Left Handed Shooter

chaco · January 4, 2010, 10:55 PM

My first post here, really learn alot from everyone. My question is, what is your recommendation for a left handed shooter in a .22 rifle and in 30-30. I'm not interested in the tactical look, I like the wood stocks. I'm not really sure about teh mag fed rifles, but willing to look at them. Thanks in advance for your help!

Creeper · January 4, 2010, 11:09 PM

What do you want the .22 for... and what is your budget? There are a whole lot of .22s out there, so no point in wasting effort listing guns you don't want, can't use or can't afford.

As to the .30-30... same deal.

Welcome to TFL!

Cheers,
C

10-96 · January 4, 2010, 11:13 PM

I'm guessing there are more left hand rifles on the marke today than ever before. But since you like the traditional wood, have you looked at the lever actions that are available in both calibers?

Welcome aboard- glad to have you amongst us!

chaco · January 4, 2010, 11:22 PM

With teh .22, I would use it mainly for plinking and varmits. The 30-30 would be for hunting. The price range for the 22 would be up to $400-$500 and for the 30-30 would be up to $800. I'm just getting into rifles, I've owned and shot handguns and shotguns all of my life, but for some reason I've never had the reason to own a rifle (until now).

Pathfinder45 · January 5, 2010, 12:36 AM

The model 94 Winchesters always were ambidextrous 'til they came out with the AE version. The pre-'64 Winchester model 94 is the epitome of .30-30's That solves your .30-30 quest. You might have a harder time finding a .22 that you like. If you want an auto-loading .22, the bottom ejecting Browning is also inherently ambidextrous. After that, consider the Ithaca model 37 'cuz ya gotta have a shotgun....... And then for handguns just remember that Sam Colt was left-handed too.

Wleoff · January 5, 2010, 08:57 AM

You can't mount a scope on a Winchester, because of the top ejection. Get a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Every gun shop has one and it's much easier to clean than any other lever action.

In .22lr, get a CZ 452 LH. Very accurate bolt action. CZ is changing this model this year, but they're still available. I've got two. The other .22lr choice is a Ruger 10/22. It doesn't care if you're right or left handed.

Oh yea, I'm left handed. I have all rifles mentioned and shot my first deer with a Marlin 30-30 in 1962. Good luck.

BobR · January 5, 2010, 11:02 AM

I wil second the Marlin suggestion. It works very well for a lefty.

As far as the .22, CZ is good, which has been mentioned. There is also the Browning T-Bolt in LH. I don't know if you can get a wooden stock in LH but it would be worth looking in to.

It looks like you can get the T-Bolt in wood and LH. The gu is pricy in the world of .22's, but if I could swing one I would.

http://www.browning.com/products/cat...25&type_id=184

bob

Pathfinder45 · January 5, 2010, 11:28 AM

I wouldn't scope a .30-30. I have a .270 for that.

mukibetser · January 5, 2010, 11:32 AM

+1 on the LH CZ 452. I have the CZ 452 Lux in left hand and it's a great quality rifle and a great value. I have heard that many left handed shooters have no problem using right handed bolt action rifles. I don't think there is any "cast" to the stock like you would have with a shotgun -- just different operation of the bolt. I also have a mini-14 and have no problem shooting that left handed.

GeauxTide · January 5, 2010, 12:36 PM

Marlin 39 in 22S,L,LR and Marlin 1894 in 44Mag.

gak · January 5, 2010, 01:15 PM

+1 to just about all of the above. I'm one of those who has shot right-handed rifles left handed all my life due to my left-dominant vision....so no big deal. But the levers mentioned and most autos are no big deal either.

Abel · January 5, 2010, 06:04 PM

chaco, don't be afraid to shoot right handed guns. The 30-30 is an easy fix. Just get a pre-safety Marlin 336. The gun will still eject from the right side, but its never been an issue for me. I think Marlin began using the cross-bolt safety in 1982. Go to gunbroker.com and pick one out. Then contact a gun store/dealer nearby that you can get your gun shipped to. Or you can just keep an eye out for one until it pops up. I see them in gun stores and pawn shops every day. Also, check out this website:

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/i...board,8.0.html

Uncle H · January 5, 2010, 07:09 PM

Chaco - I'm a older lefty who learned to shoot with righty rifles, etc. I'm afraid I can't go back now.

I had to learn to play golf with right clubs too.

Most everything is designed for righty's se we're at a disadvantage to begin with-but we adapt. Good thing we're smarter, huh?

January 4, 2010, 10:55 PM	#1
chaco Junior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Posts: 7	Left Handed Shooter My first post here, really learn alot from everyone. My question is, what is your recommendation for a left handed shooter in a .22 rifle and in 30-30. I'm not interested in the tactical look, I like the wood stocks. I'm not really sure about teh mag fed rifles, but willing to look at them. Thanks in advance for your help!

