Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum New left hand rifles for 2016?

On another forum a poster there works for Legacy International. He stated right now there are no relatively soon plans for a LH option...

I spoke with a sales guy at Cooper last week... No lefty synthetics in the short term future.

They don't currently manufacture their own synthetic stocks. Further, their supplier does not offer the stocks they use in synthetic. He said they intend to bring synthetics in house and AFTER that was complete, they would likely roll out lefty variants. I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks for the update. Glad I followed my gut feeling on my plan for a rifle build. Or I would have had a deposit on a lefty Cooper for who knows how long. Guess I could have gone with a laminate through them, but I'm fine with the direction I took it, while saving probably $1000.

In December I got emails from Cooper stating that they should have the lefty synthetics up by spring/summer. I thought that was a bit optimistic. Looks like they are again shoving the blame to their suppliers for not making the stocks. But, in reality, their suppliers make what is ordered, and Cooper has not put the initial order in for left hand stocks. I went around and around with both companies on that earlier last year, and finally got down to the bottom of it. Being- There is a significant initial investment to make the stocks in LH versions. Cooper didn't feel that the demand was enough to justify it, is what it boiled down to.

The guy told me the supplier wanted Cooper to pony up $8,000 or so for the lefty mold... and for very few lefty rifles they produce the economics just don't work.

I understand... it's business. Doesn't mean I'm happy about it.

Thanks for the update guys. Typical position for rifle companies, maybe its just smart business on their part. At least we have many options when it comes to custom actions and aftermarket stocks. It is just nice to hold a rifle before purchase and not have to spend 3k plus guessing if it will balance and feel nice.

I never did explore the idea of McMillan making one. Not sure if they can or if any of theirs are compatible. Any supplier that Cooper uses (HS and Bell&Carlson) has a contract deal that they cannot build stocks for a Cooper unless ordered by Cooper.

Blaser R8 offers 40 calibers in left hand models...

Great info, Big Red, kudos for your posting here. Appreciated...

I "tookin" a LH Zastava that I bought, am having it rebarreled in 6.5x55. Started out as a plan for a 35 Whelen, or 9.3x62 but now travel to Africa with a firearm and returing without Gov't intervention is very risky apparently. Always wanted the Swedish, so that's the way it goes. I am going to restock it when the work is complete, or do something to lighten the heavy existing wood stock. There is a laminate available for it now anyway so that might be the route but still considering what might be done with a synthetic.

Anyway, while I was at the gunshop, found Mel Doyle is going to retire(Plummer ID). He had a RH Mauser that was pretty nice, 30-06 so I bought it.

Can't see much on spending 2-3 grand or more for a hunting rifle that I will bang around with. Makes no sense to me and having a safe full of queens is not my bag either--it would be a wasted thing for me if I didn't hunt with it. That said, I am thinking of a 7x57 from MRC would be the next thing I would like to do soon or change a ruger into one. David(Avery, ID)

Mel Doyle is my smith-30 minutes away....I'll be calling him to get the 'retirement' details.

I have work for him...

Not all suggestions to rifle companies falls on deaf ears. I've sent some suggestions out and Browning was one company that came through. I asked them to produce a LH with a cheek rise. Out came the Browning X-bolt White Gold. I had hoped they were going to make the hunter version. which would have been less expensive. But they came out with a top of the line model. I have corresponded with other companies and ignore the ones that refuse to produce LH rifles.Roughly 15% are left handed and up o 40% are left eye dominant.

Any of you guys heard anything about when Bergara is coming out with left hand models? Their website says under FAQ that they plan to in the future. I sent them an email a couple of weeks ago but no reply.
Paul

Davidson's is showing a RAR in stainless compact 223 with an 18" barrel. I don't think those were available last year.

I'd like to see the RAR in the Predator model be offered as a lefty.

Fyi, Davidson's is now showing the Ruger American compact all-weather in left hand in .223, for those who might be interested.

At those prices, they certainly should

By the time a guy finishes "fixing" his 700, he's likely spent 80% the price of a Blaser and still only has 1 rifle.
The R8S (non-removable fire control system) is $2,899 MSRP. That gives you access to all calibers up to and including the 375. A standard R8 adds the big calibers up to 500 Jeffrey.

That's certainly a valid concept. Extra Blaser barrels are ~$1k+, so for $4,000, you would have two rifles in one. Personally, I'd rather have a couple of Sako 85's or Weatherby MkV's for the same money.

And that's why there are so many different brands...we don't all approach decisions in the same manner.