Left handed bolt action options

Butcherbill

Butcherbill

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I've been thinking of buying a left handed bolt action, primarily it will be used for hunting. I would like to get into some longer range target shooting eventually, once I get into reloading that is. I want it chambered in .308, and I'd like something in stainless and a laminate stock. I've been coming back to the Remington 700, Tikka t3 and the Ruger gunsite scout.

Any input good or bad would be great if you have any of these rifles, left or right handed. Or if there's anything that would fit the bill that I'm overlooking. I'd like something more compact, which the Ruger is. The rem 700 sps tactical with the shorter heavy barrel only comes in a right hand action.

I've always shot right handed rifles and shotguns, I'm left eye and hand dominant. I don't find it a real pain in the ass as it's all I've ever known but I think it's time for a dedicated lefty bolt action.
 
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I would say as a "lefty" any REM that fits your needs will be the cheapest and easiest to find, I have a Savage 10LFP, which was there LE rifle in .308, shoots very well but I'll qualify that by saying its "bedded" in a McMillan stock. The "other" option is to build something? pick an action like Stiller or Defiance, get a barrel etc. These days I prefer to "build" just because I can. I don't know of all the "lefty" options out there, but these are the ones I'm familiar with and that come to mind. Good Luck. If you can find a rifle that at least shoots fairly well, follow the 3 basics that a very knowledgeable colleague told me " bullets, barrels & bedding" if you can get all 3 right, you will have a shooter.
 
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Like you, I started shooting right hand rifles left handed and coped quite well, but I much prefer shooting dedicated left hand rifles,.. well bolt guns anyway. The Ruger GSR is a great little rifle, compact and handy, some say a little heavy for it's size but plenty accurate. Probably the way to go if you want a DBM and a .308. I enjoy mine a lot. The other dedicated lefties I shoot are M700s and Ruger M77 MIIs. Other than the GSR you might find it a little difficult to find a LH in .308. Most manufacturers, other than Tikka, produce, 270 Win, 30-06, 300WM as staples and little else. Tikka seems to be the only one that has a full range of chamberings in left hand. Maybe Savage as well? Haven't looked in a while. Once again, other than the GSR you will find that most "compact" rifle versions are only made for the right hand crowd. As stated above you might find the easiest way to get what you want is to have one built using a custom action. You don't mention a budget, but this will be somewhat more expensive than an off the shelf rifle. Keep an eye out on the EE, there are some nice lefties come up there once in a while. Also, keep an eye out on Prophet River's webite, Clay does a good job of catering to lefties and I have picked up a couple of nice rifles off his consignment list. I don' know, stainless, laminate, .308, compact.... the GSR might just be your huckleberry!
 
wapitiwhacker said:
Like you, I started shooting right hand rifles left handed and coped quite well, but I much prefer shooting dedicated left hand rifles,.. well bolt guns anyway. The Ruger GSR is a great little rifle, compact and handy, some say a little heavy for it's size but plenty accurate. Probably the way to go if you want a DBM and a .308. I enjoy mine a lot. The other dedicated lefties I shoot are M700s and Ruger M77 MIIs. Other than the GSR you might find it a little difficult to find a LH in .308. Most manufacturers, other than Tikka, produce, 270 Win, 30-06, 300WM as staples and little else. Tikka seems to be the only one that has a full range of chamberings in left hand. Maybe Savage as well? Haven't looked in a while. Once again, other than the GSR you will find that most "compact" rifle versions are only made for the right hand crowd. As stated above you might find the easiest way to get what you want is to have one built using a custom action. You don't mention a budget, but this will be somewhat more expensive than an off the shelf rifle. Keep an eye out on the EE, there are some nice lefties come up there once in a while. Also, keep an eye out on Prophet River's webite, Clay does a good job of catering to lefties and I have picked up a couple of nice rifles off his consignment list. I don' know, stainless, laminate, .308, compact.... the GSR might just be your huckleberry!
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It's not a deal breaker if it's not compact but that's what I'm leaning towards, I'll have to handle a couple of my options and see what I'm thinking afterward. Good call on the EE, I'll keep my eyes open there as well. Budget is more for an off the shelf rifle at the moment $8-1000 before rings and an optic, that's another plus for the Ruger. It's got irons so I don't really need a scope off the bat, my two WT deer this season were shot at 40 and 100 yards.

I've always liked the Ruger GSS, love the idea of the scout rifle. It would come in handy in some thicker areas I've been eyeing for next year. Good length, irons or a LER scope would work well I think. How would it do at longer distances, what do you regularly shoot it out to when target shooting?
 
Butcherbill said:
What ranges do you shoot it at usually, how far out do you push it?
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I've shot the 223 to 630y and the 308 I've pushed out to 1050 on targets. Most of my shooting is sub 300y with both, but its fun to push the envelope. When hunting I typically get shots in the 100 yard range
 
todbartell said:
I've shot the 223 to 630y and the 308 I've pushed out to 1050 on targets. Most of my shooting is sub 300y with both, but its fun to push the envelope. When hunting I typically get shots in the 100 yard range
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How is accuracy from 500yrds and further, are you handloading for it or shooting factory ammo? I think his will be a big deciding factor for me, if the RGS can shoot well out past 500yds I will likely up my budget and start looking for one. Otherwise I'll look at the Rem 700 sps varmint, it will fit the bill I think and aftermarket options are there if I decide to build off of it.
 
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I'm handloading, but have shot some factory ammo and it typically shoots well.

