LH shooter and RH guns

[contender]

Should a LH person strictly avoid a RH percussion (Hawken) rifle out of safety concerns?

or just be sure to wear shooting glasses?

Many years back, an old gentleman who got me started with a LH inexpensive Cabella's Hawken told me as a lefty to always stick with a LH percussion or flint lock gun out of safety concerns. Something he mentioned about a rare but possible catastrophic failure in the side/nipple area of the gun and gasses being blown away from the shooter was his thoughts.

But he was also the man that sold me the used LH gun. And it has been the only BP gun I have ever owned. But i recently was offered a good deal on a clean Lyman RH percussion Hawken. It looks like a Cadillac compared to what i have. And it is half the price of a new Lyman.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I'm a lefty, and LH shooter and prefer LH firearms, but have several RH ones, including percussion side locks.
As far as safety goes, in this day and age of extremely affordable, and reliable eye protection any validity to the point is mostly mute. Also, consider folks who shoot side by side doubles. LH and RH shooter both have to deal with nipples in both directions.
I will say that as distracting as a flash pan going off is, it is even worse when the pan is on the "Wrong" side of the rifle.
My biggest concern would be uncomfortable accoutrements that occasionally are mounted on the stock that a LH shoot may rather not have to rest their cheek on. Then again a leather cheek rest likely could solve the problem.

 

[desidog]

I'd say that the lock-side isn't a big issue; i have two RH flintlocks and two RH caplocks, and am a Lefty. However, a lot of rifles do have raised cheek pieces that will get in your way or just not fit right when shot lefty. (The same can be said of some LH guns shot by a RH person.)

What is funny is that now that i think of it, it's a much bigger deal in modern center fire bolt rifles. Most people don't register the risks involved, but as a C+R collector, i have a bunch of RH rifles. They operate at much higher pressure; and if there is a serious failure they are designed to blast the gas away from the shooter...which is towards you if you're shooting lefty.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Good price? I'd buy it. After all, I use glasses when I shoot.

 

[mungojerry]

I'm a lefty and I really don't care if I'm shooting a left or a right handed cap or rock lock
The main problem I find is with the modern ergonomic fitted stocks which are all pointy
and sculptured for right handed people.

BTW I'm half way through building a TOTW right handed rock lock.......