A question for you lefties...

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hammerklavier

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It looks like my son is definately going to be left handed. I hope to buy some additional guns for myself soon and have been wondering whether I should get ambidextrous controls on the models that offer that. But on the other hand, he'll encounter plenty of right handed models in his life and maybe that's what he should learn on first. Any advice?
 
My 2yr old boy also looks to be a southpaw, but the DW and I are both right-wingers. I bought a H&R Handi-Rifle (.270 / .30-30) and have an NEF Pardner 12ga too. I figure beyond these, he can find whatever he likes, but this should get him started. The release is still on the RH side, but these guns are otherwise ambi.
 
I'm a lefty.. Never found a gun I couldn't shoot as well or as fast as a right handed person could...

Just gotta do it your own way, and find out what's comfortable.


There have been a few autoloading rifles that eject a bit too close for comfort to the nose though :) But you get over that...
 
Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sinister (left-handed, to the great unwashed) and I can shoot pretty much any right-handed gun out there. Some might take a little getting used to, but no problems so far.

In fact, I contemplated buying a lefty AR when I was in the market for one, but decided against it for a few reasons, chief among them the fact that if I ever shot anyone else's guns than my own, I'd constantly have to re-familairize myself with the right-handed types. Too much hassle for little gain, IMHO.
 
From a marksmanship training perspective, I'd keep him with the righty pieces. As you said, he'll likely encounter many many more righty guns in his lifetime so better to learn with what he may have to pickup and shoot in a pinch rather than a customized deal that may be initially more comfortable. My two cents: teach him with conventionally configured firearms, then as he gets on in life and wants to own a piece that's designed for him, that'll be his decision.
 
what zundfolge said.

as a lefty (eye and hand), i find quality guns (e.g. ARs and bolt guns) more ergonomic for me than for right-handers. but many lesser guns (e.g. AK and m14-pattern) are a PITA to shoot left-handed.
 
I am left-handed. I take the approach of going with what works for the leftie. I recommend that you start teaching with something simple such as a single-shot rifle for example. Your child should try left and right-handed shooting. This is not about what works for everyone else but what works for your child.

I am ambidextrous. I can shoot with either hand with pistols. I can not do the same with rifles. It really may not matter which eye is dominant because everyone learns and adapts differently. Some can be trained to overcome eye dominance, some can not.

I am a fan of learning your weapon no matter what it is. I personally have left and right-handed weapons but practice and train mostly with the left-handed. In other words, I train left-handed with left-handed weapons for life-threatening situations such as my carry gun where muscle memory means everything but that IS MY WAY. Everyone is different.

I personally find it offensive that more weapons are not available for lefties because we generally adapt to right-handed since that is what manufacturers make. I feel that we lefties should push for more weapons made for us. My nickname in the forum illustrates the company that I support because they make left-handed weapons, even semi-custom, many times without additional fees. All of my bolt-action rifles are Savage made.

That said, I do feel that many right-handed weapons can be operated properly by lefties such as a 1911-style .45. With some extended controls and practice the operation can be smooth. However, some pistols, such as a SIG P226 are awkward and generally unfit for lefties.

Your choice but I say let your child's abilities and desires help to determine the correct path to follow.
 
Must be why I like Ruger pistols. They are all designed to work equally well for both left and right handed shooters. I'll also partial to Savage rifles because they made left handed rifles long before anyone else cared for.

Lever actions work well, and autoloaders almost as well. Don't notice the ejection on my .30 carbine or Mini-14.
 
I'm slightly right handed (almost ambidextrous) and left eye dominant so shoot on the left. I have no problem with right handed long guns, but prefer ambi handguns or handguns that can be converted for left hand operation. It makes reloads much easier.
 
I'm a lefty that is right eye dominant....but I can shoot with my left eye just fine also. I shoot a pistol left handed and mostly use my right eye. I was taught to shoot a rifle right handed. I think if you teach him to shoot right handed he won't have any problems. It's so much easier to find right handed rifles....

Trust me....he'll learn to do a lot of things right handed because most others do. I've noticed that lefties do much more with their right hands than a right hander does with his left hand.....We truly do live in a right handed world.

Glock.jpg
 
You should also check him for eye dominance ... if he's right eyed but left handed many instructors will recommend he learn to shoot right handed.
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+1
I'm left handed and right eye dominant. I shoot handguns left handed, but rifles right handed. Once you learn something one way, it soon feels natural.
 
Am right handed, but left eye dominant. Have shot right handed long guns left side all my life. Wouldn't even WANT a left hander though. Handguns I shoot either or both hands,..moreso right than left admittedly,....but with auto's,..I do buy with ambi controls if it's an option. I agree with the point that more companies SHOULD make left handed guns,..but the fact is,..they ain't gonna....so get over it and move on. I also agree with whoever made the point the lad should learn to shoot whatever needs to be picked up,...and unfortunately,..that's gonna mean mostly right handed actions. Just my .02
 
I've been a lefty for 56yrs. and never handled a firearm made for leftys. I don't think that I'd know what to do with one.
 
A lefty here as well. I have a few left handed pieces, a Remington, 1100, a Benilli SBE, and a custom Remington 700 in .340 Weatherby. I also had built a custom Mauser with a left handed stock.

All in all the only piece that gives me any problem is the bolt action. As far as the ejection out of the right side of the rifle, that has never been of any concern. .22 autos, my AR, my other semi autos and pumps never bother me.

I do like lever actions since they work very well for a port sider.

If your son is very young, I would check for eye dominance. If he is right eye dominate, I would encourage him to learn to shoot off his right shoulder, if not being a lefty is not really a handicap.
 
Most of us lefties are a bit ambidextrous. We have to be. My shotguns have always been right handed and I learned how to control the safety my own way. My old double has a slide safety behind the receiver so no problem. As for handguns, Berettas in the larger calibers are ambidextrous and my Walther P99 doesn't need a safety. Same with revolvers except for rapid reloading. I'm more comfortable using my left hand for reloading rather than my right hand which a lefty revolver requires. I think it is pretty safe bet that your son will wind up able to shoot handguns right or left equally well if he trains a bit.
 
The only trouble I've ever had is finding quality left handed holsters off-the-shelf. I have many custom ordered holsters gathering dust because I can't try before I buy.

I prefer left hand bolts, but can deal with a right handed one.
 
The best handgun that is ambidextrous is the HK P7. As another LH, my first main rifle was, and still is, a 700 BDL in 7 mag; but I also have a model 7 which is RH as is my Swede Mauser. Most of my shotguns are ambi as they are O/U's. The only real gun with a disadvantage is a revolver.

With kids that are that young, realize that dominance might change back and forth for a few years. Don't try to change the dominance, just work with it.
 
LH-ed here, but right-eye dominant. I shoot long guns RH-ed, and handguns LH-ed, but with my right eye (or both, a skill I'm trying to develop.)
I don't own any guns with either LH or ambi features. In LE basic training, I did have to use a privately-learned rapid-reload technique for the service revolver, and was later called on to teach it to other LH-ed officers.
 
My dad shot lefty with a semi-auto shotgun that ejected across his face and managed to win a worlds skeet championship, as well as regularly bag the limit on dove shoots.
 
Am I the only one who thought this was a political thread before I clicked on it?
Click to expand...
:) No, you're not alone. There are even people calling themselves right wingers!
 
Born southpaw that is right eye dominant also.

Never had any real problems, other than some "bullpup" stocked rifles and shotguns, that ejected to close to my face.

I just this year at 42 bought my first left-hand bolt action Savage .22.
 
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