Left Handed Assault/Battle Rifle Options...

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camslam

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I did a search but didn't come up with much.

Can anyone give a definitive list of assault/battle type rifles that are available for left handed shooters?

I know there are AR-15's and probably AR-10's by default that are made for left handed shooters, but to my knowledge that is about it.

I haven't found any M1A's, FAL's, AK's, or any other large production makes that are left handed, but I freely admit, I just don't know.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
 
There just isnt enough of a market.

The only weapon i can think of besides AR-types that are full-on dedicated lefty is the Steyr AUG - when you put the lefty bolt in it; although the design is pretty modular.

The newer take on the AUG type design is the FN2000. it's fully ambidextrous.

Besides a few of the early ARs that would eject the casing into a lefty's right forehead, pretty much all the options can be fired lefty.

The M1A and the AK can be operated by a lefty with no problem. I'm a lefty and have one of each.

It gets more complicated when you want lefty controls: ambidexterous options are out there, but for true lefty, like a FAL is true-righty, the options are just a few expensive AR's.

The only thing that comes to mind that you can make lefty is the Beretta CX4 carbine - i've got mine with the mag eject and safety reversed, along with the ejector. The new Benelli (same parent company/designers) might be as modular...i don't know.

But overall, you've gotta pick between stuff that works and stuff that doesn't. M1As work with lefties. AK's safeties suck, regardless of your strong hand. FALs' controls have kept me from getting one.

I wouldn't get a lefty-AR...too small a market. Get a regular one and buy an aftermarket left-hand safety, and youre good to go. Otherwise, a Mini14 works well too.
 
Thanks Desidog for the info. Good report.

I actually am a righty myself, but my brother-in-law is looking to get something and he is one of those "special" left handed shooters. :D

He wants an AK but the gun shop guys told him he would have brass tattooing (sp) his forehead. I'll let him know you don't have any problems with shooting the AK.

Thanks again.
 
I should add that i foresee this changing: the design of all combat guns will become symmetrical and ambidexterous; in many combat situations you need to be able to shoot a rifle off either shoulder, especially in close urban settings.

Of course, lefties are the only ones truely in their right minds...so the right-handed designers might be a couple steps behind me in my logic.
 
Everything I have heard from lefties is that running an AK is easier. Primarily because the charging handle is in the proper side for them to use with their weak (right) hand.

they typically eject to the right, not to the rear. He should be fine.
 
M1 Garand, M14, and M1A, all well in lefty mode, as the safety is ambidextrous. Not saying the Mini-14 is a battle rifle, but its safety is offset to the left, and works better in lefty mode. Sure, these rifles throw spent cases to the right, but the ejection port is well forward of the shooter's face. In fact, seeing that spent case ejecting is an indication things are running smoothly.

AR15 and derivatives work fine as lefty rifles, with an ambi safety lever. Stag markets ARs built for lefties, but while I applaud their consideration, don't see the need, as ejection on the right side doesn't bother me in the first place. As with the Garand pattern rifles, seeing the sase ejecting is an inducation things are running smoothly.

AKs work OK for lefties, but I have only handled them, not fired an AK.

My preferred SD/HD/utility carbine is the Mini-14, partly because its safety FAVORS lefty use. I used to own a Garand, but financial necessity compelled me to sell it. I own an AR15, and used to own another.
 
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An AR with a brass deflector, ambi-selector, Norgon or KAC ambi mag release, and extended-latch charging handle is pretty darned lefty-compatible.
 
What MrCleanOK says is right. For an AR, all you really need is the Norgon ambidextrous magazine release and safety and you're good to go. It's actually better that way than a left handed upper (they are available from DPMS/Panther Arms & Stag Arms) because the bolt head is the same as the military one (less parts problem in a shortage). The Steyr-Aug is convertible to southpaw too.
 
I'm a lefty the AR just needs an ambi safty IMO and it hasn't stopped me...none of mine have one. The AK is just about perfect as is and again the only change would be a better safety. No trouble with the M1-Rifle (Garand) either but loading it is a two handed affair but still not a problem.

One thing that must be done:
***always wear safety glasses***
While my rifles all do a great job of sending brass away from my face I've had the occasional brass eject and hit me square in my shooting glasses and it would have struck my eyeball if it hadn't been for the glasses.

Bolt actions are a different story and if I were hunting dangerous game I'd want a left handed bolt. Seeing as how paper targets and most of the critters I've shot at don't bite. My bolt rifles are all right handed too.
 
I've yet to find a gun that is easier to shot with one hand as opposed to another. I'm a righty but shoot lefty (eye dominance), and I can safely say, I can work a right handed bolt gun just as fast as a righty, if not faster.
 
As a lefty, I find most bullpups unusable (for obvious reasons) and HK type rifles annoying because of their charging handle placement. Other than that, it's all just fine.
 
I'm a southpaw waiting on the inevitable bugs to be worked out of the Kel-Tec RFB, which has a neutral mag release, ambi safety, and a switchable charging handle. Since it ejects forward, it probably can't get friendlier than that.

