left-handed shooting scoped right-handed bolt

[Nathanael_Greene]

Can anyone offer any suggestions for how a left-handed person can comfortably shoot a *scoped* right-handed bolt-action rifle?

I've found a way to do okay shooting a non-scoped right-handed bolt gun by reaching across the receiver, but that sure gets tough with a scope in the way.

Any ideas?

 

[pauli]

i've done it, but i was 11 at the time... ie, 12 years ago.

i believe i just operated the bolt right handed. seems natural enough to me...

 

[Smoke]

I do it all the time. I shoot most guns left handed even though I'm a rightie because I'm left eye dominant. I just use my support hand to work the bolt. Takes a little strength in your left hand to hold the gun but can be done easily enough with all but the heaviest of guns. Those need a bench anyway, so then there is no problem.

Smoke

 

[4v50 Gary]

Remember the sniper in the church tower in Saving Private Ryan?. He reached over with the left hand and used his pinky to operate the right hand bolt. I was shown the same thing in my youth. With practice, you can get quite fast.

BTW, some snipers are buying left handed actions. When they shoot best or prone, their right hand maintains the hold on the pistol grip and their left hand works their bolt.

 

[Navy joe]

The only rifle I reach over on is a Mosin, I believe it is easier for a lefty to run on of those fast. For all others, work the bolt with the right hand. To do this you need to have the grip and arm strength to hold the gun up in your shoulder pocket with the left hand. If you are in a habit of crossing your left thumb over the back of grip you will be encouraged to stop that practice.

 

[cdbeaver]

I always take the rifle from my shoulder, give it a half turn to the left so the bolt is on top, and work it with my left hand. Doesn't take any longer to do it than it does to write about it.

I've been doing it for over five decades; guess I have the program down pat by now.

I'm also buying more single-shot rifles these days. And I have a rifle with the bolt converted to the left side.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Hey, CDbeaver - who did the conversion and what was converted? Can you post pics please?

 

[cdbeaver]

Wish I could post pics, but I am too computer illiterate for such exotic behavior.

The rifle is a Remington 721 in .30-06. The work was done by a fellow named Barber on the West Coast. I believe it was Oregon. But memory does fail me now. The work was done in 1953!

Still have the rifle and the original Weaver K4 scope I put on it. It was the only rifle I had for several years, and I learned to shoot it pretty well.

If I can get my son to show up with his digital camera, perhaps I can get him to send the picture.

 

[theCZ]

If you are shooting prone, a right bolt is the cat's meow for us lefties. I practiced doing the reach over enough with my .22 bolt actions that when I needed a standing follow up shot on a coyote this winter with my winchester .270 with scope, it came naturally to tilt and reach. Looking back, I can't believe how fast I worked that bolt!

 

[4v50 Gary]

Thanks CD Beaver. I know that Dale Guise use to do it many years ago in 1955 and was wondering if anyone else did. Thankfully Remington now caters to we southpaws.

 

[Khornet]

I've always done the 'tilt' thing

since I've never had or fired a lefty bolt rifle.

There was a champion shooter in the NRA a while back who used a Model 52. Attached to the bolt knob was an extension which went under the stock and up the left side of the rifle, and he worked it by pushing down on the extension with his left hand and pulling back. Gary Anderson, I believe.

 

[Hutch]

I'm with the Beav'. I just drop the butt from the shoulder to bicep area, rotate counter clockwise a bit, and work the bolt w/ right hand. I'm naturally right handed, but my right eyesight is sooooooo poor (untreated "lazy eye" as a child), that I can't shoot long guns right-handed. I shoot handguns righty, and just pull 'em over in front of my left eye.