I have never fired or held a FAL but I have one on order. Before I shoot it for the first time, does the FAL do anything nasty to left-handed shooters? The first time I fired a SAW left handed, the spent brass burned/chewed a nice patch of skin on my right forearm...
FAL for lefties?
- Thread starter Navy_Guns
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Ghost Tracker
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Well, there's no shell deflector so there's a chance you might catch a hot hull in the forehead. I would guess it has something to do with how the extractor & ejector are shaped & tuned. The good news? Mine generally spits the hulls out at 90 degrees to the bore, shouldn't be an issue.
A know a few lefties that love their FAL's they would not consider any other rifle than the one that is often called the right arm of the free world.
Other than an occasional spent casing ejecting a little too close I have not seen any major problem a lefty needs to be overly concerned with.
DSA sells an ambidextrous safety for $79.95 item #USO76AM
Also an extended standard L1A1 type safety for $29.95 item 3 USO76E allot of the lefties I see use the forefinger or trigger finger to manipulate the safety
The mag release is no problem the bolt hold open release works best using the trigger finger
Only with the cocking handle will you have to determine which works better for you, breaking your firing grip and using your left hand to pull the charging handle or cocking lever or pulling the rifle into your body bracing it between the ribs and your arm while rolling it 90 degrees or so using your right hand.
Best of luck and if I read right from your post and THR name you served in the military if so many thanks to you!
Other than an occasional spent casing ejecting a little too close I have not seen any major problem a lefty needs to be overly concerned with.
DSA sells an ambidextrous safety for $79.95 item #USO76AM
Also an extended standard L1A1 type safety for $29.95 item 3 USO76E allot of the lefties I see use the forefinger or trigger finger to manipulate the safety
The mag release is no problem the bolt hold open release works best using the trigger finger
Only with the cocking handle will you have to determine which works better for you, breaking your firing grip and using your left hand to pull the charging handle or cocking lever or pulling the rifle into your body bracing it between the ribs and your arm while rolling it 90 degrees or so using your right hand.
Best of luck and if I read right from your post and THR name you served in the military if so many thanks to you!
HorseSoldier
Member
As far as brass goes, both mine throw a bit forward of 90 degree right of the barrel, so I don't think they'd be bad left handed.
Chipperman
Member
I don't own one, but have fired a few.
I'm Lefty and did not encounter any problems with brass. I personally don't care for the ergonomics of them, but that's not really a Lefty thing.
I'm Lefty and did not encounter any problems with brass. I personally don't care for the ergonomics of them, but that's not really a Lefty thing.
Sunray
Member
"...does the FAL do anything nasty to left-handed shooters?..." Nope. Shot with a C1A1 for 6 years in the Queen's Service, left handed. The brass gets flung a long way away from the shooter. Usually, to about 2 o'clock, 6 or 8 feet away. Mind you, C1A1's are real issue battle rifles. Not commercial copies.
aloharover
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I have done 8 so far and all have spit 90* off to the side. Pretty much flat out too, not up or down.
Pete
Pete
Wolfgang2000
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I'm a southpaw and I love my FN.
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