The Marlin Papoose is a fun to shoot and quite accurate takedown .22. It’s easy to have with you almost anywhere you can carry a backpack. Cost is approximately $250 and it weighs 3.25lbs. What’s not to like?
[…] I was surprised to learn that despite reviewing everything from expensive shotguns to high-end AR-15 rifles, Andrews favorite gun is the humble Marlin Papoose takedown .22 rifle. […]
That is a neat little gun.
Looks pretty cool. I’d like to see a comparison, a shootout if you will, between that and this
http://www.henryrepeating.com/rifle-survival-ar7.cfm
The Survival AR-7 has durability issues due to the polymer parts, though it does offer a unique, self-contained emergency rifle.
For a true, work like a rock, survival rifle, the Springfield M6 Scout better fits the bill.
This fella made some nice modifications to it.
The only AR-7’s worth a darn are the original Armalites. The Charter/Suvival Arms/Henry ones blow goats, to put it as charitably as possible.
I remember one silver Henry Arms one that they took in on trade on my day off at the last shop I worked at. We did our damnedest to get that thing to run (using two diploma-ed gunsmiths with 30+ years in the business between them) and only succeeded in making two customers angry.
Finally sold it at a loss “As Is”.
Did you ever think to send the rifle back to Henry? They do have a lifetime warranty on them. I have one of their Survival rifles and while it had feeding issues at first, after a few hundred rounds through it they have vanished for the most part (I say for the most part only because the firearm is still fairly picky with ammo). I will say, though, that the Marlin seems like a better quality rifle all around. I intend on picking one up eventually. 🙂
Man the video makes me want to buy this gun, just looks like a great time for not that much money. Excellent job with the review Andrew (as always).
Thank you. I agree completely, it’s the most fun you can have for such a small cash outlay.
My first rifle was the non-takedown equivalent, the Marlin Model 70. The only real difference between them is the abbreviated forend and barrel attachment method of the Papoose.
I have an AR-7 that actually works – it’s a neat rifle – but I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for the Marlins because they are so handy and simple. Thanks for the review – now I am considering a Papoose again!!!
The part where you mention the scope isn’t clear. Can you tell us the detailed information? Thanks
It’s a Burris Rimfire 3-9×40. I think it would have cost about 30 bucks, but I got it for free with another scope.