AR-7 Concerns -- Help!

[Arcana71]

OK... so I've been looking at one of the original Armalite AR-7 rifles. However, I've found reports that certain pieces could malfunction seriously under certain conditions. Does anyone know what the original problem was... or how it could be eliminated?

Rumor has it that Henry (the most-current manufacturer) made significant quality improvements to the trigger mechanism. So would a Henry "organ transplant" consisting of the Trigger (A), Hammer (B) and Spring (C) effectively eliminate the problem?

The other thought is this: The trigger of the piece I examined had some significant side-to-side play. Might this be part of the problem? The trigger and hammer are both narrow pieces of steel. I'm thinking that excess play might allow the narrow hammer and sear to "miss" each other. Is the solution as simple as thin shims on either side of the trigger pin (and perhaps a slightly oversized pin)?

Any thoughts on this one, folks? Kindly advise.

[gold cup abuser]

Only time I had a burst fire issue on a Charter Arms was when I was using Ram Line extened mags.

Switched back to the factor originals and no problems.

You might want to check the hammer to trigger engagement to make sure the parts there are fully engaged and there are no wear issues on the two parts.

I don't think that using shims will sove this potential issue. You might want to change the hammer and trigger and spring per your picture.


Good Luck and stay safe

[Arcana71]

Thanks... I appreciate the help.

Originally Posted by gold cup abuser

Only time I had a burst fire issue on a Charter Arms was when I was using Ram Line extened mags.

I admit that I have NO IDEA how the mag could cause this. It's not that I don't believe it... I'm just stumped.

Originally Posted by gold cup abuser

You might want to check the hammer to trigger engagement to make sure the parts there are fully engaged and there are no wear issues on the two parts... You might want to change the hammer and trigger and spring per your picture.

Yeah. I had considered some mild honing, perhaps. But I'd likely just swap out than try to fix it. God forbid, with my luck it would happen after I took a stone to the hammer and trigger... and that's when I get the "visit."

[JayBell]

a possibility here is the bolt was dragging on the feedlips with enough force to allow the gun to eject, and load a new cartridge, but possible not enough to reset the hammer, or activate the disconnector.

I had a Charter arms, AND an armlite model over the years, and both of them did this periodically with weak ammo

can also happen with a stuck firing pin, due to dirt, or foreign particles, and the repeated fast strikes can knock the gunk out.

Its startling when yer not expecting it.

dont ask what happened when I got broken striker stuck in my old semi American 180, while i had a 265rd drum on top.

Suffice to say, hang on for the ride, and try to safely activate the drum lock!

[Arcana71]

Originally Posted by JayBell

dont ask what happened when I got broken striker stuck in my old semi American 180, while i had a 265rd drum on top.

Allow me to say "EEP!"

Thanks, everyone. Any more thoughts?

[JayBell]

Originally Posted by Arcana71

Allow me to say "EEP!"

Thanks, everyone. Any more thoughts?

sorry, i totally forgot to address your original questions with the FCG replacement.

I think shimming the action to ensure parts lockup would be sufficient, if necessary.

the internal parts of the gun are very cheaply made, the charter guns were especially poorly fitted

I wouldn't stone any parts unless they are VERY off, or they dont fit together right.
I'm not sure on the quality of the surface hardening done on these parts, if ANY was done, if it was done, improper stoning could cause accellerated wear.

thats pretty much all I can offer at this point....on my AR7s, the magazines required more work than the actual gun, i was forever adjusting feedlips, or the feedramp in the mag.

[Arcana71]

Originally Posted by JayBell

I think shimming the action to ensure parts lockup would be sufficient, if necessary.

So... bronze? Freaky space-age superpolymer?

Originally Posted by JayBell

the internal parts of the gun are very cheaply made, the charter guns were especially poorly fitted

Apparently, Henry has improved the "innards" or so I hear.

Thanks again.

[JayBell]

Originally Posted by Arcana71

So... bronze? Freaky space-age superpolymer?


Thanks again.

I was thinking more of some thin brass or steel washers, ground to fit.
hell, even NYLON would be fine.

check the parts bins at Lowes.

[Arcana71]

So... some two months later, here's an update:

First, I just want to thank everyone here for not just calling the AR-7 a POS and moving on with their lives. That seemed to be the standard answer on all the other boards which I frequent. Second, after a thorough cleaning that removed decades-old petrified crud, a certain 35-year-old Armalite POS just went through 400 rounds of CCI Mini-Mag without a hitch.* At 15 yards, each eight-round magazine left a hole that could hide under a quarter.

Don't get me wrong. I know 400 rounds isn't exactly a torture test, 15 yards isn't an Olympic event and quarter-sized groups aren't surgical. I just think these things often get a bum rap. Or maybe I just stumbled upon the good one. It's not pretty, or elegant, or even very comfortable... but I'm not going to call this one JUNK. It simply is what it is. It's a pack rifle... and nothing more.

*Footnote: If you're shooting one extensively, check the locking collar every 50 rounds or so. They can work loose as the aluminum heats up. That corrected 80% of the reliability issues I've had. The other 20% vanished when I tossed a tired, 35-year-old magazine.

[gold cup abuser]

Glad you got your rifle up and working correctly

I have nothing but fond memories of my Charter Arms AR7

She served me well as a plinker and fun rifle.

Enjoy and dont pay so much attention to the opinons of others

Happy Shooting