Lefty Shooting Righty?!?

[Jagerwerks]

I'm left-handed and getting fairly serious about precision rimfire (PRS, NRL22). I have shot right-handed bolt guns my entire life. I currently run a heavy barreled B14R, and I feel that it hasn't held me back up to this point. Right now, I come off of the rifle with my support hand to run the bolt.

Looking for the opinions of people who have done this way longer than I have and who can steer me in the right direction!

 

[codym]

I did exactly that my entire life… this last year I sold all my right handed stuff and switched everything to left handed. I’m much quicker now than I was before. Takes a little bit getting used to manipulating the bolt but no big deal. The worst part is finding left handed stuff, it’s usually special order and longer wait times. It was definitely an improvement for me.

 

[bobby1028]

I'm left handed and built a 457 both ways, did the right hander first only since lefty varmints just weren't around at the time. After running both I'm actually using the RH gun for PRS and the LH is relegated to bench rest use. Really no off hand and not alot of prone stages where I'd need to shoot Left handed to support a heavy rifle. Off barricades I'm faster staying on target by staying firmly on the grip and shouldered running the bolt/mag changes right handed. Short bolt throw on a 22 so I don't have to break cheek weld...it works for me.
Bought a LH 12 gauge autoloader last year, so used to RH gas guns all my life I fumble like a blind man with it trying to speed load.

 

[DrSquall]

We've talked in my post I made about being lefty in the other thread. The hardest thing with PRS is building solid positions and what sucks when you run a right handed bolt left-handed and have to come off the gun as you have to rebuild part of that position. A lot of guys including myself need all the help I can on keeping a solid position so anything I can do to make that more achievable I will do. And it's not really favorable when you're shooting a position where you're using a rear bag and running a right handed bolt being left-handed it just makes it more difficult to have to get back on and squeeze the bag if you have to

 

[Jagerwerks]

I'm left handed and built a 457 both ways, did the right hander first only since lefty varmints just weren't around at the time. After running both I'm actually using the RH gun for PRS and the LH is relegated to bench rest use. Really no off hand and not alot of prone stages where I'd need to shoot Left handed to support a heavy rifle. Off barricades I'm faster staying on target by staying firmly on the grip and shouldered running the bolt/mag changes right handed. Short bolt throw on a 22 so I don't have to break cheek weld...it works for me.
Bought a LH 12 gauge autoloader last year, so used to RH gas guns all my life I fumble like a blind man with it trying to speed load.

I really want to run a left-handed setup before I take the plunge and just sell off my right-hand B14R. I may be so used to it at this point that it may do more harm than good to switch.

 

[Csafisher]

I’m a lefty and use right handed guns. Never had an issue. Only issue is what drsquall described when using a rear bag. However, in the matches I shoot that’s rare. Usually a prone stage and time isn’t typically a problem. I feel like clearing any jams or misfeeds is actually easier.

 

[Jagerwerks]

We've talked in my post I made about being lefty in the other thread. The hardest thing with PRS is building solid positions and what sucks when you run a right handed bolt left-handed and have to come off the gun as you have to rebuild part of that position. A lot of guys including myself need all the help I can on keeping a solid position so anything I can do to make that more achievable I will do. And it's not really favorable when you're shooting a position where you're using a rear bag and running a right handed bolt being left-handed it just makes it more difficult to have to get back on and squeeze the bag if you have to

Coming off the gun with my support hand is the worst part, but I guess you can look at it both ways because you are coming off your grip when shooting the native way. I guess if I was to stick with a RH setup, having a heavy and balanced rifle would become more important than it already is.

 

[DrSquall]

Coming off the gun with my support hand is the worst part, but I guess you can look at it both ways because you are coming off your grip when shooting the native way. I guess if I was to stick with a RH setup, having a heavy and balanced rifle would become more important than it already is.

Yeah that's the only part that sucks like you said is coming off the gun and honestly if I could shoot as comfortable right handed as I do left-handed I would strictly shoot right handed actions just for the fact of more options of aftermarket accessories chassis and guns. When I first started I ran a Ruger precision 22 which was right handed and I never really had issues with it and I will say when you shoot a right handed action being left-handed like mentioned earlier it's easier to see the jams and get to them instead of having to look over the scope and look

 

[Ronws]

To the OP, whatever works for you. I have seen guys shooting right-handed rifles from the left.

