Am I weird how I shoot?

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IronsightJM

IronsightJM

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This going to be kind of a long post. I went today to look at some rifles as I wanted to Expand the arsenal. A Tikka t3 in 270 caught my eye and I asked to handle it real quick.

He politely handed it to me and he noticed I was left handed and he said “oh well you don’t want that let me get you a left handed rifle just as good”, now never hearing that from someone before I didn’t know what to say. I responded “I prefer right handed bolts over left anyway” so now this is where I guess he thought I was weird.

I was explaining to him that when I slide the bolt it doesn’t feel right and I’m horrible doing it with my left hand that’s why I don’t like left handed rifles. It’s natural to hold it left handed and slide it with my right hand so any right handed rifle would be fine for me. He started saying how that’s very rare that someone who holds it left handed to slide the bolt with the right hand. He asked how I handle a handgun and I said well if I’m aiming it with both hands I aim with my left ya know just the same. But if I aim it with one hand then it’ll be right hand.

He insisted to keep telling me how weird my gun handling style was. I am just wondering Becuase I’ve never had anyone say too much about it until now. Anyone else do it like this or is this just weird? Btw it feels very awkward and not right to hold a rifle right handed.
 
I'm right handed as well as right eye dominant. I shoot rifles, shotguns and handguns right handed, but I shoot both bows and slingshots left handed. And I'm pretty darned good with a slingshot if I do say so myself.:D Do what feels right for you.;)
 
Probably trying to push the left hand. Most likely has been in inventory a while. I'm south pawed but shoot r/h rifles but can shoot them left handed too. For hunting it's no matter cause one shot is enough. Shotgun preference is bottom load/eject for left or right use. Pistols either and can even switch to opposite eye if needed.
 
skeeterfogger said:
Probably trying to push the left hand. Most likely has been in inventory a while. I'm south pawed but shoot r/h rifles but can shoot them left handed too. For hunting it's no matter cause one shot is enough. Shotgun preference is bottom load/eject for left or right use. Pistols either and can even switch to opposite eye if needed.
Click to expand...
I’ve had some problems with right eject shotguns as my right arm will basically be right near the ejector so it always hits my arm and almost my face hah. I’ve found left ejectors to be much more comfortable to me
 
If he was trying to be helpful, good for him. If he was being arrogant and presumptuous, he's an ass. I'm right handed and when I'm shooting from a bench, I prefer a left handed bolt. Go with what you're comfortable with. As long as you aren't handicapping yourself, I'd say roll with it.
 
I’m a lefty and I prefer left handed bolt guns, but I carried a right handed rifle for a lot of years before I ever bought my first LH gun. I have no problem reaching over the receiver to work a RH bolt but there’s no question it’s slower and even more slow in returning sights to target. I don’t believe I’ve hunted with a RH gun since I bought my first lefty 20 years ago.

One thing you should consider is that LH guns are considerably safer for a lefty if you should experience a case failure because the blast is vented away from your face.
 
I went shooting a while back with a friend who's left-handed and had a left-handed bolt gun (.270, FWIW). I asked if I could try it (I'm right handed), and I was surprised how natural it felt to operate the bolt with my left hand, even though I was shooting the rifle right-handed. It may have helped that I was shooting off a sandbag, so the front of the rifle was supported.

Point is, shoot the way you know best and can hit best.
 
IronsightJM said:
He started saying how that’s very rare that someone who holds it left handed to slide the bolt with the right hand.
Click to expand...

Evidently he has never seen a left bolt, dual port bench rifle.
I am lucky that it matters not to me. ;)
It should not matter to you either. That is, what other humans think.
Hits count, no style points...:)
 
IronsightJM said:
This going to be kind of a long post. I went today to look at some rifles as I wanted to Expand the arsenal. A Tikka t3 in 270 caught my eye and I asked to handle it real quick.

He politely handed it to me and he noticed I was left handed and he said “oh well you don’t want that let me get you a left handed rifle just as good”, now never hearing that from someone before I didn’t know what to say. I responded “I prefer right handed bolts over left anyway” so now this is where I guess he thought I was weird.

I was explaining to him that when I slide the bolt it doesn’t feel right and I’m horrible doing it with my left hand that’s why I don’t like left handed rifles. It’s natural to hold it left handed and slide it with my right hand so any right handed rifle would be fine for me. He started saying how that’s very rare that someone who holds it left handed to slide the bolt with the right hand. He asked how I handle a handgun and I said well if I’m aiming it with both hands I aim with my left ya know just the same. But if I aim it with one hand then it’ll be right hand.

He insisted to keep telling me how weird my gun handling style was. I am just wondering Becuase I’ve never had anyone say too much about it until now. Anyone else do it like this or is this just weird? Btw it feels very awkward and not right to hold a rifle right handed.
Click to expand...
My nephew is a lefty and prefers right handed rifles.
For him, it's because he grew up shooting them.
 
Phil Mickelson , a PGA tour golfer who has had a very successful career , golfs lefty - but is right handed in all other activities and skills.
I don't know if there is any rhyme or reason to such things ; if you are wired that way and it works , that's just fine.
 
Left handed, and very comfortable with a right hand bolt gun. Shoot left side and operate the bolt with my left hand, muscle memory helps.

Not sure how long it would take for me to get used to a left handed bolt.

Do whatever you're most comfortable with.
 
It’s a bit weird but you aren’t alone. A friend of mine shoots pistols left handed, but rifles right handed.
 
Unusual perhaps, but not strange. I've read about many successful lefties firing right handed bolt actions from the left shoulder and operating the bolt with their right hand. They claim it's faster than operating a left handed rifle with the left hand.

There are benchrest actions available with the ejection port on the opposite side of the bolt handle
 
I do think it has to do with how we are wired, and our own individual “feel” for dexterity.

in surfing and skateboarding, most face the same side of the board the dominant hand. A right-handed person would stand facing right. But there are goofy-footers who are better off the other way.

happens in ballet too, where there are natural right-turners and left-turners. My daughter is a natural left turner, but she is right-side dominant.
 
My Dad was as left handed as you could be. He learned to shoot righty at Paris Island and scored expert.
 
.308 Norma said:
I'm right handed as well as right eye dominant. I shoot rifles, shotguns and handguns right handed, but I shoot both bows and slingshots left handed. And I'm pretty darned good with a slingshot if I do say so myself.:D Do what feels right for you.;)
Click to expand...
I’m in the same boat! When I use a bow or slingshot I would shoot right handed. I guess that’s how I’m weird a little. I have more strength in my right arm or I think. I do so maybe that’s part of the reason I shoot the way I do.
 
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