Modern "M4 Aircrew Survival Rifle"?

Burncycle · 01-11-2012, 00:25

I was looking at the M4 Aircrew Survival Rifle, and it seemed like it would make an excellent small game getter that is easier to deploy than breakdown rifles and packs down nearly as small.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M4-Survival-Rifle.jpg

The question is, is there a modern equivalent (obviously the barrel length would need to be longer to be legal) or can a modern equivalent be made out of an existing rifle?

I know a lot of .22's out there have a small bolt that attaches the bulky stock to the action/barrel and can usually be disassembled, and then there would just need to be a frame/grip/telescoping stock added to the assembly.

I've seen the .22 "pack rifle" but it's a takedown rifle with a fixed stock. I've seen the small AR-7 but the stock is quite bulky. Semi automatic isn't necessary, but it's nice to have fairly easy followup shots (like a magazine fed bolt action). Otherwise a modified cricket would be almost perfect.

mac66 · 01-11-2012, 08:22

The Ar7 as mentioned is a good choice. It is light weight and pretty small once you shed the bulky plastic stock

Here's mine in back packing mode. About 2.5 lbs

BTW, the Ar7 was based on the Ar5 which was a bolt action version though never marketed commercially. Used the same type of hollow plastic stock to hold the action and barrel.

Here is an interesting version that was in a couple movies. I've not seen the stock offered anywhere else but doesn't look too hard to make.

I've read about kit to convert a Cricket single shot kids rifle into a very light weight pack rifle. I think it weighed about 15 ozs. Pretty pricy though.

http://www.rutalocura.com/PRK.html

It would probably be pretty easy to come up with something similar using the Cricket. The Cricket also comes in 22 mag btw.

Burncycle · 01-11-2012, 12:56

Definitely liking your take on the AR7!

I'm thinking an extendable wire stock should be pretty easy to fabricate using that as a host

mac66 · 01-11-2012, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burncycle

Definitely liking your take on the AR7!

I'm thinking an extendable wire stock should be pretty easy to fabricate using that as a host

The best I can figure out is that movie gun's pistol grip is just a round knurled piece of aluminum screwed into where the plastic stock fits. It then holds in the wire stock.

Btw, that rifle was used in the movie The Interpreter (Nicole Kidman) (by the assassin). Same gun is seen hanging on the wall in the movie Lord of War w/ Nicolas Cage.

Burncycle · 01-11-2012, 17:32

Found something online that has a telescoping stock like the M4 (except I'd keep the full length barrel to avoid the whole SBR issue)

http://www.gunauction.com/search/dis...temnum=9231184

But the price

Out of curiosity where did you find the stock for yours Mac? Or did you build it? Is it still pretty comfortable to shoot without the pistol grip?

mac66 · 01-11-2012, 21:47

I bought that stock many years ago used off of ebay. You can still buy them here along with other ar7 stuff.

http://ar7.imoutdoorshosting.com/store/page75.html

I took the pistol grip off to save weight and make it more compact. I have no trouble shooting it that way. I was thinking about perhaps using one of those folding vertical foregrips people put on AR15s as a replacement.

Burncycle · 01-11-2012, 22:38

Cool deal, thanks

M1A Shooter · 01-11-2012, 23:02

look into the AGP takedown 10/22 rifles. http://www.agparms.com/agp-arms-take-down-10-22/

there was another project i remember seeing that used a crickett single shot .22lr that came out fairly similar to the OP pic.

M1A Shooter · 01-11-2012, 23:12

here it is on youtube.

15 oz Pack Rifle Kit - YouTube

15oz backpacking rifle built from a crickett.
im sure this could be reverse engineered with the factory barrel and some pvc extremely cheap.

lawman800 · 01-12-2012, 00:11

I'm digging the wire stocked AR7!

**Javelin** · 01-12-2012, 01:52

That rifle is a crisis.

In a survival situation that is one of the last rifles I would want.

Try a Noveske 300BLK w/ 8" barrel or something that is not all dicked up and ridiculous.

Bilbo Bagins · 01-12-2012, 08:28

Marlin Papoose

3.25 pounds. Accurate, more reliable then the current AR-7, 10 round mags are available. If I'm using a .22 as a survival rifle I rather it be semi-auto.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firear...ding/70PSS.asp

Marlin Papoose - YouTube

Rossi Matched Pair in .22lr and .410

3.75 pounds , Single shot but with two barrels you have the option of shooting .22 or shooting .410.

http://www.rossiusa.com/product-deta...eadcrumbseries=

Rossi Matched Pair 22-410 - YouTube

mac66 · 01-12-2012, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javelin

That rifle is a crisis.

