As I was working on the videos for my series on the Mauser K98k, I thought it would also be a good opportunity to take a moment and demonstrate my technique for shooting right-handed bolt action rifles, left-handed. As you can see, there’s no reason a left-handed shooter cannot be proficient with right-handed weapons!
Shooting Right-Handed Bolt Action Rifles Left-Handed
- Thread starter joe6167
- Start date
Yep, me too.
I'm left handed; left eye dominant. Shoot handgun & rifle left. Only ever owned right handed bolt rifles, though.
That said, I golf right & shoot a hockey stick right. Catch a ball with my left & throw with my right hand, too.
---------
NAA.
That said, I golf right & shoot a hockey stick right. Catch a ball with my left & throw with my right hand, too.
---------
NAA.
I too am right handed, left eye dominant, so shoot left handed.
I tried this reach over method when first learning to shoot right handed bolt actions.
I found that for me, it was easier to bring my right hand back down the stock from the fore end to cycle the action, maintaining grip on the wrist with my left hand, keeping the butt against my left shoulder. Of course, I need to raise my face from the stock to cycle the action, and bring it back down for the cheek weld as my right hand returns down the stock to the fore end.
Neither method is wrong. A person needs to try both to determine the method that works best for them.
Later, I obtained my first left handed bolt action, and over the years I have finally come down to owning and buying left handed bolts as it is just easier.
I will still buy right handed rifles from time to time to play with new cartridges/calibers, and if it proves worthwhile to me, I will then sell the right handed rifle and build a rifle in that particular cartridge on a left handed bolt action.
I tried this reach over method when first learning to shoot right handed bolt actions.
I found that for me, it was easier to bring my right hand back down the stock from the fore end to cycle the action, maintaining grip on the wrist with my left hand, keeping the butt against my left shoulder. Of course, I need to raise my face from the stock to cycle the action, and bring it back down for the cheek weld as my right hand returns down the stock to the fore end.
Neither method is wrong. A person needs to try both to determine the method that works best for them.
Later, I obtained my first left handed bolt action, and over the years I have finally come down to owning and buying left handed bolts as it is just easier.
I will still buy right handed rifles from time to time to play with new cartridges/calibers, and if it proves worthwhile to me, I will then sell the right handed rifle and build a rifle in that particular cartridge on a left handed bolt action.
For the right-handed, left eye dominate I have seen right-handed stocks where the comb was cut severely so that the face moved from-left-to-right thru the stock till the left eye could use the sights. Cross-over stocks for shotguns are yet another critter. Both were more comfortable than I expected.
Another left eye dominant right hand action guy. I tried a couple times with a left hand action but never could get comfortable. Much like BR, I keep a grip with my left hand and use my right hand to cycle while keeping the rifle shouldered. I can no way cycle a bolt as quick as you do in your video there joe! That’s some quick action work!
I always wanted a nice stock with a cheek piece on my side, so I whittled out a stock for my .22 to see how it would turn out. Iv been enjoying this one a lot.
I always wanted a nice stock with a cheek piece on my side, so I whittled out a stock for my .22 to see how it would turn out. Iv been enjoying this one a lot.
Another left eye dominant right hand action guy. I tried a couple times with a left hand action but never could get comfortable. Much like BR, I keep a grip with my left hand and use my right hand to cycle while keeping the rifle shouldered. I can no way cycle a bolt as quick as you do in your video there joe! That’s some quick action work!
I always wanted a nice stock with a cheek piece on my side, so I whittled out a stock for my .22 to see how it would turn out. Iv been enjoying this one a lot.
Them some nice breasts!!
- Location
- SE corner Sk
I shoot left handed. Prefer left handed since cycling a RH bolt freehand is clumbsy. Not as bad shooting from a bench I find, since I can cycle with my right hand.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I’m a southpaw and have switched to LH bolt actions a couple years back, it immediately felt right. I still prefer rh actions for my shotguns and semis but for bolt guns I prefer a LH action if it’s available.
