left hand rifle - right hand sniper

[KC&97TA]

I got to thinking the other day, I'm a right handed shooter, between MOUT and Gunsite Shooting for Tactical Carbine, my right hand never leaves the pistol grip, now on an AR/M16 semi auto the brass is ejected enough that when a left handed shooter fires he isn't experianceing problems.

So the subject I've been thinking about, is that a left handed rifle, being fired right handed, in an AR/M16 rifle, if a jam was experienced you'd be able to look with your left eye, while keeping your right eye down the sites still, right? You'd also be able to brass check the weapon and the battery of the bolt with your eyes in the site. I thought a little more that with a bolt action rifle where you have a bi-pod and a sand bag under the but stock you'd be able to cycle the action with your left and leave your right hand placed on the stock?

Am I crazy for thinking this? :uhoh:

[JamisJockey]

It shouldn't matter. If you experience a jam you had better peform an immediate action drill, and seek cover while doing so. Tap, rack, bang!

[KC&97TA]

I was thinking the left handed weapon would give you the ability to keep the weapon shouldered and keep your shooting eye over the sites.

[.45Guy]

As a wrong handed shooter, I've always found it nice to shoot a right handed bolt gun from a rest. Faster cycling, and never lose the target.

[Jhorn]

if the weapon is jammed it's not going to do you much good to keep it shouldered, you need to do whatever gets it back in to action the fastest!

[Red_SC]

It won't help a lot with a jam, but a lot of benchrest shooters have the bolt on the left side for the other reason you mentioned- they can cycle the bolt with less disturbance to their rifle. I'm right handed, but whenever I'm shooting my bolt guns left handed, it's a little awkward pulling the bolt towards my face- it's just not a natural motion for me. It works for some others, though.

[JamisJockey]

if the weapon is jammed it's not going to do you much good to keep it shouldered, you need to do whatever gets it back in to action the fastest!

Agreed.
And with the M16/AR series, you've got to move your face to rack the slide, anyhow.
Tap, rack, bang.

[Jeff White]

If I have a malfuntion while shooting at targets 25 meters or closer, I am transitioning to my handgun and continuing the mission, targets 26 meters and farther and it's immediate action and back to the mission. Any malfunction serious enough that will require you to look at the weapon will require you to dismount the weapon anyway. I just don't see how a left handed ejection port would be an advantage.

Jeff

[Oldtimer]

Take a close look at the movie "Saving Private Ryan". The Ranger armed with an '03 rifle, which is a right-handed rifle, shoots it as a "lefty". He reaches over the receiver with his left hand to work the bolt while keeping the muzzle down-range.
I don't recall that he ever had a stoppage, but it would have required him to turn the rifle to the left before being able to get a visual of the chamber.

If you have a stoppage, ALWAYS drop down while keeping the muzzle pointed down-range, and cant the weapon for an unobstructed view of the chamber. After dealing with the stoppage, re-cant the rifle and raise up to a shooting position while keeping the muzzle pointed down-range.

[.45Guy]

I don't know about the other wrong handed people here, but I sure as heck don't manipulate the bolt with my left hand. To each his own I guess.

[Zach S]

I'm wrong handed with rifles, but I dont shoot bolt actions.

[Risasi]

I am dominant left eye/hand. Rifles and pistols I shoot either hand.

But bolt actions I only shoot left handed, I manipulate the bolt with my right. I've tried lefty bolt guns. Forget it, I don't even bother anymore.