In a survival situation that is one of the last rifles I would want.

Try a Noveske 300BLK w/ 8" barrel or something that is not all dicked up and ridiculous.

Yeah, ok

It seems to me that gun is exactly the definition of "all dicked up and ridiculous"

I think the point of this thread is to look as the lightest, smallest, packable rifles.

***BMH*** · 01-12-2012, 09:17

There is the Springfield M6 Scout. It is an over-under rifle. Both a .22LR and a 410 shotgun. It folds nearly in half for storage. Lots of vidoes on youtube.

jwhite75 · 01-12-2012, 09:47

You can also get the Springfield in .22 Hornet that has a little more zip to it.

rem2429 · 01-12-2012, 10:46

Ruger charger in butler creek folding stock(nfa)
?

Bilbo Bagins · 01-12-2012, 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMH

There is the Springfield M6 Scout. It is an over-under rifle. Both a .22LR and a 410 shotgun. It folds nearly in half for storage. Lots of vidoes on youtube.

Good luck finding one. I really wish Springfield or someone would re-introduce it. Decent gun that is getting harder and harder to find

**Javelin** · 01-12-2012, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac66

Yeah, ok

It seems to me that gun is exactly the definition of "all dicked up and ridiculous"

I think the point of this thread is to look as the lightest, smallest, packable rifles.

You're ignorance comes through absolutely/

***BMH*** · 01-12-2012, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo Bagins

Good luck finding one. I really wish Springfield or someone would re-introduce it. Decent gun that is getting harder and harder to find

You might try here: http://www.bodermansports.com/Firear.../m6_scout.html

The prices that they advertise are from $209 to $249.

mac66 · 01-12-2012, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javelin

You're ignorance comes through absolutely/

And you completely missed the point there ace.

Anyway, back to the point...

Here is the Ar7 with the stock and barrel jacket and fairly rare 80's era Ramline mag. It is not suppressed, just has a stupid metal tube around the barrel which I have since cut off.

***RWBlue*** · 01-12-2012, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo Bagins

Good luck finding one. I really wish Springfield or someone would re-introduce it. Decent gun that is getting harder and harder to find

I don't understand why a combo rifle isn't in every home in the USA.

BTW, I would prefer one with a little more power. 12ga over....?

BTW2, Does anyone know if you can shoot a 45ACP in the Springfield?

wjv · 01-12-2012, 15:27

Feather AT-22

Light weight, RELIABLE, very accurate and is one of the quietest shooting .22 LR that I have ever heard.

3.25 lbs, 20 round magazines, semiautomatic
Has a collapsible wire stock (slides in/out)
Barrel is also removable.

**Javelin** · 01-12-2012, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac66

And you completely missed the point there ace.

Anyway, back to the point...

Here is the Ar7 with the stock and barrel jacket and fairly rare 80's era Ramline mag. It is not suppressed, just has a stupid metal tube around the barrel which I have since cut off.

A Survival Gun to me isn't a license to throw whatever crap components together to barely meet the requirements of being a gun. To me it a survival gun is something that is able to take big & small game, be 100% reliable with readily available parts, and can provide adequate protection in the case of a disaster (natural or otherwise).

What you are depicting as a "Survival Gun" really is just a stretch of the imagination as to what I would want in a survival situation and nor do I believe you do either.

IV Troop · 01-12-2012, 16:44

A good point.

If I am in a dire situation. I do not want many of the guns shown above. Many of those look like fantasy guns owned by novel reading suburbanites.

I want something with highly visible sights, that is easy to use and is ultra reliable, that I can easily nail a rabbit or grouse with at 50 yards.

I would rather have a plain old Marlin Model 60, 795, Ruger 10-22 or something of that nature. At least the Papoose makes some sense. A practical 4x scope on that Papoose would be a solid game getter.

This very old Marlin Model 25 that I cut back to 16.5"s and threaded for a can comes to mind. It is topped with a simple fixed 2.5x Weaver. It is brick simple and very quiet.

The side of it also has a rail so I can attach a light/laser M6 to it for night time use. Light, short, simple, quiet, day or night effective. It has also been proven on haystack eating jackrabbits.

It is not sexy, or even painted black, but if I was in a survival situation I would be very happy to have it with me.

Dexters · 01-12-2012, 16:46

G22 Firin' Fine - YouTube

G22