Now that my turkey season is almost over here in Wisconsin, I am looking at upgrading my shotgun for next year, I shoot an H&R Turkey Pardner. I really like the light weight of a single shot when hunting. What I don't like as much is the lack of sights. My first thought is to add a red dot sight of some sort however here's where it gets sticky. Per H&R, the barrel is too thin to drill and tap so I planning on brazing or soldering on a base. If the barrel looks too bad I'll paint it or wrap it with McNett.
Question: Given the chamber swell on the shotgun, what base would be suitable for this?
I don't know a whole lot about this, but I would call burris optics at 970-356-1670, I am sure they could tell you if they had a base that would fit your requirements. Also I don't know what kind of red dot you are thinking about but I would check out the burris fastfire 3, it has a lifetime warranty, 10,000 hour battery life, waterproof, parallax free from 10 yd to 150 yd, low battery indicator, automatic red dot intensity adjustment or 3 manual intensity settings. It also has a 1000 Gs recoil resistance, easily stands up to 3.5" turkey loads. Also Customer service is Great.
If that doesn't work out maybe you could have a weaver base put on it, a lot of red dots will work with that, including the fastfire 3.
Post back with what you come up with, I'm sure other members might be interested.
If you plan on soldering or brazing anything to your barrel it will have to be steel. It may be difficult to find as most weaver and picatinny rails are aluminium. I'd find a good gunsmith and pick their brain.
Thanks Guys, I guess I was using "red dot" generically for a sight. I will explore all the options you mention. I have read about people soldering or JB Welding on a base, seems to me the trick is determining what base to use. I agree steel would be necessary for brazing or soldering.
The gunsmiths I have talked to (my regular gunsmith retired) have not indicated a base that they would use.
It can be done easily by a competent gunsmith
That is exactly what I am looking for! Was your 12 ga. drilled and tapped?
(http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt310/hayudog/20gaburris-1_zps02e8e972.jpg)
Drilled and tapped. It's the lowest height mount I could find. Think its a Burris 336 base. I have 3 different single 20's with the same set up. William at Sumtoy did the work. I packaged the barrel and sent it to him.
(http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt310/hayudog/DSCN0344_zps6397b09f.jpg)
I like your set up. That's what I'm looking for on my H&R Pardner. Most of the gunsmiths I have talked to will not drill and tap my 12 ga. Pardner due to the barrel being too thin. Sumtoy sounds like an option. I am not against brazing / soldering if safety is an issue.
drilled and tap...Sumtoy would be a good one to talk with.
Awesome setups !!!!
Any of the mounts for the handi rifle will work on the pardner. Warne makes a solid mount. I think that the one that comes installed on the rifles.