Hi from the Queenstown Lakes District

Hi folks,

I recently got my firearms licence, so I'm just starting out with hunting and shooting.

My first challenge is that I seem to be both left-handed and left-eye dominant, which is a bit annoying from a rifle availability perspective, especially when looking to go second hand. I'm initially trying to see if I can train myself to shoot right handed and right eye'd using a 22 before investing in a deer hunting rifle. Not too successful so far, so I will probably end up going down the left handed rifle route...

Anyway, looking forward to learning heaps from the forum :-)

Welcome to the forum.
Don't try and change your left side dominance (unless you get your eye poked out or something). It is frustrating that there isn't the same availability of left handed rifles but if you are patient you will find something and it will be worth the wait. If you have to just shoot the right handed rifle left handed/eyed to begin with.

You in the right country down there for hunting.Yr left handed rifle will turn up one day.

Shoot a single shot

Welcome, you will learn lots here hopefully. Nothing wrong with shooting a right handed gun left handed. I'm left handed and have a couple of right handed rifles and you quickly learn where the bolt is on them. Pick up one of my left hand rifles and I can immediately switch mindset, its definitely more natural but not necessarily easier. The brain is a funny thing, muscle memory I suppose.

Yes...as @akaroa1 says...a nice single shot (Ruger No.1 comes to mind).
Or a cowboy gun! A decent lever action would be fine (.308 maybe?).
Then no more lefty worries.
Oh...yeah...welcome!

@Kakapo Almost reluctant to say it
But @dannyb has a Browning lever action for sale that is ideal for a left hander
And I has an exposed hammer which is always a good thing

bakail singleshots work fine for a lefty too... BLR definately good way to go... plenty of lefties shot a right handed rifle too.

Welcome aboard. Bloody kick handed aye? I know a couple of mates that never struggled with a right hand rifles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by akaroa1

@Kakapo Almost reluctant to say it
But @dannyb has a Browning lever action for sale that is ideal for a left hander
And I has an exposed hammer which is always a good thing

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It's on tradme now :cool:

Join up with the Southern Lakes NZDA an great club and friendly folk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kakapo

Hi folks,

I recently got my firearms licence, so I'm just starting out with hunting and shooting.

My first challenge is that I seem to be both left-handed and left-eye dominant, which is a bit annoying from a rifle availability perspective, especially when looking to go second hand. I'm initially trying to see if I can train myself to shoot right handed and right eye'd using a 22 before investing in a deer hunting rifle. Not too successful so far, so I will probably end up going down the left handed rifle route...

Anyway, looking forward to learning heaps from the forum :-)

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Don’t get a single shot….if you’re a lefty get a tikka left handed rifle in ..3 or .308.

Wow,

Thanks Shearer, Trout, akaroa1, JoshC, Grey Kiwi, Micky Duck, Rushy, dannyb, trooper90 & omark for your replies and welcomes :thumbsup: I was kind of expecting not to get a reply as a new person on the forum, but to get so many replies blows me away a bit. Nice.

Thanks for all the suggestions on lefty shooting and options such as lever actions and singleshots. I'll have a bit of a think about these options, as I hadn't really considered them before. dannyb, I'll have look for your Browning lever action listing on trademe.

Regarding shooting right handed, I don't have a problem swapping hands for holding the stock and moving the bolt right handed, that part is ok. I just really struggle to wink my left eye closed (almost impossible), and if I try to shoot with both eyes open I spend ages just trying to see anything through the scope as what my left eye seemingly totally dominates my vision. In contrast when I look through the scope with my left eye I can wink my right eye closed and line things up almost straight away.

trooper90, I've actually already joined the local Southern Lakes Deerstalkers. Bloody good bunch of guys and girls who were really welcoming and supportive. I did the Hunts course with them while waiting the almost 2 years (!) for my firearms license. Totally agree that they are a friendly bunch.

Thanks again all for your comments.

Hi dannyb,

I had a good look on trademe yesterdasy for the Browning lever action you mentioned, but I am struggling to find it. I could only find 2x Browning lever actions listed.

One was Browning 308 BLR lever action for $4600 (Yikes!) located in Auckland which doesn't seem to match your CHCH location. As well as another Browning BLR lever action at Delta Mikes in invercargil ($2k) which again doesn't seem to match your location.

Is the rifle still up on trademe ?

Cheers

another option is the beretta brx1

If you can get yourself shooting both eyes open and use your left eye - winking is for birds! Greg at Custom Guns in Invers has a great selection of lefty rifles (including I think a nice Sako, maybe a 308?). He's a lefty himself so worth chatting too. Cheers

I'm left handed but prefer a right hand bolt action. Just what I am use to, seems normal to me