A couple of years ago I reviewed the time tested Henry AR7 Survival Rifle, and loved it. Then I reviewed the Henry Survival Kit, and I liked it enough to buy one for every vehicle I own as well as my “Things Have Gone Awry” bag.
For 2018, Henry has combined key survival items with the AR7 rifle in a single bag for what looks to be a good value. As a veteran Army medic, I’m not so impressed with their choice of tourniquet, but very impressed with most of the items they picked, like the Frontier Filter Straw.
From the Henry Press release:
The U.S. Survival AR-7 is consistently one of Henry’s top sellers. Famed firearms designer Eugene Stoner invented the rifle, who is most well-known for creating the AR-15, which saw service with the U.S. military as the M16. The manufacturing rights for the AR-7 were passed to Henry Repeating Arms in 1997 when they made several changes to improve reliability, accuracy, and durability. Once used as an emergency backup firearm by U.S. Air Force pilots the rifle is now a top choice for recreational users, backpackers, emergency preppers and survivalists in need of a utility takedown rifle. For 2018, the brand new U.S. Survival Pack revolves around the 3.5-pound rifle that breaks down for carrying into its 16.5-inch stock. The kit includes a myriad of American-made items to aid with survival and emergency preparedness, which can all be packed up into the custom case made by Allen along with the stowed rifle and spare magazines. Among the items included in the kit are 100 feet of MIL-C-5040H Type III green paracord, which can serve as lashing or fishing line, a Mylar emergency space blanket to reduce heat loss in the body, and a black rubber SWAT-T tourniquet for emergency first aid. The fire steel, made by ESEE from 1095 carbon steel is used with ferrocerium rods or true flint, and a divot in the center assists fire starting with a bow drill. An ultralight Frontier Filter Straw is also included in the kit for water filtration. The filter is certified to EPA standards for the removal of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, as well as reducing chlorine and other chemicals. Datrex emergency food bars are shelf-stable for up to 5 years and come vacuum-sealed in a specially designed polymer-foil package. Four of these bars are included in the kit for a total of 1,000 calories. To help with skinning an animal for additional food, or for whittling roasting sticks or kindling, the kit comes with a Buck Rival folding knife featuring a 2.75-inch stainless steel blade, black nylon handle, and one-handed thumb stud opening. The Henry U.S. Survival Pack, model #H002BSGB has an MSRP of $550 and must be purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. For more information visit: https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/henry-u-s-survival-pack/
I’m not a fan of factory made kits. This includes a Buck, which when last I checked, were now made in China.
The AR7 is a decent start on a kit tailored to your specific needs. Personally, I’d prefer a variation on the .22 over .410 gun myself.
I like my .22/.410 and would consider it for survival use. A .22 for small game, .410 for birds, and .410 slugs for bigger game at short range. Yeah, it’s only a single shot so it’s not my first choice for Zombie fighting.
I lusted after the AR-7 pretty bad as a kid. Then when I actually picked one up decades later and saw how it was built…I got over it REAL QUICK. A takedown 10/22 in a Magpul stock is somewhere between 10X and 30X better than the AR-7. I will admit that it is time Ruger take a page from Tactical Solutions, and update the receiver.
The even the lightweight version of the take down 10/22 is a pound heavier and packs up considerably larger than the AR7. It also does not float, as the AR7 does.
And the 10/22 is not James Bond approved.
How good is a New AR7? Are they accurate and reliable? Anyone actually own one? I don’t want to know about what you read on the internet, or about your coworkers friends uncles dog knowing someone who had one a few years ago.
I do want a takedown .22 rifle
Find the right ammo and it functions great. Two shots have netted me two coyotes, instant drops, 30 yards. I can put offhand rounds into a half dollar at 30 yards all day.
It is ammo picky. With ansupressor, I use CCI standard velocity, ends up subsonic. Cycles well. Winchester’s or S&B, not so much.
I could never get a proper grip on the ar7. The balloon like stock with a large pistol attached to the front, which is what it felt like to me, would not allow me to shoot it effectively enough to use in a survival situation.
To me it’s ungainly and off balanced. I lack confidence in my ability with the ar7 to fill the camp pot.
Look closer at the Buck knife. They have a number of them made in China for the big box stores (Walmart, etc.) and a whole separate line made in the states, usually costing more. Look at the packaging. Made In China won’t have the American flag on it. Domestic will.
The Buck Rival is made in the USA. It will have an American flag on the packaging. A quick check of the Buck website confirms where it is made. They don’t hide the manufacturing location like many other, and often more expensive, brands.
So the kit includes:
— firearm
— knife
— fire starting
— cordage
— water purification
— space blanket
— tourniquet
— food (calorie) bars
That is a ROCK-SOLID survival kit that covers all of the survival essentials.
About all you need to add to it for bordering-on-comfortable long term survival is a compass, flashlight, spare batteries, small pot for warm water/stew, and a brick of .22 LR ammunition. Throw in a tiny fishing kit (with 200 feet of mono-filament fishing line, several hooks, and some splitshot) and you just might actually flourish in a long term survival situation.
Not many people think of a compass in this modern age. I’d trust a good lensatic over a GPS that may malfunction
+1 on the lensatic. And screw the fire starter, flint, steel, etc. Get yourself some Bic lighters and put at least one in every glove box, tool box, tackle box, range bag, backpack, day pack, etc., you own. That’s in addition to the one in your pocket, even if you don’t smoke. They can sit for decades and still work every time.
