Right Handed Guns for Lefty’s
- Thread starter DMW1116
- Start date
- Status
My brother shoots lefty. He tried just about everything including left handed bolt actions. There are no left handed bolt rifles made by anyone that he likes and decided he'd rather shoot a rifle he likes from the wrong side than a rifle he doesn't like from the left side. With practice it isn't much of a disadvantage. He is quite fond of Tikka.
It ain't that hard to use most any of them and in fact from a bench it is easier to shoot from the wrong side. The only guns where the safety is somewhat of a disadvantage is the wing type safety on a Winchester 70 or Ruger Hawkeye. Don't get hung up on a tang mounted safety. If you like the Ruger or Savage fine, but don't limit yourself to those choices just because you think the safety is easier to use. The safety on Remington, Tikka, Weatherby and most others is just as easy to master. In fact as a right handed shooter I've always felt they put the safety on the wrong side anyway.
I'm right handed, but practice shooting lefty. There are often times when it is a LOT easier to switch over and shoot lefty than twist your body into an un natural position depending on the direction game approaches.
It ain't that hard to use most any of them and in fact from a bench it is easier to shoot from the wrong side. The only guns where the safety is somewhat of a disadvantage is the wing type safety on a Winchester 70 or Ruger Hawkeye. Don't get hung up on a tang mounted safety. If you like the Ruger or Savage fine, but don't limit yourself to those choices just because you think the safety is easier to use. The safety on Remington, Tikka, Weatherby and most others is just as easy to master. In fact as a right handed shooter I've always felt they put the safety on the wrong side anyway.
I'm right handed, but practice shooting lefty. There are often times when it is a LOT easier to switch over and shoot lefty than twist your body into an un natural position depending on the direction game approaches.
FL-NC
Member
Yep, the A1 was standard when I came in (1987). I totally forgot about those gizmos the lefties used back then. As I recall, they attached inside of the space in the carry handle, right? I guess its a good thing they came out with that built-on deflector on the later guns. Of course, nowadays with as much stuff as most folks end up with on their weapon, even if that thing wasn't there- something or other would probably end up functioning as a default brass deflector anyway!
Yes the brass deflectors fit inside the carry handle and had a spring loaded ball that fit into the hole in the center of the handle. And with all of the different semi auto rifles I have shot, the M16A1 was the only one I had problems with. I spent most of my time as lower enlisted carrying the M60 and didn't have any issues with brass shooting it left handed.
Skylerbone
Member
For future reference. https://thespartanshields.com/products/spartan-shield-ar-accesorie
With all of the lefties in my family there was bound to be a left hand bolt at some point. While gearing up for a big game hunt my father finally relented and purchased a Savage 116 for the trip. He loved that rifle, the only lefty he ever bought and despises most of his work arounds (levers and autoloaders). Buy what you deserve, not what sort of works, if given the option.
With all of the lefties in my family there was bound to be a left hand bolt at some point. While gearing up for a big game hunt my father finally relented and purchased a Savage 116 for the trip. He loved that rifle, the only lefty he ever bought and despises most of his work arounds (levers and autoloaders). Buy what you deserve, not what sort of works, if given the option.
Ignition Override
Member
As a lefty who has owned almost twenty rifles and approx. twenty three handguns , I’ve always accepted some awkwardness.
But their ergonomics all seem very normal to me. Their features are, or should be, expected.
It would seem plain weird and unnatural to use a “left-handed” gun.
With a vast number of guns for Righties, it’s far easier to have adapted to them.
Guns are Nothing compared to driving on the left Side of roads in the UK and Ireland.
And knowing which way to turn your head before walking across streets.
But their ergonomics all seem very normal to me. Their features are, or should be, expected.
It would seem plain weird and unnatural to use a “left-handed” gun.
With a vast number of guns for Righties, it’s far easier to have adapted to them.
Guns are Nothing compared to driving on the left Side of roads in the UK and Ireland.
And knowing which way to turn your head before walking across streets.
Last edited:
littlelefty
Member
"I’m searching for my first bolt action and wanted to know if other lefty’s specifically get left handed rifles, which limits my options, or do they learn to use the right handed ones?"
I own 4 bolt action rifles, only one is a lefty bolt. I do like the lefty bolt gun a lot, but don't feel any disadvantage in operating the right handed bolt guns. Left hand stays on the tang area; right hand operates the bolt. It is pretty cool to watch "Private Jackson" operate the bolt with his left hand though. Maybe I'll try that when I get old(er).
And while I like fishing reels to reel on the right side (learned on a Zebco 202 at a young age), I am pretty strongly left handed. I write left handed and can barely hold a pencil with my right hand. I cut meat with the knife in my left hand, then put the knife down and move the fork to left hand to eat; not out of manners so much as I'm not sure that the meat will find its way into my mouth if it were up to my right hand.
I own 4 bolt action rifles, only one is a lefty bolt. I do like the lefty bolt gun a lot, but don't feel any disadvantage in operating the right handed bolt guns. Left hand stays on the tang area; right hand operates the bolt. It is pretty cool to watch "Private Jackson" operate the bolt with his left hand though. Maybe I'll try that when I get old(er).
And while I like fishing reels to reel on the right side (learned on a Zebco 202 at a young age), I am pretty strongly left handed. I write left handed and can barely hold a pencil with my right hand. I cut meat with the knife in my left hand, then put the knife down and move the fork to left hand to eat; not out of manners so much as I'm not sure that the meat will find its way into my mouth if it were up to my right hand.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2002
- Messages
- 22,482
Lefty and left eye dominant. When I was young, I learned to operate the bolt by reaching over with the pinky. Sniper in Saving Pvt. Ryan did something like that.
In the '90s, some guy were getting their sniper rifles made with the wrong side bolt. Their dominant hand remained on the grip and the non-dominant hand operated the bolt. The rifle of course was on a bipod (or sandbagged or some sort of rest).
In the '90s, some guy were getting their sniper rifles made with the wrong side bolt. Their dominant hand remained on the grip and the non-dominant hand operated the bolt. The rifle of course was on a bipod (or sandbagged or some sort of rest).
- Status
