new to NEF/H&R...got a question?

[kmystry]

Fellas...
I want a lightweight .357 mag (.38 Special) single shot rifle for plinking and general fun.  I reload for both calibers but I have never owned a NEF.  I definitely want iron sights, a regular stock if possible (not a monte carlo...just a looks thing for me). I'd love a non-pistol grip stock, actually as I'm a fan of traditional lever action guns but I'm ok with the Pardner type stock.
Some of the Handi rifles I've handled are HEAVY...I want a light weight gun.  

I am told that I can buy like a Pardner or Topper shotgun and then send for a replacement barrel because for .357 mag. I can use an SB-1 frame, is that right?  Oh, yeah...and I need it to be pretty economical to purchase...the recession has really hurt my financial position presently.
I LIVE to go to our cabin in the Southern Utah mountains and play mountain man but I'm not really a hunter, just a plinker/arm-chair Jeremiah Johnson wannabe.  
HELP PLEASE!!!  Give me some direction!
Thanks,
Kevin

[blaze]

Good morning:  In my experience the Handi rifles/barrels for .357 mag. are all rather heavy and the current ones don't have open sights.  Not the best for a rifle chambered for the GREAT .357/38 Spl. cartridge.  The very best single shot .357 mag rifles I have owned (I own several) are the older H&R models 058, 258, etc.  Some of these came with extra shotgun barrels (also 30-30, 44 mag, 22 Hornet, 45-70 and 357 Max).  Anyway, these old H&R rifles have fold down rear open sights and decent ramp front sights (and are drilled and tapped for scope bases).  They came with both pistol grip or straight grip butt stocks.  AND, they are quite light:  mine are made up into rifles weighing 6lbs even down to about 5 1/2 lbs.  Wonderfull  "woods walking guns" or "Rook and Rabbit" guns.  You can find these guns, from time to time, on some of the gun auction sites. I just recently (2 weeks ago) bought a like new in the box H&R 058 .357mag/20ga. combo for $200.00 plus shipping & FFL to add to my collection.  Keep your eyes open and you're likley to find what your looking for.  Great rifles!

[petemi]

Blaze said it like it is.  The other thing you can do is watch the classifieds here and piece it together.  Any way you cut it, the .357 Handi is superb.  I have two.  One reamed to Maximum.  To my way of thinking, that's the way to go.  Good luck,

Pete

[Kal52]

You could buy the .357, and have a gunsmith add sights to it, or do it yourself ( FAQ). Also if you find it to be on the heavy side you could have some of the barrel lopped off, not going to make much of a diff on a .357 if you take an inch or two or more i wouldnt think. Maybe add a red dot, dunno, many options. you wont know if you may like it until you have one in your hands to get a feel.

you could always order the straight stocks from H&R and then sell the synthetics here, im sure they will go fast, the new synth stocks are pretty nice.

As far as being economical, Maybe maybe not.  Just thought id toss it out there.

Good luck.

Dave

[45-70.gov]

i  like scoped 357s

cut it to16 inches

i  think they are are ''scope ready'' now  too

you can   remove the scope base and  install  a receiver peep sight
fairly cheap

then  the front sight is the hard part

small scope  or red  dot  is simple and cheap [carry a spare battery...jerimiah  did]

[gcrank1]

Get one of the current offerings and put sights on it, and keep your eyes peeled for one of those earlier versions. Once your have both decide which one to keep and the other will go fast here.