Lever Actions and other guns for Lefties’

Bronco Boy

Bronco Boy

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Lever Actions and other guns for Lefties’

What firearms besides left handed bolt action rifles do my fellow lefties own/shoot.?

Does the right sight ejection on modern lever action rifles pose and issue? Does the ejecting brass cause annoyance during rapid fire?

How about pump action shotguns? (I know the Browning BPS models work well for lefties but how about the more popular right side ejection models).

How about semi autos (both shotguns and rifles)?

I would really like a Marlin 444XLR and a Henry Varmint Express .17 HMR Lever Action but want to hear from other lever action shooting lefties before spending a whack of $$$.
 
I had a marlin lever action and i loved it, ejection was not an issue at all ,i regret selling it. I also have had a left handed bolt action and it was actually really nice to have a rifle set up llike that but i'm just not a fan of lever actions. I have a 22 rifle in right handed configuration for plinking and it annoys me to no end, probably replace it with a 10/22.
I'm going to go back to the lever action for hunting season next year and i briefly considered a pump rifle but i really do like the levers best so the pump is out.
Andre
 
We have a lefty in moose camp. He used a top eject model 94 winchester for many many years, until the gun rags convinced him he needed more power. Now he uses a BLR in 308.
The right eject BLR does have issues for him, and quite often, empty shells will bounce off his forearm, and back into the chamber causing a jam.
 
I am a lefty and have used Winchester 94's (both angle and straight eject), Rem 740, BLR, Moss berg 590, Rem870, Marlin 45-70, Ruger 10/22 and Haw ken Percussion Black Powder with no problems at all.

I actually prefer right handed bolt actions but have problems with #### on closing actions like Lee-enfields and 96's. I take my Right hand off the for end to work the bolt and it can take extra attention to get it done right. I also have a little problem with sloping wrists like the ones on Mauser's as it is hard to hold onto when reloading and sometimes the bolt hits my thumb. Not a big deal though and I can always make due.

For the Marlin specifically it is excellent and the hammer spur can be put on the "correct" side. Just be sure to take care of the cross bolt safety as it has seems to click on (or off) when you don't want it to. Put a rubber O ring over it or get the kit that removes it.
 
My daughter is a leftie and after watching her fight with my right handed rifles I bought a sweet older left-handed Savage in 308 for her. She shoots that little rifle like it was custom made for her.

She also has recently claimed my Browning 1885 as her own. :rolleyes:
 
Cross bolt safeties are the work of the Devil.

"The right eject BLR does have issues for him, and quite often, empty shells will bounce off his forearm, and back into the chamber causing a jam."

I was afraid of this happening. Are any modern levers top ejection? How about the Pumas?
 
I am right handed but shoot left. Over the years I have used a number of differant CF rifles: Rem autoloaders, Rem pumps, Savage 99's, Win 94 (top eject), Ruger #1's. I have never owned a left bolt but lots of right handed models. 90% of my shotguns are right handed autoloaders and I have a couple of right handed military autoloaders. The right side eject does not bother me as I close my right eye when shooting. If you shoot with both eyes open it may be a distraction.
In the end I settled on single shot CF's, no flying brass, no jamming ( short stroking or load too light), no clip to loose, no blind mag to dump all over the ground, safety is usually ambidextrous or easily converted and easy load development (OAL and sufficent "umph" to operate the action). I still like my shotguns as autoloaders but not many left versions to choose from.
 
After years of the usuals-pumps, levers, semis, etc I have finally bought myself a left bolt Ruger 77mk II stainless in 30-06 and have had no difficulty getting used to it at all. I also came across a sweet deal on a Savage 99c in 308 and I am becoming very fond of this rifle. I have also sold my 1022 and a Marlin 39a to buy a CZ452 leftie for some accurate shooting. Also own a Ruger no 1 223 and that is a real delight to use as well being a pretty classy act as well. Falling block actions really turn my crank and it really pleased me to be able to buy a current production model. May look at a leftie Savage maybe in a 243 or so too. Lots of it out there now. Still own a Remmie 870 though-my fave 12ga. Recently bought a little Condor over/under 410 to play with too. If you were a neighbour I would let you play with some of my babies.
 
