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93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
11/26/12 12:32 p.m.

I am a left handed shooter and I am looking at getting my first couple guns beginning of next year. I have shot guns set up for right handers my whole life but I figure it might be worth buying a left handed gun. So who makes left handed .22 bolts that can be found on the lower end of the price range (say under $250)? Also I was thinking about possibly getting an SKS as the other gun. Will these eject the rounds into my face?

yamaha
yamaha Dork
11/26/12 12:36 p.m.

Left handed means expensive......theres some out there, but I'd just learn to shoot right handed. I'm right handed, but if I'm shooting a remmy 870, I shoot them lefty(damn slide release). Its not that hard to learn the other side.

Kenny_McCormic
Kenny_McCormic HalfDork
11/26/12 12:37 p.m.

I take it you've tried shooting right handed? I'm left handed, and fairly neutral in the eyes, writing with my right hand looks like a stroke victim, but I've trained myself to pull a trigger as good as anybody else with it.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
11/26/12 12:38 p.m.

In reply to yamaha:

Problem is cannot shut my left eye independent of my right. When I first picked up a gun, I put it on my right shoulder but my eyes wouldn't work with me.

JohnInKansas
JohnInKansas HalfDork
11/26/12 12:41 p.m.

I shoot lefty, but I've used right-handed actions for so long, I'm not sure I'd know what to do with a left-handed gun.

Quick google search turns up a handful of Savage Arms rifles (Rascal, Mark-II, Model 93).

N Sperlo
N Sperlo UltimaDork
11/26/12 12:41 p.m.

I'm left eye dominant and still shoot right. Just tossing that out there. I use a right handed Remington 700 .308 and keep both eyes open when shooting.

JohnInKansas
JohnInKansas HalfDork
11/26/12 12:43 p.m.

In reply to 93EXCivic:

What is your dominant eye? I'm right handed, left-eye-dominant, so I shoot lefty.

If you can't close both eyes and it is interfering with your shooting, tape up one side of your shooting goggles. That way you can keep both eyes open (which subsequently keeps you from squinting which can mess with your shot) without sacrificing your sight picture.

1988RedT2
1988RedT2 UltraDork
11/26/12 12:46 p.m.

I'm right-handed, but blind in my right eye, so I have no choice but to shoot lefty. Never saw a lefty gun, just figured I'd have to make do.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
11/26/12 12:50 p.m.

In reply to JohnInKansas:

Heavily left eye dominant and right handed. Honestly most guns I have ever shot don't bother me. The exception is bolt actions. I have never gotten to where I am comfortable with the bolt being on the right side of the gun. When I first started shooting, I crossed over which obviously isn't an ideal way to shoot so someone taught me out of that but I used to really like bolt actions so I would really like a 22 left handed bolt.

The Savage MKII looks like a good suggestion.

JohnInKansas
JohnInKansas HalfDork
11/26/12 12:55 p.m.

In reply to 93EXCivic:

If you aren't doing a lot of standing shooting, a bipod on a right-hander might help. That way you can let the pod carry the weight of the gun, use your right hand to hold the muzzle down during the shot, then work the action with your right hand. You don't have to break sight picture, and your left hand never leaves the stock/trigger. That's how I've been doing it with my bolt action. It isn't ideal, but it might be cheaper than buying a left-handed rifle.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
11/26/12 1:03 p.m.

In reply to JohnInKansas:

I may try that out.

Bud's has left handed Savage MKIIs for under $200 so that to me doesn't sound too bad. Savage is a decent brand right?

rebelgtp
rebelgtp UltraDork
11/26/12 1:22 p.m.

Yep Savage makes some good guns, some of the best bang for your buck guns are Savages. They are normally quite accurate out of the box as well. As for the SKS yeah you might catch some brass. The last one I shot would launch brass 15+ feet to the right and behind me.

yamaha
yamaha Dork
11/26/12 1:23 p.m.

In reply to 93EXCivic:

Honestly their stuff is hit or miss......it all depends on the model line. I have had great sucess and horrible issues with some of their stuff. The small rifles are pretty good though.

You could get a Rossi lever action for a bit more, the top eject ones would be considered right and left handed since the safety is on the top.

EastCoastMojo
EastCoastMojo UberDork
11/26/12 5:48 p.m.