Let me get everyone's cogs jammed up.

I am left-handed. I carry my 9 mm on left hip in an OWB holster under a large shirt.

I shoot long guns right-handed. It has to do with options back in the 70s. Our scout master was teaching us to shoot 12 ga. And it was a semi-auto. I was raising it to my left shoulder and he told me to move it to my right. I learned why, instantly.

So, I just kept that up.

In 1974, Just before we were going to move from California to Texas, I picked up my step-grandfather's Sears Silvertone guitar with only 3 strings left on it. And started picking out the arpeggio beginning to "Who'll Stop the Rain?" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. I was doing it right-handed, which felt right because the left hand is doing all the work.

We get to Texas a few weeks later and my mother gives to me an acoustic guitar my father had given her (he was a music major when he was at the University of South Dakota before transferring to UCLA.) All she could afford was Mel Bay's Book of Chords. My step-grandfather taught me how to read sheet music.

Anyway, I surmised that playing guitar right-handed is really a left-handed activity.

So, in the end, do what feels comfortable. And, these days, there are more offerings for left handed actions.

 

[rimfired]

Full send left handed, it is the way.

 

[Stevenhansell]

I started my NRL/PRS journey with a lifted handed Bergara as well. Ran it for a year and had no real issues. Build me a RimX and it is left handed. It is different but I’m able to build better positions and my scores have improved. I find shooting lefty more comfortable and more natural.

 

[DFOOSKING]

If shooting right handed guns being a lefty was a real advantage at all......you'd be seeing righties en masse using left handed guns. We don't. Because it sucks and its just a shitty bandaid mindfuck to pass off the real issue of LH gun availability. If the roles were reversed and 95% of guns were built LH and 85% of users were RH.... nobody would tolerate making due as a primary recourse. They'd bitch and moan and demand the product makers conform or fail.

If your lefty, get lefty guns whenever you can.

 

[Jagerwerks]

If shooting right handed guns being a lefty was a real advantage at all......you'd be seeing righties en masse using left handed guns. We don't. Because it sucks and its just a shitty bandaid mindfuck to pass off the real issue of LH gun availability. If the roles were reversed and 95% of guns were built LH and 85% of users were RH.... nobody would tolerate making due as a primary recourse. They'd bitch and moan and demand the product makers conform or fail.

If your lefty, get lefty guns whenever you can.

Great point

 

[Jagerwerks]

Full send left handed, it is the way.

Yeah I’m in the process of finding a left handed setup. It’s pretty damn hard to come across one.

 

[keenedge]

If shooting right handed guns being a lefty was a real advantage at all......you'd be seeing righties en masse using left handed guns. We don't. Because it sucks and its just a shitty bandaid mindfuck to pass off the real issue of LH gun availability. If the roles were reversed and 95% of guns were built LH and 85% of users were RH.... nobody would tolerate making due as a primary recourse. They'd bitch and moan and demand the product makers conform or fail.

If your lefty, get lefty guns whenever you can.

This is the way. Tried RH guns and workarounds for years, switched to 100% LH about a decade ago, never looked back.

 

[Jagerwerks]

In the four days of looking around for left-handed actions and accessories, I've almost come to the conclusion that I am going to stick with right-handed rifles or just go all out and teach myself to shoot right-handed. There is essentially zero aftermarket support for left-handed rifles. I absolutely love my TT diamond two-stage, and it turns out there is not a LH variant. I also love the MDT ACC premier gen 2, which, of course, does not come in LH... I feel bad for guys who have gone full-on left-hand for everything. There is nothing out there.

 

[rimfired]

In the four days of looking around for left-handed actions and accessories, I've almost come to the conclusion that I am going to stick with right-handed rifles or just go all out and teach myself to shoot right-handed. There is essentially zero aftermarket support for left-handed rifles. I absolutely love my TT diamond two-stage, and it turns out there is not a LH variant. I also love the MDT ACC premier gen 2, which, of course, does not come in LH... I feel bad for guys who have gone full-on left-hand for everything. There is nothing out there.

Your options for LH would be CZ457 Varmint (or American), Bergara B14r or ordering a RimX (6 month wait or more...not sure anyone has a LH in stock that you could get right away) and for left handed chassis MPA is your best bet (only took 6 weeks for my LH Vanquish I ordered back in February) for R700 footprint, feel like for a CZ457 in LH the L3i chassis is probably your best bet (not sure MPA's CZ457 Vanquish is getting a LH or not, if so then that will be the best CZ457 LH chassis).

