Potentially stupid question about LH shooting...

[Duramaximos]

At least I think it is a stupid question...

What would be the harm in a left handed shooter using a right handed bolt action rifle?
Is this potentially dangerous?
Will it shoot poorly due to bad form?

I did a search but it was difficult wading through all the posts regarding "left handed".

Thank you!

[redneck posse]

im a lefty and all my riffles are right hand actions. the only thing i need to watch is on my semi 22 is getting a caseing in the face. other than that i have no problems shooting left with a right hand action.

[domac]

my brother is a lefty and all his guns are right hand acions. He is probably faster than most right hand shooters

[TheClash]

i am a lefty and have never shot a left handed gun....my pump is a bottom eject though....i actually think it works best from a prone position with a rest so i can use my right hand to work the bolt and leave my left on the grip etc.

that being said i think my next rifle will be a lh model....if i can ever find one haha

[beerhunter]

I'm a lefty, only have ever used right hand actions. Holding a lh model felt a little odd but will probably get a lh model with my next rifle sometime down the road.

[Tracker34]

My dad is a lefty and he's been shooting right hand rifles for 50 years. Not a problem. Doesn't seem to affect his accuracy. If you have seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, you'll see a lefty sniper. The only thing that is awkward is the opperation of the bolt.

[jim-bo]

Nothing wrong use a RH action if you are shooting LH. Most gun shops can order in a LH for you or they may have one in stock. Ordering in may cost you more but you get exactly what you want and not what they have to sell you.

[Jerry D]

The only thing you would have to worry about is if there is a palm swell on the grip. They only feel natural if your holding the gun in the hand it was designed for but can be shot accurately from either.

I am a left handed shooter and I only shoot lefthanded bolts. I may shoot a right hand one if I want to try out some of the old military rifles, but anything new and exciting I get in the LH version.

[shooter55]

my lefty shooting partner has a right hand action with a custom left handed thumb hole stock...crazy gun to shoot for a rightie like me.

[Duramaximos]

Thanks for all the replies!

I was mostly concerned about safety and technique.
I have been shooting my dad's right handed bolt rifles for years. I didn't care much about it since I was only concerned about myself. Now, however, I'm buying a new rifle, primarily to be used in the near future by my two young sons, so as a dad I now find myself very concerned about these things. I think one of them might be left eye dominant like me.

Thanks again.

[Got Juice?]

Originally Posted by redneck posse

im a lefty and all my riffles are right hand actions. the only thing i need to watch is on my semi 22 is getting a caseing in the face. other than that i have no problems shooting left with a right hand action.

X2

Originally Posted by domac

my brother is a lefty and all his guns are right hand acions. He is probably faster than most right hand shooters

Yes, I can shoot either hand (Left handed but right eye dominant)
and I am still faster working the bolt when i shoot left handed

I wouldn't buy a left hand rifle. Hard to sell, and look goofy in the gun safe.

Plus nobody else wants to shoot it!

[chad66]

Originally Posted by Duramaximos

At least I think it is a stupid question...

What would be the harm in a left handed shooter using a right handed bolt action rifle?
Is this potentially dangerous?
Will it shoot poorly due to bad form?

I did a search but it was difficult wading through all the posts regarding "left handed".

Thank you!

Are you right handed? It sucks when you have to reach over top of a right hand bolt action to chamber a second round, not to mention brass flying in your face. Stock design is critical if you are a left handed shooter trying to fit a right handed gun. Any right handed stock with a cheekpiece will fit poorly and be uncomfortable; this is not so much of an issue if the stock is a classic design. If you are a gifted individual like myself (i.e. Left handed) do yourself a favour and select a gun that that is designed to fit you properly, you will not regret it.

[PoppaW]

All the safety designs in a right handed gun are for right handers. If a lefty was shooting it during a ruptured primer or worse then all the gas or debris is coming right into his face. From a safety standpoint lefties should use lefty guns. Other than that I have seen how fast a lefty works a right bolt. Quick.

[chad66]

Originally Posted by PoppaW

Other than that I have seen how fast a lefty works a right bolt. Quick.

X2 But they can do it quicker if they don't have to reach over top. IMO

[Got Juice?]

Originally Posted by chad66

X2 But they can do it quicker if they don't have to reach over top. IMO

Pull your forestock hand back and work the action if you are left handed.

Very quick.

[Duramaximos]

Originally Posted by Got Juice?

Pull your forestock hand back and work the action if you are left handed.

Very quick.

That's exactly how I do it! Has worked well for me.
I appreciate the advise regarding safety. I believe I will buy a right hand action with a classic stock. This will be ideal for most members of the family. I'll just continue to do things a little awkwardly...and wait for a nice used LH to come along.

[TheClash]

Originally Posted by Got Juice?

Pull your forestock hand back and work the action if you are left handed.

Very quick.

yup that is what i do

[Dean2]

I learned to shoot on right handed guns and shot tens of thousands of rounds on gophers with right handed 22s, as well as hunted for the first years with right handed rifles. I didn't get my first lefty until Savage started making them in the early seventies. It was a real pleasure to finally get a gun that fit right but it did take a while to get used to the new layout. I now shoot both left and right handed guns but all of the right handed ones are restricted to centre fire varmint or target guns as I shoot most of these single shot anyhow.

For hunting, do your self a favour and buy a lefty. The fit, comfort and handling are way better, and I am not overly worried if no one else wants to shoot my guns.

Finally, about 10% of the population is left handed but slightly over 20% of shooters are lefties. I have never had a problem re-selling a left hand gun, the last two I sold on here were gone in less than a couple of days.

[stan77]

Buy a lefty for sure. If your biggest concern is can i sell it later then why are you buying it.