Advice for left handed shotgun

Courier · April 7, 2002, 08:50 PM

I have never owned a shotgun, only pistols. I would like a shotgun for home defense and need advice. I am left handed, and would like to spend between 4 - 600 dollars. Also, for home defense, is 12 - gauge the best for home protection. There are no kids in the house to be worried about, so I want a potent weapon. Thanks for any advice.

m14nut · April 7, 2002, 09:44 PM

Spend about $250-300 and get the Winchester Defender...
I'm lefty and the empties just buzz past you no prob. IMO for the price, you get a great shotgun....12 or 20

Or wait! Whatta you know, my Defender just went up for sale for $599.99

Dave McC · April 8, 2002, 04:43 AM

Any of the varied gauges will work for HD in trained and capable hands.

The criteria for a HD shotgun are:

It must be reliable.

It must be simple and fast to operate in times of crises.

The stock must fit the operator.

It must hold at least two shots.

There's a few other things not quite as crucial, like being short for handling in tight places. These tend to be self evident.

Many shotgunners,including myself, choose repeaters for HD. Southpaws seem to not be terribly bothered by using right handed guns for the most part. Those that are can use the Ithaca 37, the lefthanded 870 or the BPS.

Try out a few shotguns and see what works for you. While you're at it, get off on the right foot and take a lesson or two.

The Archives have tons of stuff on HD shotguns, research there will yield pertinent material by the gross.

HTH...

msuess · April 8, 2002, 07:51 AM

I shoot left handed. The empties flying by my face don't bother me at all. You get used to it.

One thing to remember on the 870 is the safety. It is "backwards" for a left hander. It can be changed for a small fee (a shop around here charges 25.00) or you might be able to do it yourself, I don't know. The BPS on the other hand has bottom ejection (no flying empties in front of your face) and a tang safety (no need to switch it).

CMichael · April 8, 2002, 08:21 AM

I am happy with my Mossberg Persusader. It's a 12 gauge 20" barrell and I have the eight shot extended magazine.

It's probably about $250. I got it as a present.

Also the safety is in the middle so that's good for left or right handed people.

Michael

C.R.Sam · April 8, 2002, 08:49 AM

Left, right handed kinda moot. Should practice from both sides anyway.

Sam

SDC · April 8, 2002, 11:58 AM

You might also want to take a look at an Ithaca pump; there aren't as many aftermarket gizmos for them, but since they load and eject straight down, they're about as "neutral" for a left hander as anything can be (excepting for the cross-bolt safety).

Dave McC · April 8, 2002, 06:39 PM

Sam, good point but I believe we're talking complete tyro here. One step at a time.

Re lefties using RH crossbolt safeties, when I shoot southpaw, I just skooch my thumb around to push the thing off, and the index digit to reset. It's not difficult.

Courier · April 8, 2002, 09:30 PM

All the info and advice helps a whole lot, I appreciate it.

Tim Croley · April 9, 2002, 10:34 AM

I too, am left-handed and I shoot right-hand shotguns without any problem with ejection of empties or safeties.

S&W 24 · April 9, 2002, 11:18 AM

take a look at an ithica 37 (they are bottom ejecting)

April 7, 2002, 08:50 PM	#1
Courier Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2002 Location: Northern VA Posts: 102	Advice for left handed shotgun I have never owned a shotgun, only pistols. I would like a shotgun for home defense and need advice. I am left handed, and would like to spend between 4 - 600 dollars. Also, for home defense, is 12 - gauge the best for home protection. There are no kids in the house to be worried about, so I want a potent weapon. Thanks for any advice.

April 8, 2002, 07:51 AM	#4
msuess Member Join Date: March 23, 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 27	Left hand shotgun I shoot left handed. The empties flying by my face don't bother me at all. You get used to it. One thing to remember on the 870 is the safety. It is "backwards" for a left hander. It can be changed for a small fee (a shop around here charges 25.00) or you might be able to do it yourself, I don't know. The BPS on the other hand has bottom ejection (no flying empties in front of your face) and a tang safety (no need to switch it).

April 8, 2002, 11:58 AM	#7
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	You might also want to take a look at an Ithaca pump; there aren't as many aftermarket gizmos for them, but since they load and eject straight down, they're about as "neutral" for a left hander as anything can be (excepting for the cross-bolt safety). __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.

April 8, 2002, 09:30 PM	#9
Courier Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2002 Location: Northern VA Posts: 102	Thanks everybody All the info and advice helps a whole lot, I appreciate it.

April 9, 2002, 10:34 AM	#10
Tim Croley Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Posts: 84	I too, am left-handed and I shoot right-hand shotguns without any problem with ejection of empties or safeties. __________________ Tim Croley

April 7, 2002, 09:44 PM	#2
m14nut Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 375	Spend about $250-300 and get the Winchester Defender... I'm lefty and the empties just buzz past you no prob. IMO for the price, you get a great shotgun....12 or 20 Or wait! Whatta you know, my Defender just went up for sale for $599.99

April 8, 2002, 04:43 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Any of the varied gauges will work for HD in trained and capable hands. The criteria for a HD shotgun are: It must be reliable. It must be simple and fast to operate in times of crises. The stock must fit the operator. It must hold at least two shots. There's a few other things not quite as crucial, like being short for handling in tight places. These tend to be self evident. Many shotgunners,including myself, choose repeaters for HD. Southpaws seem to not be terribly bothered by using right handed guns for the most part. Those that are can use the Ithaca 37, the lefthanded 870 or the BPS. Try out a few shotguns and see what works for you. While you're at it, get off on the right foot and take a lesson or two. The Archives have tons of stuff on HD shotguns, research there will yield pertinent material by the gross. HTH...

April 8, 2002, 08:21 AM	#5
CMichael Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2001 Location: MI Posts: 1,516	I am happy with my Mossberg Persusader. It's a 12 gauge 20" barrell and I have the eight shot extended magazine. It's probably about $250. I got it as a present. Also the safety is in the middle so that's good for left or right handed people. Michael

April 8, 2002, 08:49 AM	#6
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Left, right handed kinda moot. Should practice from both sides anyway. Sam

April 8, 2002, 06:39 PM	#8
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Sam, good point but I believe we're talking complete tyro here. One step at a time. Re lefties using RH crossbolt safeties, when I shoot southpaw, I just skooch my thumb around to push the thing off, and the index digit to reset. It's not difficult.

April 9, 2002, 11:18 AM	#11
S&W 24 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Location: MPLS MN Posts: 162	take a look at an ithica 37 (they are bottom ejecting) __________________ If it ain't loaded it's just a rock in your pocket.