Trap Shooting Gun for a Left-Hander - a few questions:

Max Venturi

Max Venturi

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Great comments from Ashcroft and others in the '$900 vs $25K' thread - some food for thought.

Quick history - inherited my Dad's old bird guns when he moved into a condo.

A Superposed and couple of Mirokus from the 60's.

Got into Trap shooting at my local range a few years ago, have been using the Superposed and have been reasonably happy with it.

I put about 1500 shells through it last year, want to put more through it this year - can see 3K-5K in the near future.

I am a lefty and have not had any problem using these shotguns.

I feel these 50+ year old girls have already earned their keep and don't want to keep using them as my daily drivers.

If Dad wants to go shooting on a Sunday, that's great - I've got hardware for him, but I think I want something that is actually my own.

I am at a point where I want to get a more purpose-built shotgun with an adjustable comb, maybe some more modern / specific traits for a competition gun like a high-rib rail or a ported barrel.

So far I am finding LH specific hardware has been somewhat of a challenge - I haven't found much.

My rough budget - $5K - $7K ish range.

Seems there is a big jump after $5K up to the $15-$20K range - not too sure of I can pull that off just yet.

My first choice: Buy a good quality used premium gun, but there's some slim pickins out there for LH.

For example, found this one:

- Beretta 692 Sporting Left Hand with B-Fast Adjustable Stock,30" barrels, 3" Chamber, Select Hand Rubbed Oil Walnut wood, Single Selective (Adjustable) Trigger, Schnabel For-end,5-Optima HP Extended chokes. Hard Beretta case. Excellent condition.

Not too sure if something like this is my best option, and considered more about buying a brand new LH gun and having it properly fitted.

- Is it worth it to go the the extra effort/cost of getting a new left-hand specific Trap gun?

- Or do you simply buy a used RH gun and then swap out the stock?

- If I want to get it properly fitted anyways, maybe a new stock is a good thing?

- Is there anything else different about a LH gun (over a RH gun w/stock swap) other than maybe the direction the break-action lever moves?

Not too sure if I am on the right track or not - advice from some seasoned clay smashers would be appreciated - thanks!
 
The most important factor to being able to shoot a gun well is how it fits you. If you find a gun that is adjustable (comb/butt) that fits you well, having a left handed gun isn't so important. But having a left handed gun can make a gun fit better. The difference would be in the cast of the stock and even a palm swell. While getting a custom stock made is always an option, you may be adding a couple grand to your total cost. I think finding a clays gun that has neutral cast and is adjustable may be the best option. That way you can play with the fit to get it exactly how you need it. If you are cross eye dominant like myself, well thats a whole other issue to deal with. As an aside, the action lever would be the same on either left or right guns
 
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1963 Beretta covered the topic well as usual. I can add very little but here are a few tidbits...
The British, German and Italian custom makers have made true left hand guns with left opening levers and the actual metal of the top and bottom tangs cast to the left, directing the stock into a left hand cast much farther forward. I've only seen this on side by sides but I've heard of it on custom over/unders by Italian makers Lucchini, Bertuzzi and others. Of course you are into prices here that will make your eyes water. Guns that we normally see on the trap range here include Beretta who makes left hand target guns with left hand cast, adjustable cast, left hand palm swell. Browning probably does the same at the top end and Kreighoff, Blaser and Perazzi certainly offer left hand guns. An aftermarket fully adjustable recoil pad is the answer for some. Some makers or aftermarket sources offer canted triggers for guns with replaceable trigger shoes. Basically try to find a factory gun that fits as closely as possible, put several thousand rounds through it then decide what modifications if any might work for you. Try not to stampede yourself into hasty changes, many trap shooters are constantly tinkering with their equipment trying for that extra target or two, the effort and money is better expended on improving technique and more shooting.
 
One of the fellows at our club picked up a beautiful K-80 combo with upgrdaded wood in a leftie for his wife for $9K. Lefties can be found as can decent guns if you start networking with the shooters at the clubs you go to and especially at registered shoots as they draw shooters from alot of different areas and many are basement dealers and horsetraders or are well connected with dealers all over north america.
 
