Left bolt rifle

[bluetopper]

Opinions wanted here.
I’ve been looking for or wanted to build a rifle in a very obscure, reloaders only caliber and I finally found a real nice one but it’s a left-handed bolt action and I am right handed. I’ve never even shot, much less owned a left-handed bolt action.
Would it be too much of a hindrance and too awkward? If not, I’m thinking of buying it anyway because it’s such a beautiful nice example.

 

[earlthegoat2]

As a lefty who has the opposite problem, I would say no. I like my rifles to be user friendly and I usually buy them with the intent to use them in a way that wrong handed bolt actions just wouldn’t work for me.

If you are looking for RH rifles, one will eventually come along. Or get a Savage action and get your barrel of choice.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Build it, try it out, and then tell us again how us left-handers should just shut up and shoot right-handed bolt guns because it's not a problem.

(Not implying the OP ever said anything like that, but some of you have....you know who you are!)

 

[12Bravo20]

Just wait until you can find a right hand action. You won't like using a left hand action if you are shooting off hand or other positions (outside of off a bench).

Trust us left handed shooters on this we know what we are talking about. We have been forced to use the wrong sided actions for too long.

 

[troy fairweather]

If the stock is straight or ambi it can be nice to have the bolt on the left when shooting righty.

 

[12Bravo20]

If the stock is straight or ambi it can be nice to have the bolt on the left when shooting righty.

A Lee Enfield SMLE No1 Mk3 has about as straight of a stock as possible. I never found it comfortable to shoot left handed.

 

[troy fairweather]

A Lee Enfield SMLE No1 Mk3 has about as straight of a stock as possible. I never found it comfortable to shoot left handed.

Don't think he's looking at a no1 and a lot of people think there weird shooting righty to.

 

[12Bravo20]

I brought up the No 1 since you mentioned straight or ambi stocks. And yes I have tried shooting many different right hand bolt actions left handed and none were very comfortable unless in a rest while shooting from a bench.

No matter which hand you shoot with, buy the correct bolt action will save you headaches.

 

[jmr40]

My brother shoots lefty and has tried just about every option that should be ambidextrous such as pump and lever guns. He just never warmed up to them and prefers a bolt action. Unfortunately, there are few rifle options for lefties And even fewer cartridge choices, so he has primarily used right-handed bolt guns and shot them left-handed.

He did buy one left-handed bolt gun but just didn't like that model. Everything he did like only came in right handed rifles and he decided it was more important to shoot the rifle he liked even if it were from the wrong side.

He is quite proficient. And I know it is just a movie, but the sniper in "Saving Private Ryan" worked his bolt gun pretty well from the wrong side. It shouldn't be any different shooting a left-handed rifle right-handed. In fact if it is a gun meant to be used primarily from a shooting bench it is an advantage, They actually make right handed rifles with the bolt handle on the left side for bench shooting.

 

[eyeshot]

Bide your time and buy a lefty. I recently bought a LH bolt and RH eject in a 1973 6mm Rem 788 and I'm loving it. I load as a single shot and the RH eject is easy to feed on the bench. I'm halfway there!

Shot RH bolts for 40 years and it's doable but why sacrifice when the lefties are out there. Re-barrel to your flavor if you can't find it. What is the caliber, by the way?

 

[highlander 5]

Can't see out of my right eye so I shoot left handed but of all my rifles only 3 are LH bolts. With a bit of practice shooting a LH action right handed will come easy it just looks funny to some people.

 

[earlthegoat2]

As a lefty, I never liked bolt actions until I started buying lefty ones. Now I have too many.

My only point here is this. If you are right handed, wait and look for a right handed rifle. They are about 50 times more common in so many chamberings that the one you are looking for is bound to show up.

What are you looking for anyway?

 

[Varminterror]

I wouldn’t buy the wrong size of shoes just because they’re pretty.

 

[Picher]

I've sighted-in left-handed guns in my old part-time gun repair business and have to say that anyone right-handed who buys a left-handed bolt gun must have a few screws loose somewhere. Same applies to semi-auto!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

When you say obscure caliber (chambering), I take it you have a specific one in mind? Which one? This might have considerable relevance to your choice of action, particularly rimmed vs. rimless.

 

[BigBlue 94]

They actually make right handed rifles with the bolt handle on the left side for bench shooting.

Savage striker bolt action pistols have a right side port with a left handed bolt handle. Much faster than using your grip hand for the bolt. And as said, if shooting from a rest or bipod, it works surprisingly well on a rifle too.

 

[DazedandConfuzed]

My dad was left handed and had trouble finding lefty bolt guns. So if you decide to try it and don't like it, you probably won't have to much trouble selling it. Unless the caliber is near unobtanium.