Left hand friendly?

Diligence

Diligence

CGN Regular
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Location
Calgary
First off, I'm not a shotgun guy. Sure, I have some, but they are utilitarian to me. Most of them are single shots, and they are "users". The pumps are all well used. No safe queens for me.

I have a work colleague who knows I have firearms. He is reasonably financially fit - in other words, price isn't always a deterrent for him. He like to go duck/goose hunting once or twice a year with some friends. They fly in to a hunting lodge. Other than that, the shotgun sits in the safe. He's a big ox of a man, so firearm weight or LOP shouldn't be an issue.

He is left handed and asked me today if I knew any good options for him, he was thinking it had to be a sxs or o/u, but I said there might be other options........so, here is your challenge:

Keeping the price under $1500 (have to start someplace), what 12 gauge is out there which will best suit my buddy? Will it be readily available in Calgary/area? I think he's limited to 3 shells in a pump or semi for duck hunting anyway, so more capacity is not necessary for him. He's definitely not a black and green guy.

He's been good to me, and I'd love to know some ideas that I can research with him, or point him in the right direction.

thoughts?

thanks,
D
 
Browning or Ithaca pumps?
They load and eject out the bottom.
Seems my memory is playing with me, but aren't the safeties swappable?
Remington makes left handed semis?
If he isn't worried 'bout shells flying past his noze, any
of the autos should work okay if he can load them somewhat quickly.
 
Browning autoloaders like the A5 or Maxus. The speed load feature is what sold me over others. Sinistrally sublime
 
Browning BPS, choice of 3" or 3 1/2", top-tang safety, bottom eject, true ambi. Standard stock fits big guys especially well, about $750.
Franchi Affinity, LH version. Synthetic stock, lefthand eject, virtually a Benelli M2 at 40% less cost, about $1100.
 
As a lefty the only thing I find annoying with most shotguns is the safety at the trigger guard, easy to engage but a tad more movement to disengage. Mossberg have a safety on the top iirc, otherwise I find being a lefty a bonus with a pump. Your support hand does reloading operations from the same side as the ejection area, no over the top from the opposite side when it comes to an emergency reload movement. Not that that really comes into hunting birds lol. Nor do I get hit with spent shells, so it's a non issue being a lefty for the most part.
 
I am left handed and franchi and benelli both make left hand guns. All the browning and winchester semi's are right handed but a user can switch the safety easily for a left hand shooter. i personally own a mossberg 500, bps pump and sx3.
 
As a lefty, I'm totally comfortable with my Wetherby SA08. It works well for trap too, loading single shells directly into the chamber seems easier if you're holding the gun in your left hand and loading with the right.
 
Look for a Lefty Beretta A400 Xplor. I sold a RH a couple of years ago for about $1500. (Upgraded to a 686. Sporting)
Awesome gun. No problems. Shoots 3"

Al Flaherty's often have them for sale. It's on for a bit more than your budget, but you get a LOT for your money and it'll hold most of its value. Top of the line auto for $1650.

http://www.alflahertys.com/products/beretta-a400-xplor-action-left-hand-with-kick-off

Or, I'll sell you my RH A300 Outlander Max-4 for $900. Barely used.....bought my LH right after.

I now also have an A400 Xtreme LH that I love.
 
I`ve used a right hand 870 for almost 50 years. I shoot lefthanded. Never been an issue as I don`t even notice the expended shells. Same with the semi-autos I use.

DF
 
Personally, I think it all comes down to these few for actual true left hand shooting. I'm a south paw through and through and when a RH semi goes whack, singed eyelashes is the least of your problem.

LH benelli super black eagle 2. Yes it's a 2500$ gun, but I've run mine through hell and back without so much as a hiccup 3.5" gun

LH beretta A400 Xtreme, beretta is new with this LH model. Rey just released it last year. It has the kick off and beretta quality, again a 2500$ gun, but if it's anything like my brothers RH one, it'll run for the next 25 years without an issue, 3.5" gun

Benelli m2 field, this is a shorter and more compact gun. Comes in 20 ga or 12 ga, it's a smaller all around gun, but points very well down side, it's only a 3" gun

Beretta a400 Xplor, this is a wood stocked gun un-like the others. 3" chamber only, fit and finish are superb. Only down side is that they liked to be kept clean.

Last would be a Citori waterfowl. They have a recoil reduction stock, 3.5" chambers, 32" barrels. Coated inside and out to prevent rusting. A very fine over under for waterfowl

For pumps? I run benelli super novas, although RH eject, the pump gives the delay that a semi does not, this allows for all the powder to burn up and so that you do not burn your face and eyes

And lastly for pumps, browning makes a bps water fowl that all camo and a 3.5" chamber. Bottom eject, it's the same for everyone. Definitely something worth looking at in the pumps!
 
My only "off" experience with a shotgun of any type is the cast of the stock on some sxs and o/u models. Had a beautiful Brno o/u that I couldn't shoot, because it would dig into my cheek bone trying to get a good sight picture. Had to let that one go.
 
A lefty has to consider the stock cast ie most shotguns have a bend in the buttstock to bring the barrel more in line with the eye of the shooter. Typically, gun manufacturers provide a gun with:

- no cast (eg Rem 870 Express)
- fixed cast (typically right handed, common amongst O/U's and side-by-sides.)
- adjustable/reversable cast via shims (a relatively new feature, typically found on expensive autoloaders such as Berettas)

Shooting a gun with the wrong cast will do nothing for a persons shooting prowess.
 
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Regarding shooting a right handed/right eject semi-auto as a left handed shooter....

Most of us lefties have done this quite successfully for years, but
I was recently shooting clays at sunset and was VERY surprised at the amount of flash (ie powder burn) that was inches from my eyeball! (shooting Challenger 2.75")
I had foolishly removed my orange shooting glasses in the dimmer light. I put the A300 back in my safe and ordered a LEFT HANDED A400 Xtreme the next day.

***For those LH of you who shoot a RH semi, I'd recommend you try firing yours in low light. You'd be amazed at how much of the 'explosion' is OUTSIDE the gun. You don't notice it during a sunny day, and some of us don't always wear our glasses while hunting.
 
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