I might take a lot of flack for this, but it has to be said. If you plan to shoot with other shooters (as opposed to solo), or you think you might shoot in competition, avoid ported barrels. For one thing, they reduce the value of the gun. Secondly, you will not be making any friends on the shooting line.

Ported barrels are intended to reduce muzzle flip. You would assume that, if they deliver on this promise, they would be ubiquitous in competition. Yet, the opposite is true. This is because World Cup and Olympic shooters all know that the "technology" simply doesn't work. The reality is that they are almost unbearably LOUD. And, as I have personally witnessed twice, they fling bits of shot cup in unsafe directions.

I know I will be unpopular with owners of ported barrels for making this point. I've been flamed on this board for doing so in the past. But, facts are facts. And, ported barrel owners have a vested interest in denying these truths. Conversely, ask yourself what possible motive I could have for making this point if it were not true.
 
I am right-handed but switched to shooting off my left shoulder a few years ago. I initially used a Browning Cynergy which worked fairly well as they have no cast and a relatively narrow comb.

After a couple of years I went to a LH Caesar Guerini. Huge difference. Of course, how it fits YOU is the key.

Check out the CG Summit Trap. You see them often as a 32" o/u or as a trap combo. Used prices are well within your range. You will not find a better quality or nicer looking gun for the money.

A lot of people assume the opening lever is reversed on a LH gun. As mentioned above this is actually quite rare. Personally, I find the regular lever much easier to use with my left hand. My thumb is already on the right of the lever and can sweep left without repositioning my hand. Shooting right handed I have to shift my grip to move my thumb to the right of the lever to open it, then back to the left. Try it.
 
You mention shooting trap and then quote a 692 sporting model and it's important that you know that a trap gun is a specific tool while a sporting gun is sort of an all around gun for all of the sports. Maybe you know the differences already and lots of people shoot trap with a sporting gun, there's nothing wrong with that in fact it's good in that you can enjoy the gun for skeet and sporting as well.
 
I shoot left handed and only in the last few years did i get a true left handed Blaser F3. i could not believe the difference in fit it made to have a left handed gun. I mainly shoot skeet and and some sporting clay so I can only talk about the difference for those sports but i went from a left handed 725 which was okay to the left handed F3 and it fit was just so much better. I have even had to shoot right handed guns and while it can be done it was never comfortable and took some of my attention off of my shooting. I would suggest looking into a true left handed gun not just look into a gun with a left handed stock if you can find one in your price range. After shooting my F3 for awhile i can really feel the difference if I go back and shoot the 725 with just the left handed stock. This is all just my 2 cents worth but i wish you luck on finding a left handed that fits as it will make the game much more enjoyable.
 
Your budget is plenty big enough to find a LH gun. I see them on the EE every now and then. I would look for a used Beretta. I have handled a 682LH and they are cast on, have a nice left side palm swell, and "I think" the triggers are canted and switched.
 
Make sure you try a Browning in person if you opt for that.

All Brownings leave the factory with neutral (ie NO) cast. A LH Browning simply has a LH palm swell, nothing more. In fact they don't even make a LH slanted trigger for it. In my experience the Cynergy (no palm swell) works best as it has a slim comb. The 725 is OK, but the other Citoris have a fairly thick comb which may cause problems.

Caesars, Berettas, Blasers, and many others do come with real cast-on for a LH shooter.
 
Thanks for the replies:

The most important factor to being able to shoot a gun well is how it fits you. If you find a gun that is adjustable (comb/butt) that fits you well, having a left handed gun isn't so important.

This is what I think I am after - a better 'fitting' gun.

I've seen other club members with adjustable comb/butts, but thought that would only be applicable to a specific LH or RH gun fitment.

Please correct me if I am wrong - I don't think I can buy a RH gun (with an adjustable comb) and use it as a lefty and have it 'fit' well against my face - would the RH comb not be facing the wrong direction?

