Left handed bolt-action shooting

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Yehen

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I'm a southpaw and I'm looking at getting my first (sort of) bolt action to train on. Probably gonna get a Rem 700 SPS Varmint in .223 Rem.

My question of pondering is, is it better to learn on a left handed bolt. Will using a right handed bolt cause me to develop bad habits? I'm basically looking for a gun to shoot the crap out of and learn on and then move into bigger calibers but I want to develop good habits so they don't carry on.

Suggestions please.

:sniper:
 
Yehen said:
I'm a southpaw and I'm looking at getting my first (sort of) bolt action to train on. Probably gonna get a Rem 700 SPS Varmint in .223 Rem.

My question of pondering is, is it better to learn on a left handed bolt. Will using a right handed bolt cause me to develop bad habits? I'm basically looking for a gun to shoot the crap out of and learn on and then move into bigger calibers but I want to develop good habits so they don't carry on.

Suggestions please.

:sniper:
Click to expand...

Both Remington (VSSF II) and Savage (Model 10 FLP) make LH actions.
Preference would be for a heavy barrel.
Speaking from experience as a LH shooter. Depends what type of shooting you intend to do.
Seated (bench rest) you can cycle the action with a RH.
Prone makes it more difficult- coming over the top of your scope to cycle the action.
IF you are left eye dominant - you should definitely look at a LH action.
 
Bear in mind you're listening to the ranting of a righty, but a left-handed shooter using a right-handed action for precision shooting has a tremendous advantage because you don't have to take your left hand (trigger hand) off the stock and you can work the bolt with the right.

I have used a left handed action and I thought they were the cat's arse when I wrapped my head around the concept.
 
Obtunded said:
Bear in mind you're listening to the ranting of a righty, but a left-handed shooter using a right-handed action for precision shooting has a tremendous advantage because you don't have to take your left hand (trigger hand) off the stock and you can work the bolt with the right.

I have used a left handed action and I thought they were the cat's arse when I wrapped my head around the concept.
Click to expand...

Yes, but wouldn't you have to move your nose out of the way every time you cycled the action taking your eyes off the target?

I'm a lefty and my opinion is you should buy a LH rifle.

Cheers,

O'Kelly's Boys
 
I've actually never fired a let handed bolt action before so I'm not really sure how it's gonna feel. I just wanna make sure I practice properly so I don't develop bad habits. I'm pretty sure I'm right eye dominant but I use my left eye from my left shoulder. (I tried using my right eye while the gun was on my left shoulder, that was kinda funny =))
 
LH but Right eye dominant

That just changed every thing. If you are right eye dominant learn to shoot right handed. I am a right handed person with a dominant left eye, and tried for years to shoot right handed. A fello at our gun club talked me into shooting left handed for one day at the range. It felt very strange but I did shoot all day left handed. My shooting scores were amazingly better by the end of the day with both shot gun and rifle. I went home and practiced holding and shouldering my guns left handed and it didnt take long before it became very comfortable. I now shoot better than I ever did.
 
I'm a left handed shooter and grew up shooting right handed guns while being left eye dominent. WHen I picked up my first left handed gun, everything fell into place.

Try this; put your hands together and hold them away from you at arms reach with a leaving a circle to look through. Keep both eyes open and target something at a distance ie; car, tree, whatever. Then close your right eye and see if you can still see the object with your left eye. If you have to move your hands to see it again, you're right eye dominent.
 
JUst to add to this.. I'm right handed left eye dominant and shoot left handed. Accuracy/comfort much better lefty. Can still shoot either way. Buy a left hand action or try a friends rh action for a while on both shoulders..
My problem is that i have had a retinal detachment in my left eye now. Trying to match a prescription glass with a scope so that i can see is an issue. Considering i have multiple focal points on my retina. I may have to turn to a righty....
 
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