I need some left handed help

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FireArmFan

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I've been lookin at buying an AR and I have found a few good deals at local shops. I found a few bushmaster that were nice and reasonably priced. I am left handed and while i've never shot an AR before i've shot AK's and other semi auto rifle's. I've never had a problem with brass shooting past my face or functioning the right handed controls before, but I just came found out that Stag Arms makes a left handed version of the AR. I did a search and found a number of positive comments about stag but nothing specifically on the lefty version. I'm looking for anyone who has experience with these that could help me out. Is it worth it? Or should I stick to the righty? The biggest complaint I have right off the bat is none of the shops around here stock the lefty version and i would prefer to just buy it straight from the store, rather than order it and have shipped to a FFL and what not. Thanks in advance for your advice.

EDIT TO ADD: Just to clarify in case this would change anyone's opinion, this would most likely not be a home defense gun, but more so just a gun for shooting at the range and just having fun with.
 
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I shoot rifle lefty and see no reason to go with the left handed version. The only thing a righty has over you is the mag release is slighty quicker, because they hit it with there trigger finger. I work the safety with my left hand thumb, and the bolt release/lock with my trigger finger.
 
I'm right handed, but left eye dominate so I shoot left handed. I found out about the stag leftys last fall, and its now at the top of my wish list (it would be the first AR for me as well). I plan on buying one as soon as I scrape up $1300 for the 6.8spc version. Anyway, I like to buy left handed guns as much as possilbe, sort of doing may part to make sure the gun indusrty doesn't ingore the leftys - like the people who make lever guns - man what I would give for a lefty lever in .45-70.

Also, you can get it with an ambi-mag release (but as a lefty you probally already knew that.)
 
You won't have a problem shooting an AR15 left handed, as long as it has the deflector bump on the receiver behind the ejection port. The bump was put there specifically for us lefties. Earlier, "slick side" uppers which lack the bump may let you get pelted with brass, but not all such rifles do this. I can tell you though that when it happens, it's no fun.

Stag by all accounts makes nice AR15s. If you want one there's no reason not to get one, IMO.
 
Lefty Rifle

I am a left hander too and I have no problem with the right habded rifle. I just built a Stag kit and really like the rifle. I was really easy when you buy the kit with an assemblied upper. The lower goes together real easy and you can save a lot of money. There are serveral kits for sale on ar15.com. Check them out, you can build a rifle for alot less then $1300.
 
nother lefty. I shoot a bone stock government model A2. I would get an ambi safety. The're less than 50 bucks and are handy other than that the best thing about buying non left handed rifles is the larger market if and when you decide to sell. Good luck.

Jim
 
I'm a lefty, and I went for the Stag 2L (I believe was the model). Not had any problems with brass in my face from standard AR-15s/M-16s, but the Stag had a good reputation, and was priced fairly decently, so I bought it. The only real downside I can see is that replacing the bolt carrier if it ever breaks, could be a slight pain. Other than that...it's fun to throw brass back at the people on your left ;)
 
Im a lefty and jut bought a AR 15 shot it last weekend with no problems. All my rifles and shotguns are right handed, if i run in to a lefthaned one i might buy one if the price is right but to buy one other wise i see no need
 
Stick to the righty, as long as it has a brass deflector you'll be alright. The LH upper has too many proprietary parts (two too many IMO, the bolt, and bolt carrier).

The AR is pretty LH friendly IMO. I hit the mag release with my right thumb, the bolt catch with my trigger finger, and the safety is easily manipulated with my left hand. Mine threw the brass towards 2 o'clock.

However if you wish, you could install a Norgon ambi-catch so you can drop mags with your trigger finger, and a DPMS ambi safety cost 20 to 25 bucks. The bolt catch on the LH ARs is in the same spot as the righties, almost out of reach of my trigger finger.

I've picked a up a few southpaw guns at the store, one was a LH 1187(?) on consignment and the other was a customer's Stag AR, and theyre just weird.
 
I was in the same boat as you. Looking at buying an AR, but not sure if lefty or standard config was the right one since I'd never shot an AR.

I finally got to shoot a standard M4, and the righthandedness wasn't an issue when shooting it stock. Didn't get hit by brass, didn't have gas in my face. Really ruined me for my Kel-Tec SU16C as it was more pleasant to shoot and I was more accurate with it.

Then we stuck the can on the end and I got a snoot full of gas on every shot. I suspect that a suppressed lefty model would shoot a little less gas into my face, though I understand a lot of it comes out around the charging handle. There is someone who makes a charging handle with seals, so that might help also.

I'm going to get a left-handed model because I want to vote with my dollars. I'm a lefty and too many manufacturers treat us as afterthoughts. When a manufacturer goes out of their way to design and market a product to me, and don't try and soak me for the privilege I'll support them if I can. I still don't know of anyone who makes my ideal AR, a lefty Dissipator flattop clone, but Stag seems to get the closest.
 
