I've never seen a used 357 Handi on the shelf and I don't quite want to give the $300 to order a new one. But I have noticed I can get a used NEF single shot shotgun a pawn shop for around $100 (seems like they have a lot of .410s). My plan would be to buy one of these shotguns and send it in to be fitted with a 357barrel with scope rail, but a few questions first:
Some of these are marked "Toppers" would they work, is that still a SB1 frame?
I don't plan to, but are there any problems with reaming to 357 max on SB1 frames?
I like the heavy contour of the 357 barrels on the rifles I see on line, but the NEF website does not have any details on contour. They only offer one barrel so can I assume it has the heavy contour?
What twist rate do the barrels come with? I think most folks have acceptable accuracy with 38 specials, so I'm guessing the twist rate is fast enough to stabilize subsonic.
Are 357 Handi's any harder on brass than usual? I though I read that somewhere...
Will the shotgun stock line up with the scope?
Anything else I should keep in mind?