What Type of Sight for 357 Handi?

[KandG]

I am thinking about getting a 357Mag barrel for my handi to use plinking and for my son to start hunting with. What type of sight would be best a red dot or low power shotgun scope? I have never used a red dot, how are they in low light for hunting?

[otterbob]

  IMHO open sights are best for this caliber as it helps restrict the shooter from over reaching the cartridges effective range, again its only my opinion. I am sure others will disagree.

 

 
Otter Bob

[JMcDonald]

I am sure others will disagree.

Yeah .
A low-powered shotgun scope, especially variable, will probably make for the most versatile setup. But, something like a 2X will get you everthing you need and will probably be more enjoyable for your son to shoot. I've never met any new shooter who enjoyed shooting irons more than with optics.


 

 
Otter Bob

[PowPow]

I tried both a red dot and a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5x32 on my 30-30 Handi. Liked the scope better.
Always messing with the brightness and worrying about the battery on the red dot.
Comparing 3 shots, all at 75 yards:
180 lb at dusk on 1.5x, drt.
125 lb in good light on 4.5x, drt.
100-ish lb within red dot near dusk, ran off on 3 legs. Never found it. Coyote food that night.

All those were still-hunting. Red dot would be good for stalking.

[Doublebass73]

I personally would never start kids with optics. Kids usually have much better eyes than we do. There are so many good options for open sights these days. Let them learn the fundamentals of shooting with open sights first IMHO. Then if they want to switch to optics later to extend their range then I'm fine with that. My son hunts with a 45 Colt Handi and uses the factory buckhorn rear sight with a fiber optic front sight. His .22 barrel has a Williams FP-TK rear peep with the factory front sight.

A 357 barrel is an excellent choice for your son to start hunting with. To answer your question, if I has to choose between the options you give I would go with a 2X scope over a red dot.

[keith44]

I personally would never start kids with optics. Kids usually have much better eyes than we do. There are so many good options for open sights these days. Let them learn the fundamentals of shooting with open sights first IMHO. Then if they want to switch to optics later to extend their range then I'm fine with that....

+1
New shooters should not skip open sights in learning to shoot.  Elmer Keith was witnessed making claimed hits (on rocks) at 400 yards with a six gun chambered for .45 Colt.  Open sights.

[kevinsmith5]

+1 on iron sights.

[Monteria]

I have put 5 scopes, from 1X20 to 2-7X32, on my 357 shorty in the last month. Like you, I started not really knowing what I was looking for.

What I have found is that 1 or 2.5X is about perfect. In the end, I prefer the 2.5X for most shooting, but chose to dress it permanently with the 1X20. It is a kids deer rifle and I do not want to encourage stretching the 357s effective range.

By far, the least favorite scope tried was a TruGlo 2X red dot. For all the reasons that PowPow listed, and also because it sat way to high above the bore.

Steve

[Spanky]

I've got a WGRS rear sight and a Remington front ramp with silver bead on the front. I have the rear aperture wide open and it's very quick to get on target.
I would definitely start him out with open sights and maybe go to optics later on.
 
 
 
Spanky

[Doublebass73]

I personally would never start kids with optics. Kids usually have much better eyes than we do. There are so many good options for open sights these days. Let them learn the fundamentals of shooting with open sights first IMHO. Then if they want to switch to optics later to extend their range then I'm fine with that....

+1
New shooters should not skip open sights in learning to shoot.  Elmer Keith was witnessed making claimed hits (on rocks) at 400 yards with a six gun chambered for .45 Colt.  Open sights.

When my 9 year old son 1st started shooting he wanted a scope. I said no despite him asking for a scope all the time. He's since become a decent shot through lots of practice. He loves shooting his 45 Colt Carbine with 454" round balls over Trail Boss. He put a head shot on a red squirrel today at 20 yards, off hand with the factory buckhorn sight using that round ball load. He put a huge smile on my face 

[KandG]

Thanks for the input. He does pretty good with the iron sights on his BB gun. I am planning to let him shoot a 22 with iron sights for a while first then move up to the Handi. In the mean time it sounds like a low power scope is the way to go, daddy might want to play with the Handi while he works his way up to it.

[tacklebury]

+1 for irons if the child has no optical deficiencies, such as astygmatism or similar, which might quelch their desire to shoot at all.  My dad gave up on shooting at an early age due to such a vision problem, which limited his shooting ability.  We have never had a scope on any gun except a .22 lr for squirrels and I put that on.  Basically, our family was optics-less, but I think it turned dad off due to his issues. 

[manatee1947]

I would say that the 357 is suitable for irons, but I think a 2.5 power or 4 power fixed is the best way to go. I use a red dot on some handguns successfully but they are not so great on rifles, my grandson shot 2 deer with one using a 4X Simmons, which I use on several rifles. For the money they are very hard to beat.

[LaOtto222]

Start him with an iron sighted 22 rimfire. After he gets the hang of it, put a low powered scope on it. After he gets to the point of easily finding the target through a scope - it is amazing how many start with a scope and can not find the target. It is frustrating for a new shooter. Then put a low powered scope on the 357 and he will take to it quickly. I have a 2.5 shotgun scope on mine and it works great. 5" eye relief and mounted low, ahead of the hammer.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[cwlongshot]

WELCOME!!
How is the climate where you hunt? If cold weather red dots are not a great choice. there small batteries do not hold up for long under these conditions. I do like a red dot for turkey hunting as the temps are warm but not for my deer hunting. They are fast and convient, but simply fail all too often and more often than not, just when you need them...
I would think good peep sites and a Handi Grip stock would make a very nice combo!
 
Otherwise, a small lo powered scope would be my choice.
 
CW