Here is my dilemma. I am left handed, but I have shot right handed rifles all my life. I can work a right handed bolt fast enough that is not a problem. I have never even shot a left handed rifle.
Do you all think I should buy a left handed rifle and get use to it, or do you think I should just stick with shooting right handed rifles?

My brother-in-law is in the same situation you're in. He finally bought a left handed gun, but since he has used right handed guns all his life, he has found using the left handed one a little awkward even though he's left handed. He may get used to it and find it better, but for now, he hasn't noticed an improvement in handling or shooting.

I made the switch about three years ago and found it to be easy. I assume we're talking about shooters that have always shouldered the rifle on the left, whether it's a LH or RH firearm?

For me the bummer has been the limited availability of LH rifles, for example, Mauser.

Seafire Jr is a lefty and I only have right handed bolt rifles.. had him try out a lefty and he complains it is too 'ackward' for him...

Plus he wants to inherit dad's rifles "as is" instead of me selling them off since they are righties when he is a lefty...

I shoot left handed b/c I'm left eye dominant and my right eye vision sucks. I've done it both ways and ultimately I decided on using left bolt actions b/c I like the safety being on the same side as the bolt (remmy, ruger).

I also used to shoot right handed bolts for years, but when starting to hunt bears, I decided I needed to keep the scope on the game and work the action as intended, with my left hand. I have killed bears with a borrowed 338WM that was right handed but it was awkward getting the safety off.

It's like anything else, you just have to get used to it. After shooting left handed now for more than 10 years, with left bolt actions, it is awkward to use a right bolt anymore.

However, if you ever want to sell a rifle, the right handed ones go quicker.

Follow your dominant eye.

I'm right-handed and left-eye dominant. I didn't think I liked shooting anything but handguns until I realized what the problem was. I then experimented to see whether changing my eye dominance made any sense. For me it was hands down better to shoot left-handed and now I love hunting and even just shooting at the range.

Bottom line is I agree with jsl3170 - follow your dominant eye.

Assuming you shot a right handed bolt shouldered left handed using your left eye and only worked the bolt right handed the change to a lefty bolt will be simple, fast and easy.

It depends upon just how much practice you do with a new (to you) style of action. A lifetime of working the right-hand bolt over the top with your left hand (which I suspect you have done in the past) has ingrained a reflexive pattern in your brain if you have done much shooting each year.

For shooting from the bench, it will not be difficult to overcome that when using your left hand to operate a left bolt.

HOWEVER...in a tight spot, your ingrained, deeply imbedded, reflexes will take over and you will find yourself reaching over the top even though you can't operate a left bolt rifle that way (you'd be reaching away from the bolt handle instead of toward it). Even if you just move your hand an inch toward the top, past the bolt handle, then hesitate and quickly drop your hand back to the bolt handle, that is time wasted if you're trying to get a second shot in on wounded, fleeing (or charging) game.

You can of course imbed a new habit in your brain and even make it the dominant one, so that your brain will automatically use it instead of the old synapses. But it will take a LOT of practice to make it a dominant reflex when/where you have to act without ANY conscious thought.

George Kelbly (maker of the Stolle Panda and other actions) talked me out of even getting a left bolt action for those same reasons, and on reflection I'm glad I didn't.

Good luck if you do it. It will take a lot of bolt operating reps over a lot of time, but it can be done.

If it's not broke don't fix it.

I'm right handed, but due to an eye injury, I had to learn to shoot lefty at 13. I use my right hand to operate the bolt, and have learned to do that pretty quickly. I tried a lefty rifle, and like some others here have posted, found it to feel "funny" I use an O/U for trap and sporting clays, and a pump for hunting. The only issue I have with RH rifles is with the safeties. I like the Ruger MK1 77, and all of the the Savages for their tang safeties, Remington's isn't too bad, but the Winchester is tough to do quietly.
It is nice to have two "educated" trigger fingers!

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy Barnes:
If it's not broke don't fix it.

It's broke, fix it.

If you can work an off side bolt quickly you will be faster shooting a left hand bolt. Once you practice enough to get the muscle memory on the left hand bolt you will never shoot wrong side bolts again.

Been there, done that:

Same dilemna for me. I grew up shooting right handed rifles from the left side. I now only buy left hand firearms.

Buy left hand guns. You will not regret it. I shoot bolt guns and Ruger number 1's and never once have tried to work a bolt on the Number 1 or lever a bolt gun. So do not worry if you can remember which side the bolt is on. You will, it will quickly become natural, and the safeties feel way better.

I resisted buying lefties for years but when I borrowed one I have not looked back, currently have

Winchester, M70, Safari Express, .375H&H
Winchester, M70, Classic Sporter, .30/06
CZ, 527, .223Rem.

I lost sight in my right eye at age 22. I had been a competition smallbore shooter during my teenage years and I transitioned to left hand shoulder weapons shooting by putting about a thousand shells through a trap gun left handed. All my bolt action rifles are LH, but when I pick one up right handed, all that muscle memory comes flooding back. I'd try a LH rifle and practice, practice, practice until it becomes second nature. It has for me.

