Any other lefties tired of getting shafted?

[blackhawk2000]

Have you checked The Leftorium?



Seriously though, you can't find a custom maker to make you a left handed, tactical, long range rifle?

ETA: reread your first post. how much more would a custom build be?

 

[JohnBT]

1500 yards?

"Any chances of a left handed Sendero?"

Will a Sendero shoot little groups at 1500 yards?

The only 1000-yard rifles I've seen have been custom jobs from the ground up.

John

 

[Mannlicher]

shafted? Hardly. Its all about the money, my friend, and with 90% (or whatever the percent is) being right handed, well.............

 

[SnP]

I'm left handed, but I can shoot either way. It doesn't really matter.

 

[CB900F]

MtMilitiaman;

Oh, I see! The Dakota or MRC actions aren't suitable because they're used on hunting rifles? But, if that is a sticking point, you can still do what you say you'd like to do, if you'd go look for the solution.

Look at Nesika, or Benchrest.com

900F

 

[mustanger98]

That is for handguns though. A left handed bolt rifle can use the same case as a right handed one just as conveniently.

Actually, that depends. My left-handed Savage Model 11GL won't really do that well in my saddle scabbard designed for right-handed scoped bolt actions because the rifle's bolt handle and the scabbard's bolt handle cut-out are on opposite sides to where they need to be. Opposites don't always attract.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Is it even possible to get the Remington Model 700 to accept the .338 Lapua? That is the action I am familiar with so that would be my first choice for a custom rifle. The way I see it, I would have to have the bolt face reamed from .534" to .588" and a Sako extractor installed and tuned. But then you still have to find a magazine box that can accomidate the case. I believe the Rigby case on which the Lapua is based is wider even than the .404 on which the Ultra Mags are based. Maybe someone, somewhere deep in Brownells, makes an aftermarket follower? Even then, you'd probably be limited to 2 rounds in the magazine box. If not, that puts a hex on the custom rifle project right there. Yeah, I know, the .338 Ultra Mag gets very close, but somehow doesn't have the jazz of the Lapua, which history has recorded as one of the first cartridges designed from the ground up specifically for this sort of work. If I am doing a custom rifle, I want it to be exactly the way I envision it. That is what you pay for in a custom rifle. But even here, it appears I can't get what I want.

You could maybe go with an aftermarket action like the HS Precision or even the M1999, but they are far more specialized and don't offer the number of options and accessories available to the Remington M700. For example, would they allow a big beefy 1913 Picitanny style scope rail such as the Badger Ord? It would be so much simpler if a company just offered their rifle in left hand. Even if I had to pay a couple hundred bucks more.

 

[TX_RGR]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that lefties are really ambis who dont know it yet I don't have any problem with rh firearms, in fact, there are many that I feel give me an advantage in reach and/or speed for things like safties and mag/slide/bolt release. I never have to release my dominant hand, or alter position, and my index finger can reach things the rh thumb cannot. It's a matter of perspective, really. Improvise, overcome, adapt!

 

[4v50 Gary]

Funny, but there are some right handed snipers who prefer a left handed bolt action. Why? Their trigger hand, the right hand, remains on the pistol grip and the left hand cycles the action. This is for benchrest or prone shooting where the foreend is supported by a beanbag, rock or bipod. The same technique would work for a left handed person using a right handed gun.

 

[CB900F]

4v50Gary;

That'll work if and only if the wrist is deep enough to let the bolt go over the top of your thumb without taking any meat off. For the price of a custom stock, I'll go LHB.

I learned, perforce, to shoot with right hand bolt guns. Even got all the gongs for NRA 50 foot indoor with right hand guns. Making a timed shoot in a sling is an adventure for a leftie with an RHB. Those who have also been there will certainly know what I'm talking about.

