Lefties- How do you do it?

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GunNewb

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Ive only been shooting for about 2 years but just found out that I'm cross eye dominant. Consensus seems to be that I need to learn to shoot from my left side, which will feel awkward as hell but I like a challenge.

Anyways since I'm now one of you lefty freaks of nature I was wondering what you guys do for guns? I was looking into a new model 70 but they arent offered in left hand actions. the safeties on the right side too. Should I get a lever/x bolt?

Or does one just suck it up and learn to operate the bolt and the safety with the trigger hand?
 
I am same as you, left eye dominant, right hand.... I shoot pistol right handed but rifles I learned fairly early so I have ONLY run left hand bolt guns OR semi auto's / Lever Actions / pump action.

there is a huge benefit for lefties shooting Levers, pumps and semi auto as your using your dominant hand to put shells in the gun... makes life really good and easy, running a bolt gun becomes second nature when the handle is on the left side as well.

my bolt guns are all MAGAZINE fed, ruger gunsite rifle and a modifeid rem700 ... both left hand.

some stick with right hand bolts, but frankly I was never into that but you got to use what works for you.... since we are talking hunting I always loved the browing long track semi auto or an older BAR.
 
I am LH and also left eye dominant but hunted and did all my shooting using RH rifles until about 15 years ago. Got used to working the bolt with my RH. When I switched to LH rifles they seemed awkward at first but became second nature very quickly. Using the left hand to work the bolt will just take a little practice but will pay dividends since you will be able to hold the rifle hard against your shoulder and reliably maintain your cheek weld. Whatever you end up doing, good luck, and practice, practice, practice.
 
GunNewb said:
Ive only been shooting for about 2 years but just found out that I'm cross eye dominant. Consensus seems to be that I need to learn to shoot from my left side, which will feel awkward as hell but I like a challenge.

Anyways since I'm now one of you lefty freaks of nature I was wondering what you guys do for guns? I was looking into a new model 70 but they arent offered in left hand actions. the safeties on the right side too. Should I get a lever/x bolt?

Or does one just suck it up and learn to operate the bolt and the safety with the trigger hand?
Click to expand...

If you search classified's you can find left handed Winchester m70's for sale.
I learned how to shoot with a RH bolt action and thought nothing of it.
I recently bought a LH Savage and holy cow! There's no going back. Follow up shot's are fast and you can do it from the shoulder no problem.
The only rifle I like better is my old (pre 64) Winchester M94 in 30/30
HTH
Eric
 
its about whatever feels comfortable.

I am left eye dominant, and shoot right hand bolts. I can operate a right hand bolt just as fast as a right hander does, without any handicap.

I cannot remember a single situation while hunting that this situation was an issue. I am very particular with the shots I take, so this is probably why I dont have any issues with it.

Practice makes perfect.
 
Bought a tikka left handed and savage right handed with tang. Shotgun I shoot like crap. Also right eye domaint. Have to partital close my right eye when shotgunning or I will not see
the rib right. Also have a mossberg 930 with a tang
safety and left handed sb2. Had a sight that helps for cross eye domaince for my shotgun but by partially closing my right eye is the only way. Lots of hope and tikka and savage
make left handed rifles.
 
I'm a lefty ( and proud of it :p ) and have a number of lefty bolts, levers and righty bolts.
I much prefer the lefty bolts, just feels a lot better. Lefty rifles will also fit your cheek better if they have a true lefty stock.
I'm in great demand during hunting season as it's much easier for a lefty to shoot from the passenger seat when road hunting. ;)
 
dthunter said:
its about whatever feels comfortable.

I am left eye dominant, and shoot right hand bolts. I can operate a right hand bolt just as fast as a right hander does, without any handicap.

I cannot remember a single situation while hunting that this situation was an issue. I am very particular with the shots I take, so this is probably why I dont have any issues with it.

Practice makes perfect.
Click to expand...

Well put.

I hunt gophers from a stand I have in my truck. Some shots way off to the right of my stand require that I shoot left handed and sight with a left eye. You can fight your equipment or learn to work with what is available. I am right eye dominant but have no trouble at all using my left for shooting- when the need arises.

I would suggest that you get a bipod for your gun and practice shooting right and left handed from a prone position. it will train you to be ambidextrous
 
paperslayer said:
Well put.

