The charging handle can fall from the action, if not held right side up.”
Fit or check on rebuild
- Barrel nut and takedown nut fully tight — The joint is made and broken often; a loose barrel shifts point of impact.
- Function check: safety, trigger/sear release, disconnector and feeding with dummy rounds — Standard after any detail strip; a mis-assembled sear or disconnector can double or fail to fire.
This is Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's. How tiers are rated. Forum reports are owners' experience, not specifications.
Manufacturer videos
Official videos from Henry Repeating Arms's own channels, linked rather than copied. Where a video and the steps on this page differ, follow the manufacturer's manual and video.
- Henry U.S Survival AR7 Loading and Unloading Henry Repeating Arms · plays on henryusa.com
clearing, operation · 2013-01-17
Covers: Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 (H002) - Henry U.S. Survival AR7 Assembly Henry Repeating Arms · plays on henryusa.com
reassembly, operation · 2013-01-17
Covers: Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 (H002) - Henry U.S. Survival AR7 Field Strip Henry Repeating Arms · plays on henryusa.com
field strip · 2013-01-17
Covers: Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 (H002) - Henry U.S Survival AR7 Reassembly Henry Repeating Arms · plays on henryusa.com
reassembly · 2013-01-17
Covers: Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 (H002) - Henry U.S. Survival AR7 Cleaning and Lubrication Henry Repeating Arms · plays on henryusa.com
cleaning, maintenance · 2013-01-17
Covers: Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 (H002) - Henry US Survival Rifle .22 LR - Complete Guide Henry Repeating Arms
field strip, reassembly, cleaning, operation · 2024-12-06
Covers: Henry U.S. Survival .22 LR, H002 series (per the description)
Procedures
Clear and Make Safe
Clear & Make SafeManufacturer’s video: Henry U.S Survival AR7 Loading and Unloading Henry Repeating Arms · plays on henryusa.com
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
- Engage the safety.
- Press the magazine release and remove the magazine.Removed at this step:
Magazine - Cycle the bolt several times to eject any chambered round.
- Hold the bolt open and inspect the chamber and magazine well with a light.WarningAlso check any spare magazines stored inside the buttstock before storing the rifle.
- Physically confirm the chamber is empty and remove all live ammunition from the work area.
Field Strip
Field StripDesigned to be taken down routinely and stowed in its own stock.
Manufacturer’s videos: Henry U.S. Survival AR7 Field Strip Henry Repeating Arms · plays on henryusa.com · Henry US Survival Rifle .22 LR - Complete Guide Henry Repeating Arms
- Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure.
- Unscrew the barrel nut and withdraw the barrel from the receiver.Removed at this step:
BarrelBarrel nut - Unscrew the receiver retaining nut on the underside of the stock and lift the receiver out.Removed at this step:
Receiver - Clean the bore from the breech end of the separated barrel, and clean the bolt face, chamber, and receiver interior.
- To stow, place the receiver, barrel, and magazines into their moulded recesses in the buttstock and close the buttplate.WarningConfirm every magazine is empty before stowing it.
Reassembly
ReassemblyManufacturer’s videos: Henry U.S. Survival AR7 Assembly Henry Repeating Arms · plays on henryusa.com · Henry U.S Survival AR7 Reassembly Henry Repeating Arms · plays on henryusa.com · Henry US Survival Rifle .22 LR - Complete Guide Henry Repeating Arms
- Seat the receiver into the stock and tighten the receiver retaining nut firmly.
- Insert the barrel into the receiver and tighten the barrel nut firmly.WarningFully tighten both. Check them before every use — this joint is made and broken often.
- Cycle the bolt several times and confirm it returns fully into battery.
- Perform the function check.
Torque specifications
No sourced torque values from the manufacturer are recorded for this firearm. Where a fastener has a specified torque — action screws, scope bases, muzzle devices, barrel nuts — get it from the manufacturer or a gunsmith rather than estimating it.
What the manufacturer does say: The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: "To secure the action to the stock, hold both firmly in place and rotate the stock takedown nut in the base of the pistol grip portion of the stock until it is firmly and tight." (Henry U.S. Survival .22 Instruction Manual for All H002 Series Rifles, PDF p. 7) "Make certain that the barrel is secured very tightly to the action." (Henry U.S. Survival .22 Instruction Manual for All H002 Series Rifles, PDF p. 7)
Materials and factory finish
As stated by Henry Repeating Arms. Prep, masking and cure depend on these; a polymer or aluminium part, a nitrided or anodised finish, and a blued steel part are each a different job. Variants with other finishes may exist — check the maker's page for the exact SKU on the bench.
| Component | Material | Factory finish | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel H002B (Black) | Steel | Coated ABS Plastic | H2 U.S. Survival Rifle | Henry Repeating Arms — Specifications — Henry Repeating Arms henryusa.com [3] “Barrel Type … Steel Covered with Coated ABS Plastic” |
| Barrel all H002 models | steel | — | H2 U.S. Survival Rifle | Henry Repeating Arms — Specifications — Henry Repeating Arms henryusa.com [3] “It has a sturdy steel barrel covered in tough ABS plastic and a protective coating for complete corrosion resistance.” |
| Receiver H002B (Black) | — | Black | H2 U.S. Survival Rifle | Henry Repeating Arms — Specifications — Henry Repeating Arms henryusa.com [3] “Receiver Finish … Black” |
| Receiver H002C (True Timber Kanati Camo) | — | True Timber-Kanati Camo | H2 U.S. Survival Rifle | Henry Repeating Arms — Specifications — Henry Repeating Arms henryusa.com [3] “Receiver Finish … True Timber-Kanati Camo” |
| Stock H002B / H002C | ABS Plastic | — | H2 U.S. Survival Rifle | Henry Repeating Arms — Specifications — Henry Repeating Arms henryusa.com [3] “Stock Material … ABS Plastic” |
| Buttplate/Pad H002B / H002C | Rubber | — | H2 U.S. Survival Rifle | Henry Repeating Arms — Specifications — Henry Repeating Arms henryusa.com [3] “Buttplate/Pad … Rubber” |
Parts list
Transcribed from the manufacturer's parts list (Henry U.S. Survival .22 Instruction Manual for All H002 Series Rifles — Henry Repeating Arms Co., p. 10 henryusa.com [2]) — Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 (all H002 series rifles); single "Illustration of Parts" list, names only, no part numbers. No variant lists.. Key numbers refer to the exploded view in that document.
