Henry AR-7 ammo-'High Velocity'?

USNRet93 · February 13, 2019, 10:17 AM

Youngest son made me an offer I couldn't refuse so he has the $ to buy a 1022..Bought his Henry AR-7...says it needs 'high velocity' ammo..first 22 I have owned..what makes 22LR ammo 'high velocity'? Above a certain muzzle velocity printed on box? Can those be trusted?

TIA

GarandTd · February 13, 2019, 05:50 PM

High velocity 22lr is pretty common. Remington Thunderbolt, CCI Blazer, CCI Minimags are just a few. I would classify rounds over 1200fps as high velocity. There is also what is known as hyper velocity that would be an even higher fps, but I've never used it. I just know it exists. Many semiauto 22's need high velocity ammo to cycle reliably.

USNRet93 · February 13, 2019, 06:20 PM

Thanks sir.

chris in va · February 14, 2019, 02:08 AM

Had one for a week, jammed on 10 different ammo types. Multiple mags didn't help.

USNRet93 · February 14, 2019, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris in va

Had one for a week, jammed on 10 different ammo types. Multiple mags didn't help.

My son sold me his..he did some interweb directed polishing of some part of the magazines..no problem since..about 300 rounds thru it. YMMV and all that.

ligonierbill · February 14, 2019, 08:46 AM

Never a problem with mine. Most .22 ammo sold today is "high velocity". You have to look for "standard velocity".

Drm50 · February 14, 2019, 10:21 AM

Never had a Henry AR7 or the original. The ones made in late 70s & 80s were Jamo matics.
I think Charter Arms were making them at the time. I don't think the trouble was in the mags it was the retention of mag in the gun. If Henry hasn't fixed this that's the problem. If you put your hand under mag to put upward pressure it would work. As far as ammo when
they functioned they would shoot anything you put in them.

Rangerrich99 · February 14, 2019, 04:40 PM

Hmm. I've had my Henry AR-7 for at least 8 years now, with few issues with jamming. And my god-children have put nearly 4,000 rds through the thing.

It has stove-piped a few times, but I found that just an annual cleaning and shooting the bolt with some WD-40 or similar before shooting would allow it to run smoothly all day or through at least several sessions.

Mine will even run using standard velocity ammo, though it will tend to stove-pipe after a 100 to 200 rounds.

My advice is to just keep it moderately clean and lubed and it should just run. The high velocity stuff just makes it a bit more reliable.

USNRet93 · February 18, 2019, 08:57 AM

Shot it yesterday...cold day up in the mountains but no wind..really a giggle. Hitting a can at 50 yards pretty easy even with my crappy bi-focaled eyes. One failure, bolt tried to close on a round smushing it..about 250 rounds..which cost about $8...like that. Fun gun.

GarandTd · February 18, 2019, 12:16 PM

What kind of ammo did you end up running through it?

USNRet93 · February 19, 2019, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarandTd

What kind of ammo did you end up running through it?

This-Remington Thunderbolt..worked like a dream, accurate.

GarandTd · February 19, 2019, 09:59 AM

People seem to love or hate the Remington Thunderbolt. I like it. It's cheap and like you said, pretty accurate. I get better accuracy from Blazer 22lr, but it's also $8-$10 more per 500 rounds.

USNRet93 · February 19, 2019, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarandTd

People seem to love or hate the Remington Thunderbolt. I like it. It's cheap and like you said, pretty accurate. I get better accuracy from Blazer 22lr, but it's also $8-$10 more per 500 rounds.

Better accuracy doesn't really enter into my AR, until I get a new lens in my RH eye..some cataract/line/old age bubbles that give me a wee bit of double vision..I can see and hit a can/melon at 25-35 yards or so..so good for me.

bamaranger · February 20, 2019, 03:01 AM

I dunno what it is, but youngsters tend to like the AR-7. As a lad, bamaboy wanted one, and I eventually bought him one for a birthday. It's run fine, and other than the front plastic front sight running around in its dovetail, has given no problems. Picked up some extra mags to fit in the butt too. I borrow the little rifle from him, and throw it in the trunk with a brick of ammo stored in a peanut butter jar, on long trips, just in case.

USNRet93 · February 20, 2019, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamaranger

I dunno what it is, but youngsters tend to like the AR-7.

I'm .68 of a century..

riffraff · February 20, 2019, 09:14 AM

So the deal w/ .22 LR's from my experience is this:

#1 - Rimfire is dirty stuff (.22LR is rimfire not centerfire) - cleaning is not optional, particularly in some guns more than others you are going to have to clean fairly often between uses if you shoot much. People also tend to shoot a lot of .22LR in an auto loader since it's cheap, so that just makes for dirtier guns.

