New Left-Handed Models at ShotShow?
Does anyone know if any new left-handed models will be introduced at the ShotShow this week?
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Probably a bunch of pistols and revolvers, maybe a few O/U's too[:D] 0 -
I was primarily thinking of rifles: both rimfires and centerfire bolt actions. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by stevecrea
I was primarily thinking of rifles: both rimfires and centerfire bolt actions.
I have no idea what's at the SHOT show, other than an Obama administration Federal sting aimed at gun makers designed to intimidate them.
quote:http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_05/b4165000370242.htm
Big Shots Go Down at Gun Show
FBI arrests in a bribery scandal may leave the firearm industry wounded
By Paul Barrett
The setting was Las Vegas, but no one was expecting fireworks at this year's Shot Show, the annual gun industry trade convention. Sure, sales of firearms and ammunition rose in the wake of Barack Obama's victory, as Second Amendment buffs-fearing a Democratic Administration would push new restrictions on weapon ownership-rushed to stock up. Yet what the industry calls the "Obama stimulus" had already started to tail off by the time gun marketers converged on Las Vegas.
Then the feds crashed the party. The FBI used the convention to round up 21 industry executives who allegedly fell for an undercover sting in which they agreed to pay illegal kickbacks to the defense minister of an African nation. In exchange, the small arms marketers thought they were securing the opportunity to sell millions of dollars in weapons and body armor. Unfortunately for them, they were transacting business with FBI operatives posing as middlemen, according to indictments unsealed by a federal judge in Washington. A 22nd suspect was picked up in Miami. "This is one case where what happens in Vegas didn't stay in Vegas," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer at a news conference.
Back on topic, some (including myself) would argue that the standard bolt action rifle is already left-handed.
That is, a proper "right-handed" bolt gun should have the bolt on the left side to be worked by the left hand.
The ordinary "right handed" gun with the bolt on the right, is really better suited to a left-handed shooter who can then leave their left hand on the pistol grip while working the bolt with their right.
While in general, I am all for left handed tools for left handed people, this happens to be one of those rare cases where I think the lefties are really better off with the "righty" stuff.
Edit:
I suppose I should have said lefties "might" be better off with ordinary guns.
Whether or not a right handed bolt gun will toss its brass at the face of a left handed shooter depends on the gun in question as well as the shooter. While I certainly agree this could be a problem, I've also seen plenty of lefties shoot right handed bolt guns with no apparent problems.
If direction of the ejected brass is a problem, it may be possible to tweak the ejector to change it. Annoying, but still probably both easier and cheaper than finding a lefty version in many cases.
For Rsynder, in terms of reaching over and working the bolt on a right handed gun with your left hand, I'd agree, that's sort of awkward, but I actually do just that thing occasionally when shooting off a rest, because I don't want to change the grip on my shooting hand. I've fooled around with doing it on Mosin rifles where the short stubby bolt simply can't be reached by my right hand without taking the gun off the shoulder, though I've found the intrinsic stiffness of the Mosin bolt to be a limiting factor there. I couldn't exactly recommend this technique to anyone, but its certainly not impossible.0 -
It is hard to know what you already know about left-hand offerings. Many major makers make left-hand guns, and I noticed them at the various maker booths at the SHOT Show, but I do not know if they are "new" this year since I have not tried to note when left-hand models were introducerd in the past.
I know Remington has some left-hand models, as well as Savage. Stag is making AR-15 clones in left-hand versions. If a gun appeals to you, just go on the manufacturer's web site and see if it is made in a left-hand version.0 -
While in general, I am all for left handed tools for left handed people, this happens to be one of those rare cases where I think the lefties are really better off with the "righty" stuff.
Except for that little matter of chucking brass back into your face, no?0 -
RCrosby:
Well, I know that many lefties shoot the right-handed versions, as I did when I first started shooting at age seven.