36 parts
| Key | Part | Part no. | Qty | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Receiver | 1 | ||
| 2 | Sideplate | 1 | ||
| 3 | Sideplate screw | 1 | ||
| 4 | Barrel assembly | 1 | ||
| 5 | Barrel nut | 1 | ||
| 7 | Front sight | 1 | ||
| 8 | Stock w/ cap | 1 | ||
| 9 | Stock cap only | 1 | ||
| 10 | Stock takedown nut | 1 | ||
| 11 | Stock takedown screw | 1 | ||
| 12 | Stock takedown rollpin | 1 | ||
| 13 | Bolt | 1 | ||
| 14 | Charging handle | 1 | ||
| 15 | Magazine complete | 1 | ||
| 18 | Magazine latch | 1 | ||
| 19 | Magazine latch spring | 1 | ||
| 20 | Safety plate/shaft | 1 | ||
| 21 | Safety det ball | 1 | ||
| 22 | Safety snap ring | 1 | ||
| 23 | Trigger | 1 | ||
| 24 | Trigger pivot pin | 1 | ||
| 25 | Firing pin | 1 | ||
| 26 | Firing pin ASSB pin | 1 | ||
| 27 | Hammer | 1 | ||
| 28 | Hammer pivot pin | 1 | ||
| 29 | Hammer/trigger spring | 1 | ||
| 30 | Hammer/trigger safety pin | 1 | ||
| 31 | Ejector | 1 | ||
| 32 | Ball spring | 1 | ||
| 33 | Extractor | 1 | ||
| 34 | Extractor ASSB pin | 1 | ||
| 35 | Extractor spring | 1 | ||
| 36 | Action springs (2) | 2 | ||
| 37 | Action spring guide | 1 | ||
| 38 | Rear sight only | 1 | ||
| 40 | Rear sight screw | 1 |
Function check
- Verify the rifle is unloaded — chamber and magazine — before each step.
- Cycle the bolt by hand and confirm it travels smoothly and returns fully into battery.
- Cock the action, engage the safety, and press the trigger. The hammer must not fall.
- Disengage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer should fall.
- Confirm the magazine seats, locks, and releases cleanly.
- Confirm the barrel nut and receiver nut are both fully tight before loading.
Maintenance
Lubrication points
- Bolt body sides where it rides in the receiver
- Recoil spring guide
- Hammer and sear pivots
Cleaning notes
Rimfire fouling is waxy and heavy, and .22 LR produces a lot of unburned powder. Clean the chamber and bolt face regularly and keep lubrication light — oil plus unburned powder makes a paste that stops the rifle. Most rimfire reliability complaints trace to a dirty chamber, a tired magazine, or cheap bulk ammunition rather than to the rifle.
Suggested inspection interval: roughly every 500 rounds. This is a general guideline, not a manufacturer specification.
Wear parts to inspect
Extractor and extractor spring · Recoil spring · Magazine follower and feed lips · Firing pin
Common issues
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Failures to feed or fire | Dirty chamber, tired magazine, or inconsistent bulk ammunition | Clean the chamber thoroughly, try a known-good magazine, and try a different ammunition brand before suspecting the rifle. |
| Failure to extract | Worn or chipped extractor | Replace the extractor — an inexpensive and common wear part on rimfire rifles. |
| Accuracy is poor or wanders between assemblies | Barrel nut not consistently tightened | Tighten fully and consistently each time. This design trades some accuracy for portability. |
Also covers
The procedures above are reported to apply to: Armalite AR-7 · Charter Arms AR-7 (earlier production). Verify against the manual for your specific model.
Similar manual of arms
Sourcing
- Confidence
- medium — Drawn from reliable secondary sources and consistent across references, but not confirmed against a primary source.
- Verification
- Community reviewed only
- Last updated
- 2026-10-29
References
Every source this page draws on, with its web address so you can read it yourself. Numbers in brackets elsewhere on the page point here.
- [1] Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 Owner’s Manual — Henry Repeating Arms manufacturer manual primary source
- [2] Henry U.S. Survival .22 Instruction Manual for All H002 Series Rifles — Henry Repeating Arms Co. manufacturer manual primary source
https://www.henryusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Henry-H002-Series-User-Manual.pdf (checked 2026-09-27) - [3] H2 U.S. Survival Rifle | Henry Repeating Arms — Specifications — Henry Repeating Arms website primary source
https://www.henryusa.com/firearm/h2-us-survival-rifle/ (checked 2026-10-03)
Notes: The AR-7 has been produced by Armalite, Charter Arms, and Henry across six decades with differences in stock, barrel, and receiver detail. Henry-production rifles are the most common today. Confirm nut arrangement against the manual for your rifle.