lefty

c.j.sikes · October 8, 2012, 04:49 PM

i am lefty and for many years i shot a right hand bolt. i finally bought a left hand rifle but now it is hard for me to break old ways, like taking rifle down to work bolt. just a thought. cjs

Creeper · October 8, 2012, 05:51 PM

I'm a lefty as well and, with the exception of benchrest rifles, have always shot right-handed rifles. I don't understand your comment about "taking rifle down to work bolt".
It sounds like you're taking the rifle from your shoulder (I'm assuming you're talking about shooting off-hand here) to cycle the action?
I may not understand what you're saying, but why can't you hold the rifle to your shoulder with your right hand and cycle the bolt with your left? I understand how that might really go against "muscle memory"... but with a bit of practice, you should get comfortable with it. It's that, or go back to a righty gun.

Cheers,
C

TMD · October 8, 2012, 07:09 PM

I know exactly how you feel. Up till a few years ago I never shot a left handed gun. In an impulse I purchased a left handed Savage 93R17 with the thumbhole stock. I put one box of ammo through it and put it in the safe and havent shot it since.

c.j.sikes · October 9, 2012, 08:42 AM

when i said i took the rifle down to work bolt i was speaking of right hand rifle habit. i did try working the left handrd bolt with my left hand, i was on bench and it works i sure get tired of chassing the brass, it sling them like an auto. thanks cjs

Creeper · October 9, 2012, 08:48 AM

Quote:

i sure get tired of chassing the brass, it sling them like an auto. thanks cjs

Yeah... I get it. You don't have the finesse of the better memorized, fine muscle movement, for that task, in your left that you have in your right. You will get used to it, if you really want to, but it does take practice... or you can follow TMDs advice and bag the whole idea.

C

Kreyzhorse · October 9, 2012, 07:33 PM

I'm a lefty and made the switch to a left handed bolt a few years ago. Best thing I ever did and I would be hard pressed to ever go back to a right handed bolt. To me, and I don't own any other left handed guns, the left handed bolt action really works much smoother and quicker and allows for faster follow up shots.

I'd suggest giving it some time and practice. I think you'll come to appreciate the difference it will make.

20thru45 · October 10, 2012, 12:21 AM

Left handed bolt actions are more properly known as "rifles with the bolts on the correct side".

If you shoot southpaw you should have correct side bolts. They are safer, won't be borrowed as much, and allow fast follow up shots.

Twice I've followed up first shot hits to anchor animals within a second or two. Once was a cow elk in deep snow teetering on a ridge above a deep, steep canyon. The first lung shot spun her 180, the second went in next to the exit hole and came out by the first entrance wound. She dropped there.

If you lefties shooting wrong handed bolts are on to such a good thing then why aren't the righties shooting correct sided bolts like me?

To cycle a magazine fed bolt action properly should barely disturb your sight picture. In fact a lever gun or pump should similarly not overly disturb sight picture, grip, posture, etc.

30Cal · October 10, 2012, 06:21 AM

I switched over to shooting lefty a couple years back when I was shooting a lot of competition. I'm decent from either side--never had an urge to buy a left handed rifle.

jmr40 · October 10, 2012, 06:34 AM

M brother is lefty and shot right handed bolt guns for years. Decided he wanted a lefty bolt gun, but didn't like it either. He went back to a right handed bolt gun and just worked on getting good with it. He shoots it faster from the wrong side than most right handed shooters because he put in the time to practice.

lefteye · October 10, 2012, 09:47 PM

Shooting left handed I can work my left handed bolt actions faster than my right handed bolt action rifles. Of course, that is after many years of practice with Rem. 700 BDL LH and Browning A-Bolt SS LH rifles. Before those rifles I just reached across the rifle behind the scope with my left hand . . . a little slow but not too bad. Best example: on a Wyoming mule deer my Ruger 77 RH .243 didn't fire when I pulled the trigger; I worked the bolt with my left hand, fired and dropped the buck. Problem was handloads in new WW brass with primer pockets too deep (discovered AFTER the hunt.)

