Options for left-hand bolt action

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shafter

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If I were to buy a left handed bolt action rifle for whitetail deer hunting what are my options?

The three main preferences are stainless barrel, synthetic stock, and 308 caliber.

I've looked at Ruger Americans but they don't seem to offer stainless barrels in left hand.

Any and all suggestions appreciated.
 
My suggestion is to buy a right handed rifle and learn to live with it. Here's why: 1. you will have more options available to you as far as models and features. 2- about 11% of the population are lefties. This minority isn't very well catered to in ANY product, and guns aren't the only place this is true. This is unfair, but its also true. This 11% rule holds true in the military, where lefties are issued the same guns as the majority. The only real allowance I have seen for them is issuing lefty holsters for handguns. Despite the challenges of being part of this 11%, they still manage to do just fine with their issued weapons, to include bolt action sniper rifles, as I have had a few lefty students (former sniper instructor). 3. Since there are less lefty guns made, getting replacement/repair parts may prove to be a problem at a later time.
 
I have been extremely happy with all of the Savage left hand rifles that I own or have owned. I still have two rimfire rifles (22lr and 17m2) along with a Model 12 in 308.
 
My suggestion is to buy a right handed rifle and learn to live with it. Here's why:

FL-NC, I'm a lefty and left-eye dominant and I disagree....and it's always aggravating to hear a right-handed shooter tell me I should just grin and bear the right-handed bolt guns. You don't realize the inconveniences you speak of, but if you'd like to try, get a few lefty bolts and AR's, pretend the world is only left-handed and then get back to me. I've thought about all those things and used both left-handed and right-handed bolts and I now buy only lefties in both Bolt Action and AR's unless the price is just to incredible to pass up (like the $139 308 right-handed Savage Axis XP I just bought). Here's why:

1) You can keep your rifle steadily aimed while throwing the bolt without awkwardly reaching over the top.
2) Ejects go away from your face instead of towards your face (true for bolt-actions and ARs!)...no more 223 cases clipping your right ear!
3) When I'm ready to trade in the lefties I purchased, if I don't have left-handed heirs, I don't care what they're resale value is; because they were easier to use when I was living.
4) Parts are NOT harder to get from the companies that make them....heck, even some aftermarket stuff...like the Timney trigger I just put into a left-handed Remmy 700... caters to us poor left-backwards people.

The OP should buy whatever they're comfortable with. I'm happy with both Savage and Remington....not sure about the availability of SS barrels in either, though. Stag, certainly, for AR 15's and 10's.
 
Ruger Hawkeye Gunsite Scout comes in .308 and stainless. Might not be your cup of tea though.

If you peruse GB a bit there are some pretty cool Ruger M77 MKIIs out there. They never made many of course but they exist and since they are lefty, the price stays lower.



I myself am left handed and I just swore off bolt guns. I tried them righty but it just never felt right.

Since then I focus on levers and pump actions. I personally think that bolt guns are overrated for hunting but they sure are still popular despite what I think. I do think they are great for long range work just not the great majority of hunting.
 
I am left eye dominant so I shoot long guns left handed. Right hand semi auto’s never seemed to bother me. Bolt guns used in the field, on the hand, suck if they are made for the wrong hand, IMO. Shooting from the bench with a right handed bolt gun is actually quite nice though. I own several right hand guns and two lefties (CZ 452 and Remington VSF in 308), Browning, Remington, Savage, CZ all offer left hand bolt guns in calibers suitable for hunting.
 
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I have a Savage 110L in .30-06 that's an excellent hunting rifle. I don't see how you could go wrong with a Savage.

(And as a lefty, I have tried, tried, and tried again to get the hang of shooting a right-handed bolt gun, and just never got comfortable doing it.)
 
FL-NC, I'm a lefty and left-eye dominant and I disagree....and it's always aggravating to hear a right-handed shooter tell me I should just grin and bear the right-handed bolt guns. You don't realize the inconveniences you speak of, but if you'd like to try, get a few lefty bolts and AR's, pretend the world is only left-handed and then get back to me.

My brother shoots lefty. He tried pumps and levers which are more friendly from either side, but simply likes bolt guns better. He even owned a Ruger 77 left handed rifle for a while, but didn't like that rifle either. He knew which rifles he liked best and came to the conclusion that it was better to shoot a right handed rifle that met all of his criteria from the left side than settle for a rifle he didn't like that was made to shoot from the left side.

It ain't that hard to master and the only limitation is if you desire a rifle with a really high roll over comb that can only be shot from one side. Most of the classic style stocks on rifles today work well on either side and working the bolt simply isn't that hard to master from the other side. And even though I shoot right handed it is not unusual to be in a position when hunting to have to take a shot from the "wrong" side. When an animal approaches over my right shoulder is impossible to take the shot right handed unless I turn my body almost 180 degrees. It is a lot easier to simply mount the rifle on my left shoulder and only have to turn slightly to take the shot without spooking the game. I do practice shooting from the left side in order to be able to take those shots. It would be nice if more left handed options were available, but most lefty's come to the same conclusion my brother did and simply learn how to shoot right handed guns.

But the choice is your's and totally up to your. If no one makes the rifle you want in a left handed version you can settle for something else. Or learn to shoot the one you want from the other side.
 
Definitely recommend left handed bolt guns. Though some of mine are left bolt right port.

I believe ar15s are just as good for lefties and would not recommend a lefty ar.
 
I'd say take a look at Savage models 10 and 11, but I'm not saying that's the only LH option. I don't know why Mossberg isn't offering LH in the Patriot line.

In my opinion, a left-handed person can get away with a right-handed bolt as long as the deer's DRT on the first shot. For recreational shooting, it may not be the most relaxed.
 
I'm left eye dominate but right handed so it makes life interesting,I have both left handed and right handed bolt guns and my only problem is loading the 700 .308 left handed awkward but I can do it.
As far as ARs go never had a problem with being hit by flying brass.
 
A friend bought a left hand Ruger American compact 308 in stainless with synthetic stock. CDNN had it on sale year or so at a price that was so good had to buy it.
 
Right hander who's left eye dominant here, so I shoot long guns left handed. For bolt guns, I've ended up with a few Savages. Maybe they aren't the most flashy gun but they work well, and are easy to modify if you want to.

The Savage website doesn't let one filter for stainless, but if you look down this page, there are a number of stainless options with all your other criteria met...
https://www.savagearms.com/firearms...erfire|computed_product_skucaliber_sm=308 WIN
 
I am left handed and also left eye dominant, so I am quite familiar with the issues of being wrong handed. For most things related to firearms, I can work them OK from the left side. But bolt action rifles are a case where "just making it work" is really not good enough. I have actually practiced quite a bit at running right handed bolt action by reaching over the top, and I can do it pretty well. But I still would not choose a right handed bolt action for any serious purpose.

I sometimes think that if right handed shooters had to deal with what lefties are used to, they would be shocked.
 
Right handed, left eye dominant. I gave up on bolt guns and got a Remington 7600....very happy with that choice. Never had a problem shooting a right handed pump gun left handed.
 
I believe ar15s are just as good for lefties and would not recommend a lefty ar.

I take it you are left-handed and have tried a left-handed AR,Taliv? If so, we will have to disagree. I love them and see definite advantages for lefties...Especially PISTOL ARs shot from cheek weld.
 
I am left handed, and started shooting that way. In my twenties I decided to teach myself to shoot right handed, which served me well for most of my life. In my sixties, I had a detached retina, which never healed right, so I lost the sight in my right eye. Now I am back to shooting left handed and it is still ackward
 
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