Wife got me a mountain lion hunt in Utah this coming November and my first thought was that I'd like to use my dad's old nickel S&W 27-2.

Thing is, it's pre-93 and not drilled & tapped for optics. My vision is d&t it, add a weig-a-tinny rail, then put a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x32 EER scope on it.

Then I considered maybe just a red dot type site. Then I thought I might be crazy for considering drilling out the frame on this beast. I'm comfortable shooting it open sight, just thought it might be better with some magnification & some crosshairs for precision.

Other option is just fly out there hassle free without a weapon & just use what the guides carry.

What would you do?

I wouldn't touch that gun. If I ever do it I'll prob use my open sight pre 64 win 1894.

Nope wouldn't do it either. Just get good with it, open sights. Man that's a beautiful wheel gun!

I would buy my Ruger in 41 magnum that's drilled and tapped and ready for a scope! It would be perfect and would save that beautiful S&W!

As a side the pistol is a good idea, my dad used his scoped S&W model 57 on his lion hunt. He said it made it super easy to chase the cat with it strapped to his chest instead of carrying a rifle.

Don't dishonor that fine ladies virtue!!!

I hunt with a scoped Ruger Redhawk 44 mag 7.5" and an open sight Ruger Redhawk 5.5" almost exclusively.
8x is way too much to hold steady in a handgun....and 2.5x is too much to use when you REALLY need a handgun...
I think the 1.5-4x EER Weaver has been about perfect for me. Just a thought.

Don't touch that one. You won't need a scope on your lion hunt....

Reminds me of a S&W 586 I used to have. Sweet shooting gun. Don't put the scope on it. It's really purdy the way it is.

I put a scope on my 500 S&W. I found it distracting. I shot better with the irons. Redot wouldn't be bad but would look weird.

No way I could alter that gun!

Take it as is. Ask the guide to bring a backup. Don't forget the ear plugs.

Get a redhawk, blackhawk or stainless smith

JeremiahJohnson said:

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I put a scope on my 500 S&W. I found it distracting. I shot better with the irons. Redot wouldn't be bad but would look weird.

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Same here with my .460 S&W. I've spent a bunch of money on ammo practicing to get used to it and I'm now starting to get comfortable with the scope.

But I wouldn't touch that gun in the OP.

You are out of your mind putting a scope on that gun.




Seriously, if you decide to do it, please don't tell us. Or anyone else for that matter.

Here's the thing, a scope isn't going to help you shoot in the air at a treed cat without a rest. A scope is really only useful for making benchrest shots at distance. You'd be better served to spend money on lots of practice ammo for free hand shots.

I shoot a 44 super Blackhawk that can group within a tennis ball at 50 yds from a rest. Without a rest I'm lucky to hit a feed sack at 30 yards. This is all open sights, but I've never felt that optics was the limiting factor.

This has been very constructive and informative and I appreciate it. I will not drill it out and will carry it with me open sights. I've got 11 months to really hone my skill with it and these Barnes 140gr XPB's I have shoot really well with the rifling in that long barrel. Hopefully I get to use it, if not, it'll still be special just to have a little part of my dad with me on the trip.

Practice. You don't need a scope.

Practice is paramount, I also have a 6" S&W model 57 in 41 and love it. I have taken many deer and pigs with it ranging from just a few yards to sone lucky shots at 75+ all with open sights. The real sweat spot is under 50 yards, it just takes repetition and you will be able to readily harvests animals at pretty much what amounts to archery distances with your smith!