Does it really matter LH or RH bolt action?
Hi to you all. I'm interested in getting a bolt action hunting rifle. I'm left handed; therefore, do I really need to get a left handed bolt action rifle? Or can I get away with just buying a right handed bolt action which there are more of them out there? I know it's something to get use too because of arm action because of the bolt, but what other negative input do you nice people have to inform me on this matter.
Thankyou for your inputs.
Thankyou for your inputs.
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Try shooting a friends right handed rifle that will tell you.
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I'm a left handed shooter and I only shoot right hand bolts. I usually shoot off of a bipod, so for me it is very natural to work the bolt with the right hand. I usually keep the left hand on the pistol grip, I think this actually is easier. I have often wondered why they don't make tactical rifles with the bolt on the opposite side it seems to me it would make more sense. As far as shooting without a bipod or rest, I still use the right hand to work the bolt, I just support the rifle by the grip, if you have strong forearms, and you pull the rifle tight against your shoulder you can easily take your right hand off of the forearm of the rifle and work the bolt. Now the bad things about shooting left handed. Some people claim (Craig Boddington to be exact) that it is unsafe to shoot a right handed gun, because it leaves the open part of the action towards your face, and in the case of a catastrophic reciever failure it would do much more damage to your face/eyes etc. I have never seen a catastrophic reviever failure like he mentions, but I'm sure it has or could happen. As for me, I'll take my chances.
Jess0 -
Shooting off a bench or bipod, it is actually easier for a lefty to operate a right handed rifle.
But as a young hunter needing a quick second shot deer hunting an old military rifle took a chunk of meat off the top of my thumb when I kept the rifle in my left hand and jerked the bolt with my right.
It did not feel good at all. I am left handed and use only left handed bolt guns.0 -
In the long run, you'd probably be happier with a left hand rifle. The only exception might be if you happen to be left handed but right eye dominant. There are a few people out there that are made this way. With the large assortment of Savage, Remington Rugers and others out there that do offer lefties, tho not as many calibers, it's not as bad as a few years ago when they were really rare. Look in the used section too, as they sometimes are a deal, because lefties are usually the only buyers. 0 -
Maybe you'd be a candidate for a fine single-shot like the Ruger #1 or TC, or even another action type besides bolt.
That said, a person can learn anything. I have taught myself to shoot ALL my deer hunting arms reasonably well with my off-side. In fact, to date I can think of taking at least two deer from my opposite shoulder and once even shooting my .44 mag carbine "freehand" where it wasn't against my shoulder at all.
The point is that with practice you will learn it. The question is will you save any money (if that is your intention by buying the right-handed bolt-gun) by the time you figure in the time, ammo, and range time to get your comfort level to the point it would be if you just got one made for a lefty.
Food for thought anyway. [:)]0 -
As mentioned earlier, eye dominance is probably more important than whether you are right or left handed. My grandson is right handed and left eye dominant. When I realized this I started teaching him to shoot left handed (at age 4 years so it was a simple thing to do) and his scores improved dramatically. If you are left eye dominant and left handed, get a mirror image left handed rifle. If you can't kill whatever you are going to hunt, with the calibers available, I would suggest that you probably couldn't kill it with the calibers available in the right handed version either. Main down side is you take a double whammy on left handed guns because usually one pays more for them (I'm talking new guns here) and then takes a hit when trading or trying to sell used.
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Ad D@D said, it's a good thing to try out the two models.
There isn't much difference in handling and if you can shoot a right-handed rifle safely and operate it fairly ok - it's all about training.
Most important is, to find a rifle that fits YOU.
That can be tough for most lefthanders.
I've foung though, that I can shoot LH and RH with similar accuracy with a RH rifle.
Tried this with a SHR970-.308Win, Steyr Scout-.308Win and my Ansh?tz-.22LR. Within the 100-150 yard mark (and 50 yard for the .22) there were only minor difference in groupings.
Have seen a few LH shooters do very well with RH rifles - and one even outperformed us RH shooters.
It's all about training and what kind of rifle you get - how it fits YOU.
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By hunting buddy in Ga is left handed. He has been shooting a RH Springfield 30-06 for 32 years with no problems. 0 -
I agree with the others concerning the question of eye dominance. I am left handed and own several left hand guns, but my favorite deer rifle is right handed. I got used to shooting right handed guns, but opted for left handed shotguns because of the size of the ejected shell passing in front of my face. This also saved the sight in my right eye when I had a hang fire go off when I operated the slide of my 12 ga. Remington 870. It blew leaves off the tree on my left and powder burned my right forearm.
Good luck0 -
I agree with most of what has been posted. I am left handed and learned to shoot with right hand bolt action rifles. It all comes down to what you get used to and practice with. I was nearly thirty before I fired a left handed rifle.
To this day I still feel more comfortable with a right handed bolt action than a left handed.
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