Henry U.S. Survival Pack with AR-7 Takedown Rifle – Why You Need One

Henry U.S. Survival Pack with AR-7 Takedown Rifle Review
Henry U.S. Survival Pack with AR-7 Takedown Rifle with a few of my own survival tool additions.

Wisconsin – 29 December 2018 was the 44th anniversary of the first showing of Stanley Kubrick’s nuclear war satire “Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.”

It premiered that day in New York, Toronto and London. In one of the classic scenes Major T.J. “King” Kong is going through his emergency survival kit that the Air Force has provided him on his B-52 nuclear bomber aircraft.

You will remember Major Kong (played by actor Slim Pickens) as he rides the nuclear bomb down to the target all the time waving his cowboy hat.

A few days ago I was walking into the Shooters Sports Center in Racine, Wisconsin and spotted Mike Art, the manager as I entered. I was there to pick up a Henry U.S. Survival Pack that includes an AR-7 rifle to place in the pack .

Mike in his younger days was a Navy Chief Petty Officer and nuke sub driver. I am an old US Air Force, Strategic Air Command (read B-52 nuke bombers) cop. So, Mike and I have been up close and in personal contact with nuclear weapons. Professionally, we both understand what nukes can and cannot do. When Mike spots me, he starts repeating Slim Pickens / Major Kong’s lines in reference to the B-52 survival kit. At first I do not understand what he is talking about.

What Mike was doing was making a humorous comparison between the B-52 survival kit and the Henry U.S Survival Pack that has arrived at his gun shop.

Mike and I both know that an individual needs a survival kit. You have the right to survive but you also have the obligation to survive, others may depend on you. Hollywood sadly gives you the mistaken impression that one nuke will strike your country and everyone will be vaporized, so of course no one will survive. If that is the case then why practice the Boy Scout motto to “Be Prepared”?

The US can absorb massive amounts of earthquakes, volcano eruptions, nuclear weapons detonations, even the Caldera in Yellowstone erupting and there will be survivors. In order to continue to function and stay alive you have to have some basic tools and some basic skills.

A bug-out-bag or a bug-home-bag should be the lowest common denominator you start with. The Henry U.S. Survival Pack is an excellent beginning point. You have the foundation to build your bug-out-bag, with an AR-7, 22LR semi-auto light weight survival rifle, a well made sturdy case to store and transport the rifle and the additional survival/field-craft items that come with the “Pack“.

In the custom, Allen-made gear bag there is 100 feet of para-cord, a tourniquet, a space blanket, a fire steel for starting fires, a water purification straw, datrex food bars and a Buck folding knife. After positioning all the above gear and the Henry AR-7 survival rifle in the gear bag, you still have plenty of room to add other tools you might need in the field.

The author, James Wesley Rawles has a series of books that deal with the economic breakdown of the US and those who try to survive the aftermath. One of his characters is a military veteran, single mother who lives in West Virginia and commutes everyday by van-pool in to the D.C. area to work at her US Government job. She needs the job but must live so far away from D.C. because she cannot afford to work and live in that town. She sees serious problems coming and hides an AR-7 survival rifle inside the van, hoping to not get caught by some security person at the gate of her employment location.

Eventually the crisis hits and the veteran/single mother uses her stashed away AR-7 rifle to aid in her bugging out of DC and returning safely to her children. Fiction of course, but a very real-world scenario devised by Mr. Rawles in his book.

Henry AR-7 Rifle
Henry AR-7 Rifle

The Henry U.S. Survival Rifle/AR-7 is “the” survival rifle, that one tool everyone must have in their bug-out bag. The AR-7 rifle is a tried and true firearm that has rendered help to many a desperate person in a crisis situation. Henry’s greatly improved version of the AR-7 has most effectively enhanced the quality of the rifle and its performance on the range or in the struggle to prevail in the field.

I am well aware that folks reading this article most likely have a working knowledge of how to prepare, but what about your extended family or more importantly your adult children striking out own their own? Are they ready or could they use some help in what to acquire for a basic survival firearm and getting started on building a bug-out kit?

Henry has an expertly designed small package titled the Henry Repeating Survival Kit which they sell separately that will greatly complement the Henry U.S. Survival Pack. There is even a exterior pouch on the Survival Pack gear bag that will conveniently permit the storage of the metal container securely holding the items of the Henry Repeating Survival Kit. Add an assortment of 22LR ammo to the mix and you have the basic contents of a life saving kit you can provide to a less prepared family member.

This is a foundation to build on for those getting started with survival preparation. Of course you can add any and all other items you feel you might need. Just remember you may have to carry everything, as you bug out to safety on foot–choose wisely what you add to your kit.

Henry Repeating Survival Kit
Henry Repeating Survival Kit

By combining the Henry U.S. Survival Pack, the Henry Repeating Survival Kit and some 22LR ammo all in one small, easy to handle and store case, you will go a long way in helping your skeptical friend or relative that you gave this life saving gift to. Hopefully, they will take it with them on their life’s journey and just “Be Prepared”. If they never need it great and if they do you will be remembered as the one who cared enough to actually spend your time and money assisting them to project readiness.

Some people always survive a major crisis. In many cases that is the easy part. It is the long term ability to survive and get on with some semblance of normal that really counts. You have to start somewhere to get ready and the folks at Henry Rifles have actuated that process for you. Now you need to take their beginning help and build a life sustaining plan.

The AR-7 rifle has been in the evil-delaying business for a long time and the folks at Henry have profoundly improved that process.
It is about survival–your survival–or maybe your children.