But, since those dark days, I've simply made up my mind to use the proper equipment with the bolt on the proper side of the action. It can be done, equipment can be found. The world is not going to beat a path to your door trying to provide it for you, however. Finding what you want, or need, requires searching, and sometimes schemeing. So far, I've been able to meet my requirements.

I do know that many 1000 yard shooters are now using 6.5 & 6mm wildcats based on the .284 Winchester case. For competition, the recoil factor favors the smaller bullet with the higher B/C.

900F

 

[AZgunstudent]

At the risk of hijacking this thread:

Ah, but do you offer all the same models for leftys as you do rightys? Are they as available as the RH ones (in stock)?
To say that 5% of your sales are LH holsters when you offer a few tokens could be misleading.
and, if so, is the fact that you carry LH holsters advertised by your company well enough?
As a lefty I assume by default, that a company doesnt carry lefty stuff, or if they do, its special order.

We make about 90% of our holsters in right and left hand, and several of our holsters are ambidextrous. That's more than a token number. For about 30 years it was 100%, but we just couldn't justify continuing that policy based on sales. Naturally we don't keep on hand as many left-handed holsters as right-handed, since demand is so much smaller. They aren't special order items if you buy direct, but very few dealers stock left-handed holsters.

As far as advertising, we always depict right-handed holsters in our print ads, since that covers 95% of our customers. Also, our catalog model (me ) is right-handed. Our catalog notes which holsters are available for which hand. But spending lots of advertising dollars chasing 5% of our clientele wouldn't be an effective use of our limited advertising budget.

 

[pdowg881]

I shoot lefty, but would prefer a righty rifle. I am right handed left eye dominant, so working the bolt is much easier with my right hand. But the left hand for the trigger is no problem either becuase I've been playing paintball for years which in speedball frequently requires you to switch hands to lean and shoot. So even though I shoot lefty, I would hate a lefty rifle. It would feel very awkward to work the bolt with my left hand. The only bad thing is the brass flying across your face. But I pick up righty guns and can naturally use them without any problems so I guess I'm lucky in that sense.

 

[ny32182]

Funny, but there are some right handed snipers who prefer a left handed bolt action. Why? Their trigger hand, the right hand, remains on the pistol grip and the left hand cycles the action. This is for benchrest or prone shooting where the foreend is supported by a beanbag, rock or bipod. The same technique would work for a left handed person using a right handed gun.

I shoot only left handed. In my limited experience with bolt guns, I've always been curious as to why they would put the charging handle (or whatever it is called) on the right side of the rifle, requiring the right handed shooter to move his strong hand grip in order to operate the action. Make mine a right handed action so I can operate it with my right (weakside) hand.

Same goes for semi's; I'm quicker reloading an AK than an FAL because I can operate the AK's action with my weak side hand. The FAL requires much more shifting of the rifle, but I imagine right handers are better with it. Both are still slow compared to an AR though, for me.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Funny, but there are some right handed snipers who prefer a left handed bolt action. Why? Their trigger hand, the right hand, remains on the pistol grip and the left hand cycles the action. This is for benchrest or prone shooting where the foreend is supported by a beanbag, rock or bipod. The same technique would work for a left handed person using a right handed gun.

I considered this. But with hunting rifles that may be shot offhand, I've tried both and it is much easier to be fast and profecient when the bolt is on the left side of the rifle. This allows the right hand (which in my case is my dominant hand since I am right handed and left eye dominant) to support the forend of the rifle and to follow or lead the target. Since I am so used to flicking my left hand up to operate the bolt, I don't want to change back and forth between rifles. I figure if I am all proned out trying to gauge wind and distance, there will be plenty for my right hand to do to allow my left to work the bolt--such as making scope adjustments.

All I wanted was something lighter than a .50 that I could use to bust cinder blocks at 1000 yards and maybe shoot for groups against my bro at 1500 yards or so. I didn't think it had to be a long complicated process. It is a rather simple proposition for a righty and it is, IMO, simply inexcusible that it is so damn complicated for a lefty.

