It’s a perennial discussion point on this here back porch of mine:
“I want a carbine-type companion piece to my handgun.”
Well, here’s one I had not heard of until recently and nor, it would seem, had the venerable Hitchock45: the TNW Aero Survival Rifle. (Ignore that silly MSRP; here it is at BassPro, hardly the cheapest retailer on the planet.)
I have to say, I really like the look of this little darling; it’s like a grown-up AR-7 Survival Rifle (.22 LR).
It also takes Glock magazines for the caliber of your preference — did I mention that you can pick your favorite chambering among 9mm, .357SIG, .40S&W, 10mm and (my choice, of course) .45ACP? I’d buy a few Glock 21 mags — 13-rounders, of course, just to piss off the GFW Brigade –and yes, I’d prefer that the Aero took 1911 mags, but only because then I wouldn’t have to buy more of them. But at about $20 per mag, I could do the Glocks easily.
The Aero does not have iron sights, which is another minor irritant, but I can see why: a front sight on the barrel could cause packing- or unpacking hassles. Okay, then: I’d top the Aero with one of these Springfield red-dot scopes.
Your choice may differ — heading upmarket towards Holosun, Trijicon or Leupold — but I’d be happy with the less inexpensive choice. Also, size is important because the Aero disassembles into a teeny lil’ packaway thing which would easily fit into a light backpack; and the Springfield Hex is, from all reports I’ve read, extremely rugged and can handle the .45’s recoil with ease.
By the way, when you watch Hitchcock’s video, and you should, please note the difficulty he has with some of the Glock mags — but he resolves the issue in the same video: load the mag firmly with the bolt closed, and all will be well.
If you are sensing from my tone that I want one of these little beauties very badly, you would be correct; and the Aero and accessories are going onto Santa’s list as we speak.
I think I want one as well. And the package on TNW’s website provides extra barrels, bolts and magazines to use any one of 3 calibers. Seems worth it.
1 Aero Survival Rifle
2 Additional Bolt Heads
2 Additional Magazines
2 Additional Barrels
1 Extra Trigger Housing
1 TNW specially designed backpack
I guess I don’t understand the attraction of the “break-down” rifle.
With the push of 2 pins my AR15 will break down into 2 pieces but why would I do that?
Having said that, if the ultimate break down rifle is to be had the AR7 is hard to beat because it is stored in an all-in-one package. What I personally found disappointing, and I didn’t realize it from looking at pictures, but only when I held it in my hand, is that the receiver and barrel are “offset” some distance from alignment with the butt stock. This is so the barrel and receiver can be stored in the butt stock. And then, the overall “cheapness” feel to the whole thing. If I found a lightly used one for about $50 I’d grab it, otherwise, no.
Way back when, I was shopping for a take-down rifle, and spoke to my local Merchant of Death about the AR-7. He said that it was more suited to being carried a lot and shot a little. If I intended to plink with it I should get something more durable. Since you actually held one and commented on its cheapness, I am glad I went with the Springfield M-6.
I still wanna be able to use my…well, it’s not quite a pile, but a bunch of…1911 magazines. I occasionally jones for a Marlin Camp 45 (with a new Wolf spring to keep things from breaking) but even heavily used they’re going for over a kilobuck. Hey, somebody (Ruger?) start making those again, please.
For now I’ve settled on a MechTech CCU (“Carbine Conversion Unit”) on top of a RIA frame. I don’t like the idea of batteries on a firearm so I’ve gone with a 1.5-4.5x scope on a QD mount and BUIS. It’ll do a 2″ group at 50 yards with any 230-grain ammo (HP or ball). The .45 ACP is a pretty low-pressure cartridge so I’m not sure I’m getting a lot of extra velocity over a 4.25″ or 5″ barrel, but the better sighting systems for aging eyes helps a lot (sight radius with BUIS is a lot longer than with a pistol).
But I have yet to use it anywhere other than the range so I’m not sure exactly what role it’s supposed to play, other than having fun turning money into noise with it. A couple of 10-round McCormick magazines make it easy to blow through a box of ammo, and recoil is zilch.
Pass on the Aero. Not only is there a Camp Carbine .45 in the safe, but also Ruger’s grown up 10/22, the PC9.
Which, if one wants a takedown pistol caliber carbine, is a very valid option indeed. I have mine set up to take Glock magazines as well, and with the Magpul and ETS aftermarket mags, it runs quite well.
And it runs about the same price, give it take a hundred depending on the furniture, as the mini AR listed as well.
I just started tinkering with one of Foxtrot Mike’s AR-pattern “pistols” in 45 ACP using Glock mags. Pretty pleased so far. I’m even using the Korean knockoff 25 rnd mags with no problems. Now I’m wondering if the 50 rnd drums would work…poor I man’s Thompson, anyone?
Kim comes out for an AR pattern rifle, without the slightest hint of wood on it? IMPOSTER! Who are you, and what did you do with our Kim?
At some point, you just give up…
Lol
I picked up a S&W M&P FPC (Folding Personal Carbine) early this summer. It takes M&P mags and comes with 1 17-round and 2 23-round mags (which fit in the buttstock). Dandy little workhorse. With a couple of backup mags, would make a great truck gun.
Jerry Miculek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJjlJBv0VUk
that carbine looks like a handy truck gun or home defense carbine. It can pair up well with a M&P pistol very nicely.
JQ
One of these in 10mm and a Glock 20(10mm also) might be the ultimate pair.
Buffalo Bore 180gr 10mm from a 16″ barrel is going nearly 1600fps, versus 1350fps from the Glock. That is about 1000 lbs/ft of muzzle energy.
Life is too short to own an ugly gun.
Pass
I went to Bass Pro and noticed that it was available in either 9mm, .45ACP, or 10mm.
Then I remembered California has that anti-Assault rifle law (to keep us safe from assault, battery, robbery, and murder — How’s that going, Governor Brylcreem?), and I read further and saw that it had
AN INTEGRATED CHILD-PROOF LOCK.
To quote someone else here, hard Pass.
the overlords in the state capitol think these firearms are not appropriate for the ordinary citizen to keep and bear so unfortunately these fun rifles are not available to me until I move to free America. Ironically, many of these rifles and carbines are manufactured within this region of moonbat lunacy.
JQ