Lefty-friendly 20 ga. shotgun for hunting

[ghost457]

Well, my dilemna is this: i want a 20 ga. shotgun for hunting. it has to be lefty friendly, preferably small/light. im about 5'7", so im not a big kid, i just turned 16 and this would be a birthday present. my dad has suggested an Ithaca 20 ga., not sure what model, but it has bottom ejection and a kit to switch the safety to the other side. i dont mind if its semi or pump. im totally new to shotgunning, iv shot a shotgun exactly 3 times, not 3 different occassions, 3 different shells, with a 12 gauge. i dont mind the kick, but i figured i dont need the 12, a 20 will be plenty large enough. anyways, i have no idea what to look at. iv searched around a lot, havent found anything i really wanted. one thing i have looked at is an 870, but i'm not sure about this, so any help is appreciated. thank you.

 

[RoyG]

Take a look at a SxS or a over/under.

 

[Gordon]

The Model 37 20 gauge would be an EXCELLENT answer! However they still make Left hand 870 Remingtons in 20 ga.

 

[Matt-man]

The Browning BPS is fully ambidextrous - bottom eject and sliding tang safety.

 

[Wags]

You should listen to your Father and buy a Ithaca Mod 37 20ga.. Lightweight, reliable, bottom ejection. Down side to an Ithaca is: The newer manufactured ones have screw in choke tubes which is nice, but the company went belly up 1 1/2 months ago and dealers are trying to capitalize on this by demanding higher prices. Up side is: Plenty of good used ones around if you search long enough. And don't be swayed away if it is a fixed choke. I own a 1940's Mod 37 20ga., and I wouldn't part with this shotgun for all the money in the world!

And still check out the Browning Pump Shotgun (BPS) and Remington Mod 870 (LH). I own one of each and have no complaints.

 

[Berek]

My GF is a lefty and she bought an Ithica Model 37 and loves it. Universal stock, bottom eject, red dot scope, etc.

The only firearm that she likes more is her Model 9410.

Berek

 

[Okiecruffler]

The wife is a lefty and she has a 20g Browning and a 16g Ithica. I like the Browning, it seems to have abit slicker action and handles abit lighter. But she perfers her Ithica, I think because she likes the 16 better. She says it kicks less than the Browning does, but I think it fits her a little better. Either one would suit you just fine, or it shouldn't be too difficult to locate an 870 that ejects out the wrong side. Hard to go wrong with an 870.

 

[Geno]

Have owned all of the above...suggest the Browning

I have owned ALL of the suggested above. For all reasons suggested, and especially due to price gouging for the Ithica, I would go with the Browning. I really like Remington 870s, and I am near certain they DO make a lefty, but the Browning is bottom eject...best there is and as-slick-as butter.

Doc2005

 

[ghost457]

thanks for the help guys, and if you have any more advice, keep it flowing

 

[azzhandler]

fellow lefty here and i own both ithaca 37 20 ga and 2 browning bps in 20 as well i like the safety on the bps alot better then the ithaca, downside is if you want a slug barrel for the bps you better start lookin on the used market and pray every night cause theyre few and far between and most are around 250 bucks if ya find 1 browning lists them on website but they dont have them

 

[tc300mag1]

Another lefty here remington is good also a beretta 390 20 gauge cost me round 550 just switched the safety over for me since its a auto no big deal..

Also for big buck benelli makes a totally lefty auto but think its only in 12

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

To answer the question specifically----Browning BPS Micro----20ga 3in chamber----22in barrel-----13.25 LOP stock.

 

[Guntalk]

Oh No! Please do not get the short-barreled Browning.

The BPS is wonderful. It points great. I'm a lefty on long guns, righty on handguns. I love the BPS.

But . . . that short barrel makes it VERY hard to hit with. Get the 20-gauge with a 28-inch barrel. You'll love the way it swings.

 

[pauli]

now, i'm not the most experienced shooter, and i'm certainly not the most knowledgable when it comes to hunting, but i *am* 5'7" and left handed, and i *did* just buy a 20ga mossberg 500, so i'll comment on that.

first, it ejects forward and to the right - no issue there for anybody, left or right handed.

second, the safety and slide release button are EXTREMELY lefty friendly. not real sure how you're supposed to release the slide while shooting right handed, anyway, though i suppose there's no reason to do so in a hurry, so it's probably a nonissue.

third, i kinda like being able to look into the chamber without turning the gun over.

fourth, recoil seems fine to me. this may change if i shoot something stouter than winchester value packs, but if it becomes an issue, i can always get a better pad on the stock.

one thing that wouldn't work for you, i expect, is this 18.5" cylinder bore. i think i'll get another barrel if i get into hunting or shotgun games

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I have a Remington 1100 LT 20 for dove hunting, and even though I'm left-handed and the shotgun isn't, I just love hunting with this shotgun.

The empties are tossed across my peripheral vision, but it doesn't bother me, and I've learned to work the safety without any trouble.

It's probably not a great solution for every left-handed shooter, but it works great for me.