When that rifle is more widely available at between 1200-1300 dollars and has a track record of decent range performance, I will snap one up.
 
Southpaw that has shot AR-15's, AK's and SKS's and never had a problem with any of them as far as ejected brass hitting me.
 
i can't believe no one has mention the ultimate assault rifle for a lefty...the FN P90 of Stargate fame

another great rifle for a lefty is the Steyr AUG. it changes to left handed ejection with just a change of a couple of parts...the ejection port is already cut into the stock, it's just covered with a snap in panel
 
There is a line of thinking that proposes right-handed bolt actions are easier for left-handed people to use. That's bullpucky. I shoot left-handed and have operated right-handed bolt guns before. Whoever thought up that steaming pile has been smoking too much of their own product. However, many conventional right-handed semi-autos are in fact just as convenient, if not more so, for left-handed shooters.

Take the AR, for example. The safety can be a problem but it's a small one. You just have to drag your shooting hand thumb around the grip to flip it down, unless of course you have an ambi safety, then you're golden. The mag release is easily manipulated with the support hand thumb, and the bolt catch can be pushed with the firing hand index finger, if you have big enough hands. The charging handle is equally inconvenient for everyone. I never had trouble keeping up with right-handed shooters operating a standard AR left-handed. And when doing IA drills, I quickly discovered that having the ejection port on the right side of the weapon as a left-handed shooter gave me a distinct advantage by allowing me to quickly check my ejection port for manfunctions. While right-handed shooters have to cant their weapon in all sorts of funny directions, I barely have to move my head and don't have to move the weapon at all to check for malfunctions, and clearing malfunctions is easier too. So when Stag introduced their left-handed AR line, I thought "Sweet, now right handed people have an AR too." As long as the rifle has a case deflector, the AR does not represent a problem for left-handed shooters in its standard configuration.

Rifles like the AK and M1A, with reciprocating charging handles located on the right side of the weapon are often easier to left-handed shooters. The safety on the M1A is ambi by default. The safety on the AK is on the right side of the receiver, under the ejection port. So again, it actually is easier for a left-handed shooter. As with operating the charging handle, a right handed shooter either has to cant his weapon severally and/or bring his support hand over or under the receiver, or remove his firing hand from the grip, to manipulate the safety. Neither is preferrable to the lefty method which simply involves bringing the support hand back and flipping the safety down with the support hand thumb. Both the AK and M1A can be easily charged by a left-handed shooter without removing the rifle from the firing position, or removing or altering the firing hand grip. And both these rifle have ambi paddle style mag releases. Since both these rifles eject spent casings between 1:30 and 3:00, they present no problems for left-handed shooters.

gun shop guys told him he would have brass tattooing (sp) his forehead

Typical bloviating from a standard "behind the counter moron" that just likes to hear himself speak. I've shot literally thousands of rounds from like easily half a dozen different AKs and never had a single ejected brass hit me. In fact, I can't recall ever having one even flung remotely back in my general direction.

I have little experience with the FAL and G3 other than handling a couple of them. Those designs both seem like they could present problems for left-handed shooters due to the orientation of their controls, but who cares, cause we have a better battle rifle than both of them in the M14/M1A.

The only firearm I've ever had hit me with its own ejected brass (aside from shooting the SAW left-handed) is a Desert Eagle .50 AE while being shot one handed. So as long as the controls can be manipulated, namely the safety and charging handle in my experience, most semi-autos present little to no problems for lefties as they are.
 
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I believe that the Bushmaster ACR will be optimized for use by lefty users. I may be mistaken, but they seem to have made a big deal out of their rifle having ambidextrous controls.
 
I can't think of a single modern military-style, non-bullpup, "assault rifle" that cannot be used very easily by a lefty, often with no real modifications. The FAL, G3, CETME and PTR-91, with their charging handles on the left, may be the hardest to use efficiently. The M14/M1A, the AK, the AR, all can be used very well by a lefty. The AK may be the best of the bunch for a southpaw, as everything is set up on the right side of the weapon, or centerline (mag release), with zero modifications. The AR would benefit from ambi safeties and mag releases, but these are easy easy easy drop-in mods.

Mike
 
I"m a lefty and MTMillitiaman nailed most of it. Personally, I hate HK guns with the charging handle on the wrong side, and I've never been able to release the bolt on and AR with my trigger finger so I end up having to reach over the gun. It's very awkward and I hate eugene stoner for it. brass in face hasn't been a problem.

m-14, sks's, AK, m1 carbines, keltec su-16's etc, all work great for lefties. mini-14 is a toss up, the gas port is awkwardly placed. I find it distracting.
 
I'm left handed, have a ranch rifle, and don't know what on earth you mean by 'gas port.'

Mini14 is great for lefties/perhaps the best .223 as far as ergonomics....accuracy is another issue when compared to an AR.
 
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