270dave said:
I am right handed but shoot left. Over the years I have used a number of differant CF rifles: Rem autoloaders, Rem pumps, Savage 99's, Win 94 (top eject), Ruger #1's. I have never owned a left bolt but lots of right handed models. 90% of my shotguns are right handed autoloaders and I have a couple of right handed military autoloaders. The right side eject does not bother me as I close my right eye when shooting. If you shoot with both eyes open it may be a distraction.
In the end I settled on single shot CF's, no flying brass, no jamming ( short stroking or load too light), no clip to loose, no blind mag to dump all over the ground, safety is usually ambidextrous or easily converted and easy load development (OAL and sufficent "umph" to operate the action). I still like my shotguns as autoloaders but not many left versions to choose from.
Click to expand...

What single shots do you like? Any pics?
 
bogie said:
After years of the usuals-pumps, levers, semis, etc I have finally bought myself a left bolt Ruger 77mk II stainless in 30-06 and have had no difficulty getting used to it at all. I also came across a sweet deal on a Savage 99c in 308 and I am becoming very fond of this rifle. I have also sold my 1022 and a Marlin 39a to buy a CZ452 leftie for some accurate shooting. Also own a Ruger no 1 223 and that is a real delight to use as well being a pretty classy act as well. Falling block actions really turn my crank and it really pleased me to be able to buy a current production model. May look at a leftie Savage maybe in a 243 or so too. Lots of it out there now. Still own a Remmie 870 though-my fave 12ga. Recently bought a little Condor over/under 410 to play with too. If you were a neighbour I would let you play with some of my babies.
Click to expand...

FYI the 870 is now available in a left handed version. Let me know what you think of the CZ. I have been considering one as well.
 
My Choices

My first choice is the Ruger #1, lots of calibers to choose from and a number of differant models for almost any application. I had an #1 RSI in 270 but the short bbl was not to my liking. The safety on the tang works well for both left and right handers. From left to right, 1B in 257 Wthby Mag, 1B in 270 Win, 1A in 338 Win mag and a custom octagon bbl in 6mm Rem. Missing from the pic is a 458 tropical, its at the shop getting new high vis sights put on. From gophers to elephants, it's covered.
The auto loaders are, left to right, Rem 740 Woodmaster in 308, Win 94 in 30-30 and a Sav 99 in 7-08.
When pushing bush with friends or down in the "deep dirty bush" the Rem is first choice. Short, fast, light and with that 1 x 3.5 scope I find it better than iron sights. Course when I was younger the 94 worked as well, just maybe my eyes arent what they used to be. :D The 99 is the back-up.


I have a friend that has a little single handi rifle in 7-08 and it is nice. The tip open I find a little difficult to use but that may be just my own coordination problem... same as the TC Pro Hunters....but I really like the interchangable bbl idea..
 
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Bronco, the 870 has been around as a leftie for a fair bit of time but my first gun was an 870 in the 60s so the right hand thing was never an option for me.Right eject was never a problem either. I could cycle the pump faster and more accurately than my old man with his 1100. I noticed the availability in leftie about 10 years ago but I got used to it pretty quick so just never bothered. Besides, the one I have was on sale for a real good price and the lefties were not even in the picture. All of the guns I have are leftie enough to use comfortably although I am a little nervous about the Remmie built in trigger locks. I think that I will decommission that feature. You are lucky to be looking now as the selection is actually pretty good for us as opposed to even 10 years ago. Good luck with your choices and happy shooting. My Ruger no 1 is a 1B too.
 
Curious as to how you define"normal". I have found that most of the people I have associated with over the years are nowhere near normal. Aside from that if you could find a "normal" population, you would still find around 10%
would be lefties. Oh, and by the way, not much in the way of "normal" in this site either...
 
Being that I was born and raised in Toronto, I realize only a moron would follow the Leafs! For Cowboy Action shooting you can't beat a Winchester M92, that is a top eject.
 
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