I cruised their sight and from what I can tell, the Montana action isn't available with a .588 bolt face. So that option is out. Dakota used to offer their Longbow Tactical in left hand but don't list that option on their sight any more. Brownells can special order the action in left hand, but there is no way I am paying $2500 just for the freaking action. Hopefully the Nesika Bay will be a little more sane. I've already contacted them and asked for a catalog to see which of their actions are available in left hand.

 

[Trip20]

I figure if I am all proned out trying to gauge wind and distance, there will be plenty for my right hand to do to allow my left to work the bolt--such as making scope adjustments.

You can't cycle the bolt and adjust windage/elevation at the exact same time. Even if supported by bags doing both tasks at the exact same time is cumbersome with any bolt gun right or left handed. So the extra milli-second(s) it takes to use your right hand to work bolt, then go up for the windage/elevation is really no big deal, is it?

Especially if all you will use the rifle for is:

All I wanted was something lighter than a .50 that I could use to bust cinder blocks at 1000 yards and maybe shoot for groups against my bro at 1500 yards or so.

Then a right handed rifle will suit you fine. It's not a timed shoot. You'll be firing at long distances with what might be described as slow aimed fire at your leisure during some friendly target shooting.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I fear your reading comprehension is beyond help. I already explained why I don't want a right handed bolt action.

I used adjusting turrents as an example to demonstrate that just because I have a left handed bolt doesn't mean my right hand is completely useless. I can find things to do for both hands, even if not at the same time.

The vast majority of right handed shooters would be pretty pissed if they had to spend thousands of dollars on a shooting system with the bolt on the opposite side as every other bolt action rifle they owned, or were otherwise expected to simply cope with a rifle obviously built with little or no concern given to their comfort and convenience. These rifles are not cheap. A shooter, regardless of what hand they use, should not be expected to compromise after spending that much money. That is what this is. If right handed shooters demanding left handed bolts for the sake of convenience was common, then left handed bolts would be available. But they aren't. Because the vast majority would view the bolt being on the wrong side as a compromise--as do I--and I find it infuriating that I am somehow just expected to do this and cope despite having spent the same money.

 

[Trip20]

MTMilitiaman,

My reading comprehension is just fine. You are correct; you've explained why you do not want a right-handed bolt rifle, a summary of which is found in your first post:

I know some of you are going to suggest buying a right handed rifle and learning to shoot it left handed. I adamentally [sic] reject this idea. It is ludicrous to expect lefties to spend the kind of money these companies are asking for a high end rifle and then just coping with the bolt being on the wrong side. My money is just as valuable as anyone elses [sic] and if I am spending lots of it on a rifle, that rifle damn sure better be built for me. It is frustrating to see how bad lefties are getting shafted in the market

In fact, my reading comprehension is so good, that's it now evident to me you do not want a discussion nor do you want suggestions/alternatives. You would much rather rant, and be rude at times. Had I discovered this earlier I would have neglected to post – my mistake.

I only attempted to suggest that the options available are not necessarily a compromise of devastating proportions with respect to the intended use of the rifle described by you (i.e., shooting formed concrete blocks at 1500yds). But, you appear to have a hard time comprehending my suggestion due to your, “just because they can have it I should be able to have it” mindset.

I’m a lefty and I agree it’s iniquitous that we do not have the same options available, as do our right-handed brethren. You’ll get no disagreement or lack of understanding from me on that point.

Unfortunately, due to the market as describe earlier in this thread, your search is a difficult one unless you want to spend quite a large sum of money.

So, good luck with finding a gun to suit your needs. I'll leave your thread alone.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I apologize if I come off as rude, but this has been somewhat of a rude awakening to me. I expected this to be as easy as finding a left handed hunting rifle to suit my needs, but it hasn't, and I wasn't prepared to repeat myself again.

