What sights can be put on handi?

[Gallahad]

Yes, I want to put open/receiver sights on a clean barrel handi. The wgrs-hr looked like a winner, but what do you use for a front sight? Please help!

[quickdtoo]

Depends on the chambering, see the Peep and Firesights link in the FAQs, the shorty ramp and Firesight insert shown on my 45-70 will work on the 44mag also.

Tim

[Gallahad]

Why on earth do they differ? are the contours different from 357 to 44mag? I checked out the faqs and am still a little confused. If I went with a wgrs-hr sight (which apparently is drop in/on a handi- fits existing scope rail holes?) What should I get for a front sight? gun is a new 357 barrel. will require tapping for front sight.

[quickdtoo]

Zoner put one on his 357, you can use the sight height calculators in the peep sight link to determine front sight height, you can get different inserts to make different heights, in the thread below he states a .530" front sight worked for him.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,184360.msg1098904332.html#msg1098904332

[bilmac]

Don't you have a collection of old front sights removed from other rifles? I always just try different combinations till I find something that is pretty close, just tape them on to try. I prefer a blade to a bead front, so it is always safe to go a little higher and the file it some. What I find is that what looks about right frequently is. On the last couple of front sights I put on I used a ramp and filed the bottom contour to match the barrel and then JBd them on. Make sure both surfaces are very clean, no oil. Both have been on for quite a while now and still going strong.

[tfranklin7]

Anyone know what size or if a Williams Shorty front ramp sight is made that will fit a Handi 30-30 barrel and will it have to be re tapped I think I was told it has a 3-48 screw?  TF

[quickdtoo]

Thread size varies from 4-48 on older Topper barrels to 3-48 and 6-48 on modern barrels, Williams makes several ramps that might work, the shorty ramp is a good match for my 30-30AI Handi with a 3-48 hole, you can either have it drilled and tapped 6-48 which is what the ramp comes with or just use the 3-48 screw from the original sight if you have it, which I've done on both the 44mag and 45-70.

Tim

[Gallahad]

using those calculations, and the wgrs rear sight, I came up with a front sight that is .630 high off the barrel (this includes the ramp and sight together.) Sound right? And bilmac, did you really jb weld sights on and they stayed?!

[bilmac]

Yup and they're still there. I thought about taking them to a smith to get things screwed together, but about the only place I shoot these guns is at the range, so if they fall off some say I'll just pick them up and have a smith do the work then, so far so good.

[gcrank1]

Bear in mind, the calculations go just so far when you are short of a real range test for POI vs POA.
FWIW, I have a couple of friends who have JBed Scope mounts rails on with success, but I havent tried it. Black plastic elec. tape tightly wound around a ramp hold it on pretty well for trials.

[blind ear]

Don't you wish REMINGTON would listen to us?

As has been stated here before, doesn't it seem logical to put factory installed open sights on the 30/30 (I know) and any of the "pistol" caliber HANDIES that have trajectories that could be assumed to be 165 yard (or so) point blank range weapons. It would take a lot of figureing out of the picture. However the figureing is what some shooters seem to enjoy a lot.

It is like expecting congress to listen to us when it comes to dealing with coorporations in a "logical" manner. Dang, that is real discourageing!