Lookup the sku on gun.deals to find the cheapest online store with the gun in stock.

 

[Jagerwerks]

Your options for LH would be CZ457 Varmint (or American), Bergara B14r or ordering a RimX (6 month wait or more...not sure anyone has a LH in stock that you could get right away) and for left handed chassis MPA is your best bet (only took 6 weeks for my LH Vanquish I ordered back in February) for R700 footprint, feel like for a CZ457 in LH the L3i chassis is probably your best bet (not sure MPA's CZ457 Vanquish is getting a LH or not, if so then that will be the best CZ457 LH chassis).

Lookup the sku on gun.deals to find the cheapest online store with the gun in stock.

I'm finding with the CZ that chassis options are extremely limited for LH. I really like the R700 platform as well.

I have contemplated ordering a LH B14R 18" barreled action and swapping my current 20" heavy barrel from my RH B14R onto it, and selling the RH action with the 18" barrel.

 

[Bandaid]

I have built a LH b14r 18” barreled action because of the much better chassis options… I ended up with the krg X-ray and I have been really happy. A barrel is my next upgrade but I keep putting it off because cause the factory barrel just shoots so good and doesn’t seem to be holding me back at all.

As far as shooting a left hand rifle… it’s the only way to go. When I shoot RH rifles I feel a disadvantage.

 

[keenedge]

In the four days of looking around for left-handed actions and accessories, I've almost come to the conclusion that I am going to stick with right-handed rifles or just go all out and teach myself to shoot right-handed. There is essentially zero aftermarket support for left-handed rifles.

Definitely less support for LH, we're roughly 12% of the population and the bolt gun market is slow to change, so it really reflects that. That said, I see growing LH support in production and custom rifles across the board, there's a lot more LH options than just 10 or 15 years ago. In rimfire, besides those named from CZ, RimX, Bergara, etc., you have Tikka T1x for production, which is a great action I have one. For custom, Vudoo is worth checking out, spendy but to me was worth every penny.

There are enough options to make it worth switching to shoot with your natural hand and eye dominance.

 

[Qpski]

Using Superx-1 and 390, the left-handed shooter hit thousands of targets. What a mess, I tried an LH pistol. The situation is greatly exaggerated.

 

[Jagerwerks]

LH RimX is here along with all components! I found a good deal on a barely used 25” 1.2” Lilja prefit and went with the ACC Premier chassis. Just waiting on my smith to get a chance to torque the barrel to spec for me. I am itching to shoot this thing! It weighs in at 20 pounds on the dot.

 

[12Bravo20]

I'm right handed/left eye dominant. I have to shoot long guns left handed. I use to shoot right hand bolt actions and then switched to left handed bolt actions and have never looked back. Yes it too a little getting use to the left hand bolt but it is more natural for me.

I still shoot handguns with my right hand using my left eye. That makes for a faster transition from long gun to pistol for me.

 

[eddy_c]

I am a lefty looking to buy my first LH rifle, I am leaning towards a B14R for the 700 platform over a Tikka or CZ. I don't compete, so I think a RimX and Vudoo are probably more than I want to spend for my first LH rifle. Knowing that any parts I add to it could be used if I do upgrade is nice. I am thinking a barreled action and trying to find a chassis in the PX is where I am going to start. Having never worked a lefthanded bolt, I know there will be an adjustment period.

 

[Jagerwerks]

I am a lefty looking to buy my first LH rifle, I am leaning towards a B14R for the 700 platform over a Tikka or CZ. I don't compete, so I think a RimX and Vudoo are probably more than I want to spend for my first LH rifle. Knowing that any parts I add to it could be used if I do upgrade is nice. I am thinking a barreled action and trying to find a chassis in the PX is where I am going to start. Having never worked a lefthanded bolt, I know there will be an adjustment period.

If you want the 700 platform and do not want to spend the money on a RimX or Vudoo, then the Bergara is a no-brainer. It's a shame they don't make the heavy-barreled action in left hand, but the 18" barrels shoot great for a factory barrel. You could always upgrade to a KI Precision if you get serious. I absolutely love my B14R heavy, but I wanted to make the switch to LH, so I went with a RimX.