However, those who shoot right-handed rifles left-handed are at a disadvantage from a number of perspectives, which I am sure you can surmise. Of course it can be done, and some can do it well. However, I would argue that few can do it as well as a skilled left-handed shooter shooting a well designed left-handed rifle. And, as I have indicated a few times before on this site, I am not speaking of punching paper. I am speaking of shooting game. It is not the same ballgame as punching paper!!0 -
True, try reaching over a scope to work a right handed bolt left handed. 0 -
Please don't mistake what or how I am writing on this topic. I am NOT being condescending or contentious at all but I am trying to report my experiences with left-hand shooters.
There has never been a definitive answer to 'handedness' let alone an answer as to how many left-hand people inhabit this Earth. However, there is an accepted percentage of left hand people which is approximately 11%. I'm sure that there are folks who will dispute this and have some form of supporting evidence, this is what I have read.
Here's the problem with the shooting industry and left-hand shooter:
Of the approximately 11% of the populace that is left-handed, approximately 1/100th of 1% are shooters. Of this extremely small percentage, the industry has found that the number of those who ACTUALLY buy more than one firearm is minuscule at best.
In a tougher economic environment, many manufacturers are unwilling to use their dollars to make left-hand firearms in order to have them sit on some shelf someplace until one of the all-too-few lefties decides they want or need a firearm. When they do offer a lefty firearm, it's in a generic cartridge with few options or upgrades.
Simply stated, you don't have the numbers to support the investment in a broader selection of left hand firearms. I know that must rankle some folks but it's the truth. Many of you will stand up and claim that you buy multiple left-hand firearms in attempt to disprove the statistics. Many others will rant that they would certainly buy more left-hand firearms if only they were more readily available. This has not held up in the end results of the industry sales figures. Many folks promise to buy more but never follow through. In reality, the statistics don't lie because a substantial number of purchases are in the used market, not from the newly manufactured market. There just isn't enough buying activity to warrant the investment.
I'm sure that this doesn't make lefties happy but until you demonstrate that you are a buying force, you will be at the end of the list for production firearms. Your best bet to get exactly what you want is still a semi-custom rifle from a gunsmith or to haunt the used inventories on the internet.
If you like statistics:
http://www.csun.edu/~djo41504/left.html
Here is an interesting survey regarding left-hand people:
http://www.lefthandersday.com/lefthanded_surveyresults.html
Best.
ADDED:
Steve,
"If I'm buying, if I'm selling..."
I couldn't agree more. I've seen and been subjected to both aspects. Unfortunately, it catches us in many other facets of firearms sales as well.
I also agree with supporting those manufacturers that support you. This is always a good practice. I'm sorry I couldn't attend SHOTShow this year because I wanted to have face-to-face conversations with some of the manufacturers regarding their products. I fully believe that these folks can't see the forest for the trees sometimes.
For those folks who are keenly interested in true left-hand action for rifles:
Defiance Machine
Stiller Precision Firearms
Lawton Machine
Bordon Rifles
Surgeon Rifles
Badger Ordnance (prototype is finished)
BAT Machine
There are others but these are the main players in the better-than-average market actions. Most of these are the best in the market.
Best.0 -
Nononsense:
Yes, you have given a cogent and cohesive explanation of the economics as far as the manufacturers are concerned.
I have developed much loyalty to those manufacturers who have offered more than the token left-handed models, and in my mind these include Weatherby, Browning, Sako, Tikka, CZ, Cooper, Anschutz, and perhaps some others.
I could include Remington, Ruger, and Savage as well. They have all expanded their left-handed models, but in general, have stuck to the generic calibers and models.
Further, for what it is worth (probably not much), my experience with buying and selling left-handed models as a consumer, has been this:
If I am trying to buy a left-handed rifle, the seller oohs and ahhs and says that they are very difficult to find, and he wants a premium price. On the other hand, if you are selling one, he will tell you that left-handed models are extremely difficult to sell, and will probably sit on his shelf for an extended period of time, and he will have to mark it down significantly just to move it. Accordingly, he cannot offer you much for it...........
Hmmmmmmm. Well, its just business.0
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