Major Van Harl USAF Ret
Major Van Harl USAF Ret

About Major Van Harl USAF Ret.:Major Van E. Harl USAF Ret., a career Police Officer in the U.S. Air Force was born in Burlington, Iowa, USA, in 1955. He was the Deputy Chief of police at two Air Force Bases and the Commander of Law Enforcement Operations at another. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry School.  A retired Colorado Ranger and currently is an Auxiliary Police Officer with the Cudahy PD in Milwaukee County, WI.  His efforts now are directed at church campus safety and security training.  He believes “evil hates organization.”  [email protected]

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John m Stacey

Id go with the Ruger Take down or a single shot 12 gage. I have a henry and its fun gun….

E. Bryan Hoover

I tried submitting one comment – let it did not show up … what about this one …

MrLiberty

In looking at the negative comments about the gun, it bears noting that this article BEGAN with a gross inaccuracy as well. Dec. 28, 2018 has NOT HAPPENED YET, and that date in 2017 (which DID recently pass) was the 53rd Anniversary of the movie, NOT the 43rd. And I love my Ruger 10/22 takedown and the great backpack it comes in. Think I will stick with that one.

Mike

I’m not sure what everyone’s issues are with the accuracy. I can head shot a squirrel at twenty yards with mine. As far as issues with it not getting through a magazine without trouble, try using good ammo. Yes, by todays standards it really is kind of silly with all the options out there today but you have to remember what it was designed for and when. I do like the 10/22 takedown and I guess they must make one that goes together in a little water proof package now if you are comparing it to the AR7. This is… Read more »

Wild Bill

@Mike, If you are happy with it, then that is all that matters. As to the restaurant bills being higher… remember that Obama devalued the dollar to half, so it takes twice as many dollars to pay for something. To make a proper comparison, you have to figure the cost in todays dollars.

MrLiberty

The Federal Reserve devalues the dollar, not the president. Indeed, they do what they do on behalf of the president. Massive QE, interest rate suppression, and all the horrible and criminal things the Federal Reserve does to destroy the purchasing power of the dollar have gone on under EVERY president since Wilson helped usher in this criminal organization. BOTH major parties openly support the Federal Reserve, and both LOVE the way it allows them to spend beyond their wildest dreams on warfare and welfare while not having to openly tax us…instead they enjoy the hidden tax of inflation. And no,… Read more »

Jeff

Funny how it’s always the democrats who create the high profile organizations…..C.I.A., I.R.S., F.B.I., S.S.I., DEPT. OF EDU., E.P.A., K.K.K. And the list just goes on. Makes you wonder if the “brown shirts” won with operation PaperClip.. It didn’t help that the son and grandson of a convicted traitor Prescott Bush became presidents of this nation also. That doesn’t help the value of the money of this nation.

Raymond Johnson

I bought a Henry Survival rifle several years ago as a birthday present for me. I bought it because it is featured in several Bond films. I didn’t expect it to be the ultimate rifle but, I was pleasantly surprised. Mine is minute of squirrel accurate out to 25 yds. I have shot several thousand rounds through it without a single malfunction. Yes the rear sight is not very user friendly but, I still managed to center my groups effectively. I may pick up a newer version with the third magazine storage capacity and notched sight rail. As far a… Read more »

Badger Jack

Well, yes, IF you want a rifle that has, at best, mediocre sights that are near impossible to adjust accurately.

Do not forget that Henry is NOT the first company, (maybe the fourth now?), that has produced this waste of materials.

It was first introduced by Charter Arms 40 or so years ago, and has NEVER been a good rifle. They sold the rights to is just to try and recoup some of the losses they incurred by building it!

Frdmftr

As for me, I prefer the Kel-Tec Sub2000 and a suppressor. Although it has a startling recoil for a 9mm.

Charlie

Thanks for the info here. I was considering buying one, but not now. I also read other similar reviews from different sources.

Mitchell E Lubline

Look into the chiapa little badger. You can get them in 22 mag if you want more power out of a folding break barrel rifle for under $215 USD. They might be single shot at a time but will definitely take out rabbit and ground hogs.

Matt in Oklahoma

I can’t believe yall reposted this article after the last time when it was shown that you addressed nothing and even the manufactures video makes fun of the preparedness. The rifle has had issues in the past so were those addressed? Does it actually work? Is it really accurate and a tool or a gimmick and this is just a sponsor plug? I’ll leave you with the Ruger 10-22 Takedown and build you own kit in the pack. There would only be certain categories of people I would even consider giving a 22 for “survival” in a situation and given… Read more »

Rock

Pushing this POS AR7 continually won’t help, it is and always has been an unreliable, short lifespan IF it works rifle. I have owned ONE (1), got fed up V-E-R-Y fast with it, GAVE it away, won’t ever buy another no matter WHO is going low enough (desperate) to put their brand on it. I went with the tried and true Ruger 10/22 Takedown, THERE is a rifle you can count on in any situation without fail, fires any 22lr ammo reliably, 10 mags work great (can get 25 round if wanted) cycles and is accurate. If needed over the… Read more »

explainist

mine won’t get through one magazine without fouling. the reliability of a Yugo. I keep it to demonstrate what a POS it is

MB

When you say Yugo, I hope you mean the car and not the AK’s. Because the AK’s are pretty darn good.

frank

re: Yugo
Know what you’re talking about before posting. Otherwise you only make yourself look ignorant.