A detailed look at the Charter Arms AR-7 Survival Rifle

[highmeh]

I recently came into possession of a Charter Arms AR-7 Survival Rifle. A neat if gimmicky little gun, the AR-7 is popular for the ability to disassemble it's major components, and store them in the butt-stock. According to reports, when the rifle is in this configuration, it floats.

Chambered in .22LR, the rifle is a great "toss it in the backpack" rifle. While it's accuracy is just OK, and its trigger is just sufficient, it's a perfect companion for the stranded woodsman who would rather eat ground squirrel than poisonous berries and die a painful Alexander Supertramp-like death.

When I received the rifle, all was in working order, but it was missing the (rather novel) collapsible charging-handle. $7.95 and a 3-day e-GunParts.com order later, I was back in business. However, pulling the bolt back slightly to insert the handle, i managed to jam up its internal components. I then discovered that there are NO good documents online to help you reassemble this tricky little rifle. Thats where this thread comes to life.

I give you, friends, the complete disassembled Charter Arms AR-7 rifle, and it's re-assembly.

Millions of plastic pieces, wrapped in cheap metal
First, lets take a look at the gun disassembled, and find out what its parts are all about.


From left to right, top to bottom:
- Floating Stock
- 16" Rifled Barrel
- Action Spring Guide
- Bolt Assembly w/Action Springs
- Receiver Sideplate Screw
- Ejector
- Charging Handle
- 8-rd Magazine
- Buttplate
- .22 Caliber Receiver
- Magazine Latch
- Magazine Latch Spring
- Trigger support pin
- Trigger
- Sideplate
- Trigger Pivot Pin
- Hammer Pivot Pin
- Hammer & Trigger Spring
- Hammer

Opportunistic Cleaning



Believe me, you won't want to take this gun apart very often. Take some Hoppes, some gun oil, a nylon brush, and a rag and go to town. I scrubbed it down good, and when reassembled (surprise surprise!) the action is much better.

Bolt

Insert the Action Spring Guide into the Action Spring/Bolt assembly. Drop this through the receiver. I don't have an image of this, but I think it's self explanatory.

Stop! Hammer-time



First step to success is installing the hammer assembly. This will make you hate every gun in a 9-mile radius, so let me give you the skinny:

- Insert the hammer "tall-end" towards the barrel, into the bolt. It can chill in here for a moment; leave the pin recess available.
- Slip the spring assembly around the pin recess, with the two 'legs' of the pins somewhere near the magazine well. This places the squared 'connector' piece closer to the trigger.
- Use a screwdriver or dental pick to slide the bottom of the hammer down. Wrap it behind the squared-connector part of the spring, and then push the legs closer to the trigger. The spring is now under tension; hold it or it will pop off and you'll spend 5 hilarious minutes searching the area near your workbench. Line up the "hole" in the hammer to the pin-hole, and inside the spring loop.
- Pop the hammer pivot pin through the entire assembly. You can breath a sigh of relief as the pin isnt going anywhere for now.

Ejector



In comparison to the last section, the ejector is easy; pop it on the receiver's ejector pin, position it inside the bolt groove.

Trigger



The trigger is pretty easy as well; place it over the receiver's trigger-pin hole, put the trigger-pin in to secure it. Make sure the rear 'leg' of the Trigger/Hammer spring is behind the trigger.

Trigger assembly




The tricky part here is holding the rear trigger spring up while inserting the trigger support pin; it has two grooves, one on each side, where the spring's "legs" rest. You'll need to insert the pin, pull up the pin and let it on the support, then move the front leg onto its support as well.

Finishing Up



Next step is to secure the magazine latch and latch-spring. Its easy; place the latch on the pin, with the grooves inside the trigger guard. Place the spring in the little area to the right.

Stupid Design!



Here's a stupid design; if the trigger is pushed too far down with the safety off, it'll block the safety from engaging when the gun is reassembled. So, click the safety ON, move the trigger just above it, and get ready to put the sideplate back.

