left AND right handed bolt action

[ccsniper]

I have been wondering lately if there ever was such a bolt action rifle that could accommodate both lefty's and righty's. A rifle that with a slight change could be altered for a left handed shooter or a right handed shooter. I have a design in my head I know I can get to work if I could get a prototype, I can't go into too much detail because I don't want anyone stealing this idea. but, even the ejection would be useful for both lefty's and righty's.

thanks in advance

 

[FSJeeper]

I am blind in my right eye and shoot left handed.

Years ago I built a custom right and left hand rifle based on the Steyr Mannlicher straight pull 95M action that was modified in WWII for the 8mm Mauser cartridge.

Very easy to do. Just made a left pull bolt for it and moved the safety to the other side. To switch it to right hand you just swapped bolts.

I had it re-barreled to 7x57 with express sights and very nice custom stock and it was my main hunting rifle for 20 years. Someone offered me a lot more than I thought it was worth and I sold it. I'll never quit regretting that.

 

[ccsniper]

well, this wouldn't be another bolt. simply by doing some simple task the gun could be used for left or right handed. while costing the same as a right handed rifle.

 

[Big_E]

Well you have two options.
1. Become ambidextrous, but this is hard to impossible for all people to accomplish.
2. Get a Swiss K-31. It is a straight pull bolt action.

 

[ccsniper]

I am right handed, my brother is left handed. I can shoot with both, this is a design idea I have and was wondering if it has already been done. with a google search all I got was a left handed conversion or something like that. this would be a complete rifle that has a different way of ejecting and everything. I won't give too much data out because I don't want anyone to steal my idea.

 

[lefteyedom]

As you can tell by my screen name I am left eye dominate of course I am righted as well. To shoot well I have to shoot off my left shoulder.

The Savage 110 is a rifle design that is very easily converted from right to left with very little fuss. I would look at the ability to swap the bolt handle on the bolt as key to making your idea work.

I like the straight pull rifle idea, but Winchester, Marlin, and Savage lever actions have solve this problem for years. Certain auto-loaders work well, some just put hot brass down your shirt.

The problem with this idea is the idea of "sharing" a rifle with someone else. Granted the military does this but most of the time you are not trading weapons daily. You get a rifle issued to you and it is yours until it breaks or you PCS.

Having to re-zero a rifle with each new shooter would be more of a pain than the flexibility the rifle would give.

All that said
Keep working on it!

 

[ccsniper]

I already have it drawn out. I just didnt know if it had been done yet. I won't go into too much detail as I would hate for someone to make money off my idea. well, except for me of course.

 

[Jubjub]

The Blaser R93 just needs a bolt change to switch sides. Of course technically, it's a straight pull action, not a bolt action.

 

[ccsniper]

its a simple modification that a son who is left handed can use right handed dad's gun. It even will have a different ejection system. I already have the design, just need to get a large well known company to make em. also it wouldnt effect zero at all

 

[KenWP]

I am right handed and left eye dominate but my problem is I can only pull a trigger with my left hand. I have to use a right handed rifle anyways I just shoot from the left shoulder. I never could teach my left hand to do much else except hold things for my right hand to work on.

 

[leadcounsel]

Do a patten search. It's probably already pattened. That seems to happen to me when I have great ideas.

For your idea, let's think about market share. According to Wikipedia and other internet results, approximately 7-10% of the population is left handed. Extrapolating that among gun owners, let's assume that 1 in 10 is left handed. That is a very niche market, especially when you break it down further to left handed shooters that own a bolt action rifle that it is important enough to get a lefty version.

Granted there are tens of millions of gun owners and any new invention could make you a millionaire.

Good luck!

 

[ccsniper]

bump

 

[Nicodemus38]

every designer figures out a solution for htis idea. the real trick is to make it so that it can be used as a semi auto as well. ive done the sketches and alot of the design work. all i would need to factory grade tolerance data on cartridge and bolt/reciever fit, id be in business.

good luck with a patent. the patent office has official data that says they dont want to dealin any way for firearm patents for cartridge weapons that do not come from someone affiliated with a commercially liscened gun manufacturer.

 

[ccsniper]

well, that is what I hoped to do, get a large gun maker to make this gun. My idea is to pitch it to all of them and see which one bites.

 

[Nicodemus38]

unless you can prove that you are a nationally or internationally acclaimed mechanical designer, manufacturing engineer, or in metal alloys, youd have to have hte name of Elmer Kieth to get anyone to talk to you. And youd still most likely get a "sorry we dont take designs that dont originate in our company".

even if you say went to the company that makes the little 22lr crickett rifles, it would still most likely cost at least 1.4 million dollars to create a new bolt body and bolt handle from your prototype to an actual sample that could be tested. the remachining would be in the 3 million dollar range to get it ready for commercial production.

its fun to design ideas for this subject, but when you look at the economic realities to actually get the product into existence, its much easier to just pay a few hundred extra shekels to get a custom rifle that is designed for a southpaw shooter. or just get a rolling block or sharps type single shot.