I'm left handed but have always shot a right handed bolt. So a right handed bolt is what I am use to. Actually I have never even shot a left handed bolt even once.

Do you think I should just stick with the RH bolt gun or do you think I would be better off to get a couple left-handed bolt guns and get use to them??

I'm left handed and have shot only left handed guns my whole life. I own left handed bolts and couldn't even fathom shooting right handed. My 16 year old son "Jarod" is also left handed. He just bought himself a Remington BDL in .308 for his own first gun. He too only shoots lefty.

Try it you'll probably like it. Are you left or right eye dominant? That may enter into the picture as to how you shoot.

I am left eye dominant and I shoot on the wrong side of a right handed bolt gun.
Only reason i shoot RH bolt is because I was give one when I was a kid and so it was all I shot.
But then I got to thinking about it and I thought maybe if I started shooting a LH bolt that it might be a little akward at first but I thought probably once I got use to it that i would probably like it better, as I'm left handed I just feel a Left handed person should be shooting a LH bolt

There are enough used inexpensive left handed guns around to give it a try. I would think if you went to the range you would find a lefty that would let you try one of their guns.

Treat yourself, you'll be glad you did.

Jarrod,

I shoot both. I started with all right-handed guns, too, including M-16's. I would sometimes shoot the USMC rifle quals right-handed to avoid brass in the face. And just to see how I'd do.

I have started buying LH guns, though, for two reasons. Well, three. The first two are that I can maintain sight picture and stockweld while I shoot multiple rounds, and I can shoot with a tight or hasty sling, while chambering a new round. The third reason, of course, is that it's a plausible excuse for why I need a new gun.

Another possible reason is that you might be quicker on follow-up shots with a left-handed bolt gun. I don't know, you get pretty quick reaching over and working a RH bolt from the opposite side, too.

I'd try one.

Steve

Except for autoloaders, all my repeaters are left-hand.

George

quote:

Originally posted by Jarrod:
I'm left handed but have always shot a right handed bolt. So a right handed bolt is what I am use to. Actually I have never even shot a left handed bolt even once.

Do you think I should just stick with the RH bolt gun or do you think I would be better off to get a couple left-handed bolt guns and get use to them??

Go buy a left handed Savage 22 or 17 HMR bolt gun for a <$200 and shoot it for a couple of range sessions. You will never want to take right handed bolt out of the safe again.

quote:

Originally posted by Jarrod:
I'm left handed but have always shot a right handed bolt. So a right handed bolt is what I am use to. Actually I have never even shot a left handed bolt even once.

Do you think I should just stick with the RH bolt gun or do you think I would be better off to get a couple left-handed bolt guns and get use to them??

I use to have a lot of right handed bolt guns. I sold or gave them away including a couple of Sako. It became a personal thing with me as most gun stores do not keep any left hand guns in stock. Ask them if they ever get any used one in and you will usually hear yes; but they are gone with in a week. There must really be some dumb gun store owners in America. My local gun store got to me about a year ago. I was always complaining about no left hand guns when he pulled out a picture of a limited addition Winchester Model 70 from the custom shop. They were only in left hand and only in the WSM calibers. You could buy a 270wsm a 7mm wsm an a 300wsm all with the same SN. Well, I felt like I had to buy one so I got a 300wsm and it is still new in the box and my wallet is $2600 lighter. One local hunter bought one to shoot plua all three calibers with SN 001. Another reason to own left handed rifles is it is suppose to be safer as the gasses are vented away from the face in the event of a malfunction.

Whatever you choose (I am left handed myself) for hunting make sure you do not switch. Last thing you need to do is to get in a panic situation and reach up on the wrong side to try to work the bolt. Once I started using LH bolt rifles I never went back. But for auto's and pumps,etc I stay with righties because they are easier to sell and obtain barrels for.

Gotta agree with the responses that say once you shoot left handed rifles, you will never go back.

I had the problem to the extreme. I never shot a left handed bolt rifle until I had a custom one made for me. I have been shooting single and double rifles all my life (especially since I gave up trying to shoot right handed bolt action rifles a long time ago.)

Well on my first trip to Africa with my new LH bolt rifle, I missed a chance on a GREAT Kudu because of my not being as familiar with LH bolts of conventional design.

I had practiced quite a bit with the rifle before the trip, but when crunch time came, I fouled up. Can't blame the rifle, it was operator error.

I'm selling that beautiful custom LH rifle and having another set of barrels for my big bore double made in 9.3x74R for taking plains game.

Sometimes even the motivated old dog has a hard time learning new tricks.

Good Luck,

Mike

Add me to the list of left handed guys that once used right handed bolt guns. Once I got the taste of the bolt on the correct side of the gun - I can't go back. I shoot milsurps for fun (all RH) but all my bolt action hunting rifles are left handed.

All of my rifles are right hand bolts and I shoot them left handed.