Bolt action for a left-handed shooter.

I have both. I can shoot the RH bolt pretty well, but it's a PITA. The LH bolt is MUCH nicer to shoot.

FWIW, to shoot a RH bolt lefty, I've had the most success with a bipod. I can then work the bolt with my right hand and not break position or cheek weld.

I just deal with it on my Mil-Surp rifles, it's part of the surplus charm.

What rifles are you looking at that only come RH?

The only time I have any issues with a RH bolt rifle is when I'm using a shooting sling. I don't do that much at all, so I don't bother with LH rifles. With a bit of practice it's easy enough to hold a gun up with your trigger hand while cycling the bolt with your support hand. Enfields are particularly well-suited to this...

Lefty here . .. .I "can" shoot right handed rifles fairly well. (primarily mil-surp).


But I did invest ina left handed boltie (savage 10flp) and man is it nice to cycle the action without having to slightly drop the butt or lose my cheek weld.


Just my .02

Regards,
Dave

Get a left-handed rifle. i put up with right-handed hunting rifles for decades before making the switch and am glad i did. Now my right handed hunting rifles guns sit in the safe gathering dust. Have a couple dozen military bolt actions that i fire from time to time but most of them are gathering dust also.

I'm a lefty too. I had shot many bolts in my life and all were righty's. When I went to buy a 22-250, I went with a lefty. Being in a tight spot, I sold it recently. When I replace it, it'll probably be a right bolt. I'm just more comfortable with a righty. Maybe it's just muscular memory.

I still have my first left handed bolt rifle. It's a Remington 788 in .308, but I learned to shoot rifles with my dad's 03A3. That 788 sure made a difference for follow up shots when plinking. My advice is to get a genuine left hand turnbolt.

If you are using iron sights, you CAN use a right-handed bolt if you have to. However, if you will be using a scope, it'll be well-nigh impossible to do it without switching hands and cycling the bolt with your right hand.

~Dale

I own a lefty Remington 788. Love it. But, I also own a Marlin rimfire righty bolt and don't really get bothered by it.

If/when I ever look for another centerfire bolt I won't limit myself to lefty only bolts. If I find a lefty that is in the model/caliber I'm after, I'll buy it. But I don't consider it a hinderence.

Bottom line for me - nice to have, but not a deal breaker.

My 788 is .308 just like leftymachinist, above. Well, I thought it was funny.

Well...overall I would suggest getting a lefty.
Fact is, I shoot lefty with a righty. I do awesome bagged or on a bipod. I am able to keep my left hand ready @the trigger while I cycle with the right.
But shooting offhand is awkward.
My 2 cents

I think that for long guns, eye dominance is a bigger factor than handedness in choosing the configuration of your gun.

I'm left-handed but right-eyed. I shoot rifles and shotguns right handed, but handguns I shoot left handed (while using my right eye to sight).

Lefty here. If you're buying, definitely buy left-handed...I've got a few right bolts and shoot them okay, but not nearly as smoothly as the left-bolt Remmy 700 243 I purchased. Luckily, I've got a left-handed son to pass it on to as well. You'll thank yourself later.

Savage makes some lovely rifles for lefties, like:

http://www.savagearms.com/12Varminterleft.htm

I have this model in RH in .223 and it is most accurate and fun to shoot.

Learn to shoot both! Us "leftys" Will never have "it our way"
It is not a "big" disadvantage when you're familar with it.
"rightys" are much easier to "move" if you do a lot of "experimenting"

I am left handed and have 10+ LEFT HANDED bolt action. I put up with right handed guns for 20 years but in the last 15 years most manufactures build left handed models. Buy left handed if you shoot a right handed rife from the left side there is a problem with cast.

I'm a lefty and my passion is old milsurps. Did you know that the military arms makers of the world did not try at all to accommodate left-handed shooters? Mosin Nagants, Springfields, Mausers, K31s and Enfields unfortunately were not made in lefty models, so I adapted and learned to shoot a RH bolt gun left-handed.

My favorite deer rifles are a Rem 7600 and a Model 94. Followup shots are a lot easier with them.

"...find a lefty heavy barrel .308..." Look into a Rem 700 SPS Varmint.

First Determine left or right eye DOMINANCE!

Eye dominance will determine if you are a left or right-eyed shooter. Any competent optomitrist can quickly determine this. Some right-handed people are left eye dominant and should be shooting left-handed. It's not a matter of mind-over-matter. If one has trouble hitting the bullseye, this could be the reason. cliffy

I know what you mean when it comes to lefthanded guns, They just dont make what your interested in,they all make the 7mm mag 300 win mags, 270 30-06,Im right handed,but shoot left.I have the left Eye dominance ,I picked up a new tikka 3 in 223 left hander,my one and only,when i shoot my right handed gun,lefty,I turn the rifle side ways to work the bolt,sorta like havn the bolt skywards, that works for me.Im just used to it.but check out Tikka or the CZ line, they seem to offer more in left handed rifles. then most others.

I'm a southpaw and own two RH bolt actions. I would probably buy a LF rifle but most of the deals I've found were RH. I mainly hunt hogs so more than likely it's just one shot.

Tank45;

Unlike voices heard on this thread, I'll tell you that you can have it your way.

When I started shooting, for all practical purposes, there were no left hand bolt guns. Now, I have a complete battery in LHB. Not only that, not all of them are in the "standard" lefty calibers either. Learn the niche, and have patience, you too can get what you want. I've found it to be a very enjoyable part of my hobby - collecting what I want in left.

And after all, who'd want to reward a manufacturer who won't build what you desire, with money?

900F