Bought a .357, what about iron sights?

[Dirty Bob]

You've convinced me! I've never owned a Handi-Rifle (though I have an H&R 1871 20ga. single shot), and now I've gone and done it. I ordered a .357 via my local FFL on Tuesday, and he has my .357 ready for pickup tomorrow!

I want to go with iron sights. I plan to buy the ghost ring mentioned here in a sticky, but what about a front sight? Where do I buy one, and how tough is the install? I may just go ahead and make my own, but I really like the looks of the sights I've seen in photos here.

Any help would be very much appreciated. I may shorten it to 16.5" before installing the sight.

I'm really looking forward to trying out this .357 carbine!

All my best,
Dirty Bob

[Spanky]

Congrats on the 357. I've got one and I love it.
It shoots cloverleafs with pretty much anything I feed it. I shoot small game with it using 38 special lead bullets and I use 158gr. mag. loads for deer. I'm having it reamed to Max soon and I have some 200gr. gas checked cast bullets to try out.
Versatility is the name of the game with the 357.



Spanky

[Lon371]

 Welcome to the site. Welcome to the world of Handis.

 As you have already indicated you found the FAQ. Lots of good info there. There are few fellas here who have adapted sights to there handies. I am sure they will be along shortly to help ya.

 As for your new .357. You will love it. They are very flexible as far as ammo. You can shoot the .38 specials and .357 mag. If you have a long throat, you may be able to use the Dan Wesson .360. After you get on the list and ream it to a Maximum, you will be able to shoot the .357 maximum which sooo many of have and love

 Let us know what your next Handi will be. Oh you are not buying any more? Uh ok


Lonny

[kng]

Here's my experience:

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,184360.msg1098939239.html#msg1098939239


In a nutshell I used a factory H&R front ramp sight blade and a  Williams rear peep sight.  I had the barrell tapped for the front blade.

thanks,
-Kyle

[Dirty Bob]

Thank you all for the encouragement!

I picked it up from my friendly FFL yesterday, and I'm very pleased. It fits me better than I expected. The weight isn't bad, either. I've been jonesing for a .357 Magnum since I read AK Church's essay on the six barrels of the Handi-Rifle. Two of his barrels were .357: one cut down to minimum length for carry in a pickup.

Now, I've been reading about .357 Max, and it sounds awesome to have that much flexibility in a single rifle. Let me get this straight: I can shoot everything from my .38 wadcutter target/snubby loads to a full-on .357 Maximum in a single barrel? Where do I sign up?

I suspect the accuracy with .38 in .357 Max that people have been experiencing might be due in part to the fact that the rifle was chambered by hand. The last bit of throat and transition to rifling might be a bit smoother than one finds in a barrel that was chambered by a power tool. Whadda ya think? Plausible, or am I nuts?

I'm likely to join the shorty club, and I plan to put a shorter buttstock on it. I'd love to be able to carry it assembled in a fairly small bag that doesn't look like a rifle case.

I've gotta get a rear sight ordered. I've decided to make my own front. I have a design for a simple front sight/light mount that I think will work. I'm dying to find out what this little .357 can do on the range!

I suspect also that one Handi-Rifle will lead to another. If I shorten this one, I'll "need" a full-length .357 as a companion piece. I think there's also a .30-30 Handi-Rifle somewhere with my name on it.

Thanks again! This is gonna be fun!

Regards,
Dirty Bob