Red dot for H&R topper

I have a really cool H&R Topper 58 in 30-30 (with a 20ga barrel too:cool:). It is completely original with open sights and factory drilled and tapped for a scope base.

Open sights are fun at the range, but from experience pretty tricky for aging eyes in the deep dank bush. I want pop a red dot on it without messing with the rifle and leaving the open sights in place. I have sourced the correct weaver one piece base.

I don't know much about red dots.

Questions:
Will a red dot fit in the base slots? Can I get the base machined if needed?

I want to keep the open sight feel of the rifle, so thinking the style you see on pistols would be better than the tube style jobs - thoughts? Any model I should consider.

The idea is that this will be for short range Bush hunting.

Oh yeah, due to the hammer it's not practical to put on a normal scope without using ridiculous extra high mounts...which is not going to happen.

Either option will allow you to keep the open sights. Unless you want to co-witness which is probably a whole new game.

I used an Aimpoint H1 on my old NEF (same rifle, different brand name). While there are a few makes of weaver bases for these rifles, I’d imagine a weaver base plate for the pistol style red dot will fit the base and I’d be certain the stock standard Aimpoint H series mount will for your base. BTW, pictures tell a 1000 words so would need or see to confirm. And another BTW, I used the Aimpoint QD mount that has a round through bolt. To make sure it returned to zero, I had a gun Plummer mill a circular slot in the base. Using same scope on my Marlin Dark so red dots work.

tagged you on Bings one for sale so you can see what they like with a scope...as long as it clears scope bell its good to go if you add hammer spur out the side.

Another couple of thoughts… budget? Plenty of options out there. Also make sure you get the 2 or 4 MOA versions… at 100m it’s damm hard to get a decent group with anything bigger (dot likely to be bigger than the target lol).

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

tagged you on Bings one for sale so you can see what they like with a scope...as long as it clears scope bell its good to go if you add hammer spur out the side.

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Thanks @Micky Duck but at this stage I'd much rather go with the red dot.

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Originally Posted by Kiwi.bloke

Another couple of thoughts… budget? Plenty of options out there. Also make sure you get the 2 or 4 MOA versions… at 100m it’s damm hard to get a decent group with anything bigger (dot likely to be bigger than the target lol).

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Hmm yeah. If I could pull in under $700 that would be good.

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Originally Posted by Dama dama

Hmm yeah. If I could pull in under $700 that would be good.

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World is your oyster then. These look good, get a decent review and have a QD base included.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hun...4413127778.htm

Hi Dama Dama; maybe something to think about; i run both on my 45/70 but find that the red dot has a problem for me anyway.... if you have dark fallow deer in a dark area it can be incredibly hard to pick out a vital area on them until they start moving; or with reds etc in thick bush , stationary behind some vines etc that diffuse their outline ;again it can be hard to chose a "kill zone". A small scope with a "firedot" would be my ultimate if finances allow.

Hey thanks for the replies team. I had the rifle out of the safe yesterday just for a fiddle and clean. I now have my doubts on a red dot, and perhaps I should just go with a wee scope.
I hunt fallow in the bush a lot. More than once has "just a shadow " jumped up and bounced away!
I could just stick to the open sights, but I probably wouldn't use it very often in the state.
No hurry, illness has kept me out of the hills all year....which also means I have to much time to think about gear, haha.

let me know if you want the 3x back again LOL....

if you do put a scope on, you are a bit limited by having only two slots on the rail unless you can machine additional ones.

Not withstanding the above, nice Leupold 2-7 firedot on TM at the moment.

Will definitely need base machined for more slots.

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Originally Posted by Dama dama

Will definitely need base machined for more slots.

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I’d avoid the #82 Weaver one piece base. Warne, Leupold, EGW and a few others all do a Weaver base for the Handi rifle that has multiple slots in the base.

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Originally Posted by longshot

if you do put a scope on, you are a bit limited by having only two slots on the rail unless you can machine additional ones.

Not withstanding the above, nice Leupold 2-7 firedot on TM at the moment.

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Being very careful with an appropriate width sharp file can put one in, in no time as well

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Originally Posted by csmiffy

Being very careful with an appropriate width sharp file can put one in, in no time as well

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I watched a YouTube video on this. Looks straight forward enough. I might have a practice then do it.

Attachment 237889red dots work well on bush guns,this is a trs25 mounted on a standard weaver base.