Why is Savage bringing out the new line w/ a Right Bolt and Left Port? They say that it makes it easier to load but, I just can't see it. Seems like it would be a flop to me.

Can any of you see a real use for this type of action?

What about you lefties? Would any of you prefer to load on the left and bolt from the right?

Have a Good One

Reloader

excellent for a single shot at the range.
Dan

That is how my LH Rem M 788 is made, I have all true LH rifles now and when I shoot the 788 is is akward.

Right bolt left port is very fast for single loading and shooting. BR shooters use it a lot for "shooting the conditions".
Peter.

It's also nice for varmint shooting off of a portable bench. The empties drop in the middle of the bench. Plus it makes it easier to look into the loading port.

What's really hot is to have a right bolt, left port for loading and a small ejection port on the right. Now that really speeds up single loading!

A right handed shooter could work the bolt with their right hand & load with their left. At the same time they could see the loading port better because their head would be on the same side as the port.

Very popular with BR shooters.

For ejection, the "drop port" version of Jerry Stiller's actions seem to be very popular these days. That system drops the spent cases down on the bench (towel) without resorting to an ejector.
- mike

I had a Rampro that was set up with a right port left bolt. Great for bench work but sucked for hunting. That was why I sold it.


Michael

i"m a lefty shooting a righthanded rifle and off the bench I can crank out single rounds faster than any righty with a righthanded rifle
so it has some merit

quote:

Originally posted by claudeb:
i"m a lefty shooting a righthanded rifle and off the bench I can crank out single rounds faster than any righty with a righthanded rifle
so it has some merit

Me too. Lots of dedicated bench shooters use an opposite-handed action for their guns. I see no use in opposite-porting -- just use the hand that's on the side you're on for both working the bolt and loading the shells.

Ahh, Stonecreek, when charged by marauding, blood-thirsty prairie dogs, working bolt with left and loading with right ensures rapid rate of fire! Just kidding about the rapid rate of fire. I do prefer loading with the right when on a bench or in a prairie dog town.

In my 18 years of BR shooting I have never known any RH shooters to use a LH action. I have, however seen a few LH shooters using RH actions but, they used them left handed.
I don't like the idea of having the port in front of my face.

I don't get it either?

I thought perhaps for safety? Gas from a ruptured primer would not be defelected across your face but away from it? Makes one wonder if that was the reason, about the actions quality?

Speed of loading????? I don't get that either. I am no BR shooter but when testing loads at the bench I usualy go one in at a time, so thumb one in for each shot...It is hardly a chore or slow....besides, in what application do you need to load a single shot bolt as fast as possible?

With single shot bolts (like a the Musgrave RSA) it is faster to load through the normal port when in the field...the left hand holds the forend, the right open the bolts, grabs another round and inserts it. With a left port you would need to cant the rifle over with your left hand, insert then cant it back and push the bolt closed...thats awkward!

The only advantage I see is off the bench, loading with your left hand with the rifle on the rest/sandbags and really, is the normal port that difficult??

Anyone else got a 'theory' for this?

Here's my observation: I shoot left-handed, but always with right-handed actions. When shooting from the bench (at either targets or varmints) as compared to my right/right friends I notice that I am looking directly into the loading port. This allows me to stop the bolt short of the ejector and manually remove the spent case because I can see the case and reach it with ease. I am also able to view the loading port directly when placing the fresh round in the chamber (and am able to actually start it part way into the chamber rather than just place it on the magazine follower). Incidentally, my trigger hand never moves from its shooting position on the stock and helps keep the gun properly at rest on the sandbags, ready for a quick follow-up shot.

On the other hand, my right/right friends are constantly attempting to crain their necks over to the opposite side of the gun to attempt to see the empty shell in the loading port in order to remove it. This is typically so difficult that they simply grope by Braille, feeling for the empty, and they also do the same thing when reloading a single. I always hear a lot of mumbled cussing and fumbling when they are trying to quickly reload the gun for a shot at a prairie dog that is still standing there, wondering what that wherring noise was that just whizzed past his left ear.

I'll guarantee you, until you've experienced the joy in being able to SEE your loading port when bench shooting, you'll never know how handy having the loading port on the same side of the gun as you are can be.

Although a genuine left-handed action is probably handier for a right-handed shooter from the bench, I can understand the reluctance of buyers to purchase a gun with the bolt on the wrong side, so the Savage action is a saleable compromise that savvy shooters will go for.

great from a rest bites offhand unless you have that handy third arm.