Thread: Lefty shooting right

What's everyones thoughts on a lefty shooter using a right handed gun, still shooting left ?
I have a feeling everyone can still 'learn' to shoot a different handed gun but would it make a big difference to how accurate it would be ?

As long as the stock isnt a dedicated rh style without cheek piece or palm swell it will make no difference. Look at Ian McCallum for inspiration.

Be ok as long as stock is straight, not cast for right hander
More likely to have cast if under / over or sxs. Most autos i have picked up are fairly neutral with out shim kits etc

Been doing it for yonks. Love having the ejection port right in front of me. Bought several lefty rifles a while ago, and love the bolt on the far side but would have loved the ejection/loading port on RH side.

Im using ambi stocks or dedicated LH thumbhole stocks on my RH rifles. Works great. LH rifles is not all that common so I had to learn to make a RH rifle work. Dedicated RH stocks on a rifle makes it a pain to shoot though.

I've only got one issue - over the last few months some Range officers became a little over zelous in regards to "cone of fire" and having the gun in your shoulder when closing the bolt - something thats not always possible shooting a RH rifle from your left shoulder(except if you like smacking yourself in the face with a boltshrout).

I'm still using RH rifles - just learned to aim, lift head, close bolt, lower face, acquire target, send it.

Quite good when shooting at the range because the port is right there to single feed rounds into the rifle.

Standing or kneeling, it needs a bit of upper body strength to hold the rifle level while working the bolt, because you end up using the support hand to do so. I find this is a bit slower (or requires a different technique) vs using a lefty rifle which is very natural.

Most of us lefties learnt on RH rifles - just because that was about to learn on.
Not an issue for most of us - also have a mate who is right-handed but Left Eye dominant so shoots Leftie. Actually gives you more options. LH feels easier overall and with long actions you may need to break your cheek weld which is a pain (or eat your hand)

Never been an issue for me. But occasionally I find a rifle I really want and it's RH only (less than 15% produced in LH options) being able to shoot both is an advantage in those cases.

Bit other way but when I got my shoulder rebuilt I shot all my guns left handed as the recoil hurt to much, I shot just as well as I did with my right, it just felt weird.

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This is for shotguns guys, if auto you may cop a shell to the nose

I have only 1 lefty gun out of all of mine and all my rifles have always been shot left handed for decades (being I'm a lefty). From the AR semi , 22 semi , 22 mag semi , shotty semi and pump , lever actions etc no issues at all . You get used to cases shooting across in front of your eyes ..... can be a bit intimidating with 45/70 and shotty to start with .
The only problem is fast follow ups on right hand bolt actions as the hand supporting the front of the rifle is the one used to work the bolt . My 338 also has a right hand stock with the cheek swell on the wrong side for a lefty but again I don't find that an issue as it is not sharp edged on the off side as some of them are .

Some would say lefty shooting is the right way....

I'm a lefty (yes, I'm "special" )

For prone, using a ambi stock, right bolt is no problem.

If you want to shoot from non prone positions and be able to manipulate the bolt, left bolt would be an advantage, but not essential.

Like most lefties I started with right bolt rifles. Have slowly been converting to left bolt as they became more common.

Originally Posted by kellyraz

What's everyones thoughts on a lefty shooter using a right handed gun, still shooting left ?
I have a feeling everyone can still 'learn' to shoot a different handed gun but would it make a big difference to how accurate it would be ?

I shoot FTR left handed on a RH rifle as my RH son & I share rifles.
My stocks don't have thumb holes and are essentially ambidextrous.
As @ebf said there's no issue shooting prone from a fixed shooting position on a range.

Our Savage .223 has an ejector that would throw cases down the sleeve of my shirt, my Barnard .308s don't have ejectors.

Barnard do a dual port action for target rifles.

As long as you can correctly and repeated line your eye and your sights you can shoot accurately lef thanded on a right handed action.

Originally Posted by Pommy

Quite good when shooting at the range because the port is right there to single feed rounds into the rifle.

Standing or kneeling, it needs a bit of upper body strength to hold the rifle level while working the bolt, because you end up using the support hand to do so. I find this is a bit slower (or requires a different technique) vs using a lefty rifle which is very natural.

I’m the opposite - I’m a lefty and when working the bolt I use my ‘trigger’ hand.
Get some nasty bruises on the outside edge of my left hand when working a Lee Enfield bolt.

Of course with the Finnwolf there’s no issue!

Have shot righthand auto's left handed for many years, only ones I've had a hassle with hot shells and blowback were H&K 22 MAG and .223, Savage in 17HMR and Brno 22 mag. Never had a problem with 12 gauge semi's or Browning centerfire semi's.

Thanks heaps for all the info team.
But, talking about shotguns sorry. My bad for not lack of detail.
Looking at o/u and piss all left handed ones out there for a beginner.

Originally Posted by kellyraz

Thanks heaps for all the info team.
But, talking about shotguns sorry. My bad for not lack of detail.
Looking at o/u and piss all left handed ones out there for a beginner.

Kilwell have a few Lefty O/U's but they are around 2700 ish. Have you considered putting up a "wanted" flyer at the local gun club.
I shoot with a couple of lefties I will ask them if they know of anything available.
Other wise there are cheaper lefty shotguns (again see Kilwell website) which would get you started.