#2 - If you are having problems w/ a .22LR gun stay away from the ultra cheap "pre damaged" ammo that just comes loose in the box, it tends to be the worst ammo plus is all smashed around and that can induce jams due to little defects. Stick with ammo that comes in the plastic trays w/ individual holes for each round - this is not one bit expensive, you are talking like 8 cents a round versus the 4 or 5 cents for the real crumby stuff

. Also since people shoot .22LR a lot they often jump to the big boxes of cheap ammo, which you can buy in bulk - just better to buy quality stuff..

If you think you need high velocity, a good one are Remington Golden Bullets, maybe give them a shot. They are sold at Walmart in 100 round packages for $8 I believe.

Good luck!

bamaranger · February 21, 2019, 09:32 PM

USN retired, I'm not too far behind you, at .61, but as anybody there will tell you........it's not the year model, it's the mileage!

Bamaboy was about 10 when we bought the AR-7. I't's his, but I likely have shot it more than he has at this point. When I was working, one of my coworkers used to say " You ain't nothin' but a big kid".

I'm trying hard to keep that the truth. Best wishes.

Cheapshooter · February 22, 2019, 01:43 PM

Got a few years on both of you. But I have always found the AR7 to be interesting. As well as the 22/410 M6 air crew survival weapon. Just haven't run across one at the right price when I was in the right mood, or wasn't already buying something else.

spacemanspiff · February 22, 2019, 03:29 PM

I had one of those, think it was the first rimfire I bought.

Not a bad little gun, only troubles I had wasn't ever with the gun itself but the cheapo scope mount I had on it. could never tighten it enough so it wouldn't loosen after firing a hundred rounds. If I recall, the final fix was to apply nail polish around the mount/rail.

**44 AMP** · February 22, 2019, 11:31 PM

This can get a little confusing, but I'm not going to look up dates and velocities, sorry.

A long time ago, (better than half a century) there was an improved .22LR loading, called "high velocity". The original load became known as "standard velocity". The High Velocity load became so popular, it became the "standard" and the original "standard velocity" ammo was still produced, as Target ammo.

There are some old .22s that were never made to take "high velocity" ammo.

Today, about every common .22LR is the "high vel" load. Remington Golden Bullets, Thunderbolts, Winchecter Wildcats and other are all "high velocity".

There is also an even higher velocity load, usually called "hyper velocity" Stingers, Yellowjackets, Vipers and such. Some guns won't take them, most will.

February 13, 2019, 06:20 PM	#3
USNRet93 Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2018 Location: Republic of Boulder, USA Posts: 1,475	Thanks sir. __________________ PhormerPhantomPhlyer "Tools not Trophies”

February 18, 2019, 08:57 AM	#9
USNRet93 Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2018 Location: Republic of Boulder, USA Posts: 1,475	Shot it yesterday...cold day up in the mountains but no wind..really a giggle. Hitting a can at 50 yards pretty easy even with my crappy bi-focaled eyes. One failure, bolt tried to close on a round smushing it..about 250 rounds..which cost about $8...like that. Fun gun. __________________ PhormerPhantomPhlyer "Tools not Trophies”

February 18, 2019, 12:16 PM	#10
GarandTd Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2016 Location: Rural PA Posts: 1,639	What kind of ammo did you end up running through it? __________________ 22lr, 20 gauge, 8mm Mauser, 35 Remington, 30-06, 5.56x45/223, 9mm, 380acp

February 19, 2019, 09:59 AM	#12
GarandTd Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2016 Location: Rural PA Posts: 1,639	People seem to love or hate the Remington Thunderbolt. I like it. It's cheap and like you said, pretty accurate. I get better accuracy from Blazer 22lr, but it's also $8-$10 more per 500 rounds. __________________ 22lr, 20 gauge, 8mm Mauser, 35 Remington, 30-06, 5.56x45/223, 9mm, 380acp

February 20, 2019, 03:01 AM	#14
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	AR-7 I dunno what it is, but youngsters tend to like the AR-7. As a lad, bamaboy wanted one, and I eventually bought him one for a birthday. It's run fine, and other than the front plastic front sight running around in its dovetail, has given no problems. Picked up some extra mags to fit in the butt too. I borrow the little rifle from him, and throw it in the trunk with a brick of ammo stored in a peanut butter jar, on long trips, just in case.

