A few questions on .22 LR 4 left handed shooter

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VVhiterice

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Hi,

I am pretty new to guns. I only really have used pellet guns so far. I have been doing some research on different guns and a lot of the ones that really interest me aren't always available for left-handed shooters.

Are there any South paws that just use right handed guns? If so what are the downsides and would I be better off just buying a a left handed bolt action gun?

I am looking for a gun that to do it all for me from plinking to small game hunting to trying to tighten up my groups at 100 yards. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I really would prefer a bolt action for my first firearm but it does seem that a semi auto by nature tends to more of an ambidextrous design. Is the accuracy that large of a difference between a semi auto and a bolt action?
 
The guns shoot where they may but accuracy is provided by the shooter. I have used both semis and bolts for hunting and targets and found myself more accurate and concious of shot placement with the bolt. I tended to rely on the thought of another cart being readily available in the semi and fired quicker at the target.

both serve thier purpose, each have thier avid followers, and both can certainly do the job. I would find someone with each in the caliber you want and try them out. You must make the final decision.

As for lefty guns.....why not try the levers? they, depending on year and whether they are side eject, Throw the casing straight up and can be used either hand, I have seen however many left hand dominant people shoot right hand bolt rifles. Many also are right eye dominant. It would depend on which eye is your dominant one. I find myself ambidextrous and comfortably shoot either eye and hand. But do tend to shoot right handed most often as the bolt rifles I have are right hand bolts.
 
I'm a left handed shooter but have never owned a LH gun. Most of my hunting rifles are pump action. You mentioned using it for hunting so my suggestion would be too stay away from a bolt action because if you need a fast second shot it is very difficult to do. On the other hand if you handle a rh bolt action for long enough it all becomes normal feeling and easier.
As Toymaker suggests a lever might be a good choice......or a pump action or my suggestion would be to buy a Ruger 10-22. You can get one for 250$ these days and you really can't beat them for versatility, action, fun and reliability. Ammo is cheap and you can practice on both stationary and moving targets and hone your skills very easily. Good luck.......wTc
 
I'm a lefty but the only left handed rifle I have is my prime hunting machine, my 30-06.
I have a number of rimfires including bolt, break action, semi and lever. I don't really find too much of a problem with the bolt being on the wrong side, you quickly adapt and with a little practice you can excel at it. I have more problems with remembering which way the safeties work. I do like the lever rifles as they are truly ambidextrous.
The only rimfire I have that I wish was a lefty is my savage 17HMR, it's so damn accurate and fun to bench shoot with that I'd like to see if having a lefty would improve my accuracy a bit.
 
Savage make some LH bolt actions at an affordable price. As for plinking does it really matter the dexterity of the gun? Left hand shooters get fisted when it comes to buying guns. The safety is always the issue with me. Getting that quick shot away is a chore with a RH gun.
 
If you're good with a air rifle, you'll be good with a rifle. Shooting fundaments don't change just because you're shooting a faster projectile. In fact, follow through is more important with a pellet rifle, because the pellet has longer dwell time in the barrel.

Don't sweat it, just choose whatever rifle you like.
 
I'm a south paw, and all I've ever owned was rh rifles. I was going to get a lh before deer season, but changed my mind. It would probably confuse me after all this time.:p

If/when you get into pistols, make sure you practise with your off hand, because pistols are a lot less friendly for lh.
 
one other thing to consider is the re-sale market- a left hand action appeals only to lefthanders- learn how to use a "right "hand action and you cal sell it much easier if you choose to- i'm left hand/left eye dom, and the only trouble i have is with the right bolt- even then i use the back of my left hand and pinkie over the top of the stock rather than the right hand- in other words i've adapted
in so far as pistols are concerned, the autos are the least trouble for left hand,but you can learn anything- to do a double action revolver, which you would think would be one of the hardest, you push the cylinder release open with your trigger finger. tilt the gun up and use your right index on the rod to push the star open- then you tilt the gun down and drop in your speedloader
 
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welcome lefty!

For a left handed shooter a right hand bolt is reduced to single shot speed. The only way I found they can work not too bad is on a bipod.
Semi auto will splash powder on your face. It starts to feel like a sunburn after a few hours not good!
Pumps and lever actions are great!
Savage makes a great entry level left hand bold.
The CZ comes in 22lr and is a beauty.
Brownings are even better.
Be patient! You'll find that left handed rifles are more comfortable and will give you a faster and more accurate follow up shots.
BTW I own and use each of the types mentioned and recommended.
 
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blackie said:
For a left handed shooter a right hand bolt is reduced to single shot speed. The only way I found they can work not too bab is on a bipod.
Semi auto will splash powder on your face. It starts to feel like a sunburn after a few hours not good!
Pumps and lever actions are great!
Savage makes a great entry level left hand bold.
The CZ comes in 22lr and is a beauty.
Brownings are even better.
Be patient! You'll find that left handed rifles are more comfortable and will give you a faster and more accurate follow up shots.
BTW I own and use each of the types mentioned and recommended.
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I really do like the idea of leaver action or pump as they do offer a truly ambidextrous experience but I fear with both designs are a bit to cumbersome for being in the prone position.

