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Mulling over another project rifle, I'm strongly considering a single shot, break action in .357, shortened to about 31" OA with red dot and laser sights.

Such a rifle would be very fast handling, easy to carry in the field, a good protector and pest gun and a fun gun to plink with.

I looked at the Rossi Wizard, but unsure of its reliability. Reviews are mixed. I've owned for many years, an H&R "Topper" in 20 ga. and it was a good reliable knock-about gun. I shortened the barrel on that one to 18.25".

I'm strongly leaning toward the Handi Rifle. This picture shows it in factory length and what it would look like shortened. The recoil pad would also come off and be replaced with a butt plate. Cutting 5-6" off the barrel and ~1" by replacing the recoil pad would make it about 31" OA

I would find it hard to cut a TC Encore, but have no reservations about cutting up a H&R.

Your photo or link is not right, so I just copied and pasted to a new window. It looks off with the long forearm but is very workable. Adding a laser under the barrel in front of forearm would work nicely. With the switch on the forearm so you can turn it on as you grip the gun. With the Dot scope on the rail. I've seen the cheap laser on ebay and actually have purchased one that had a universal mount for shotguns.

That's kind of what I was thinking (about the laser mount). If the dot sight was mounted forward on the rail, carrying the rifle behind the dot sight would be quite comfortable.

Not sure what's wrong with the photo link. I tried several times to get it to show. Still not there.

Check to see if you have a extra 1/2 of the "[ ]" some where. Normally it does not show the [img unless they are not equal.

Took out the "&". Now it works.

Got the rifle and tested today. It was used. I'll try it for awhile before I cut it up...just to be sure it is a keeper. Tested with red dot sight at 40' inside my shop w/.38 spl 125 gr.cast, Bullseye powder. It weighs 6 1/2# with sight. Trigger is a pleasant surprise. Crisp with no creep. A little heavy, perhaps, but not bad.

It looks like a shooter. I've fired about 75 rounds and no malfunctions or misfires. All hand loads except one factory magnum load. All the rest in .38 spl. cases. This test target was all 125 gr. FN cast lead w/ 3 gr. Trailboss and all fired from the same case. Fire one, reload case, fire two, reload case, etc. Fired from 40'. That is the maximum range I can get inside the shop without moving vehicles. It's raining outside. I almost convinced it will for my motor home gun. Perhaps it's time to cut the barrel.

Today, I cut the barrel off to 16-9/16" with my carbide cutoff saw. Filed out the saw marks then buffed with a die grinder and Scotch Brite disc. A small cone stone deburrd the bore and whet stone removed sharp edges around the outside perimeter. I wrapped the outside of the new muzzle to protect the bluing while I was polishing. Then I swabbed the bore to remove residue and fired for effect. This rifle now weighs 5-1/8# (without red dot). Right after I bought this rifle, I checked the trigger pull weight by suspending the rifle by the barrel in a vise, suspending a coffee can under the stock and over the trigger by a wire, then filling the can slowly with lead shot until it fired. The I weighed the can, wire and shot. When new it fired at just over 10#. After about 100 rounds it is now down to 9-1/8#. It is nice and crisp. No creep or slack......just HEAVY. A trigger job is in order. I've heard the H&R factory will do a trigger job, free, when fitting another barrel. I may take advantage and order a 22" 20 ga. barrel this coming Winter. My new red dot and laser are not here yet. This red dot is off of my Ruger 22/45.

Nice.... I'm suprised it shoots that nice after the cut without recrowning the bbl.. I like the stubbie single shot nice job

He has cleaned the crown up if you look closely. Looks pretty good. The real test would be longer distances.

Gun looks a little odd with the short barrel, but I'm one that picks function of pretty. Purty can come later.

To really test for accuracy, I will need to do something to the trigger pull. At 9+# it isn't helping much. It is crisp and absolutely no creep, but very heavy. Also the red dot is a 3 moa dot and that's a little large for precision shooting. A scope would be desireable for accuracy testing. I know it's capable of much better. I can get 50 yards here at home. That will be my next increment. I can also borrow a scope from another rifle for more precise aiming. A rifle like this isn't really for precise target shooting. It's for versatile, all around fun, survival, protection, and whatever else might come up. It is to be my camper gun and varmint getter here at home. Still, it would be great if it puts the bullets where I point it, and, so far, it does.

The laser, when it comes, will go under the barrel and will look somewhat like a magazine tube on a lever gun. That may help the odd look some.

Right now it measures 32" OA. The length of pull is 14" and I would prefer 13 to 13.5". Changing the recoil pad to a butt plate would take care of that and shorten it even further. One problem....I need a "step stool" for it so it can reach the barrel notches in my gun safe.

Check eBay out for the red dot. I bought one a couple of years ago that had the shotgun mount and remote switch for <$20. Had a 3moa dot.

That will clean the look up greatly ganging down just behind the barrel.

I have this one ordered with the RF barrel mount. Should make a clean installation. Comes with remote switch.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/beamshot-la ... -1000.html

That should work nicely...

A scope makes a tremendous difference in accuracy. I took the scope off another rifle and put it on the H&R. A Bushnell 1.5-4X variable. After sighting in, I fired this target. 17 rounds, 40' (inside my shop), ~3gr Trailboss, 125 Gr. FN cast bullets over a tool cabinet and pillow. I was fine tuning between each group.

It looks like one round got away from me.