[Boats]

I have a Garand, which isn't all that bad for southpaws, but I am looking for something a little more modern to play with. I was looking at a Bushie AR the other day and it was awkward to handle, especially the mag release. Any suggestions for a modern "combat" rifle that took my handedness into consideration when it was being designed?

No Steyr AUGs please, I will not budget one.

[Coronach]

DPMS, IIRC, makes a left-handed AR. That should be pretty southpaw-friendly, no? :)

Mike

[axeman_g]

I am a lefty and I have a FAL type rifle. Mag release is underneath receiver, bolt mechanism is on left, safety is thumb activated on left side. I do not even notice the brass coming out right side. Brass basically ejects upward and right. Cheap to buy, mags are $10 or less, ammo is failry priced, powerful, accurate and easy to maintain. You like it.

[Ian]

The M1A or Daewoo. The M1A has the bolt handle on the right side of the receiver and has a completely ambi mag release. The Daewoo also has a right-side bolt handle, but the mag release is a button on the right side. With my Daewoo (I'm a lefty), I manipulate the safety with my trigger finger, and when switching mags, I hit the mag release with my support hand as I move it to get a new mag. Aks are also better for a lefty than a righty, but they're not as handy as Daewoos or M1As.

[mark mcj]

I am also left handed and I'm really kinda surprised you find the AR ackward to use. On the mag release, grab the mag with your right hand and depress the mag releases with you right hand thumb. I engage the bolt release with my trigger finger.

I do not like to shoot the M1 and the M1A's because of the op rods. Man if that op rod ever breaks on the way back, ummm, ouch that's gonna leave a make. Maybe that is a little paranoid, but there are people out to get us.:D I have heard of op rods breaking, I have never seen one, but I guess you guys get the meaning of my thought.

[jem375]

Coronach is right......DPMS makes a left handed rifle, I have one and it works great.......although being left handed, I don't have any problems with right handed rifles.........I just decided to order a leftie and kind of glad I did, although my kids will probably sell it when I am gone since they are righties....:banghead: :cuss:

[4v50 Gary]

Norgon makes a left handed magazine release. It's not obtrusive like another brand's extended left hand mag release. You can also get an ambidextrious safety for the AR.

BTW, for a very ambidextrious gun the FN-P90 and the HK-36 are excellent. Unfortunately, none of us can own them. :(

[Navy joe]

Try the AR a while before you give up. From a firing grip the strong hand trigger finger operates the bolt release, I use the left thumb around the back for the safety, for the mag change as you come to the mag with a new one in your Right hand, just poke the release with your thumb and let the old one fall. Or if you are done shooting, grab the mag in the gun then hit it with your right thumb. Brass ejection is not a problem. I kinda like the Garand now that you mention it.

[Handy]

I think the Aug and USR are reversible, left or right.

[DJJ]

I believe DPMS' left-hand rifle actually just has a left-hand upper, which is just an upper with the ejection port on the left side. If that's all it is, it doesn't address the controls.

Just get the Norgon ambi magazine release, the DPMS ambi safety, and an ambi charging handle (the latch has a projection to the right that enables you to work it with the right hand - the only rub is you can't do the "nose touching the charging handle" thing). All available from Brownell's, on the same page in the catalog. I have all 3 on my Bushmaster; they can be installed or removed in seconds.

The Norgon ambi mag release is particularly ingenious.

[Freedom in theSkies]

I like the AR15 type rifle because the charging handle is located amidships, and the bolt release can be depressed with the left index finger.
Makes for some pretty rapid mag changes...
Whereas you have to reach over the top of the reciever on a M1/M14 to release the bolt into battery. The FN-FAL is only half as difficult.

Just my thoughts...
Cheerz...:)

[Bostonterrier97]

Trapdoor Springfield

[Onslaught]

Lefty with a Bushy here :D

Norgon Ambi-Catch and Bushmaster Ambi Safety lever were all that I needed to have a completely "southpaw friendly" AR-15.

I was AMAZED at the Ambi-catch. It's great.
http://www.norgon.com/
Not exactly "cheap", but worth every penny I paid for it!

The DPMS Southpaw is an upper only, and I have considered it, but I don't NEED it. Every pistol and rifle I own has been ejecting brass across my field of view since I fired my first Semi, so it doesn't bother me. The AR's got that "shell deflector" that saves your nose.

I'm considering the "Ambi-latch" for the charging handle that DJJ mentioned... I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Not a big deal though... I just hold the rifle by the forend and charge with my left hand.

Ambi safety is a MUST have, and the Ambi-Catch is a SHOULD have.... Most of the time, I use my right hand to hold the mag and push the standard mag-release so my mags don't hit the ground. But for tactical matches, I couldn't do it without Norgon.

P.S. I DON'T work for Norgon, I just REALLY like my Ambi-catch :D

[Nightcrawler]

I've never had any trouble with M16s, though the mag changes are slower than someone who can just hit the mag release with their trigger finger.

M1As and AKs are great for lefties as well.

I love the FAL. The charging handle is on the wrong side for lefty, but since the weapon has a last-shot-bolt-hold-open (we really need to think up a shorter name for this device) it's not really a big deal. You just hit the bolt release with your trigger finger.

I've never once been hit with brass. The thing flings brass so far that it's never even come close.

[cheygriz]

I'm a left hander and I had no trouble at all adapting to the AR-15! Just a matter of practice. I can keep my left hand on the pistol grip, and reach under the rifle to get to the mag release. I then change mags with right hand, drop the bolt with trigger finger, and blaze away.

Actually, I think the AR-15 is more convenient for a left hander than it is for a right hander.

[Dave Markowitz]

I'm a lefty and I found the ARs (I had a Bushmaster Dissipator) to work well. Likewise, an M1A has controls similar to a Garand and would work well. So would a Mini-14.

Unlike a couple others who've responded, I had a FAL (L1A1) and got rid of it, largely because I found the controls awkward.

[4v50 Gary]

With that ejected brass deflector, there really is no need for a dedicated left hand upper. The major concerns are the mag release (go Norgon) and the ambidextious safety.

However, I had the $ and bought a upper receiver anyway and assembled it myself. You can squirt brass the "wrong" way on the range. :D