New .357 Single Shot

[zara_puppy]

No pics - didn't take any. Just for break in purposes I used PMC 158 grain solids. Iron sights. Even with glasses I am struggling with the irons. Sitting that bead in the tiny "U" on top of the diamond I just can't do. The results weren't good. Much bigger groups than I had hoped for. However my son had brought some handloads so I shot three of those. The last two I gave a bit of extra effort and they ended up within an inch of each other. I reload .357's and a recent post using the same powder and bullets I normally use to reload indicates that the accuracy issues were probably the shooter, not the rifle. As far as shooting it - super sweet. It's a model made post the trigger group upgrade so the trigger is very nice.

Now - I need to look into sighting options. I'd like to think a skinner peep would help but that front bead may just be too small and hard to see. So I'm thinking about a 1-4 power that I'd probably leave on 2, or a 2X scout type optic. Anybody out there with "old eyes" that can attest to the viability of just adding a skinner sight being helpful, or an actual solution?

I have a stellar single shot .243 with a nice 3.5 - 10 Leupold sitting atop. It's great for sitting on the creek line or the edge of the woods overlooking a field - but the .357 is for stands inside the woods. Shots will always be under 100 yards. But I have to be able to hit with it or it's not really useful.

Any advice - real world experience would be great.

NOTE: Red dots and the like have been considered, but I have a really good red dot that used to sit on my muzzle loader. But that silly dot is too fuzzy these days. So - either an iron site solution or experience with a scout type scope would be great.

[JEBar]

looking forward to following you search .... long ago my vision reached the point that for me, a scope is required

[John E Davies]

I have never heard of a scout rail that will work, but I suppose one could be custom made. I would pick a mid sized standard scope like a VX-Freedom 2-7x33mm and just use a regular rail, it can be notched to clear the rear sight. Or cut it off and shorten the ring spacing. I personally would shorten it. Notching that much material will reduce its strength significantly. Use a hacksaw, follow up with a rough file to true it up, then a fine file and 360 Wet or Dry sandpaper, and an “aluminum black” product. If you take care it will look fine.

Or just drift out the rear sight and store it away, since you can not use it..

I don’t have a SS, I am going off browsing the Internet….

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Hatchdog]

For us old guys magnification is our friend. The 2-7x John mentioned works great. However any scope with low to medium magnification will do the trick. I find that I just can’t focus on the front sight very well anymore.

[fortyshooter]

Well this works for me on my lever rifles but maybe not the best for 100 yds.

[Rifletom]

Dang it! My post went into cyber space I guess. I'm with most others here as I cannot use irons any longer, so, scope it is. If you could find a Weaver Classic V 1-3x20mm that will work like a charm. Those 2-7x33 Leupold's are very good also.

Edit: Found the Weaver at Midwayusa for $189. Made in Japan. That is the one you would want. Excellent scope.

[BigAl52]

I cut my first mount off to mount the red dot on mine. It was easy to do. I used my dremel and some flat black paint. You cant even tell it by looking at it. The notch idea is a good one.

[BigAl52]

Well this works for me on my lever rifles but maybe not the best for 100 yds.

I wonder if one of those would work in the single shot flip sight, Im not sure of the notch size I would need to look at it

[zara_puppy]

The Weaver shows as discontinued at Midway. Anybody ever used one of these?

https://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-2-7 ... copes.html

[Rifletom]

The Weaver shows as discontinued at Midway. Anybody ever used one of these?

https://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-2-7 ... copes.html

Not the Burris, but I'd wager it is very good also. I do have the mentioned Weaver on my Henry .357. The model is discontinued, but still in stock or Midway would say "Not available" on the description.

[Bake]

There's an old target shooter's trick that might help. Try "Blackening" the front sight. Black nail polish, black magic marker. or any other black may help . . .

[fortyshooter]

Well this works for me on my lever rifles but maybe not the best for 100 yds.

I wonder if one of those would work in the single shot flip sight, Im not sure of the notch size I would need to look at it

Take a look Al. It can be ground to any width.

[BigAl52]

I have a couple of the Burris 2x7 and there good scopes. But Optics Planet has a 2x7x40 Swift scope. I like a little more field of view. Its rated very good. I think if I get a scope for mine it will be that one.

[BigAl52]

Well this works for me on my lever rifles but maybe not the best for 100 yds.

I wonder if one of those would work in the single shot flip sight, Im not sure of the notch size I would need to look at it

Take a look Al. It can be ground to any width.

Same one you are making will fit the SS folding rear sight. I looked at my SS today and Im going to leave the red dot on it for now. I like the way it looks and it shoots just fine for me right now.

[zara_puppy]

I have a couple of the Burris 2x7 and there good scopes. But Optics Planet has a 2x7x40 Swift scope. I like a little more field of view. Its rated very good. I think if I get a scope for mine it will be that one.

I like this idea. I have a Nikon 2.5 X 7 Shotgun scope with a wide field of view and excellent glass. It's currently sitting on a Savage 17 hmr. I'll probably snatch it and put it on the SS .357 and get a scope a bit more suited for the 17.

Of note - I have a Nikon 1.5 X 5 sitting on my White .451 ML. Got a great deal on both these scopes a couple years ago. Right at 2 bills apiece but got a discount for getting them both.

[John E Davies]

The Weaver shows as discontinued at Midway. Anybody ever used one of these?

https://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-2-7 ... copes.html

You would need to mount it WAY forward on the barrel, (about 10” further than a regular scope), it has a 14” eye relief. I guess a couple of stainless worm screw clamps from Ace Hardware would work….

John Davies
Spokane WA

[zara_puppy]

The Weaver shows as discontinued at Midway. Anybody ever used one of these?

https://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-2-7 ... copes.html

You would need to mount it WAY forward on the barrel, (about 10” further than a regular scope), it has a 14” eye relief. I guess a couple of stainless worm screw clamps from Ace Hardware would work….

John Davies
Spokane WA

- Excellent point!

[zara_puppy]

Well I got a rail for the top of the .357. Picked it up at the local shop. The label said it fit Henry Single Shot and Single Shot Shotgun. Well - not so much. So out comes the dremmel. Needed to cut two slots back from the end to get it short enough to get behind the folded down rear site. Then get different rings from the "old ring collection". Got a set that juuuuust allowed clearance for the hammer with an extension on it. Tossed on the Nikon 2X7 shotgun scope. Then Boresight it - the old fashioned way - rifle on bags, open looking down the barrel and adjusting the scope to get it what I think will be "on paper". Took the sling off the 17 HMR too. Now - load up about 20 rounds of 15 grains 2400 under 158 grain XTP's and we'll take a look. For now - here's a couple of pics with her all dressed up....

[BigAl52]

Looks Good. Keep us post on your load progress

[Vaquero]

Looks good Zara, waiting on range report. Good luck.

RP