Dual Purpose Shotgun for Left Hander

[Lawyerman]

My oldest is left handed. As a shooter this stinks. I recently started thinking about what to get him in the way of a shotgun. The two choices that came to mind first were the Ithaca 37 and the Browning BPS. I ruled out both quickly.

The Ithaca will soon be impossible to find parts for, accessories are nill and even though the action is lefty friendly the safety is still a righty control.

The BPS does a little better with it's top mounted safety. There are a few accessories available but not much in the way of tactical options. It is primarily a hunting gun.

I decided instead on a Mossberg 500/590. I want to start him hunting birds at 10-12 and by the time he is 16 or so I want him to try (assuming he has any interest) some combat style of shooting. The Mossberg has a lefty friendly action and there are plenty of aftermarket accessories, barrels, chokes, sidesaddles, short stocks, etc....This way he can use and learn one system for both his hunting gun and his defense gun.

Thoughts?

 

[Smoke]

As a left eye dominant shooter, I shoot most of my long guns left handed.
I never had a probelm using guns designed for righties.

Shotguns, both pump, autos and doubles
Rifles, pumps, levers, bolts, autos.

Doubles may be a good option for you. Take a look around.

Smoke

 

[squibload]

No kids of my own, but I’ve been fortunate to get more than a few kids started in the shooting sports. (I don’t know how tall he’ll be at age ten, but a full size/length 12 gauge pump may not fit him without some struggling. On the other hand, they do “grow ‘em big in Texasâ€!)

Why not an NEF Single shot? At age 10-12, he's still learning the mechanics of shooting, hunting, judgement, and caring for his own gear. A single shot isn’t too popular on the boards, where tacticality, expandability, and coolness rules. A single shot allows him to hone his skills in the field, his safety, and his accuracy.

Like an adjustable height rim on a basketball hoop…good shooting habits start when the equipment successfully fits the shooter.

Better to go the simplified down-size route to work on the basics, and if his interest continues, bolster it with a new firearm to learn on! Kids are exciteable, and an NEF will be just as exciting when it’s purchased as any Mossberg or Remington.

A rich kid who gets a Porsche on his 16th birthday will never really know anything about cars...he already got what he wanted. A kid who gets a second hand Dodge Neon and dreams about his next car will keep his interest going.

 

[Lawyerman]

One of the primary reasons for the Mossberg for me is the availability of short stocks. I can build a gun to fit him pretty easily and change it as he changes. I plan on starting him with a 20 gauge. When he is able we'll move into an identical 12 gauge, he shouldn't skip a beat that way.

The single shot is a fine idea but I want a gun that he will grow with, that will always be familiar to him and that has enough versatility-chokes etc...to carry him for a long time. It is an easy thing to stick a plug in the magazine to restrict capacity until I think he can use it.

I plan to start him hunting with a shotgun with no bolt in it. He gets to hunt with the rest of us for the first year or so and we can watch his gunhandling skills. Once I think he's got it down we'll give him a bolt for his gun and some shells.

 

[squibload]

Regardless of his first gun, he will likely be begging to trade up to something else in pretty short order. I moved from a single bbl. to a SxS to an autoloader in the span of just 6 seasons…only after my proud poppa approved of my handling of each style of action, and a lot of clay birds to show that I could hit with what I had.

(The 20ga. single shot I used for my first two seasons in the field with is currently stationed in a closet, ready for a bump-in-the-night, so it’s certainly grown-up with me. Again, not as tacticool as come other items out there, but it’s plenty serious with the proper mindset!)

And mindset is exactly what we should be most concerned with when it comes to kids and hunting.

While the “gun with no bolt†is an interesting idea, I’d personally prefer to have my son/daughter in the woods during their pre-“coming-of-age†hunting season with just his/her hunting clothes and a backpack. He/she will learn plenty by watching your actions and gun handling skills without worrying what he/she’s doing during that season. Just setting the good example in the field and reinforcing these at home is a great reminder to you and I that we can be little lax when we’re in the field. Having a kid watching you like a hawk is a great reminder to us that we need to do things the right way.

Whatever route you take, good luck…you’re setting the example for the future.

squibload

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Southpaw here.

The Mossberg should be a fine choice. Also, Remington makes the 870 in a lefty version.

 

[clubsoda22]

I am left handed and have never had a problem with my winchester 1300 pump. I never get shells in my face and the safety is a button infront of the trigger.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Establish which is his dominant eye and have him learn from that side. Once proficient from the other also.

I've shot a good bit southpaw, and while I'm not as good as I am from starboard, I find little trouble in manipulating the controls on an 870. I doubt this is nearly as crucial as fit and feel.

Let him pick the tool....