I've been reading the amusing thread in the Gun writers section on Don Heath's article about rifle power and was reminded of a question about something he wrote in "Rifle Lessons Learned from the Zimbabwe Professional Hunter Proficiency Exam". I first found the article about a year or so ago when I was looking for a 375 H&H.

I'm not sure where this was originally pulblished but here is the version that generated my question.

http://www.africahunting.com/thread...ofessional-hunter-proficiency-exam.2604/

In the article, Don suggests an efficient and quick safety set up for a right handed shooter would be for the safety catch to be on the left side of the bolt or receiver. I have a new to me early Sako built on a FN action. It has a "flag" style safety on the left side of the bolt that will work if a scope is mounted. The safety arrangement does seem to have some merit. It's a little stiff (needs a good going over and cleaning) but my thumb doesn't have any trouble finding it. Unfortunately, this is my only experience with this set up on a hunting rifle.

If you have a picture of right handed rifles with left sided safeties please post them and let me know about your hunting experience with the set up.

Thanks,

Scott

SWJ, My FN HVA 270 is exactly like that and noooo problem-Muddy

I have the left-hand FN-style safety on my FN .375 Ruger. It is a very handy set up qnd I prefer it to the right-hand Bueler safety I have on another FN.

The only drawback it that the left-hand safety may hangup and disengage on my clothing when the rifle is slung on the right shoulder.

I avoid this by hunting with my rifle in my hands rather than slung.

Satterlee offers a left side safety for the right handed bolt for the very good reason that the thumb is there already and so it is the quickest safety to get into action. Mauser put his flag safety on the left for a very good reason.

http://www.satterleearms.com/gunsmithing.htm

I put an extended flag on my custom 7x57 as I also have a scope in QD rings that I carry in a scope bag in cases it is needed.

I see NECG are offering left hand, mod.70 style mauser bolt shrouds too.

My model 21 has the safety on the left side and I find it to be a pain in the arse...mainly because it works up and down as opposed to fore and aft.

I have two similar ones for sale in classified plus some other stuff including a two position side swing type

I'm a South Paw, and you need to be aware that I try and mount left hand safeties on all of my M-98's, so that I can spot game through a low mounted scope, and only then take off the safety. The reversed safety only works when there's no scope to get in the way. But I'll check out those NECG left hand Model 70 styled Mauser shroud jobs.