Here's my thoughts.... I shoot left handed (modtly blind in my right eye so no choice). I alsp had a RH semi auto .22lr blow up in my face once. If it wasn't for priper PPE I might not be able to see out of either eye right now....
If your budget is $700, you're a little limited. Personally, I shoot a LH Benelli Super Black Eagle 2. I paid $1,800 for it at the time (which almost made me faint at the time, as I had never spent that much on a gun before), but it was worth every penny. Its dropped many, many birds and other animals over the years and is probably my 2nd most shot gun now.
For $700 you're more so limited to pump shotguns. The 3 pumps Id look at (and in this order) would be:
1.Benelli Super Nova - yes, its a RH with a RH safety, but if you loom online it'll tell you how to reverse the safety into a LH one. Or it can be sent back to Stoeger Canada to have this done for a fee. I w as quoted $94 for them to do it, but it could be better than all the head aches that can come from doing it.
2. Browning BPS, these are a bottom eject, nothing comes out towards you, they can come in a 3.5" chamber and use a tang style safety
3. Ithaca model 37. They are still making them to this day and like the BPS, they bottom eject, but they do use a cross bolt safety, like the benelli though, the safety can be reversed. The Ithaca is also only a 3" gun.
All I listed above can be had new for close to $700 depending on sales and can absolutelt be found used for that price. Id also say a 26" barrel is about perfect. Personally a 28" barrel swinga better for me in a goose blind and hunting coyote, but the 26" is nicer when walking the bush looking for grouse or in the grass hunting rosters. 26 inch is best of both worlds imo.
I absolutely would not buy a RH semi auto, youre just asking for issues and burned eye lashes. Used LH autos I have seen come up as little as $1,000 but normally closer to $1,500.
