LH rifle?

[pete]

Good evening gents,

I'm planning to purchase my first centerfire rifle, and was curious how important people thought it was to have a "correct-handed" rifle. The situation is that I am right-handed, but left-eye dominant. I shoot both a (rh) shotgun and bow lefty, so I plan to do the same with a rifle. Of course, a bolt complicates things. So what do southpaws generally do?
I was leaning towards a righty for the availability of used rifles and for resale possibilities, but how much of a pain will it be?

 

[mtnwrunner]

Well, you can do either and you will be fine----just a matter of getting used to your method.
Nice thing nowadays is that you can get yourself into a really nice lefthanded setup fairly cheap. Ruger, Savage and Tikka all make "economical" rifles. I highly suggest the tikka t3 or t3 lite----lots of left handed choices. Superbly accurate and won't kill you on the money end.

Randy

 

[mtswampfox]

was in the same boat. always bought rifles without cheekpieces. the bolt is not so much of an issue. top tang safeties are a plus. when was deer hunting in a stand being able to shoot on either shoulder is a big plus. my son is same right hande left eyed but can switch hit with a bow just fine, one arm gets tired he just switches bows.

 

[Zoo Keeper]

I'm left handed, but didn't realize I was right eye dominant until I had been shooting for many years. I stayed shooting lefty.

I have rifles in several left hand flavors - Savage, Winchester, Tikka...will probably stay with Tikka moving forward.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jeff Martin]

I am in same boat. Left eye dominant. Right handed. Shoot a bow left handed. I have shot bolt guns right handed all of my life. 2 years ago I decided to have a left handed bolt gun built and absolutely love it. Most stocks are are slightly tapered for right handed (not exactly straight on many of them) and I seem to find target faster with the left handed gun. I will admit, this could be me justifying the cost of a custom gun more than actual difference but I love the LH gun. I still shoot the RH as well.

In short, I would not sell a gun because it was right handed but i will buy left handed for now on. I want a left handed semi auto shotgun now as well although I shoot my Citori most of the time.

 

[rob_E]

I shoot lefty prefer to shoot a left handed rifle.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I prefer a left hand rifle for my left handedness.

 

[hodgeman]

You should shoot to the dominant eye. I'm left handed/ right eye dominant...and shoot right handed. My son is a left eye dominant and right handed...shoots lefty.

If you shoot lefty you most likely should shoot a lefty rifle. Lots of lefties shoot right hand rifles. While it can be done....you most likely will learn some bad habits like dropping the rifle from the shoulder to work the bolt so you can reach over the top to work the bolt as well as having the safety on the wrong side of the receiver.

There are so many reasonable left hand rifles that come without a "left hand" price penalty...you really should shoot the correct handed rifle.

 

[Paradactal]

I shoot left and had been using right handed bolt guns for years. Things like safetys and cheek pieces are things that played a major role in me finally buying a left handed bolt gun. I just took a follow up shot on a pig a few weeks ago and reached for the bolt handle with my right hand out of habit. I dont see myself ever buying a right handed rifle again. Shoot whatever is comfortable to you.

 

[pete]

Thanks for all the replies, I figured the consensus would be that I should just buy a lh rifle. Main reason I asked, was that I found a decent deal on a used rh savage lightweight. I'll pass on that now with all your advice.

 

[ckleeves]

I'm a lefty and prefer RH rifles. A lefty with experience on a RH bolt isn't exactly slow. I can't think of one centerfire rifle model made today that I can't easily reach the safety with my hand in a completely natural position. Lefty rifles are hard to sell or trade when you want something different. Pretty much every gun you borrow from a friend is going to be RH so I think it's good to become familiar with a RH bolt. I own both and I'm faster and more natural with a RH bolt gun.

 

[pete]

I'm a lefty and prefer RH rifles. A lefty with experience on a RH bolt isn't exactly slow. I can't think of one centerfire rifle model made today that I can't easily reach the safety with my hand in a completely natural position. Lefty rifles are hard to sell or trade when you want something different. Pretty much every gun you borrow from a friend is going to be RH so I think it's good to become familiar with a RH bolt. I own both and I'm faster and more natural with a RH bolt gun.

Huh, no kidding. Thanks for the alternative opinion

 

[TheHardWay]

Pete, I have a left handed Remington 700 in 7mag that I am wanting to let go. Message me if you have any interest.

 

[Paradactal]

I'm a lefty and prefer RH rifles. A lefty with experience on a RH bolt isn't exactly slow. I can't think of one centerfire rifle model made today that I can't easily reach the safety with my hand in a completely natural position. Lefty rifles are hard to sell or trade when you want something different. Pretty much every gun you borrow from a friend is going to be RH so I think it's good to become familiar with a RH bolt. I own both and I'm faster and more natural with a RH bolt gun.

My thoughts exactly!! I am much faster on follow up shots on the right side from years of practice.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'm a lefty and prefer RH rifles. A lefty with experience on a RH bolt isn't exactly slow. I can't think of one centerfire rifle model made today that I can't easily reach the safety with my hand in a completely natural position. Lefty rifles are hard to sell or trade when you want something different. Pretty much every gun you borrow from a friend is going to be RH so I think it's good to become familiar with a RH bolt. I own both and I'm faster and more natural with a RH bolt gun.

Me too. In fact, I've never even shot a LH rifle. Been shooting RH bolt guns for over 40 years. I always hear of folks shooting RH bolts left-handed and somehow using their RH to throw the bolt. I have always used my left hand to throw the RH bolt shooting LH, and have never had an issue getting 3-4 shot strings off very quickly.

 

[rodney482]

Off a bipod or rest a RH rifle works great. Shooting free hand, not so much.

I'm a lefty and prefer RH rifles. A lefty with experience on a RH bolt isn't exactly slow. I can't think of one centerfire rifle model made today that I can't easily reach the safety with my hand in a completely natural position. Lefty rifles are hard to sell or trade when you want something different. Pretty much every gun you borrow from a friend is going to be RH so I think it's good to become familiar with a RH bolt. I own both and I'm faster and more natural with a RH bolt gun.

 

[rodney482]

Lefty t3x

 

[5MilesBack]

Off a bipod or rest a RH rifle works great. Shooting free hand, not so much.

Shooting free hand is all I've ever done when I rifle hunted. I don't see what a big difference it would be whether the gun was a LH or a RH model. I would think it would be tougher in a prone position because it would be harder to get your head away from the bolt. Free hand it's easy.

 

[thejones]

I am left handed, and I started with RH rifles. Like others have said, it can be done, but with a RH rifle you are esentially turning it into a single shot. You have to break your shooting position to work the bolt, and find the position again for any
Follow up shot you need to take. Not a huge deal to some, but unacceptable for others.

I think the greatest reason to shoot a LH rifle if your Left handed, is safety. If you ever had a case failure, rare I know, and your shooting a RH rifle left handed, all the gas will vent toward your face.

 

[pete]

Lefty t3x

How're you liking the t3x? Any meaningful difference between that and the t3 in your opinion?