3 @ 800y when validating the bullet drop chart

13226936_10153713596112992_4555668398938625444_n.jpg


2 @ 1000y
13239234_10153713596002992_2853301248040872723_n.jpg
 
Thanks for the feedback todbartell, that gives me some food for thought. I'm not in a rush to pick up a new rifle so I'll try and get out and handle the rem700 and RGS at some point over the winter, as well as keep my eyes on the EE. I think they both will do what I want them to for hunting and longer range target shooting, which will be in 5-600yrd range once I get a spot set up locally in the spring/summer.

Cheers
 
jeff270 said:
LH + stainless+heavy barrel=Tikka
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This is probably the best option for you in my opinion. I would go with the non "lite" version if possible. I had a T3 Hunter in LH and it was great, though it was the blued version. Next to this the browning x-bolt is about as good as the Tikka.

I did sell the Tikka as I felt I found something better, left handed Steyr model M in fullstock: the unicorn

I've had a savage LH and own a remington as well, shot rugers LH M77, the tikka and x-bolts are nicer though the remington SPS is functional and smooth, I liked the tikka more.

This is what I have now, rebored to 9.3x62 for bush hunting, I'll keep the remington (300WM) for a flatter shooting rifle, but will sell it for something I like more in the long term.

I've posted pics of this in other threads, so forgive me for being a show off:



IMG_7938_zpsyxprbhyt by cody c,

The steyr to me is better in almost every way, smooth smooth bolt, 5 round drop mag that isnt obtuse with a clear back to see how many shells are in it, 3 lug rear bolt lugs so 60 degree or less bolt rotation and short bolt throw, single set trigger allows me top push it forward for a hair trigger (works well for target shooting) and it's a beauty. Only downfall is that its a pinch heavy but not a problem for how I use it.
 
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Have one of those Model M’s myself.. mine is in .30-06. Was my main gun for 20 years until I started building custom guns and getting into Ruger No1’s of various calibers, which are excellent for lefties as well.

Currently have a few Defiance actions incoming.. gonna make some nice left hand ultralight high country guns.

52MCEN3l.jpg
 
Left handed (or left-eyed) options, an incomplete list...

Remington 700. 74- and 76- series are somewhat lefty-friendly.
Ruger 77, 77 mkII or Hawkeye. American. No.1 is ambidextrous.
Savage 10, 110, etc., 99 is lefty-friendly.
Winchester 70 (not sure how common... never saw one in person). 94 lever is ambidextrous.
Browning A-Bolt, A-Bolt II, AB3, X-Bolt. BAR. BLR is lefty-friendly.
Weatherby Mark V.
Sako A-series, 75, 85. A7?
Tikka M595, M695, T3, T3x.
Husqvarna/Carl Gustaf 1900. Antonio Zoli rifles are same action.
Sauer
Steyr, as I just learned. Sell it to me.
CZ 550, though I only saw the magnum in LH.
Zastava

Any break-action with a top lever and tang safety. Some drillings have a selector on the side that is not ideal.

Most semis, levers, and pumps are generally usable, maybe not ideal. Face-ejection, right-oriented asymmetric stock geometry, and cross-bolt safeties are the usual deal-breakers.
 
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I'll throw this out there, seeing as this thread is probably attracting southpaws looking for quality left hand rifles. If you take a look at site sponsor Ellwood Epps website, they currently have listed what looks to be a very nice Sauer 200 with a 30-06 and a 6.5X55 barrel in the factory Sauer case. Someone please buy this rifle before I weaken!
 
wapitiwhacker said:
I'll throw this out there, seeing as this thread is probably attracting southpaws looking for quality left hand rifles. If you take a look at site sponsor Ellwood Epps website, they currently have listed what looks to be a very nice Sauer 200 with a 30-06 and a 6.5X55 barrel in the factory Sauer case. Someone please buy this rifle before I weaken!
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with open sights on barrel? what are they asking for?
 
Well most have been listed already but I can confirm that Winchester M-70 was in production in the 1990's. primarily in Long action but also in WSM and WSSM. Too bad they ceased production when the factory closed down circa 2006. WInchester has not offered a left handed bolt action since.
Tikka produces a variety of stock and barrel configurations and is a good place to look for a heavy barrel and a stock with adjustable cheek piece.
Savage makes several varieties in various calibers from 17 up to 338WM. They produce a 22LR in a left eject semi. A very stiff little bolt (charging handle) on that model.
CZ produces a 223, and the 452 - 22LR. I think they produced a 30-06 about 10 years ago and may still produce a 375 H&H and possibly 458 WM.
Zastava has produced hunter versions with and without cheekpiece. They also made a run on short action center fire calibers. Far too few made their way into Canada.
Browning has made short and long action rifles in the A-bolt (II) for quite some time and continues with the X-bolt.
Ruger has made some nice LH Rifles for 20 or more years or so. I'm surprised they never made a LH eject 10-22.
Remington has produced long and short action rifles in much of the 700 action series like the BDL and CDL, Varmint and a couple of others.
Sako has been good to Lefties from the AV series, M-75, and M-85. No LH rimfires from Sako that I'm aware of.
There are other manufacturers in Europe that produce a few lefties and they have been mentioned. Some times hard to find though.
 
I am left eye dominant but right handed, I shot left and had all kinds of firearms through the years, rugers, tikkas, remingtons, savage and brownings and have settled on Thompson Center Encore, 223, 280, 338 win mag and I love them !!!
 
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