"I think finding a clays gun that has neutral cast and is adjustable may be the best option. That way you can play with the fit to get it exactly how you need it."

Worth considering - do you have any suggestions for Make/models that would be a fairly neutral choice?

Thanks for the notes Ashcroft - you are a wealth of knowledge.

"Lefties can be found as can decent guns if you start networking with the shooters at the clubs you go to and especially at registered shoots"

No doubt - as you know, networking has been pretty limited lately, that's why I am posting on the forum.

Am planning on attending all of the shoots locally that I can, will definitely ask around.

Opinions about barrel porting are basically irrelevant to this conversation, but I appreciate your comments Straightshooter.

"Check out the CG Summit Trap."

I sure like that one - don't think I have even see a CG in the wild - thanks for the tip!

"You mention shooting trap and then quote a 692 sporting model"

I was simply illustrating an example.

"I shoot left handed and only in the last few years did i get a true left handed Blaser F3. i could not believe the difference in fit it made to have a left handed gun."

This is the type of info that I am looking for - thanks for the note!

" I would look for a used Beretta. I have handled a 682LH and they are cast on, have a nice left side palm swell, and "I think" the triggers are canted and switched."

Thanks for the suggestion - It was suggested a '682 Gold E' would be a decent fit, but was also told they aren't easy to find.

Overall - it seems that I should keep looking for a good used Premium 'true' LH gun for the best fit - will put some more feelers out to see what else I can find.

Since finding local options are somewhat limited, any idea if it is worth the time/effort to source one out of the states?

Thanks for the advice Gentlemen!
 
Im currently shooting a RH 682 gold e trap combo left handed. It has an adjustable comb and butt plate. It fits me alright and i do fine with it. Its plenty comfortable for me but it may not work for everyone . I would like to get a lft handed stock for it down the riad though.

Keep in mind im a newby when it comes to shotguns. It would be ideal if you could try a few before buying.
 
I shot Trap with a guy today who shoots LH.
He bent the stock of his new Cynergy combo with hot oil, over the winter.
Custom fitting LH guns for Trap is not uncommon.
 
"Custom fitting LH guns for Trap is not uncommon."

That's exactly where I am at - If I want to get into the game more, I need something that is made to fit 'me' and not the wrong hand, or a generic neutral hand.

I've been told a few times that investing into proper fitment is worth the effort/cost if you want to get serious.

Just need to find a new platform to start with, and a smith to help dial in the fit.
 
Doesnt the Cynergy come with shims to adjust cast and drop? I know a few other models do, such as the Benelli 828U... Regarding fit, yes, it is important. Unfortunately, most shooters that are new to the sport dont know what a good fit is, and dont mount the gun properly anyway. Rather than spending big dollars on a shotgun, its better to get some professional instruction before the bad habits get set in stone. Ask me how I know...
BTW - have you tried the other shooting sports such as skeet, 5 stand, or sporting clays? Most folk find these much more interesting than trap. The reason I mention this is that dedicated trap guns tend to have a high comb to accommodate rising shots, meaning they are sub-optimal for the other disciplines.
Finally, to answer one of your questions from above. Guns with adjustable combs generally have both east/west and north/south adjustment. So a right handed gun could be made to shoot left handed. However, it would appear from various posts that the adjustable buttpad (eg Graco) is a better all-around solution.
 
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"its better to get some professional instruction before the bad habits get set in stone. Ask me how I know..."

Totally agree - I've had some basic instruction, but would definitely like to get some lessons from a pro.

Any suggestions for someone on the coast?

Wonder how would I go about finding that person - probably have to contact the VGC to see what they offer.

Our club guys are OK for the basics, but I think I need someone who's maybe done Nationals, or Olympics or Worlds or whatever.

"BTW - have you tried the other shooting sports such as skeet, 5 stand, or sporting clays? Most folk find these much more interesting than trap. The reason I mention this is that dedicated trap guns tend to have a high comb to accommodate rising shots, meaning they are sub-optimal for the other disciplines."