I hunt gophers from a stand I have in my truck. Some shots way off to the right of my stand require that I shoot left handed and sight with a left eye. You can fight your equipment or learn to work with what is available. I am right eye dominant but have no trouble at all using my left for shooting- when the need arises.

I would suggest that you get a bipod for your gun and practice shooting right and left handed from a prone position. it will train you to be ambidextrous
Click to expand...

Bipod is very good idea for a bolt.
 
TinkerBell said:
I am same as you, left eye dominant, right hand.... I shoot pistol right handed but rifles I learned fairly early so I have ONLY run left hand bolt guns OR semi auto's / Lever Actions / pump action.

there is a huge benefit for lefties shooting Levers, pumps and semi auto as your using your dominant hand to put shells in the gun... makes life really good and easy, running a bolt gun becomes second nature when the handle is on the left side as well.

my bolt guns are all MAGAZINE fed, ruger gunsite rifle and a modifeid rem700 ... both left hand.

some stick with right hand bolts, but frankly I was never into that but you got to use what works for you.... since we are talking hunting I always loved the browing long track semi auto or an older BAR.
Click to expand...

Same situation here! I've used right handed bolts ever since I was a kid but when I finally convinced myself to buy a left handed bolt, wow... it was like coming home. As mentioned, it takes a bit of getting use to but it's amazing when you've "got it". I've also got a left handed Ruger Scout. In addition to this I've got a lefty Browning A-bolt, Savage Mark 2 and had a Remington 700 varmint rifle... but she's gone now.

I agree about the loading levers, pumps and semis, great when you shoot lefty.

Learn to shoot left handed and in no time you will master it. Plus, if your eyes ever change and you need to shoot right handed, you'll be golden!

Best of luck!
 
My son and I we both south paw, togheter we own many rifles out of the group only 5 are full left hand configuration: 243, 30-06, 300WSM, 300WM and 300RUM all the rest are in a left hand shooter right hand action stock configuration, some lever action and one single shoot.
Generally speaking if the game is close the hunt is resolved with the first shoot, if far you still have time to crank the bolt with the left hand passing over the stock for the 2nd shoot rather fast with practice.
 
I'm left handed & left eye dominant. I only own right handed bolt rifles, though. Shoulder on the left and use my left eye to sight.

Never figured left handed bolt rifles were worth the bother.

:canadaFlag:
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NAA.
 
I'm left handed, right eye dominat and shoot left handed rifles. Never has been a problem, Hand guns on the other hand I catch myself using my right eye.
 
NAA said:
I'm left handed & left eye dominant. I only own right handed bolt rifles, though. Shoulder on the left and use my left eye to sight.

Never figured left handed bolt rifles were worth the bother.

:canadaFlag:
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NAA.
Click to expand...

Thats like telling a left handed golfer that right handed clubs are the cats whiskers.
 
A trick used by others when we did the trapshoots was to put an adhesive sticker on your glasses - this was put on in a way that it blocked your dom eye from only looking down the barrel and thereby trained your non-dom eye to take over.
 
I'm ambidextrious and shoot either hand depending on which window I'm shooting out of;) But I'm a bit faster on the draw with my left arm and left eye dominant, so I'd say use a pump, lever or semi. Personally I'd say pump rifle, can't go wrong it's what I use!
 
Im a left eye dominant and right handed, most of my family is the same way except my dad.

Im used to both left and right handed rifles, try cycling rounds on a right handed rifle with your right hand, but still keeping the target in position with your trigger hand and not moving the rifle. Kinda like keeping the rifle and your body and sights in the same position and just quickly use your right hand to cycle a round in.

Takes a bit but it starts to become pretty efficient.
 
I'm left all the way. I've owned a left Rem 700 and play around with single shots. For serious hunting I carry a lever. The traditional levers with open hammers and tube magazines work great. The box mag style Savage 99, Win 88, and Browning BLR offer spitzer bullets and the BLR comes in a wide choice rivalling economy bolts in selection. They aren't bench rest rifles but those darn benches get in the way in the bush.

I use a Lee Enfield and it is the only bolt in my safe. It is manageable but always feels quite clumsy. I also find left bolts clumsy, so I sold my Remington, when compared to my 444 Marlin or 32 Special Win 94.

If you are sold on a bolt I would highly recommend a left hand action.
 
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