Left vs right hand bolt gun dilemma

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jory

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I'm a right handed, cross eye dominant shooter. I have always shouldered a rifle off my left side, and have recently trained myself to shoot pistol left handed as well. I got my first taste of ringing steel at 500y a few weekends ago, and now i've got a long range itch to scratch. My Ruger GSR is set up to be a 500y and in gun, and I know that it's not the ideal rifle even for that. I'm looking for a better option to dip my toes into the precision game.

The issue that I have is i'm undecided on whether or not I should be getting a left hand throw bolt rifle. From what I understand, during a precision shoot, the support hand is responsible for steadying the stock of the rifle at the rear; usually with a shooting bag. A left handed gun will allow me to operate fire controls as well as run the bolt with my left hand without the need to disturb the position of my rear shooting bag. In this regard, a left handed gun seems to be the option that makes the most sense. With that in mind, we all know that left hand guns are harder to find/more difficult to sell in the future because of how comparatively uncommon they are to their right handed counterparts. While that is unimportant to the ability to make or miss shots downrange, it's still an important consideration for someone who may eventually outgrow their gun and want something different.

With a bit of practice last night, I may have found a way to run a right handed rifle while minimizing the negative impact of running it the "wrong" way. From prone, I shouldered my rifle to my left side as usual, only this time I used my left hand to support the rear of the stock. My right hand was kept free to run the bolt, and I found that I could use the index finger of that hand to contact the bolt handle and steady my hand, while using my middle finger to pull the trigger. I broke the shot and ran the bolt, and noticed through my scope that my sight picture wasn't disturbed very much by this method. This has me thinking that a right hand throw could be made to work "properly" with some creative thinking.

The way I see it, I have two options:

1. Buy a left handed rifle and shoot the "proper" way. Deal with the financial consequences down the road.

2. Find a modified way to run a right handed rifle that isn't going to be a detriment to proper form and technique. Enjoy the advantages of a right handed rifle.

Now, if my assumptions of the proper technique are wrong from the get go, then I might as well start from scratch haha

Can someone with some insight and experience chime in and help me work this out?
 
Left hander looking at a bolt gun in near future, interested in this post.

I would think one pro to using the correct handed gun, in the event of a failure the blow out port, as well as opening of the bolt is away from your face. Probably more for hot rod loading though.
 
So how much more money is a left handed rifle compared to a right handed rifle? $25?, $50?, $100 more? I know if you were to build a rifle on something like a Barnard action both left a right hand actions are the same price.
 
I dont shoot competition, but im left handed and left eye dominant and buying a left handed rifle was the best choice ive ever made, so imo if you shoot left buy left!
 
I'm a lefty and like a left hand bolt. I've seen people shoot the way you described and it worked for them... but a left handed rifle is between the same price and $100 more than the right handed version. From what I've seen they disappear pretty quickly on the EE too, so selling a left hand bolt action might not be as tough as you think. I don't think there's much financial difference, just more limited rifle selection.
 
Right handed, cross (left eye) dominant so I shoot long guns left, pistols right. Just like Larry Vickers, so it clearly works.

Shot a couple of PRS matches, so I have some familiarity with the discipline but not an expert by any means.

Ran a right handed bolt gun and just finally switched to left. I cannot say this more strongly: GET THE LEFT HANDED BOLT GUN. Two main reasons:
1) You will almost certainly start reloading and if things go boom, a right hand gun will #### you up. Blew a primer in Meaford and without glasses on I would have had a very bad day. That was my last time with a right bolt action.
2) While some obstacles are easier to run the right bolt on, most are easier with a left bolt. I am WAY faster on any position requiring the rear support bag and any tripod work is similarly faster.

If there was any benefit to wrong handing the gun the top end competitors would do it.

Buy once, cry once.
 
I'm cross eye dominant like you. I don't have any competition experience but I prefer using a right handed gun and shoot it left handed. I don't really have any reason why but it's just my preference.
 
I shoot PRS and in many stages I find it to be the way you are dude. I am left eye dominant and right handed. Very fast to shoot a lot of stages with out having to brake hand position with my trigger hand. Had a left hand gun once...worst move ever. Totally foreign to me as I am not left handed.
 
I wouldn't worry about the financial considerations, as above if buying new they usually run about a hundred bucks more than a righty. This subject comes up a fair bit and you always get responses from both camps. It's a pretty personal thing. I would suggest that you see if you can find someone to let you shoot a left hander and see how you like it. Personally I grew up shooting my father's right handed rifles and shotguns because that's all I had available to me. When I bought my first left handed rifle I never looked back. Every bolt gun I own is now a left handed action.

As a side note, a right handed bolt works really well for a left hander in F Class. You can see the loading port, work the bolt and load all with your support hand, never having to break your trigger hand grip or change your cheek weld. I've never shot PRS, but can imagine it wouldn't be quite as convenient.
 
I am in the same situation, my prone rifle is a RH bolt, my beater hunting rifle is a LH. There are lots of right hand shooters buying left bolt dual port guns in the bench and prone competitions. Very good point about blowing primers though.
 
I am in the same boat as you (RH but left eye dominant), however I found out at an early age through archery and have just always chosen to shoot LH. Since picking up on competitive, practical rifle in 2015, I have been running a LH Tikka action that has now been built out to something very different than what it started life as. My recommendation is as follows: If you're planning on competing in F-Class or BR, it doesn't matter. If you're planning on shooting anything "non-prone/bench" buy a leftie.

The reason I say this is due to the fact that in the other two disciplines you can get away with either configuration and "breaking position" won't matter as much. When you're having to move around with your gun and run the bolt quickly, you want it to be as smooth and fast as possible. If you're able to do this with your RH bolt (and I know some incredible shooters who can) then all the power to you, but personally I find it much more comfortable to run a LH rifle LH rather than a RH rifle LH.
 
jadam said:
Right handed, cross (left eye) dominant so I shoot long guns left, pistols right. Just like Larry Vickers, so it clearly works.

Shot a couple of PRS matches, so I have some familiarity with the discipline but not an expert by any means.

Ran a right handed bolt gun and just finally switched to left. I cannot say this more strongly: GET THE LEFT HANDED BOLT GUN. Two main reasons:
1) You will almost certainly start reloading and if things go boom, a right hand gun will #### you up. Blew a primer in Meaford and without glasses on I would have had a very bad day. That was my last time with a right bolt action.
2) While some obstacles are easier to run the right bolt on, most are easier with a left bolt. I am WAY faster on any position requiring the rear support bag and any tripod work is similarly faster.

If there was any benefit to wrong handing the gun the top end competitors would do it.

Buy once, cry once.
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Totally agree. I have a LH buddy who shoots competitively with RH rifles, while I shoot LH/LH. We've gone over the advantages and disadvantages, at length, many times. There are stages and scenarios where working the the bolt with your weak hand is an advantage- but by and large it's advantageous for a southpaw shooter to be shooting a LH rifle.

t-star said:
Winchester 88, savage 99, blr or finnwolf forget bolts
Click to expand...

Levergun for a precision/competition rifle? That'd be... unique. ;)
 
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I'm left handed for hunting I will only use a lefty but when I want to shoot prone right handed is the way to go.Actually try it and you will see what I mean as far as the gas release port a lot of actions have the holes on both sides so the point is mute on those some are a concern(rem 700)
 
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