The real reason I don't want a right handed rifle is this:

I considered this. But with hunting rifles that may be shot offhand, I've tried both and it is much easier to be fast and profecient when the bolt is on the left side of the rifle. This allows the right hand (which in my case is my dominant hand since I am right handed and left eye dominant) to support the forend of the rifle and to follow or lead the target. Since I am so used to flicking my left hand up to operate the bolt, I don't want to change back and forth between rifles.

I am perfectly willing to discuss, but I think I have been very clear what I am looking for. I have a very specific goal in mind and it is frustrating to have something suggested that is very clearly not what I am looking for.

 

[rfurtkamp]

To echo what has been said about the industry, as the resident lefty (who shoots mostly righty and only does lefty to smoke the really snobby pistol shooters at the range after doing it once with a non-dominant hand ), I get requests for lefty guns from less than 1% of customers. Even in a tactical rifle heavy shop, where we're stocking everything short of Title II firearms (and soon, to be handling that too), the majority of sales are from mundane weapons like five shot revolvers, the venerable 1911, the Sigs, and the AR-15s. I can count the # of people who have purchased .50s or .338s or inquired about them seriously in the last five years on less than fingers and toes. None has ever asked about lefty choices - even when they know I myself am one.

You're looking for a niche of a niche market so small that I don't consider 2.5k for an action to be unreasonable in all honesty - it'd be like asking for a one-off every time you bought a gun for anyone else.

 

[cmidkiff]

My father is left handed, I learned to shoot and fish with him. He shoots right handed, as he's right-eye dominant, so that wasn't a problem, but I learned to fish with a left-handed reel. I was never able to switch over, holding a rod in my right hand just doesn't feel right.

It's all what you get used to

 

[rangerruck]

seems to me savage and remmy make a larger cal lefty bolt.

 

[farmallmta]

Savage makes a right bolt, left load....

...don't recall the calibers available though. But it's a compromise likely to either make everybody deliriously happy or piss everybody totally off!

 

[Raygun]

I cruised their sight and from what I can tell, the Montana action isn't available with a .588 bolt face. So that option is out.

No, they make it. Here.

You could maybe go with an aftermarket action like the HS Precision or even the M1999, but they are far more specialized and don't offer the number of options and accessories available to the Remington M700. For example, would they allow a big beefy 1913 Picitanny style scope rail such as the Badger Ord?

From what I understand, scope mounts made for the Winchester 70 will work on the M1999 action. Badger's P/N 306-07W should work, as should this one.

Hopefully the Nesika Bay will be a little more sane. I've already contacted them and asked for a catalog to see which of their actions are available in left hand.

You may have seen this already but Nesika Bay will make you an extremely nice left-handed Heavy Tactical Rifle in .338 Lapua for @ $5,750 (up in the AI price range, there). Not sure about prices on their M action only, though.

Personally, I'd look into a 700LH in .338 Ultra Mag from Remington's Custom Shop. Anything one could pull off with a .338 Lapua, one should be able to do just as well with the .338 Ultra Mag. From what I've seen, ballistic performance is pretty much identical (everywhere I look, they're within 100 fps of each other, no matter the bullet). Honestly, why give a crap what the cartridge was designed for? It's the performance that matters and between these two particular cartridges, the shooter is going to be the major deciding factor by far when it comes to putting the bullet where it's supposed to go. I'd be interested to know for sure if the Kwik Klip DBM Kit is compatible with either of them. Not looking good, but maybe... 7-8 rounds of big .338 would be nice.

 

[telomerase]

You weirdos COULD just change your unnatural "orientation" and "lifestyle". But no, you'd rather try to change the laws, even to the point of being allowed to teach in schools with normal children.

Haven't you wondered why Halliburton just got awarded another $400 million to build "detention centers" in the US? I suppose you thought it was for migrant workers, or maybe owners of politically suspicious calibers like .338 Lapua. Won't you be surprised.

 

[CB900F]

Telo;

Leave the mayo out, today's a bad day for you. Eat it tomorrow.

900F