Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Left hand 12 gauge

Looking to get a left hand friendly shotgun in the next year some time for hunting ducks and geese. I have a pair of single shots one in 12 gauge 2 3/4 and one in 28 gauge that both get used for grouse. Haven't gone hunting for waterfowl for at least 12 years but went today and managed to get a goose with the single shot 12 gauge, it worked but wasn't ideal. I had a Browning BPS in the past which was a very nice gun, not sure if it fit me that well though. A couple of guns that have caught my eye would be a used Browning Citori or a new Remington 870 Express. I know the Browning is a really nice gun but even though it is quite different the LH 870 looks really good as well. Any other options out there that cost less than $1000?

The 870 express matte finish absorbs water like a sponge, the blued finish is easier to care for. Are you wanting a shotgun with a left hand safety with right side ejection or a true left hand ejection with a left hand safety.

Left hand Remington shotguns can be bought on the used market you just have to be patient for the right shotgun of your choice.

I have 3 left hand Remington 1100's, two 12 gauge trap guns and a 1100 20 gauge left hand "Skeet" gun. I have stocks and extra barrels I can swap out to build a shotgun for sporting clays, hunting etc.

Doc

My two 870s have been garbage. One is an express and one is a wing master. The express has jammed up on me while duck hunting more times than I can count, and the finish just doesn't hold up to wet conditions. I see a benelli in my future, as well as 2 less remingtons!

The two posters here are obviously FAMILIAR with their Remington guns, a route I'd have pursued if I still killed ducks .....

But there ARE semi-auto LEFTY 1100's and Benell's .....
As well as the Remington "WingMasters"!
(and not the schotty and extremely disappointing 'expresses!')

There are also bottom ejecting (even matte finished synthetic) Browning BPS's too if you might like that design.

You got it, Stubble. I've got an 870 LH that I bought back in 1971. It's been killing ducks, geese, pheasants,turkeys & anything else that flys for 40+ years without a problem. It's only a 2 3/4" but it kills just fine. Bob

Thanks for the info so far, I guess I will have to be careful with buying any Remington 870 and only buy a used one that has proven reliable. I do like the Browning BPS but am leaning more and more to a used Browning Citori, any advice on choosing a good one?

I saw a used Benelli autoloader at Cabela's a couple years ago that was a lefty, wishing I'd bought it for my wife. It was significantly under your $1000 pricetag. No experience with Benelli, but you rarely read a bad thing about them.

Son and I both run lefty Benellis. You should find one for $650 to $850 used in good shape with a little looking. Can't imagine a much better rig for a duck pit.

I AM a lefty, but shoot right-handed. However when I could still shoot left-handed, once owned a lefty M1100 Magnum - a gorgeous field gun!

But as alluded to above I no longer hunt ducks, but agree a Benelli is a helluva auto if one chooses that route. Would be my choice in an auto, for waterfowl or upland.

However a good Over/Under is also a joy to shoot! How to find a good used Citori? Keep asking! There are those at the fire that will eventually answer you.

Two questions though; Will you miss not having that 3rd shot in a duck blind? (for anchoring cripples on occassion); A Citori is often a flashy gun - are you going to camo or give it a subdued appearance?

Good questions, since I am used to a single shot, having 2 is much better Good point on the shiny Browning, my BPS was like that, I would have to tone down the stock a bit it won't be that hard to do. Maybe some fine steel wool on the stock to tone it down.

Akkar & Tristar Shotgun,s have some LW LH shotguns found them on a search know nothing about them. Product reviews are very few.

Would like to find a LW LH reliable semi auto 20 gauge.

http://www.akkar-usa.com/MID-SIZE-LEFT-HAND-SHOTGUNS_p_18.html

http://www.tristararms.com/semi-automatic-shotguns.php

KK, thanks for the links I haven't heard much either on either of them but they sure look interesting and light weight for a 12 gauge.

Edit: It appears they are both made in Turkey. Akkar shotguns were imported under the Charles Daly name for the last 10 years.

http://www.akkar-usa.com/COMPANY-INFO_ep_41.html

Just grabbed a LH 870 Express to use in a kayak in case I flip it. It's a total POS. the stock swelled after sitting in the water waiting for ducks for an hour. It rust before your eyes. And it jams or stove pipes on my 50% of the time. Everytime when I shoot overhead.

But I did triple on geese yesterday with it.

I read many comment on simply shooting a RH gun. The lefties are too few or spendy. But I've shot a fair amount of waterfowl so far this season. And I've gotten A LOT of powder in my right eye from it spilling out half burned into my eyeball.

I am looking for something else. The Escorts I think are a POS also but maybe a cheap lesser if evils.

The Charles Daly Akkars had two flaws that have been fixed. The bolt handle on the autos was easy to fall out and the biggie was that the bolt locking block was made of potmetal and had a tendency to break leaving the gun useless. These problems led to the demise of Charles Daly, even though by the end the problems were fixed. The bad reputation from the early guns hurt them badly. Today's redesigned Akkars would be a good buy.

Consider an Ithaca 37 pump. It has bottom feed and ejection. Mine both have left hand safeties. That makes for a truly left hand gun. The Browning BPS is the same basic gun with a tang safety, but is much heavier.

I have no problem shooting a right hand gun if it had a left hand safety. I never notice the ejected cases as they fly by. They may be a bit awkward to unload a right hand auto until you get used to it

I also have no problems shooting a RH semi auto shotgun, but will not anymore to much potential of RH eye or face injury. IMHO
Had a couple of RH Rem 1100,s and had multiple powder in the RH eye incidents.

Same thing happened with my 870. Piece of junk. Benelli is the order of the day for me now on. Gonna be shopping for an SBE II LH next month.

For waterfowl go with a Benelli or a Browning BPS.

If you shoot left-handed get a left-handed or completely ambidextrous gun. I doubt that any of the Righties here own left-handed guns though they are quick to recommend that Lefties get right-handed guns.

Get what's made for you. You'll shoot better and it's safer.

The Citori has a cast off for a RH shooter. I'm a lefty, and use both a Weatherby Orion 12 ga, or a Franchi Renaissance 28 ga. If you want an o/u, either in 12 ga would work.


Any o/u or sxs, you have to check for cast off. Good luck.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.