Trouble being left handed?

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ianp123

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OK.. we started on this one with the Cross-dominant thread but I think we need (ok, I need) to discuss this more fully.

**DISCLAIMER**
I'm very new to this. New to the point that I haven't got my PAL or even booked a course yet. I've never been a shooter in the past and know very little. **END OF DISCLAIMER**

I'm left handed (mostly). Like most left-handed people I can also do most things with my right hand because, well, because I have to. You can't be left handed with being at least a little ambidextrous. Trouble is I am definitely left-eyed. Based on that I assume I'll need to either shoot left-handed or train my right eye.

There was mention of left-handed firearms... what makes a firearm left-handed? Slight variances in the grip? Safety? Sights? Cartridge ejection and action? Anything else?

So, how hard is a left-handed firearm to come by? Can they be converted? Hell, can you still use a right-handed firearm with your left hand without serious problems (ok... bolt-action would be troublesome)? Does it fit your hand still? Do you have to worry about getting a face full of hot brass every time a cartridge is ejected?

What's everyone's experience?

Thanks in advance,

Ian
 
ianp123 said:
There was mention of left-handed firearms... what makes a firearm left-handed? Slight variances in the grip? Safety? Sights? Cartridge ejection and action? Anything else?
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In most cases, its denoted by the set up of the action. Left hand bolt action rifles, for example, have the bolt on the left side. Left hand semi-auto's like the AR-15 will eject on the left side. Some right hand bolt actions have left hand ejection (e.g. Savage).

So, how hard is a left-handed firearm to come by?
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Its certainly not as bad as it used to be, but the selection of left hand firearms is still small and unfortunately they tend to be more expensive.

Can they be converted?
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Possibly, but probably cost prohibitive.

Hell, can you still use a right-handed firearm with your left hand without serious problems (ok... bolt-action would be troublesome)? Does it fit your hand still?
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I'm left eye dominant, and have until recently used right hand firearms exclusively. Using a right hand bolt action is a nuisance, especially if you want to cycle it rapidly, but you can train yourself to do it. I've begun to acquire left hand firearms recently, and I must say, its noticeably better (as you would expect, I guess).
 
I'm a proud southpaw who has a number of right handed bolt actions and really don't have too much difficulty with them. It takes a bit of learning and time. The most frustrating aspect to me is not working the bolt but inserting the cartridges. :redface:
Lots of rifles come in left, just harder to find, particularly in used.
Lever action is an alternative, they tend to be more ambitexterous. Semis are OK if you don't mind brass flying by your face.
Biggest problem is finding enough left handed ammo. :D
 
as you get further down the road , you learn to ignore it-i'm left eye dom, left hand, and the only caveat i have is the bolt action- even then , i can mount to the left shoulder, and use the palm of the left hand and fingers to work the action- it's just really slow
 
I'm also left handed but I writes with right hand. I don't have any prblems using right hand pistol or rifle. All my handguns are for right hand and also the bushmaster c15 is right hand. No brass has hit my face yet. As to bolt action, I shot it before. just needs practice to get use to it.
 
the writing thing was quite common, depending on where you lived- everybody was taught right handed, whether you were or not- and a good sharp rap with a steel ruler if you tried somethig else- hence you were assimulted
 
t-star said:
the writing thing was quite common, depending on where you lived- everybody was taught right handed, whether you were or not- and a good sharp rap with a steel ruler if you tried somethig else- hence you were assimulted
Click to expand...

I think those days ended before I went to school.
 
I'm a righty who had eye problems with my right eye one summer when I was in elementary school. I had to teach myself to shoot my rifle like a lefty for the summer. It wasn't too hard, just took a couple days or so of extra practice. I'm sure with some practice you could shoot right handed with no trouble. However, if you really are left-eye dominated and you feel uncomfortable shooting right handed, I really wouldn't worry about it. It's not as complicated to use righty guns in your lefty hand as you seem to think :D

You'll be fine, just keep shooting and practicing!
 
Another lefty here.

Left hand & left eye dominant.

Bolt action no problem, with standard right hand actions, I just operate the bolt with my pinky and squeeze it into my palm. then cycle the action.

On a rifle I had never handled before, I was having no problems cycling the bolt. Had snap caps ejecting across the room lol.

As for pistols, I can shoot them left or right handed, I rotate hands when at the range. no real problems operating controls on most handguns.
 
I'm left-eyed and shoot on the left. If that's how you are, don't fight it.

Almost all firearms are ambidextrous to shoot, it's cycling them that can be troublesome. The only differences in operation are when right-handed palm swells, some adjustable stocks, some swept-over stock combs, thumboles, or even bren or M1D-type sights are involved. Other than that, it's just cycling some types that can be awkward.