October 8, 2012, 04:49 PM	#1
c.j.sikes Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2006 Location: marlow okla Posts: 227	lefty i am lefty and for many years i shot a right hand bolt. i finally bought a left hand rifle but now it is hard for me to break old ways, like taking rifle down to work bolt. just a thought. cjs

October 8, 2012, 05:51 PM	#2
Creeper Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: Woooooshington Posts: 1,797	I'm a lefty as well and, with the exception of benchrest rifles, have always shot right-handed rifles. I don't understand your comment about "taking rifle down to work bolt". It sounds like you're taking the rifle from your shoulder (I'm assuming you're talking about shooting off-hand here) to cycle the action? I may not understand what you're saying, but why can't you hold the rifle to your shoulder with your right hand and cycle the bolt with your left? I understand how that might really go against "muscle memory"... but with a bit of practice, you should get comfortable with it. It's that, or go back to a righty gun. Cheers, C __________________ Shoulder Drive Nicholson Club

October 9, 2012, 08:42 AM	#4
c.j.sikes Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2006 Location: marlow okla Posts: 227	lefty when i said i took the rifle down to work bolt i was speaking of right hand rifle habit. i did try working the left handrd bolt with my left hand, i was on bench and it works i sure get tired of chassing the brass, it sling them like an auto. thanks cjs

October 9, 2012, 07:33 PM	#6
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	I'm a lefty and made the switch to a left handed bolt a few years ago. Best thing I ever did and I would be hard pressed to ever go back to a right handed bolt. To me, and I don't own any other left handed guns, the left handed bolt action really works much smoother and quicker and allows for faster follow up shots. I'd suggest giving it some time and practice. I think you'll come to appreciate the difference it will make. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

October 10, 2012, 12:21 AM	#7
20thru45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2011 Location: In the first foothills of the Cascade mountains outside Portland OR Posts: 156	opinionated lefty Left handed bolt actions are more properly known as "rifles with the bolts on the correct side". If you shoot southpaw you should have correct side bolts. They are safer, won't be borrowed as much, and allow fast follow up shots. Twice I've followed up first shot hits to anchor animals within a second or two. Once was a cow elk in deep snow teetering on a ridge above a deep, steep canyon. The first lung shot spun her 180, the second went in next to the exit hole and came out by the first entrance wound. She dropped there. If you lefties shooting wrong handed bolts are on to such a good thing then why aren't the righties shooting correct sided bolts like me? To cycle a magazine fed bolt action properly should barely disturb your sight picture. In fact a lever gun or pump should similarly not overly disturb sight picture, grip, posture, etc.

October 8, 2012, 07:09 PM	#3
TMD Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,293	I know exactly how you feel. Up till a few years ago I never shot a left handed gun. In an impulse I purchased a left handed Savage 93R17 with the thumbhole stock. I put one box of ammo through it and put it in the safe and havent shot it since.

October 10, 2012, 06:21 AM	#8
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	I switched over to shooting lefty a couple years back when I was shooting a lot of competition. I'm decent from either side--never had an urge to buy a left handed rifle.

October 10, 2012, 06:34 AM	#9
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	M brother is lefty and shot right handed bolt guns for years. Decided he wanted a lefty bolt gun, but didn't like it either. He went back to a right handed bolt gun and just worked on getting good with it. He shoots it faster from the wrong side than most right handed shooters because he put in the time to practice.

October 10, 2012, 09:47 PM	#10
lefteye Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2006 Posts: 1,433	Shooting left handed I can work my left handed bolt actions faster than my right handed bolt action rifles. Of course, that is after many years of practice with Rem. 700 BDL LH and Browning A-Bolt SS LH rifles. Before those rifles I just reached across the rifle behind the scope with my left hand . . . a little slow but not too bad. Best example: on a Wyoming mule deer my Ruger 77 RH .243 didn't fire when I pulled the trigger; I worked the bolt with my left hand, fired and dropped the buck. Problem was handloads in new WW brass with primer pockets too deep (discovered AFTER the hunt.) __________________ Vietnam Veteran ('69-'70) NRA Life Member RMEF Life Member

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