February 13, 2019, 10:17 AM	#1
USNRet93 Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2018 Location: Republic of Boulder, USA Posts: 1,475	Henry AR-7 ammo-'High Velocity'? Youngest son made me an offer I couldn't refuse so he has the $ to buy a 1022..Bought his Henry AR-7...says it needs 'high velocity' ammo..first 22 I have owned..what makes 22LR ammo 'high velocity'? Above a certain muzzle velocity printed on box? Can those be trusted? TIA __________________ PhormerPhantomPhlyer "Tools not Trophies”

February 13, 2019, 05:50 PM	#2
GarandTd Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2016 Location: Rural PA Posts: 1,639	High velocity 22lr is pretty common. Remington Thunderbolt, CCI Blazer, CCI Minimags are just a few. I would classify rounds over 1200fps as high velocity. There is also what is known as hyper velocity that would be an even higher fps, but I've never used it. I just know it exists. Many semiauto 22's need high velocity ammo to cycle reliably. __________________ 22lr, 20 gauge, 8mm Mauser, 35 Remington, 30-06, 5.56x45/223, 9mm, 380acp

February 14, 2019, 02:08 AM	#4
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Had one for a week, jammed on 10 different ammo types. Multiple mags didn't help.

February 14, 2019, 08:46 AM	#6
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,456	Never a problem with mine. Most .22 ammo sold today is "high velocity". You have to look for "standard velocity".

February 14, 2019, 10:21 AM	#7
Drm50 Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2014 Posts: 1,382	Never had a Henry AR7 or the original. The ones made in late 70s & 80s were Jamo matics. I think Charter Arms were making them at the time. I don't think the trouble was in the mags it was the retention of mag in the gun. If Henry hasn't fixed this that's the problem. If you put your hand under mag to put upward pressure it would work. As far as ammo when they functioned they would shoot anything you put in them.

February 14, 2019, 04:40 PM	#8
Rangerrich99 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Location: Kinda near Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,254	Hmm. I've had my Henry AR-7 for at least 8 years now, with few issues with jamming. And my god-children have put nearly 4,000 rds through the thing. It has stove-piped a few times, but I found that just an annual cleaning and shooting the bolt with some WD-40 or similar before shooting would allow it to run smoothly all day or through at least several sessions. Mine will even run using standard velocity ammo, though it will tend to stove-pipe after a 100 to 200 rounds. My advice is to just keep it moderately clean and lubed and it should just run. The high velocity stuff just makes it a bit more reliable.

February 20, 2019, 09:14 AM	#16
riffraff Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2016 Posts: 629	So the deal w/ .22 LR's from my experience is this: #1 - Rimfire is dirty stuff (.22LR is rimfire not centerfire) - cleaning is not optional, particularly in some guns more than others you are going to have to clean fairly often between uses if you shoot much. People also tend to shoot a lot of .22LR in an auto loader since it's cheap, so that just makes for dirtier guns. #2 - If you are having problems w/ a .22LR gun stay away from the ultra cheap "pre damaged" ammo that just comes loose in the box, it tends to be the worst ammo plus is all smashed around and that can induce jams due to little defects. Stick with ammo that comes in the plastic trays w/ individual holes for each round - this is not one bit expensive, you are talking like 8 cents a round versus the 4 or 5 cents for the real crumby stuff . Also since people shoot .22LR a lot they often jump to the big boxes of cheap ammo, which you can buy in bulk - just better to buy quality stuff.. If you think you need high velocity, a good one are Remington Golden Bullets, maybe give them a shot. They are sold at Walmart in 100 round packages for $8 I believe. Good luck!

February 21, 2019, 09:32 PM	#17
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	age USN retired, I'm not too far behind you, at .61, but as anybody there will tell you........it's not the year model, it's the mileage! Bamaboy was about 10 when we bought the AR-7. I't's his, but I likely have shot it more than he has at this point. When I was working, one of my coworkers used to say " You ain't nothin' but a big kid". I'm trying hard to keep that the truth. Best wishes.

February 22, 2019, 01:43 PM	#18
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	Got a few years on both of you. But I have always found the AR7 to be interesting. As well as the 22/410 M6 air crew survival weapon. Just haven't run across one at the right price when I was in the right mood, or wasn't already buying something else. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

February 22, 2019, 03:29 PM	#19
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	I had one of those, think it was the first rimfire I bought. Not a bad little gun, only troubles I had wasn't ever with the gun itself but the cheapo scope mount I had on it. could never tighten it enough so it wouldn't loosen after firing a hundred rounds. If I recall, the final fix was to apply nail polish around the mount/rail. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

February 22, 2019, 11:31 PM	#20
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,839	This can get a little confusing, but I'm not going to look up dates and velocities, sorry. A long time ago, (better than half a century) there was an improved .22LR loading, called "high velocity". The original load became known as "standard velocity". The High Velocity load became so popular, it became the "standard" and the original "standard velocity" ammo was still produced, as Target ammo. There are some old .22s that were never made to take "high velocity" ammo. Today, about every common .22LR is the "high vel" load. Remington Golden Bullets, Thunderbolts, Winchecter Wildcats and other are all "high velocity". There is also an even higher velocity load, usually called "hyper velocity" Stingers, Yellowjackets, Vipers and such. Some guns won't take them, most will. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.