I have felt no difference in shooting a pump left-handed or right. I've never been hit with brass. Cross-bolt safeties are operated with the thumb instead, a minor nuisance. Most bottom-eject types are completely ambi.

Most semi's are left-friendly. They operate somewhat like a bolt-action, but only on chambering the first round. Thus, there is little need to operate the handle while the gun is shouldered. Most eject the brass straight out or forward and won't hit you, a few may be troublesome. I load and operate these with my right hand while holding by the grip with my left.

The big deal about left-handed guns comes with the bolt-action. While they can either be operated by the support hand or by reaching over with the operating hand, it's damn awkward. It's easy at a bench or on a bipod, but anywhere else it's just not right. This is why you would want a left-handed gun. IF you're going to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a bolt-action rifle, get one that's made for you! Although the selection is a bit less, there is a growing variety of them.
 
Sounds like I don't have anything to worry about. The hands aren't a major deal, just the eyes. If I can look with my left eye I can work with either hand.

I think I'll train both eyes and both hands and just be done with it.

Thanks for all your advice.
 
I am also a lefty
I have both left handed and right handed firearms, when it comes to semi's I guess depending on the ammo or wind or angle I do get some crap onto my face from the ejecting. At times after shooting 20-30 magnum loads my face is full of black spots.
Its true that left handed firearms are a bit more expensive but if the left hand model is available for the firearm you are looking for, my advise is spend that little extra money and get it.
 
I have ever only had one gun cause me problems being a lefty. It was a Colt AR15 SP1 that had the habit of throwing the brass backwards instead of out to the side (no brass deflector on the first model). Kept catching the hot brass in the cheek and down the shirt. Have the burn scars to prove it. Ditched it (lucky buyer) and went for a Stag Lefty. I am Sooooooooooo happy with it (thanks Walter at ArmsEast).

Shotguns are only a problem because the exhaust gas blows directly in your face. I use Winchester shells as they taste better than the Federal. That solves that. I don't mind the extracted shells crossing my face. Don't even notice them. I also bought a Remington 105cti for those days when I don't feel like eating exhaust at all (ejects downwards). Awesome shotgun by the way.

Using a bolt is a little awkward, but nothing that has ever been an issue as I have never had any other option. I cycle the bolt with my right hand .

Handguns are a little different as I am left handed and right eye dominant. I do sight with my right eye (I know..... I know.....) and don't do too bad of a job most of the time. I just wish that slide releases and safeties and mag releases were all ambi. How hard could that be to engineer from the start.

Overall, it's not much of a problem.
 
I am cross dominant - right handed, with left eye dominant so I learned to shoot lefthanded - made a heck of a difference shotgunning as I was hitting so much better and bringing down more birds. With rifle hunting I found I was able to keep both eyes open while aiming and had better stereoscopic vision shooting left handed as compared to closing my left eye and shooting right handed with just my right eye open.

Shotgun-wise - No problem - lefty pump guns, lefty semi-autos, lefty Over/under doubles ( or neutral cast O/U), and side by side shotties are available.

Rifles - lefty bolt actions, lefty semi-autos, ambi single shots, and top-ejecting lever guns work well for me.

Converting to shooting left handed with rifles did take practice, and while I still can shoot right handed, I shoot much better left handed. The conversion was worth it in my case.
 
im left handed and right eye dominant. right now when i shoot i can shoot either right or left. havn't noticed a diffrence in accuray but when i shoot left i just twist my head a little bit more to get the sights right. if it is a scoped weapon the i just shoot right.
 
I'm also left-handed and left-eye dominant. Explains why I couldn't shoot for s*#t for many years until I realized. Now, I do pretty well with long guns, shotguns, and handguns. My problem is with my M1 carbine. There's just not enough stock for me to set my left eye on the sight. This weekend will try it out left-handed style. I'm not looking forward to flying brass in my face, but it seems to eject the spent ones high and back!
 
I'm a lefty and I use a semi auto rifle and shotgun, have yet to get hit by any brass. I recently bought a .22lr from savage arms with a lefthanded bolt and i've gotta say it's really great to have a gun built for your hand type. The greatest part was that it didn't cost me any extra dough for the lefty over the righty :)
 
I shoot left handed and for years I only owned right handed guns. When I finally bought a left handed bolt action rifle it took me a little while to get used to it, it felt so strange. I have never been hit by the brass off one of my right handed guns. I have, however, been hit by lots of other people's brass :rolleyes:
 
I am left eye dominant right handed, I can shoot both ways even finding in the last year most of my deer came on trail so that I had to sot left handed. Seems to becoming a point of interest to my buddy who keeps asking me which hand did I shoot with.
 
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