January 4, 2010, 11:09 PM	#2
Creeper Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: Woooooshington Posts: 1,797	What do you want the .22 for... and what is your budget? There are a whole lot of .22s out there, so no point in wasting effort listing guns you don't want, can't use or can't afford. As to the .30-30... same deal. Welcome to TFL! Cheers, C __________________ Shoulder Drive Nicholson Club

January 4, 2010, 11:13 PM	#3
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,160	I'm guessing there are more left hand rifles on the marke today than ever before. But since you like the traditional wood, have you looked at the lever actions that are available in both calibers? Welcome aboard- glad to have you amongst us! __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

January 5, 2010, 12:36 AM	#5
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	Model 94 Winchester The model 94 Winchesters always were ambidextrous 'til they came out with the AE version. The pre-'64 Winchester model 94 is the epitome of .30-30's That solves your .30-30 quest. You might have a harder time finding a .22 that you like. If you want an auto-loading .22, the bottom ejecting Browning is also inherently ambidextrous. After that, consider the Ithaca model 37 'cuz ya gotta have a shotgun....... And then for handguns just remember that Sam Colt was left-handed too.

January 5, 2010, 11:02 AM	#7
BobR Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2000 Location: The Dry Side of WA Posts: 561	I wil second the Marlin suggestion. It works very well for a lefty. As far as the .22, CZ is good, which has been mentioned. There is also the Browning T-Bolt in LH. I don't know if you can get a wooden stock in LH but it would be worth looking in to. It looks like you can get the T-Bolt in wood and LH. The gu is pricy in the world of .22's, but if I could swing one I would. http://www.browning.com/products/cat...25&type_id=184 bob __________________ Sarcasm.....just one more service I offer. Last edited by BobR; January 5, 2010 at 11:10 AM.

January 4, 2010, 11:22 PM	#4
chaco Junior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Posts: 7	With teh .22, I would use it mainly for plinking and varmits. The 30-30 would be for hunting. The price range for the 22 would be up to $400-$500 and for the 30-30 would be up to $800. I'm just getting into rifles, I've owned and shot handguns and shotguns all of my life, but for some reason I've never had the reason to own a rifle (until now).

January 5, 2010, 08:57 AM	#6
Wleoff Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2008 Location: North AL Posts: 380	You can't mount a scope on a Winchester, because of the top ejection. Get a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Every gun shop has one and it's much easier to clean than any other lever action. In .22lr, get a CZ 452 LH. Very accurate bolt action. CZ is changing this model this year, but they're still available. I've got two. The other .22lr choice is a Ruger 10/22. It doesn't care if you're right or left handed. Oh yea, I'm left handed. I have all rifles mentioned and shot my first deer with a Marlin 30-30 in 1962. Good luck.

January 5, 2010, 11:28 AM	#8
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	Scope? I wouldn't scope a .30-30. I have a .270 for that.

January 5, 2010, 11:32 AM	#9
mukibetser Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2008 Posts: 225	+1 on the LH CZ 452. I have the CZ 452 Lux in left hand and it's a great quality rifle and a great value. I have heard that many left handed shooters have no problem using right handed bolt action rifles. I don't think there is any "cast" to the stock like you would have with a shotgun -- just different operation of the bolt. I also have a mini-14 and have no problem shooting that left handed.

January 5, 2010, 12:36 PM	#10
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Marlin 39 in 22S,L,LR and Marlin 1894 in 44Mag.

January 5, 2010, 01:15 PM	#11
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	+1 to just about all of the above. I'm one of those who has shot right-handed rifles left handed all my life due to my left-dominant vision....so no big deal. But the levers mentioned and most autos are no big deal either.

January 5, 2010, 06:04 PM	#12
Abel Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 1,161	chaco, don't be afraid to shoot right handed guns. The 30-30 is an easy fix. Just get a pre-safety Marlin 336. The gun will still eject from the right side, but its never been an issue for me. I think Marlin began using the cross-bolt safety in 1982. Go to gunbroker.com and pick one out. Then contact a gun store/dealer nearby that you can get your gun shipped to. Or you can just keep an eye out for one until it pops up. I see them in gun stores and pawn shops every day. Also, check out this website: http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/i...board,8.0.html

January 5, 2010, 07:09 PM	#13
Uncle H Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2008 Location: Bristol, TN Posts: 102	Chaco - I'm a older lefty who learned to shoot with righty rifles, etc. I'm afraid I can't go back now. I had to learn to play golf with right clubs too. Most everything is designed for righty's se we're at a disadvantage to begin with-but we adapt. Good thing we're smarter, huh?