I haven't noticed any issues with open sights. Not sure why you would want to scope it anyway. IMHO that defeats the intent. If you want more accuracy there are steel barrels available.
These are "survival rifles"..... .a shot here and there to take small game....maybe limited use for self-defense...... except in the movies never intended for extended shootouts........if you get in one you've probably already lost!!!!!
My Ruger takedown ..... stories of not holding zero after take down and reassembly.....in a survival situation I'll use 3/4 rounds to re-zero the red dot.... gun is packed with three 100 round packs of cci......... fast and dirty self-defense.... I should only need "minute of pie plate" /suppressive fire to disengage
I was fixing to mention that they are still currently available from Henry Repeating Arms.
I had a Springfield Armory M6 Scout. A very similar gun but in .22 Hornet and .410 gauge over and under. I don't think it would float, hwoever.
I promised it to a friend and then discovered it was worth upwards of 700 bucks. Maybe 1000. I laughed. Gave it to him, anyway. I just didn't need it around any longer.