I am cross dominant, left eye and right hand. I have only shot pistols so far, but I have been anticipating learning to shoot lefty when I break into long guns. I was born a southpaw and was trained out of it by teachers and my mom, but I still do some things like use a calculator and a computer mouse with the left, so I don't think it would be that difficult to shoot left handed, I just have not had the opportunity to try it yet.

rebelgtp
rebelgtp UltraDork
11/26/12 5:54 p.m.

In reply to yamaha:

Which stuff did you have issues with? I have always had success with them and always hear good things from other Savage shooters.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
11/26/12 6:06 p.m.
EastCoastMojo wrote: I am cross dominant, left eye and right hand. I have only shot pistols so far, but I have been anticipating learning to shoot lefty when I break into long guns. I was born a southpaw and was trained out of it by teachers and my mom, but I still do some things like use a calculator and a computer mouse with the left, so I don't think it would be that difficult to shoot left handed, I just have not had the opportunity to try it yet.

I was the same way. I had no problems switching on long guns except bolts just cause I have trouble holding my aim and reloading is a pain.

Anti-stance
Anti-stance SuperDork
11/26/12 6:21 p.m.
N Sperlo wrote: I'm left eye dominant and still shoot right. Just tossing that out there. I use a right handed Remington 700 .308 and keep both eyes open when shooting.

I am the same. I shoot long guns right handed using my right eye but keep my left eye closed. Just the way I was taught to get proper sight alignment/sight picture. It is easier for me to deal with my E36 M3ty right eye and shoot right handed than shoot left handed and use my good eye.

However, when shooting pistols, I shoot right handed but use my left eye. It just works better for me.

I am all mixed up anyways. I am right handed with everything except when I played street hockey as a kid, it just felt more natural to pick up a hockey stick left handed. I am also left footed which is kinda weird.

So left eye dominate, lefty at hockey, and left footed, everything else I am a righty.

Dr. Hess
Dr. Hess UltimaDork
11/26/12 6:28 p.m.

Or you can buy a left handed rifle. Leftie AR15's, Mauser 98's, and a bunch of other stuff is out there.

EastCoastMojo
EastCoastMojo UberDork
11/26/12 6:37 p.m.

Should I scream when I shoot? I haven't been doing that.

Dr. Hess wrote:
DoctorBlade
DoctorBlade SuperDork
11/26/12 6:42 p.m.

I saw a leftie .380 Auto once. Cool gun.

Dr. Hess
Dr. Hess UltimaDork
11/26/12 6:57 p.m.
EastCoastMojo wrote: Should I scream when I shoot? I haven't been doing that.

Only if the Germans are coming.

joey48442
joey48442 UberDork
11/26/12 7:10 p.m.
JohnInKansas wrote: In reply to 93EXCivic: What is your dominant eye? I'm right handed, left-eye-dominant, so I shoot lefty. If you can't close both eyes and it is interfering with your shooting, tape up one side of your shooting goggles. That way you can keep both eyes open (which subsequently keeps you from squinting which can mess with your shot) without sacrificing your sight picture.

That only works if your a total pansy who wears safety glasses....

Joey

mazdeuce
mazdeuce HalfDork
11/26/12 7:15 p.m.

I wouldn't worry about the bolt as much as the safety. Most stuff you do either the first shot is the one that really counts or you have the time to casually reach over the gun because the target is an inanimate object. Having the safety in a spot that you can safely and instinctively reach is the big deal. For a variety of reasons I prefer guns with a tang mounted safety. The safety is the same style and in the same spot on all of my guns whether they are rifles or shotguns. Nothing to think about at all when I'm all nervous looking at a furry thing.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
11/26/12 10:06 p.m.
Dr. Hess wrote: Leftie AR15's, Mauser 98's, and a bunch of other stuff is out there.

Never knew that the Mauser 98 was made with a leftie version.

foxtrapper
foxtrapper PowerDork
11/27/12 6:59 a.m.

I'm a left handed shooter.

With regards to the OP's questions, I've never had a gun eject rounds into my face. A few, in certain positions, can toss an ejected shell either into my sleeve, or into the open collar of a shirt. It's rare, and those few guns prone to this have shields available for them.

As for bolt actions, I've never found it a problem shooting a standard right handed bolt rifle left handedly. With light weight guns, I just hold the gun up with my left hand while cycling the bolt. With heavy mules, I'll lower the gun partially to cycle the bolt, but it only takes a second. Usually I welcome that break anyhow, it lets my eyeballs quit rattling.

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