Looking For South Paw Rifle Advice

[curraheeguns]

My lefty son has hit the ripe age of 14 and now knows everything and can't be told anything.

However, I'm looking for advice to him from other Lefty's. Do you shoot bolt actions that are Right Handed or Left Handed. Why?

A good friend of mine who is a lefty says he prefers Right hand bolt guns.

My son has used a right handed .243 that was handed down to him by a friend of the family the last two deer seasons, including to kill his first deer (pics below). But we are heading to Montana in May and Nov of 2024 and he needs a bigger gun (probably a 6.5CM) and I want to buy him a "keep for a lifetime" gun. So I need to decide if I buy a lefty or a righty.

Thanks!

 

[Michigan Slim]

I'm a lefty. I've shot right and left handed bolt guns. I bought a lefty Ruger M77 mkII in .270. I'm so glad I did.
My wife bought me a lefty Remington 1187 years ago. Love it too.
That being said, I'll not buy anymore left handed guns. No lefty heirs to give them to.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Lefty here. I've adapted to RH everything for 50 years.

The only time I've found a left hand rifle matters is a bolt action. The ability to smoothly cycle the bolt with the dominant hand for a quick follow up shot is easier than using the support hand. And even then, the juice isnt always worth the squeeze long term unless I can guarantee I'm never getting rid of that rifle. The odds of finding another lefty is relatively slim.

I've never worried about brass ejecting past my face.

So if its a bolt action, by all means go LH for him. Otherwise, meh.

I'm a lefty. I've shot right and left handed bolt guns. I bought a lefty Ruger M77 mkII in .270. I'm so glad I did.
My wife bought me a lefty Remington 1187 years ago. Love it too.
That being said, I'll not buy anymore left handed guns. No lefty heirs to give them to.

I'll take them. You can adopt me. LOL

 

[medcoxo]

Lefties are really hard to find, and often cost a premium, so if he can shoot a righty well, stick with getting righties. Regarding AR platforms, get a molded brass catcher. There is one out that is two part, so it can be a catcher or a deflector, so that should help .

 

[Lwright]

As a lefty, I like a lefty bolt action. But on every other gun, I adapt.

 

[MrSmitty]

Just got my first, and so far only lefty rifle this year, I’ve never had a problem shooting right hand AR’s left handed, mine ejects fine, so no need for brass catcher… find him a left bolt and go from there

 

[Michigan Slim]

I can shoot an AR, 1022, etc, no issues. Bolt guns I like a lefty model. Bought the Ruger because at the time, there was no upcharge for it. Everyone else was 50.00 more.
I bought a lefty shotgun after seeing how much flame actually came out of the ejection port when the action cycled. Too close! Pay attention to it in low light. You'll be impressed.

 

[MrSmitty]

Get him into lever guns, they work for lefties, except for the crossbolt safeties, but that's easy to work with....Your pocket book (or his, later on) will hate me....

 

[FN USA]

Lefty here... Like others have said, I only appreciate a left handed bolt gun. All others I've adapted to use right handed guns. That being said I've contemplated selling my lefty ruger gunsite scout in .308 if you're interested.

 

[Hookeye]

Lefty lifetime rifle............Ruger #1.
Scoping one however can be a bit of a hassle.
They did do a B and AB model in 6.5cm a few yrs ago.
Unfortunately prices are usually silly (high) on em (used #1s).

 

[snorko]

I got really excited when I heard CZ was bringing back a LH 457 Varmint. I have a LH American and a Lux. But I realized that from the bench or bipod, I do better with a RH action. I don't really hunt anymore but for the field I would probably go LH.

 

[Mongo59]

I am a left eye dominate right handed person. I always shoot lefty but have very few LH rifles. It is no biggie, I say get him what he wants. He is the only one you have to please.

 

[sadclownwp]

My lefty son has hit the ripe age of 14 and now knows everything and can't be told anything.

However, I'm looking for advice to him from other Lefty's. Do you shoot bolt actions that are Right Handed or Left Handed. Why?

A good friend of mine who is a lefty says he prefers Right hand bolt guns.

My son has used a right handed .243 that was handed down to him by a friend of the family the last two deer seasons, including to kill his first deer (pics below). But we are heading to Montana in May and Nov of 2024 and he needs a bigger gun (probably a 6.5CM) and I want to buy him a "keep for a lifetime" gun. So I need to decide if I buy a lefty or a righty.

Thanks!

Lefty shooter here. Used to buy all lefty or bottom eject guns. No longer make that mistake.
Hand matters less than eye dominance. But if he is left eye dominant, then a right handed bolt gun is best from a bench/support, as you do not have to support the front of the gun. If he is shooting from standing, a left handed bolt gun is "better".

In a semi auto it only matters if it is a bullpup rifle. You don't want him to eat brass.

If it is a hunting rifle, in all honesty it does not matter as you really only usually get the 1 shot. My Ruger M77 .357 is right handed, never been able to get a 2nd shot off on a deer before it is gone if I miss. Same with my TC ultralight rifle in 6.5 Creedmore.

Best option is to have him build his own 6.5 Grendel AR15. Better than a 308. Flatter shooting, less weight.

 

[cosermann]

I am a left eye dominate right handed person. I always shoot lefty but have very few LH rifles. It is no biggie, I say get him what he wants. He is the only one you have to please.

This is the crux. It’s generally recommended that to shoot a long gun by sighting with your dominate eye. So, it’s your vision, not your “handedness” that determines whether to shoot righty or lefty long guns.

 

[Hookeye]

Another nice thing about the #1.....

shoot it right or left, doesn't matter.........is fully ambi (tang safety and no cheekpiece).

Shame they are limited production now, keeps prices silly.

 

[indyblue]

I am predominately left handed; I eat, write, throw, shoot pistols and use knives left handed. I am ambidextrous for most other things though - I bat, golf, shoot rifles, use a mouse and play guitar right-handed. I can switch hands playing pool if the shot necessitates.

 

[kennedy759]

also a lefty and like indyblue shoot pistol, write and throw lefty, but bat, shoot shotguns and rifles right handed, tried shooting trap left handed and it was too awkward to get use to although I did better on stations 4 and 5 as a lefty.

 

[snapping turtle]

22 auto try a browning automatic.
Hunting rifle try the single shots like a TC encore.

 

[bigretic]

Never had a left handed gun until i was almost 50. Even then, do i need it and does i make a difference in the field? No. If i'm buying a "lifetime" hunting rifle would i want a lefty? oh yeah. Would i like a lefty AR? Yes. Is i likely i will own one? No. Back to bolts, i'm so used to shooting left and doing the "hand swap" to cycle, i don't even think about it. It just doesn't matter. Would it be nice to have a semi auto 12g in lefty - definitely. Unlikely that will ever happen either... lol. I do have a lefty .270 that sits around and a lefty 870 that i use quite a bit, but that's it. Back to the point, if he shoots left, then buy left imo, but it is a luxery and he should know it.

 

[COOPADUP]

Left hand shooter here too.
Being left handed has always been about adapting to the right hand dominant world.
I do not own any LH long guns due to high cost and the lack of potential buyers if you decided to sell or trade.
Cycling a bolt though is about the only application, IMHO, where I could see value in buying a LH rifle.