i have just been given a .357 taurus 669 from my dad. he has one and i have always loved it and he came across one and bought for me. it needs to reblued but other than that is in good shape. my question is if i wanna shoot deer at or less than 50 yds would a red dot scope be enough? it also drilled and tapped on the barrel and i was wondering if that could be dangerous?

Sure, any modification to the barrel could be dangerous, but if it was done by a prefessional smith following a tried and true method, it should be fine.

For a 357, I would guess you will keep your shots short enough for a red dot. You might look for something small and lightweight like the Burris Fastfire, I think it is called. Weight is the real problem with any optic on a pistol for hunting. Generally I prefer open sights out to 50 yards.