Sideplate & Screw



Place the sideplate on, taking care to slide it over the hammer pin. Screw it in.

The Other Side



Here's the other side of the receiver; not the safety is on to allow for the right trigger spacing. The charging handle is also extended. It collapses in so you can fit the receiver in the buttstock later.

Pop in the Mag



Pop the mag in to make sure the spring stayed in and the mag latch is working. Pull the charging handle. Remove the safety. Make sure its unloaded, and press the trigger to ensure everything functions as it should.

GLORY!



If you followed this guide correctly, your gun is now reassembled. Throw it in the bathtub (hey, it floats, remember?) and await the Aqua-Squirrel Invasion.

[Flanker]

I thought I was the only person on earth who owned an AR-7. Mine is made by Henry Arms and has a shitty rail for holding airgun type sights. This post brings back painful memories of me getting too curious and opening the guts for a detail strip.

[foxfire]

I bought this rifle in 1974 for a three month trip across country as a little protection arm. It fit in the camper well and was pretty reliable. After coming home and using it for a while I took it apart to clean it and BOING it came apart and never went back together again. It didn't pay to bring it to a gunsmith as the gun cost almost as much as the repair.

I found this thread a while ago and figured one day when I had time I would take it apart and try again. With 2 feet of snow coming here today and nothing else to do I took the gun apart, cleaned it and actually put it back together. VOILA it is back together and seems to function perfectly.

This is actually hilarious, here I am 35 years later pulled the gun out from the corner that no ones goes to and fixed a gun I broke 35 years ago.

Thanks again, this internet stuff really works. LOL

[Danube]

I bought this rifle in 1974 for a three month trip across country as a little protection arm. It fit in the camper well and was pretty reliable. After coming home and using it for a while I took it apart to clean it and BOING it came apart and never went back together again. It didn't pay to bring it to a gunsmith as the gun cost almost as much as the repair.

I found this thread a while ago and figured one day when I had time I would take it apart and try again. With 2 feet of snow coming here today and nothing else to do I took the gun apart, cleaned it and actually put it back together. VOILA it is back together and seems to function perfectly.

This is actually hilarious, here I am 35 years later pulled the gun out from the corner that no ones goes to and fixed a gun I broke 35 years ago.

Thanks again, this internet stuff really works. LOL

P I C T U R E S !!

[ittlfly]

Thanks for a great write up on the AR-7....

My stock on the AR-7 split. I have ordered a replacment. Can you describe the procedure for replacing the "Stock Take Down Screw"? I can't seem to get the old screw out of the original broken stock (short of sawing it open). I was hoping to reuse the screw in the new stock as the new one does not come with a new take down screw.

Thanks for any help...

[Didge]

I was just given said rifle, original owner unknown and looking at it then reading this thread I now understand what happened. This gun doesn't have any of the parts that should be inside the side plate. Does have the bolt though. And looking up the parts, well, not worth buying.
Anyone need spare parts?

[Miso Beno]

You could probably get a few bucks selling the gun as a parts rifle on gunbroker.com.

[Jmazzi]

Bought in 1984 on Sale For $89 .... It shoots all day long .... I had a "banana" Clip, But I can't find it !!!!!

[Phishdoggie]

My Dad gave me this Charter Arms AR-7 back in 1971. Since then I souped it up, put the hi-tech barrel on, pistol grip, flip clip, etc...I have taken it apart, cleaned it, the works. The problem is after I fire my first shot the second round gets hung up and doesen't feed into the barrel. I tried the original barrel and the same thing happens. Anyone out there have this problem? How can I fix it? Thanks.

[Arthur_500]

I too have had a problem with this AR-7 I have in that it will fail to fire. the bolt has a 1/4" play so there should be plenty of space to hold and fire the .22 LR cartridge. Why is it not firing consistently?