New bolt action, left hand or right hand?

[USAF_Vet]

I'm looking at a new bolt action rifle, the Savage Axis in .30-06.

A couple of my LGS have the RH combo in stock. For $329, I can get the right handed rifle, plus mounts, rings and a 3-9x40 Bushnell scope (which I would eventually replace but not a high priority). I'm getting a bipod for this rifle, so operating the action with my right hand isn't an issue considering it won't be supporting the rifle.

Part of me still says get the left handed model, which is only $10 less, but does not include the mount, rings or scope, effectively boosting my overall cost by a couple hundred dollars, at least.

The only time shooting a right handed bolt rifle as a southpaw becomes an issue is when I'm shooting offhand, but on a long range rifle as this will be, I don't foresee shooting offhand much. Another point is that the rifle is lightweight and balances nicely, so I could still operate the action with my right hand and support the entire weight of the rifle with my left.


TL;DR: I had talked myself into a left handed rifle as it sorta makes sense as I'm a lefty, but the more I think about it and the more I handle the RH version, the more I think I should get the RH rifle and use it the way I've always shot bolt actions.

So, save money and buy the right handed model, which I'm comfortable operating, or spend more and get the left handed version and retrain myself on shooting it? Heck, wording it that way makes this a no brainer, don't it?

 

[Abel]

Get the righty without the bushnell package. That way, you'll get a better scope and mounts from the get go.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I probably should have mentioned, neither LGS has a bare RH model in stock.

I'm currently leaning toward the RH package deal, with an eye on replacing and upgrading mounts, rings and scope in the future. Extra cash at this point is being put toward ammo as long as I have a functional rifle. The combo is a functional rifle.

 

[B!ngo]

If you are a left hander, as you allude and:
If you shoot right-handed with other bolt rifles that you own then of course buy the right-handed model;
If you shoot left-handed with other rifles OR you haven't yet purchased a bolt rifle and this is your first then buy the left-handed model.
A few bucks (well, maybe more) wouldn't make up for using the gun 'the wrong way' but I'm a pretty hard-core and adamant left-hander and want to buy devices that are tuned to my needs just as much as right-handers get what they need. Though there are a few left-handers that turn to the 'dark side', most shooters who say 'it doesn't matter' are right-handed!
I own four long guns and only one (the MP5 clone) is not left-handed. A fifth on the way will be completely ambi which is just fine too. Makes me happy though my kids, all right-handers, will be a bitter when I pass and they inherit them all
B

 

[USAF_Vet]

I shoot right handed bolt actions, left handed; either reaching over and cycling the action with my trigger hand while supporting with my right, or, if on a rest/ bipod, then cycling the action with my right hand while never breaking my cheek weld and sight picture. Shooting of a rest or bipod, my right hand isn't doing much to support the rifle. I don't shoot bolt rifles off hand much, so shooting off a rest or bipod is actually easier to do as a lefty, shooting a right handed gun.

I do not own a dedicated left handed bolt action, and have actually never shot one, so I've trained myself to shoot right handed bolt actions. I think part of wanting a left handed gun is the novelty of having a left handed gun, but for no other practical reason, as I'd have to learn how best to operate the rifle, and unlearn all my current bolt action habits.

 

[allaroundhunter]

You say that you want this to be a long range rifle, how do you define 'long range'?

And are you planning on keeping it stock, or upgrading to make it a 'better' long range gun?

 

[USAF_Vet]

It'll be a combination deer rifle/ 300+ yard target gun.

I'll have to see how it is after I get it broken in prior to making any changes/ upgrades.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Okay, because typically, a 'long range rifle' will have a heavy barrel, and a higher magnification with finger adjustable turrets. And therein lies the problem with a target rifle also being a deer rifle, no one wants to be lugging around a 12 lb target rifle

Now, a thin'ner' barrel will work, it will just heat up faster and start to string shots.

 

[CB900F]

USAF Vet;

T'were me, and it most assuredly has been, I go left every time. I grew up in the dark ages, when you had to slaughter a black rooster at the stroke of midnight before you were even allowed to see a left hand bolt gun, much less own one. I not only shot NRA indoor competition with a right handed Remington 40XB I was good at it. But, once I finally got a left hand gun, I refused to go back. Go the ergonomically correct way for yourself, it's highly unlikely you'll ever regret it.

As for the rest of the package, don't sweat the small stuff. If you truly want to get into long range shooting, the package scope wasn't gonna cut the mustard anyway. Which brings the question, what's long range to you?

