Randy,

I don't care for the AR7. I've owned an original ArmaLite and a newer manufactured (Charter Arms). The accuracy was poor, and they were both unreliable.

A Marlin 70 Papoose weighs only 3.25 pounds and breaks down easily to a VERY SMALL package. It is accurate enough to hunt rabbits and squirrels if you don't constantly assemble and disassemble it. The cost a little more than the AR7, but its money well invested. Marlin's micro-groove barrels are phenomenally accurate for their price point.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/selfloading/70pss.asp

I read this article 6 or 7 years ago, and it made sense to me.....

http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/224survivaltg.htm


EDIT FOR CORRECTION: The Marlin Papoose only weighs 3.25 pounds. I had originally posted 4 pounds above because when I had one in my ruck it had several mags and extra ammo in the pouch I stored it in (weighed in at exactly 4.0 pounds).

I had forgotten about the Papoose and that it broke down. I just thought it was a "kids size" rifle. Thanks.

It isn't adult sized, but I think its the best "pack 22" currently offered.....

1) Stainless steel barrel
2) Comes with sling swivels
3) Magazine feed
4) Semi-auto
5) 16" micro-groove barrel (accurate)
6) Decent sights
7) Easy to mount a scope on
8) Light weight
9) Quick / Easy take-down with no parts to loose

I don't own one right now, but its on my "must buy" list. They use to make a blued version that can be found on the secondary market for a lot less money. However, a new stainless model is only about $200 so I'd rather spend the extra and get the corrosion resistance.

Eventually I'll buy one and make the following modifications:

A) Add a sling with quick-detach swivels.
B) Add a Leupold VX2 2-7x33mm scope (only adds 8.5 ounces)
C) Wrap the barrel with 550 paracord.

SIDE NOTE:

Mounting a scope on the receiver of a "take down" rifle can be an issue as the barrel is removed from the receiver making "maintaining a zero" difficult. The solution is to mount a EER (Extended Eye Relief) scope on the barrel itself. Since the 22 has very little recoil, a handgun scope could be used for this purpose (or a standard "scout scope").

I've yet to investigate the cost of having the barrel drilled / tapped for a scout mount. They might make a mount that friction fits into the rear sight dovetail, but I wouldn't trust it to maintain zero without some sort of "screw" that applies friction to the barrel (thus holding the mount stable).

Silver Solder?

I figured somebody had "scout mounted" a scope on a Marlin Papoose. Twenty seconds of google searching yielded this...

http://www.scoutrifle.org/index.php?topic=578.0



4.25 pounds with scope, mount and magazine.

The bolt on mount above only cost $8.50 on amazon. If mounted in a manner to prevent "slippage" it would make a simple set up.

Just figured out a way to hold the mount in place....

Use a rear sight dovetail blank (sticks up above the surface of the barrel). This could be the "key" that you index the mount too.

This take-down set up is just plain classy....



A quality mount like the one depicted (combined with a quality scope) would make a Marlin Papoose a formidable "stew pot" pack rifle.

You talked about the "stock" not being adult size. I found out about 3 weeks ago that the SHORT 20ga I I have is NOT illegal! Our Chief deputy looked it up in the state statutes.

It's sweet. 16/12 inch barrel with a shortened butt stock with a semi-hard rubber pad. He said it qualifies because it is longer than 26 or 26 1/2 inches. Maybe now I can put it back together.

Heck with the marlin, I like the lever gun! I AM IN LOVE!

Haha, with my luck it's probably a 600 Nitro express! You know, that nice Whitetail round. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />