I've owned the AR-7, a Charter Arms model. It was a POS in terms of accuracy and reliability. In the three or so years I owned it, I can't remember getting off more than three shots in a row with any brand or type of ammo before there was some sort of malfunction related to the rounds or spent casing getting hung up crossways in the breech. I knew much less about guns than I know now, so I might have had bad magazines or needed to polish the feed ramp. Writers on many of the gun forums report the same issues. Perhaps the Henry version is better. However, the Browning .22 is a piece of firearms art - truly a fine firearm. It would be my first choice, even with the additional expense, for a .22 rifle. It lacks the customization possibilities of the Ruger 10/22, which is also a very good firearm, but I would take the Browning in a minute over any .22 auto.

Good luck with your search.