AR-15 question from a lefty

[BigIrishOaf]

I'm considering a AR-15/M-Forgery as a Sports Utility Rifle©, but I do have a question as I'm a lefty.

Should I be concerned about being in the path of ejecting brass?

I've been burned by brass before and would rather not go through that again.

Thanks in advance.

BTW- this is my first post, although I'm a longtime "viewer" of this site.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

No problemo, AR's are pretty much an ambidextrous tool as is,

The large lump of metal sticking off of the right side of the receiver is called the,"Brass Deflector", and believe me it earns that title . Mine is starting to get a nice brass-colored stripe down the deflector, which usually sends brass between 2:30 and 5:30. Just add an ambi-selector switch(do a quick search) and you will have an ambidextrous rifle for TEOTWAWKI...

 

[chopinbloc]

or buy a left handed ar 15 from stag arms. they had a good review in gunworld a couple months back. i'm not sure, but i think they sell just the upper as well.

 

[Zach S]

As above, brass is not a problem. The hardest thing to get used to was the selector rubbing the inside of my trigger finger, but I just dealt with it to the point where it didnt bother me.

As for the ambi safety, I had one on the AR I recently sold. I didnt use it, since I was used to the standard safety and could manipuate it without problems. I currently have plans to replace the AR I recently sold with two more, and I'm not putting an ambi on either one of them.

 

[BigIrishOaf]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info.

 

[nhhillbilly]

Not a problem as stated above but I use the Ambi selector switch on both my M4 and my AR. The AR is DPMS and the M4 is a Bushmaster. The DPMS is much better selector and easier to install.

 

[Chipperman]

Some older ARs do not have the brass deflector. One of my M16 uppers does not have it. A magazine of full-auto made a nice red patch on my cheek. I bought a snap-on deflector which fixed the problem.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

On A2 and A3 (flattop) uppers the brass deflector works as advertised.

The only southpaw modification on my Colt AR-15A3 is a DPMS ambi selector.

 

[MillCreek]

I am right-handed, but shoot left handed, since my left eye is far better than my right. I have a stock Colt SP-1, which does not have the built-in deflector. If I am saving the brass, I use a brass catcher, but otherwise use the snap-in deflector that installs into the carry handle. Works like a charm.

 

[jem375]

I have a DPMS lefty 20" SS bull barrel and it works just fine for me..like every lefty I grew up shooting righties and when I had the opportunity to buy one that ejects from the left side bought it and couldn't be happier. It doesn't bother me to shoot righties but if it is available for us lefties, why not?

 

[Onslaught]

I'm extremely left-handed, and have owned several ARs. Brass has never been an issue with any of them. I didn't like the safety, so I bought the Ambi version. It does rub on the inside of my trigger finger, so I found another option. Olympic makes a safety that is REVERSIBLE (has detent cuts on both edges) and you can use it on either the left or right side. I really like mine.

What I like THE MOST is the Norgon Ambi-catch. Sure it's easy to use the factory mag release at the range, but in a CQB or 3-gun match, being able to dump your mag with your trigger finger while reaching for your mag with your right hand is definitely faster. It's also nice to be able to drop the mag with either hand depending on where you and the rifle are in relation to each other (laying on the range table, being fired by your daughter/wife/girlfriend/nephew - whatever). At $89, they're not exactly cheap, but I consider them a "must have" on all my rifles...

I know left handed ARs exist, but I've never personally felt the need for one. I have a Beretta Storm that is set up to eject to the left side, and I'm considering switching it because it's easier to see inside the action (to see if a round feeds, to check if empty, etc.) and it's what I'm used to.

 

[Shear_stress]

Another lefty AR shooter checking in. Never had a problem with ejected brass tatooing my face. The integral brass deflector really does its job.

I did install an ambi-safety, but only to annoy right-handed shooters.