900F

 

[DM~]

As a lefty i grew up with RH guns in my hands, once i bought and shot a LH bolt gun for a few boxes of ammo, you couldn't pay me to go back to RH bolt guns!

DM

 

[clang]

Another Lefty says get a left handed gun. It's lke the first time you get left handed scissors - you don't realize how nice they are to use until after you get to use them.

The only reason I would even think of a right handed gun was if I was planning on selling it soon after I bought it. If you ar ethe tyoe of person who buys and sells guns often, right handed guns are easier to sell.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Another Lefty says get a left handed gun. It's lke the first time you get left handed scissors - you don't realize how nice they are to use until after you get to use them.

The only reason I would even think of a right handed gun was if I was planning on selling it soon after I bought it. If you ar ethe tyoe of person who buys and sells guns often, right handed guns are easier to sell.

Well, I do have a tendency to sell guns if I buy them and lose interest. Of the guns I've bought, I have ended up selling about 75% of them to get something else.

CB900F: A buddy of mine has a 500 yard range, so I'd like to have it set up for that. There is a 300 yard range near me, so anywhere between 300-500 is what I'm shooting for. He has an older Rem 700 (before their quality went to crap), and he has rung the 1000 yard gong with his.

AllAround hunter: This will be mostly a tartget gun, and less a deer gun. State law limits deer hunting to shotguns in my immediate area, and I've gotta head up north to do any rifle hunting.

 

[I6turbo]

I'm RH, but if I were you I think I'd get the LH gun like God obviously intended you to shoot.
My youngest son is LH and I'm trying to find a LH CZ 452 for him but they are mostly out of stock at the moment. I'm intent on finding the LH, though.

 

[allaroundhunter]

My recent Remington 700 is quite a shooter, as is my Savage. I decided to keep my Savage as my deer gun (.270 WSM), and get a Remington to build into a long range rig.
I have only shot one Axis, a .308, and it was a decent shooter. It stayed at about 1.25" at 100 yards with match ammo which is respectable. For shooting 10" plates at 500, it would do well as long as the shooter was good with his wind call. I would not expect an '06 to be any less accurate.

Do you handload? If so, then you probably could work up a target load that would stay around .75 MOA easily (as long as you let the barrel cool). That would make 500 yard hits fairly easy with a little practice.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I don't hand load, but my shooting buddy does. He cooks up some pretty nice loads for his -06.

 

[GLOOB]

I have to say, I would have imagined the opposite. As a righty, prone and/or shooting from a bipod, I think I'd strongly prefer a right hand action. Shooting unsupported is where I think a cross-handed bolt would be just as easy for me, with a light rifle. I have imagined so, anyway. Seeing as you lefties are living it, I guess I'm wrong.

 

[CB900F]

I6turbo;

Good luck on finding a left CZ452! CZ has stopped production of the 452 model & replaced it with the 455, you may be able to find one of those. Any 452's are either in the supplier pipeline, languishing on dealer shelves, or used guns. Personally, I regard the 452 as the better gun.

I'd suggest going over to Rimfire Central's CZ forum & asking about getting the lefty over there. They are very helpfull folks & somebody just might be able find one for you.

900F

 

[I6turbo]

I6turbo;

Good luck on finding a left CZ452! CZ has stopped production of the 452 model & replaced it with the 455, you may be able to find one of those. Any 452's are either in the supplier pipeline, languishing on dealer shelves, or used guns. Personally, I regard the 452 as the better gun.

I'd suggest going over to Rimfire Central's CZ forum & asking about getting the lefty over there. They are very helpfull folks & somebody just might be able find one for you.

900F

Yes, it's definitely getting harder to find the 452s, LH or RH! The frenzy of the past couple of months has almost wiped out the remaining .22LR 452s from the big sellers, but they still show up at individual dealers and smaller sellers from time to time, as well as NIB and LNIB guns from individuals. Of course the LH versions are even more rare. HOWEVER, according to the CZ-USA website, they haven't actually stopped production of the LH 452s (Lux and American) yet because they haven't started up production of LH 455s. Also, they seem to be continuing to make some of the RH 452s for large dealers like Whittaker Guns. That, or they still have inventory on hand that they're shipping. It's kind of strange how the actual supply of "discontinued" 452s seems to be playing out. For example, Whittaker (who claims to be the largest CZ dealer in the U.S.) recently got a new shipment of RH 452 Americans.