Allow me to get on my "left-handed" soapbox:

You need to start shooting left handed rifles! Though you've probably ingrained the operation of a righty in your mind, simple intuition will let your dominant side take over. Shooting left-handed rifles, when you're a lefty, is always the preferred choice. Stocks are designed that way, actions are designed that way, safetys are designed that way, etc.

Don't let the "right" man oppress you!

Jarrod,


Why don't you do what I have done. Switch to being a right handed person. Just start doing everything right handed. Writing will probably be the most difficult.

I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters and I was the only one who grew up left handed in my family. My youngest sister also began writing and eating with her left hand by my dad put a stop to it. He just put the pen or fork in her right hand each time she picked it up with her left. Now she is right handed. Nothing magical about it, just depends how you were brought up and how you started things.

So there you go, buy a right handed rifle, they are cheaper usually.

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
Jarrod,


Why don't you do what I have done. Switch to being a right handed person. Just start doing everything right handed. Writing will probably be the most difficult.

I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters and I was the only one who grew up left handed in my family. My youngest sister also began writing and eating with her left hand by my dad put a stop to it. He just put the pen or fork in her right hand each time she picked it up with her left. Now she is right handed. Nothing magical about it, just depends how you were brought up and how you started things.

So there you go, buy a right handed rifle, they are cheaper usually.

I went to Catholic schools in the 1960's and they couldn't beat me enough to make me right handed, no matter how hard they tried.

quote:

Originally posted by Clayman:
Don't let the "right" man oppress you!

Elitist majority condesending pricks, all of them!

Using scissors sucks and the right handers are to blame! I hate them all.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

I went to Catholic schools in the 1960's and they couldn't beat me enough to make me right handed, no matter how hard they tried.

Ya, my teacher tried to change me as well but naturally I didn't care and writing lefthanded was easier at the time. You have to want to change then it becomes easy. I converted at 31 years old. You catch yourself picking up a pen or fork with the left hand occasionally at first, but just switch and keep going.

Some people will say, "Well, what about baseball, football or hockey? What about sports? I can't throw a ball right handed to save my life?"

Well, I grew up playing sports but no longer. I don't see the point, being a man, watching other men run or jump around. Something not quite right with that picture.

Yes, I may watch a hunting video but that is to learn something, and learning about hunting has some value to it, to gain food. But sports has to probably be the most useless waste of money and time on this planet. It accomplishes nothing and it exists because of money. Large corporations evade taxes by sponsoring teams etc.

To those of you who are suggesting me to become right handed. I do not ever want to be right handed and I will never be right handed ever. Besides anybody can be right handed but only few of us can overcome it..

quote:

Originally posted by Jarrod:
To those of you who are suggesting me to become right handed. I do not ever want to be right handed and I will never be right handed ever. Besides anybody can be right handed but only few of us can overcome it..

Right! (...err...correct, that is.)


I was an out and put lefty until we moved from AZ to Kalifornia in the early 1940s. There I was forced to become right-handed by the school system. It only worked partly...I bat right-handed, shoot right-handed, eat right-handed. I deal cards left-handed, pitch a baseball equally well with either hand, and write with either hand.

As you and neurologists both know, only left-handed people are in their right minds, anyway.


Seriously though, if you are gonna switch to left-handed rifles, it is important to do it as early as you can. It is not too tough for a person who only shoots casually (maybe 100 rifle rounds a month) to do it, but if you are a seasoned competitor who has spent 20 years or more of firing 100-200 rounds or more a week right-handed, it will be more difficult to overcome all that repitition. You need to settle on what you want to do, do it, and keep on keepin' on.

Absolutely.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy Barnes:
If it's not broke don't fix it.

It's broke, fix it.

If you can work an off side bolt quickly you will be faster shooting a left hand bolt. Once you practice enough to get the muscle memory on the left hand bolt you will never shoot wrong side bolts again.

Been there, done that:

Do you mind to tell me what your rifles are from left to right

quote:

Originally posted by Jarrod:
Do you mind to tell me what your rifles are from left to right

Top - Win M70 375 H&H
L-R:
Ruger M77 MkII - 7mm Mag
Savage 11GL - 300 WSM
Remington 788 - 308 Win
Savage 110CL (MPI stock) - 22.250
Savage 93V - 17 HMR
Stag - 5.56 mm
CZ 452 American - 22 lr
Montana Rifle Co (Accurate Innovations stock) 6.5x284

Now Frank has a Nice correct collection of Rifles there !.

Note how the bolts are on the " Correct " side of the actions !.

I like many other lefty's can shoot those Odd ball rifles but prefer not to have to !.


Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

Once I bought a LH rifle I didn't need to practice as running the action came natural to me. I had owned RH bolts for over two decades and have had the first of several LH's almost 30 years now. I still own RH guns but they seem to be fewer and farther between as time passes. Once I got my hands on a LH rifle any serious hunting ceased with a RH gun.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy Barnes:
If it's not broke don't fix it.

It's broke, fix it.

If you can work an off side bolt quickly you will be faster shooting a left hand bolt. Once you practice enough to get the muscle memory on the left hand bolt you will never shoot wrong side bolts again.

Been there, done that:

Fjold, how did you get your rifles to stick to the wall like that?

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:

Fjold, how did you get your rifles to stick to the wall like that?

Velcro