Tex, you could probably make you own dissipator out of the stag upper. Just remove the FSB, install a gas block and install the FSB in the rifle location.

edit: Just dont forget the handguards, like I just did...
 
I haven't had any trouble with my right handed AR, being a lefty. If you find the magazine catch or safety are hard to use, you can get a Norgon Ambi Mag Catch (about 90 bucks, lots of places carry them), and an ambi safety (about 30 bucks, I have a DPMS one).

Not that there's anything wrong with the Stag's style, mind you --Stag is good stuff--, I just don't have any particular use for their left-handed stuff.

Cheers, and good luck with your AR.

~GnSx
 
Another lefty here.

Don't buy an A1 upper. No brass deflector.

Any upper other than an original A1 should have a brass deflector.

Like others have suggested, an ambi safety is a good addition to make.

The mag release is probably the hardest control on an AR for a lefty and it isn't that bad. On my A2, I can easily operate it from standing, sitting and prone with no problem.
 
Thanks for all the reply's. I wasn't really worried about the brass because i figured it wouldn't be a problem but now that i know many leftys have no problem with the controls i may just go with a right hand model. Also thanks to everyone who mentioned the ambi upgrades i can get. I'll be going back to the store today to oogle over the guns and see if i can pick one out.
 
Zach S said:
Tex, you could probably make you own dissipator out of the stag upper. Just remove the FSB, install a gas block and install the FSB in the rifle location.

edit: Just dont forget the handguards, like I just did...
Click to expand...

FSB stands for Front Sight Base? I kinda assumed that to make a dissy you had to have a 16" barrel with the gas block in the right location? Are you saying that you can take a carbine configured barrel and move the gas block to the correct position for a dissy? What happens to the previous hole?

Tex

ps- I'm just about sold on the Stag Arms Tactical model. I'll certain I'll want to add a railed forearm eventually and I'll save money in the long run if I get in that config from the start. The Tactical comes with the Samson free-floated forearm standard. I'm also leaning towards replacing the collapsing stock with an Ace Skeleton.

Future plans after that would be either a dissy or rifle upper. I've been looking at A1 uppers, as long as it's lefty or has the brass deflector, something about that triangular handguard just looks right. Guess it's the same urge that made me get a M1 Garand and M1 Carbine.
 
I bought a DPMS 20" SS bull barrel lefty years ago and Stag is not the only AR manufacturer that makes lefties.....but I just bought another DPMS A2 and it is a rightie and I can shoot them both with no problem....If you want a lefty, get one that's not a problem and my relatives that are right handed shoots my lefty with no problem also.....it's there, might as well buy one...Don't believe all the crap about how hard it will be to sell if you decide to later on, there are a lot of lefties out there..........:)
 
FSB stands for Front Sight Base? I kinda assumed that to make a dissy you had to have a 16" barrel with the gas block in the right location? Are you saying that you can take a carbine configured barrel and move the gas block to the correct position for a dissy? What happens to the previous hole?
Click to expand...
Install the gas block in place of the stock FSB, and then install the FSB in the rifle location. Theres no gas tube going to the FSB on a dissy, its going to the gas block in place of the CAR or middy front sight.

Hard to picture, I know, so take a look at this upper from CMMG
890.jpg


I've been wanting to set my 9mm up like that for a while. Being a blowback, i dont have to worry about the gas block, its just that my barrel is an unusual diameter where the new FSB would go (.715" I think).
 
Thanks for the picture but I'm not sure I follow you. I thought the gas block was built into the front sight base? My understanding of part of the reason for a dissy was the longer sight radius and rifle length gas system. Did I misunderstand?

Tex
 
On most ARs, the gas block is in the FSB.

Bushmaster uses another gas block (in the CAR location) that fits under the handgaurds and they just install another FSB in the rifle location:
abbl-16da.jpg


CMMG offers a dissy style upper with the rifle gas system, however I dont know how well it would work with the gas port being that close to the end of the barrel. To the best of my knowledge, CMMG is the only company that offers a dissy style upper with the rifle gas system, however they also offer them in middy and CAR. I've got a middy on order, barrels are being chromed from what I understand, 3-4 week wait.

The only real advantage to the dissy upper is the sight radius. Oh, there is less barrel exposed for you to get burned on (I've done it - D'oh!).
 
As a southpaw, I've never had a prob w/ normal AR ergonomics, so long as there's a deflector.

IMO, left handed AR uppers are a solution in search of a problem.

There's a lot of gun designs that are really, really hostile to lefties, and the AR is not one of them.
 
I am new to AR's too. I bought my first in Sept '06 and then another just a couple months ago -- both are right handed versions, I haev alsmot 3000 rounds fired between the 2 rifles & shooting lefty has not been an issue...
IMO, get the one you want & enjoy shooting it! ;)
 
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