The AR7 is virtually useless. But I’ve always wanted one, even before James Bond shot down a helicopter with one. Still do. It’s just too damn cool. And Henry seems to have solved most of the worst problems with it. One o’ these days, I’ll give in to the impulse.
BIC lighters in fact CANNOT sit for decades…and then work just fine. The magnesium “flint” oxidizes with exposure to the air and contact with a dissimilar metal…and then it turns into magnesium oxide powder, and then lighter is dead. The process takes place within 5-10 years, and its aggravated in humid climates. This is true of any butane/naptha lighter that uses a “flint”, ask any Zippo collector.
I had a BIC lighter in my emergency bag and it leaked fluid all over the inside of the bag and ruined everything plastic with which it came into contact.
Here here! I have good compasses stashed everywhere.
+1 on Compass, tourniquet, First Aid kit, blanket, water bottle and flash light for both of my cars.
Needs a set of paper maps to make the compass more effective though
JWT is correct. In bulk they could buy the SOFTT-W for around $20 from Tacmed. That “tourniquet” is a pretender. It’s not 1990.
Go with braided line over mono. Doesn’t hold memory like mono does & it’s stronger at a thinner diameter.
No field notes? You’d be dead within 48 hours.
If no space pen ….. then 48 minutes.
Swap out the rifle for a Ruger and I’m sold! 🙂
Regarding the Buck Rival knife – MADE IN USA!!! True, some Buck knives are made in China. NOT the Rival. No matter where made, Buck’s guarantee is the best in the business!
You can find a Sub2k new for under 375 now. I would MUCH rather something bigger than a .22lr for true SURVIVAL (not worried so much about the four legged varmints). Not counting spare mags I could put together one hell of a bug out bag for $175 bucks. As a matter of fact, minus mags and clothes, my $26 SOG backpack $20 first aid kit/ trauma with quick clot, $4 steri strips, $25 SOL survival kit, $3 BIG space blanket $20 tournoquet $30 leatherman brand leatherman $2.48 glowsticks and $5 pack of 2400 cal. apple cinnimon 5 year bars. Thats well under $175 INCLUDING the bag. Just sayin, even if you substitute a 10/22 takedown for the Sub2K you’re still even money with a WAY better kit. I find that pretty much all of the pre-coillated “survival” kits amount to not much more than some fluff and band aids marked up about 300%. Plus, its so much better to tailor your own kit to your needs.
I’m not sure where you are getting your prices. The Ruger website has the Takedown 10/22 with an MSRP listed as $175 more than this entire kit. And that’s just the rifle.
WHO PAYS MSRP?? Especially for a .22? “In the wild” the Ruger 10/22 takedown can be had for $350 all day long, and even cheaper if you buy this thing called used. Damn son, how much is Henry paying you? I find it hard to believe you don’t have a grasp on the current actual selling prices of 10/22s running a freaking firearms website. CDNN is pushing the threaded barrel ones monthly for $379. So, my question is where are you getting your kickbacks?
FLAME DELETED with the kickback bullshit.
You are comparing one company’s MSRP to another product’s sale price. Try honesty for once.
I too always wanted an AR7. But for my truck bag I bought a Mossberg Plinkster in .22. ($100.00 @ Walmart). I cut the front 2 1/2 inches off the front (forearm) stock. I replaced the take down screw with a thumb screw ($.38 @ HomeDepot). Disassembled the barrel and stock are 18 inches. Throw in a brick or bucket of .22s and two extra magazines and you can shoot for a month of Sundays for less than $150.00.
damn this is NICE! DO WANT!
Nice starter kit, seems high price for $500. I’m going to shelter in place. Too old to wander about the farm lands becoming a target. With my 870 wing master should still be able to hit the target.
I build my own bug out bags (or get home bags). I always have either my XDs or Kimber 1911 pro carry with me and a spare mag so it doesn’t have to have a special gun in it. My Bug out bag contains all of the essentials. Survival items (knife, rope, compass, batteries for flash light, map, etc.), hygiene items (soap, toilet paper, toothbrush, etc), and a first aid kit. I’ve also added additional items for first aid like extra pads and gauze, and a few MREs. Oh, and a box of 9mm hollow points. It also has a box of cards for the long nights and a waterproof pullover. The backpack is Sandpiper of California, don’t remember the model, but it has tons of compartments.
You can also get threaded barrels cheap for the AR-7, less than 100 bucks I believe. Regular or bull. Throw on a lightweight suppressor and CCI standard velocity ammo (in the AR-7, 16.5 inch barrel, it is subsonic), and you have a great survival rifle. It is ammo picky, but when you find one that works, like the CCI for me, it works.
Taken two coyotes (each one shot, dropped in place) that were terrorizing our neighborhood. Those were the only two, never hit one with the .22 and had it run or live. Not bragging, just letting you know I never made a cruel shot.
Queue the “never shoot a coyote with a .22 LR” debate. Hey, it ain’t what you shoot, it’s how you shoot it.
Ed’s kit is good but for a take down 22 the Marlin 70PSS is stainless and a great
trunk keeper.
Comments are closed.