Blackie what semi-auto have you found burn your face? Are there some that maybe shoot the powder a little more forward or could one add a small shield to a rifle to reduce the sunburn effect?

Also thank you all who have offered your advice as it has presented perspectives I had not considered.
 
I can shoot 'rightie', but I prefer collecting ambidextrous or left-handed variants. Of course, some just do not come as a leftie-variant, such as my #1 mk.3...


Currently own:

Savage 93GL 22wmr.
Number 1, Mark III.

Adding soon:

Re-barreled CX-4 Storm
.223 Savage (left-handed, of course... ;))
 
funny i was ISSUED the m14 and the m16 as well as a bunch of others and I HAVE NEVER HAD A POWDER BURN or splash as you put it- and i've been shooting coming up on 40 years- - currently i have 4 m14s, a remmy 742, a nylon66, and 2 10/22s- 2 m1911 45s, a beretta 9mm , and a bunch of others - all RIGHT HAND actions- NEVER A POWDER BURN AND I WON'T GO INTO BLACK POWDER- I HAVE A COUPLE OF THOSE AS WELL
if you're getting powder burns off a semi-auto there's something wrong with either your stance, your ammo or both- if your cheek is back on the weld where it's supposed to be , the only way you're going to get a gas burn( which it is- a powder burn is from unburned powder - incomplete ignition) is shooting into the wind- look at where the ejection port is-it's 10 inches between where you should put your cheek and the port on a 10/22 with a standard stock- this reduces to about 1.5 inches if you're climbing the wrist - at that distance it is concieveable

insofar as the prone position is concerned, there's a couple of ways to beat it if you're using a lever- canting the rifle sideways between shots is one- your forearm will give you enough hiegth( mine's12 iches) to manipulate most actions- you use your elbows against the ground as a steady in the prone anyway- unless you're using a bipod- which will still give you a good 4-5 inches minumum
 
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Besides all that the lever is just as cumbersome for a rightie prone. I waited a long time for leftie guns to be available and buy them when I can. I have a leftie Ruger 77mk II, CZ527, and Cz452 currently. Along with the usual assortment of levers, pumps, and occasionally semis. Sold my 1022 but I put thousands of rounds thru it before I sold it and never had any powder issues.
The thing to keep in mind is that whatever you buy you will be able to sell on this site to get something else. So go ahead and try it out. Maybe see if there is anyone in your neighbourhood that has a leftie anything and take a rightie along with it to the range. You will know soon enough. A lot of sellers on this site allow a 3 day inspection so take one out and shoot it.
 
bogie said:
Besides all that the lever is just as cumbersome for a rightie prone. I waited a long time for leftie guns to be available and buy them when I can. I have a leftie Ruger 77mk II, CZ527, and Cz452 currently. Along with the usual assortment of levers, pumps, and occasionally semis. Sold my 1022 but I put thousands of rounds thru it before I sold it and never had any powder issues.
The thing to keep in mind is that whatever you buy you will be able to sell on this site to get something else. So go ahead and try it out. Maybe see if there is anyone in your neighbourhood that has a leftie anything and take a rightie along with it to the range. You will know soon enough. A lot of sellers on this site allow a 3 day inspection so take one out and shoot it.
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left handed actions have ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE, it's just that they 're pricier by about 10-25% and not all that common- i have an ORIGINAL MAUSER BOOK FROM THE 1930'S that has the SPECIAL TELEGRAPH CODES for a 98 LEFT HAND ACTION-but most of us learned to shoot in some armed force, where theaction was RIGHT HANDED and LEARNED TO COMPENSATE by one means or another
 
Yeah sure, I believe you, but where I grew up in Ottawa in the 60s nobody would even consider special order never mind stocking. In Canada it was more a matter of luck than anything to get one. Even as recently as 2 years ago I was told I would have to wait 2yrs for my leftie Ruger 77mk II 30-06. Good thing after calling all across Canada I found 2 at Wholesale. Good availability (within 6mos) is still a relatively new ocurrance and depends a lot on geography. I recently tried to get a Savage leftie 223 and none were available-again mebbe a year if you want to wait. I didnt-I bought a CZ527. I would rather have had the Savage and didnt want to spend $1000 either but once again nobody had any and no idea when any stock would be in. All I was looking for was a leftie bolt 223 with a DM. The only easy leftie find was a CZ452 that Reliable actually had on order to stock. If you have something specific in mind a lot of the time they are made of unobtanium and that is still the case maybe even moreso in the future considering the state of the market in the US.
 
blackie said:
The splash was from a CZ semi auto 22.
The gophers don't like my stance either!
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if that's the case, then a LETTER to cz's CUSTOMER SERVICE is in order- it's NOT SUPPOSED to be doing that-i don't know how many letters i've written over the years to various companies, telling them left-handed faults, and i usually got a letter back - something to the effect of thanks for your input - our research department will look into that- YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE USED TO REPRESENT 10% OF THE POPULATION- it's now 12% or better, with some estimates as high as 25%
 
I hate it when left handed shooters settle for right handed guns.... the less left handed guns sold, the less they want to make them in a variety of styles and calibers.

In other words, if all leftys demmanded a left handed gun, inventory and selection would improve.
 
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