No, I haven't - was invited to attend a couple of shoots, but scheduling conflicts trumped it - was hoping to check it out closer this year.

I can definitely see 5S & SC more interesting than Trap, but I think Trap is a good start for me to build a foundation of competence - then apply that to other clay sports as I gain more skill.

There are a few Trap machines at a few clubs close to my house that I shoot at - it is a much longer drive to some other clubs that have 5S and SC so it is not as convenient.

On a side note, I don't want to seem like I am looking to spend big $ on a gun - I most definitely am not.

I am looking the spend the RIGHT amount of $ needed to get the right hardware that is going to fit properly, work well long-term, and be a smart investment.

That being said, a gun is simply a tool - I am not averse to having a few different guns - if I need multiple tools to do the jobs of various clay sports, then I will have to invest in more tools.

What I don't want is a tool that is unreliable, ill-fitting, or a safe queen that is too precious to hammer 1000 rounds through on a weekend.
 
OK - You should be aware that the actions used in the entry level B guns (Citori and Silver Pigeon) are essentially the same as the higher end guns. Accordingly, you can get the same reliability out of a 2.5K B gun as a 5 K B gun. I have several shotguns, but my go-to gun for the sporting disciplines is a Beretta 686e with an adjustable comb. This is the least expensive sporting model, and is more gun than I'll ever need. The only real difference between the 686e and the regular Silver Pigeon is the center bead, adjustable comb, and slightly different stock.
 
cosmic said:
OK - You should be aware that the actions used in the entry level B guns (Citori and Silver Pigeon) are essentially the same as the higher end guns. Accordingly, you can get the same reliability out of a 2.5K B gun as a 5 K B gun.
Click to expand...
Ummmm....not necessarily
 
"On a side note, I don't want to seem like I am looking to spend big $ on a gun - I most definitely am not.

I am looking the spend the RIGHT amount of $ needed to get the right hardware that is going to fit properly, work well long-term, and be a smart investment."]

I am recently retired, shoot left, and have neck and shoulder arthritis issues. I am trying to make autoloaders work for trap shooting. My previous guns were a Remington 3200 (sold) and an 870 LHTB, which is my backup. I also have several Browning O/Us.

As for my latest autoloader, I am using a LH Beretta A400 Xplor Action. This is the best low price option Beretta has for left shooters, as their Parallel Target,and Multi Target models have more stock adjustment features, but are RH only. The Xplor Action is a field stock, but comes with all shims and plates to allow you to set varying degrees of cast to suit LH, or RH shooters. My solution is to modify the stock comb myself to fit me, and LOP spacers are readily available from Stoeger. They also have extended bolt release and charge handles. As far as recoil is concerned, this shotgun is a pussycat to shoot.

If you want to step up to a LH autoloader that has all the stock adjustments, cast, comb, and trigger, look into a Fabarm XLR5. I have recently acquired one, but have not shot it yet. There, now you have some more options to research. Good luck.
 
" You should be aware that the actions used in the entry level B guns (Citori and Silver Pigeon) are essentially the same as the higher end guns.
Accordingly, you can get the same reliability out of a 2.5K B gun as a 5 K B gun."

Agreed - it isn't about the $ - it is about the right hardware.

Believe me, I could find something for $1500 that will do everything I need it to do - GREAT! - it frees up capital to buy other sporting guns.

Hopefully I will trip across a lightly used LH 682 or 686 in my search - I definitely like the Berettas.

The comparison summary as I understand it:

"All the 682s are built for targets, while many of the 686/7 models are field models.
The difference is simply a function of barrel and wood weight.
The 686 target models ought to feel just about the same as the 682 target models, less some of the gingerbread."

Thanks BC308 - Not too sure if I am ready for an auto-loader yet, but I checked out the A400 - nice specs!

"Featuring the Blink technology, it is capable of firing 4 shells in less than 1 second, giving you the fastest follow-up shots of any shotgun on the market."

When you need to be sure that clay is dust... ;)
 
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