Question about lefty shooters

[Beetle Bailey]

I was at the range today testing out my newest rifle (Enfield No. 4 MkI Maltby) when an old buddy shows up with his Mosin Nagant M44 . Now, I own a couple Finn Mosins and one Russian 91/30, but I have never shot an M38 or M44, so. . . His M44 barrel is not in great shape, so I had to set the rear sight to 300 meters in order to print at point of aim at 50 yards . However, it was the funnest time I ever had shooting 3" groups at 50 yards . I set off at least two car alarms, one of them over and over since the owner refused to turn his alarm off.

Anyways, a couple guys came over due to the noise and asked if I could help them with their two new (to them) Mosin Nagants, a 91/30 and a 44. Although they had prior experience with handguns, these were their two first rifles and they were printing very high and needed help with the sights. I had them bring their target in from 50 yards to 25 yards and checked their rear sights - set at 500 meters for both rifles. I taught them how to work the rear sights and set it at 100 meters and then set out to shoot a group with the 91/30 (it printed about 1" to the right in the three o'clock position for me). The first guy (I think he actually owns the rifles and the other guy is his buddy) shoots the same 91/30 and prints everything to the left of the bull's eye and not in that great a group. He is also left-handed (I am right-handed, BTW). I explained to him how to drift the front sight to get point of aim to match point of impact and told him if he sees me at the range again to just ask me and I would help him out if I could (didn't have a brass punch with me at the time).

Now (finally ) here is my question: should the iron sights on a rifle be in the same place for a left-handed shooter as for a right handed shooter? I have my guesses but figured that if I am going to be helping people out I should at least ask the knowledgable and experienced before possibly messing things up trying to help people. Also, he should sight it in himself if possible? Or I should sight in the first one and then he sights in the second one himself? Thanks in advance and I appreciate any help.

 

[BamBam-31]

Methinks if the irons are zeroed for a righty, they should be zeroed for a lefty as well. Only difference--if any--might be in the individual's idea of propper sight picture.

That's my unedjumacated guess, anyways.

 

[4570Rick]

I am right handed, left eye dom and I can tell you as a mater of fact and physics that if the sight picture is properly aquired, left handed or right handed makes no difference.

 

[RepublicanMan]

I have to disagree....I'm a lefty and having spent several years in the military I can assure you that a weapon that is zeroed for a right handed shooter is not going to shoot to POA for a lefty. On an SKS or an AR you can take a look at the rear sight (AR) or front sight (SKS) and get a good idea of which hand the person shooting it is. On my SKS for example my front post is decidedly off center to the right for a center mass POA / POI at 100 yds. My friend shoots it occasionally and he has to aim about 6 inches to the left in order to hit COM at the same range shooting at the same target.
Beetle, the M44s all seem to shoot very low unless the bayo is extended when firing.....I don't know why but every single one I've ever seen is this way.
Give that a try next time and see if it helps.

EDIT: Nevermind, didn't notice that you were in California...no evil bayos for you.

 

[VG]

Theoretically yes - practically, often no, as the above anecdotes indicate.

 

[tc300mag1]

Ever pistol/rifle i have bought i have had to slightly drift the sights on to make it shoot bullseye they are defently set up for rightys instead of us lefties

 

[BamBam-31]

EDIT: Nevermind, didn't notice that you were in California...no evil bayos for you.

We have bayos. These are bolts.

Hmm. Could it be a recoil thing? We are not vises, after all.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Hmmm. . .just to be safe I will have him do his own sight-in; he'll learn more that way anyways. Thanks again for all the help.

BTW, the M44 still has the bayo attached, but at the shooting range, if the rangemaster see you with an extended bayo, he yells "Put that pigsticker away! You tryin' ta put out an eye?" Mind you, all muzzles are pointed downrange anyways, but I don't argue with that rangemaster 'cuz I'm on his good side and I want to stay there . Also, I don't mind the fact that it prints low, as long as it groups somewhat and continues to set off car alarms .

 

[jrhead75]

I'm a lefty, but I practice shooting right handed as well, and I don't notice any difference in POI between the two. YMMV

 

[30Cal]

My zero for left handed is a little different than for right handed. I tend to hold more of the black when shooting R/H, so I have to add 1MoA elevation for left and 1/2 MoA of left windage. In the end, I'd still be on paper and pretty close to the center with either zero.

Sight picture is a little different and the gun recoils differently.

Ty

 

[benEzra]

POA shift between right- and left-handers will be most noticeable with hard-kicking calibers, I suspect. Basically, as the rifle recoils, it tends to torque the shooter toward the shooting shoulder (since the recoil doesn't hit you COM). This tends to rotate the rifle a tad to the right.

 

[MAURICE]

Im a lefty, and have never had any trouble at all shooting right handed guns (other than an SKS with 30 rd mag )