AR15 for Lefty

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docsleepy

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I know very little about the AR15 and am considering. I'm left handed, and normally just shoot right handed rifles, but left-handed. (I'd like to use a scope, if that matters.)

1. Will this work with an AR15 type design?
2. Where does your "cheek weld" end up on that "stock"? I don't want my face right up into the action!
3. I see many uppers have the "forward assist button" on the right side -- is that going to be in my nose/face? Should I get one without this feature?

Any other suggestions for a lefty?
Thanks!
 
DPMS and Stag make lefties, I have a 20" SS bull barrel left handed DPMS that is a very good rifle and recommend it highly and STag has a good reputation also...
 
1. regular ARs actually work better for lefties than they do righties
2. you'll put your nose on the charging handle. don't worry about brass hitting you as long as you have the deflector.
3. forward assist is optional. you don't need it and youcan save an ounce or two of weight w/o it, but it won't interfere with left handed shooting

i'm left handed

i will add though, that if you you plan on shooting seriously and have the $ to spring a KAC SR15 or magpul or POF with the ambi controls, it's money well spent; not because the controls work better for left-handed, but because it is easier when you shoot on your non-dominant side
 
As a lefty, I find the AR to be the most lefty-friendly stock configured mainstream platform out there. For a lot more money you can get into the Knights full-ambi AR or a next-gen carbine which would be even better. But there is no particular concern shooting a regular AR "nose to charging handle" as a lefty.
 
I will add that an ambi selector is the one modification I can't live without on an AR, and is the first thing I do to mine across the board... this is 2010, and those should be standard equipment on ALL ARs these days.
 
Wow -- thanks, guys, these are wonderful pieces of information.
That charging handle won't smack me in the nose, will it?
 
The one disadvantage to being a lefty on the firing line is that, instead of the brass from the firing position to your left hitting you in the back and bouncing off, it's coming at your face and trying to go down your shirt. :eek:

You learn real quick to get the firing position farthest to the left on the line or keep your shirt buttoned all the way to the top. :D

I've been shooting AR's for more than 30 years now and I'd never want to switch to a lefty AR. I'd have to learn everything all over again. Malfunction drills are really a breeze when you can just tip the rifle over slightly to see what's going on inside the ejection port.
 
There's no reason to get a stag "left handed" rifle. They're not particularly lefty friendly. The bolt release and mag release are in the standard positions. The only difference is they eject to the left, but the standard right-side ejection has never been a problem for me shooting lefty, and I shoot a Colt SP-1 slickside without the brass deflector. Any AR with the deflector should be fine for you, as far as hot brass is concerned.

You can get ambi safeties and charging handles and bolt release assist levers and stuff. The mag release is the biggest hassle (for me). I REALLY dig the Knight's armament full ambi AR but it's quite pricey.

The Mini-14/M1/M1A type controls are much more lefty friendly in my experience.
 
Ok, if the controls for lefties on ar's are the same as righties, then why not get a lefty?... the only difference is the ejection is on the left side instead of the right side and if you had a right handed ar it's the same. I shoot a lefty and it's just fine to shoot and I also have a righty and it is shoots fine also, but if a guy wants a lefty, go for it. My sons shoot mine and they don't complain about the ejection being on the left side.. All lefties grow up shooting right handed rifles and get used to it, but if the lefty is there, buy the damn thing...
 
There are several previous threads on THR if you do a search. I've shot both left handed and right handed AR's. To me it doesn't really matter which one to use. I don't really even need the ambi selector anymore and mag changes are easy enough without the special ambi conversions. If you want to be in a competition where fractions of seconds matter, get all the time saving equipment you can. If it's just a plinker, just make sure it's got a brass deflector. If you end up buying a LH AR, just know that it's something that is going to be hard to sell if you're in tough times. The AR is such an ambidextrous rifle anyway, the LH AR is a very tiny market.
 
I'm a lefty, I like lefty everything I can get my hands on, and I built a right handed AR. flying brass has never been a problem, mag release is in an ok position, charging handle is in an equally mediocre spot for both hands, bolt release is a bit of a reach, but can be done (go-go gadget trigger finger)

my biggest complaint is the safety, and even the ambi safety's have this problem: in fire position, the selector switch dug into the big knuckle on my trigger finger. So I bought a stag left handed selector. problem solved, it was like 20 bucks. (cheaper than an ambi).

I built a righty gun so I could use a .22 conversion kit. (though I hear the lefty .22 is coming if not here already) I'd get the cdnn $600 smith AR if I was buying today.
 
20% of GI's are left handed, (or whatever it is of the population that are left-handed.)
And they all shoot right handed M-16's & M-4's just fine.

Not a problem!

rc
 
I shoot left handed, and fired the rat gun while in the Service.
After that triangle looking lump was added behind the ejection port-
its probably hard to find a upper reciever that doesn't have it nowdays-
all the issues of brass hitting you in the face went away.

Now if they could do something about that 'BOING-BOING' sensation of the buffer spring
as it moves right under your cheek,,,,,,,
 
Stag Arms. They even offer their piston Model 8 in a left handed configuration. Great rifle for a decent price.
 
I never had a problem with my stag lefty! Great running AR. I didn't have a tough time selling it either (I priced it to sell). I liked throwing brass back at the guys to my left.
 
you could get a left handed ar, but why? how many other ar's that you pick up will be left handed models? and how consistant is your left handed model with other ar's out there that you might have to use one day?
 
Now if they could do something about that 'BOING-BOING' sensation of the buffer spring
as it moves right under your cheek,,,,,,,
Click to expand...
I like that sound. Lets me know everything is working:)

No sproing means the the mag is empty, or something worse...
 
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