Left Handed Youth Rifle?

[longshooter99]

I've been trying to find the perfect rifle for my fiance and I may have struck gold the other day. We were in a Scheeles store and they had two Savage Axis Youth bolt action rifles on hand. One was chambered in .243 and the other in 7mm-08 and both came with a bushnell 3-9x scope for around $350. Savage also lists .223 as an option as well. My fiance fell in love with it for two reasons: first of all the stock fit her properly, secondly it was pink. Now, i'd normally jump at the chance to buy her a rifle she'd actually like, thanks to an uncle when she was younger she is recoil sensitive, but she is left handed and left eye dominate and these pink youth rifles are only made right handed. I have a number of friends who are left handed that simply grew up shooting right handed firearms in their left hands. The store did have some left handed axis rifles in .243 as well for around $300 (black synthetic stock and no scope), but not in a youth configuration. So what do you guys think? Should I get her the rifle she likes and just teach her to shoot a right hand gun in her left hand? Or get her a left handed gun from the get go and just paint/replace the stock later?
Here's Savage's website on the rifle in question: http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/axisxpyouthmg

 

[urbaneruralite]

I expect it will be easier to change the color of a rifle than teach someone to do something wrong.

 

[longshooter99]

I would have to agree with you on that, I should have also asked in my post of what you guys think of the Savage Axis or if I should go with another brand of rifle?

 

[CB900F]

Longshooter99;

I'm left/left & have been shooting for a while. Perhaps even a while and a half. In my youth I shot NRA indoor competition with a right handed gun off the left shoulder. And went to National Juniors one year about fifty of 'em ago.

As I aged, and gained some income, I swore that I'd never buy anything but LH guns. Which, I've mostly adhered to, and therefore have a decent collection of LH bolts to use. I would not buy her a right handed gun, there are too many good to excellent LH guns out there. If she's going to hunt with it, I'd also get her a light recoiling gun that has enough oomph to increase the chances of positive feedback.

There are LH Remington 788's out there in 6mm Remington. The 6mm is what the .243 wants to be when it grows up. Same bore, same bullets, different cases. The 6mm handles heavier bullets better & generally flings the heavier bullets out at the same speeds that the .243 does the next lighter bullet. There's no problem getting commercial ammo either.

There are Weatherby .257 magnums out there in the left handed version also. However, you should be able to buy two 6mm 788's for the cost of one of Roy's portsider's. Unless something very strange goes on that is.

If you ever find a left handed gun chambered in 6.5 X 55mm Swedish Mauser, buy it. There are a very few of them out there. I finally gave up trying to find one though & had a custom made. It was worth it. Just my opinion, but considering the requirements you laid down, this would be the ideal gun to find also. Highly accurate, mild recoil, insanely effective on game up to and including large mule deer, easy to reload, and factory ammo is not a problem to find.

Considering the recoil factor, the 7mm-08 is probably about as heavy a caliber as you might want to go, unless you reload. If you do reload, go to the .30-06; plenty of lefties out there & stocks also. That way you can pick up a beater LH stock & have it cut & fit just for her. No loss if you have to scrap it & do it again. You'd also be amazed at what a good fitting stock does to reduce felt recoil. Combine that with one of the available reduced loads in the manuals & you're a hero! (Speer 14, page 480, last two loads)

900F

 

[longshooter99]

900f;

To be honest, I've been very interested in owning a 6.5x55 lately and I have considered the notion of buying my fiance a rifle chambered in that, (sort of like buying her a power tool for Christmas ) though i figured a more common chambered rifle would be easier/cheaper to find.

The only rifle I've been able to get her to shoot until lately was my savage 93r17 (no recoil) until I somehow convinced her to shoot my 43 BYF Kar98k in 8mm Mauser, which she claims she "didn't mind" as long as it was only 1 or 2 shots. I have a 1926 Ovidieo Spanish Mauser in 7mm Mauser that i think would be perfect for her in terms of recoil and power though as I said I think something specifically for her would make her more willing to go hunting with me.

She isn't too interested in the old 7mm as it is simply old (the same reason I like it) and i'll never say no to a chance to buy a new gun . She goes hunting with me though i'd be thrilled for to actually shoot something.

 

[CB900F]

Longshooter;

Don't discount my comments on proper stock fit, it can literally make the difference between pain & pleasure. If she can tolerate a mil-stocked 8mm, a properly fitting gun should present no problem I'd think.

In other words a lefty .30-06, mild load of maybe a 150 gr bullet, 2700 fps, and she'll love it.

900F

 

[SKILCZ]

I saw a lefty Savage bolt action .22LR youth sized gun at my local gun shop the other day, so they do exist. I think it was wearing about a $200 price tag. It was pretty small, though, so I would have your wife handle one first.

 

[longshooter99]

900f,

I also agree with you on the light .30-06 loads. I shoot European 8mm loads because they're a tad hotter. I believe her recoil fear is mostly mental. I grew up with a 06 and now use a .270 in which I see no difference in recoil. My fiance seems these as "big" guns and therefore hurt.

In terms of proper stock fit, if I buy an after market stock who would go to for that? Ive seen Boyd's and Stocky's but I'm curious what you guys recommend.

 

[CB900F]

Longshooter;

Find a lefty .30-06 from a major brand, let's say Ruger. They've been making LH .30-06's for decades. Therefore, there's take-off wood stocks out there & not so expensive either. Find gunsmith who specializes in wood & have him fit it to her.

The cost of this little project should be entirely reasonable. Used Ruger M77 MKII LH in .30-06, and preferably one with a beat up stock too, that way there's no need to buy another one. Let's say $400.00. Cost of a cut & fit, maybe another $100.00. Barrel gets cut to downsize for her & new crown put on, $60.00.

Now she's got a gun that's right for her, she knows you've done it for her, and you reap the benefits.

900F

 

[Dirty Dawg]

I'm a lefty, who, like most of us, learned the wrong way first; I later swore to buy LH or ambi when possible. Savage makes a number of LH options but I couldn't say if any are pink. I also favor lever guns as they are basically ambi. There's a gun shop in Fort Worth that typically has a good selection of LH firearms to choose from, maybe something similar in your area would offer you more choices. Oh, and Stag makes a beautiful LH Ar-15.