Looking for advice

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ksrebman

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Hi Gun Nutz!

I frequently browse the forums and have a bit of a dilemma that I hope you guys (and gals) may help me with.

I'm a lefty but have been shooting right handed (though left eye dominant) for the past five years, my entire hunting/ shooting time. Should I switch to a left handed rifle or use my current setup?

I have a Winchester Model 88 with a Weaver K2.5 in .243 from 1961 and a Savage 10TR in 308 that I bought thinking I would have the time and money to get into target shooting. I've only been hunting a few years, starting with deer and just this fall took my first moose. I want to continue hunting deer and moose and perhaps try elk and bighorn sheep hunting.

If I sold my current rifles I would probably be looking for one rifle and cartridge to do it all so I have room in the safe for rifles for my boys, if they show any interest. I have also considered selling the Savage and rebarreling the Winchester in a more all-around cartridge, it's not in the best shape so I'm not against the idea of ruining collector value. The only reason I wouldn't go that route is that, when shooting lefty, the ejection port would aim everything at my face in a case head separation incident.

So, what would you guys do? Run right handed, sell all and buy lefty, or sell one and use the funds to modify the other whilst shooting from the wrong side, none of the above?

I would appreciate any input on this as I often run into 'paralysis by analysis' issues when making decisions. Thanks!
 
If your using a scope nad close one eye it wont matter. Target shooting you may experience some eye fatigue a bit sooner. Its only when both eyes are open, non magnified optics, shotgunning, iron sights that eye dominance comes into play.
 
I am almost the same as you, I am left eye dominant but right handed, I had a lot of rifles over the years, have you tried a lefthand bolt action? I use both, what ever I can get a deal on lol, I currently only have a left hand tikka t3 in 22-250 which I love, Winchester 94 angle eject 30-30 and a right handed weatherby vanguard in 300 weatherby magnum, I can hit anything I want with any of them, but I can fire 3 rounds so fast with my tikka people think I have a semi, my 2 cents I would sell both get and a tikka t3 in 30-06 left handed, grandpa would say you can never go wrong with a 30-06
 
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Hang on to the old winchester as it can be easily shot south paw and will work fine for deer
The poster above has a very wise grandpa. I support him fully.
 
How well do you shoot righty? Does it still feel unnatural to shoot right handed? Does it now feel unnatural to shoot left handed?

Maybe give yourself a little test:

Set up a target 50 yards away and stand with the rifle at rest how you would typically be when hunting or walking to your stand. Then quickly raise the rifle to your right shoulder and and take a quick but aimed shot at the target. Repeat this five or so times, then try the same with the left shoulder. Then compare.

Note the accuracy of each, and the time it takes to get an aimed shot off. When hunting, it’s not just a matter of what side you shoot best from, but also what side you shoulder best on. That split second delay can be the difference in filling the freezer or not.

If there’s little difference, then you just won the lottery. I can’t shoot left to save my life, but there’s been plenty of times I wish I could have. One time in particular, when a deer snuck up behind the tree I was sitting against. I twisted my spine waaay around to the right, and when I pulled the trigger... the recoil... yowzer! Smallest deer I ever shot, and the longest it ever took to gut between the yelps of back pain every time I bent down.
 
I am left eye dominant and right hand shooter. I'm a horrible shot with a shotgun, but scope I do pretty well at. If you stay right handed, just remember to follow through. Most of the misses in my life, including a few coyotes in the <50 yard range, have been due to wanting to drop the rifle and look overtop of it for the hit. Maintain your sight picture and you won't have an issue.
 
If you are anticipating your boys getting into hunting and shooting I would NOT sell that M88 243 since that is a pretty decent starter deer gun and it's ambidextrous as well.

I had to look up the savage 10th 308 model, so it's a heavy barrel target model. Nothing wrong with the 308, you could trade it in on something a little lighter to save some weight if you wanted to. Or go with anything from 7mm08/308/270/7mm mag/30-06/300 mag will do all you will ever need. Pick your flavor of icecream and make a sundae.

I am left handed and left eye dominant. I have owned both left and right hand bolts but many years ago made the choice to only have left handed bolt guns in my safe to always keep the controls in the same location. I haven't regretted the decision as that is how I shoot my best and most naturally. Fringe benefit to being a dedicated lefty in bolt guns is you will gain a great appreciation for the 30-06 cartridge because probably 8 out of 10 left handed bolt guns you see on the gun rack will be chambered in 30-06...
 
Try using the model 88 both ways and spend some time with it. If you find as I suspect that left handed is better sell the Savage and buy a left handed rifle in the caliber you want. You probably will have to shoot the shotgun left handed .
 
Thank you all for your take on my situation. I'm going to try the left vs right shooting test although I suspect that a few years of shooting right-handed has left me better practiced on that side, it still feels more natural to shoulder on the right.

Selling the Savage to have a lighter and more maneuverable all-arounder is probably the best way to go, sad cause it's a wonderful shooter but 12+ lbs loaded with scope, etc.

I might have to look at lefty rifles anyways as I had my oldest shoulder my Cooey .22 and it went straight to his left shoulder, left eye on the sights. Should've figured as much given that he's even more a lefty than I.

Cheers!
 
If your left eye dominant it would be good to get a left handed rifle. Many stocks have cant on the palm swell and this makes it more comfortable to shoot. Easy to cycle the bolt and this could save a split second if a follow-up shot is required.
 
My best friend of 30 years does this. He shoots pistol right handed. But put a rifle in his hand and he goes left eye, with right handed rifle. Watching him shoot, it looks like he's been possessed. Its not a normal thing to see. The only time I doubted him not to be normal. I want to burn him on the spot for being a witch...
 
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