Ok fellow lefties - thinking I need a good all around shotgun for birds (doves, pheasant, turkey) that might also be able to shoot some slugs for deer. Have an 870 slug gun now, but no screw-in chokes (needed for birds).

I'd consider 12 or 20GA. What would you recommend and why?

If you have the funds, then I would go with a lefty Benelli SBE II and be done with it. You can buy an aftermarket rifled choke for slugs for deer season. If you want something a little cheaper, then buy the Benelli M2, you give up the ability to shoot 3 1/2" shells with the M2 and that may or may not be important to you. Gunbroker always has a few listed or I've found that Gander Mountain will usually have some lefty Benelli's on the shelf.

If you took the deer slug gun issue off the table and wanted an O/U, then Browning makes a few models in the Citori line with the stock "Cast On" and the palm swell correct for those of us in our right minds.

The Browning BPS is a bottom eject that is great for a lefty as well.

Everyone will have different opinions and you have to find what works for you. As a lefty that went down this same path a couple of years ago, these are the conclusioons I came to in my search for a lefty shotgun.

I shouldered a Citori 725 (not a left handed model) recently and it fit me perfect. Closed my eyes and brought it up, opened the eyes and the beads were lined up perfectly. The 725 is near the top of the list for when (if) I finally buy my first shotgun.

If you have the funds, this ^^^^^^^ And if funds are tight, then you could do what I did, keep your eyes open for a clean used LH SBE I at a reasonable price...

I have the LH Benelli M2(12 ga), the BPS(16 ga) and the 725(not LH but adjustable comb) as well as a standard Citori(12ga).

The Benelli is fine for hunting birds and sporting clays with lighter 1 oz or 7/8 oz loads, but is a real - itch with turkey loads(not a big fan of "manly" recoiling loads). Light weight and easy to carry means more recoil.

Browning advertises that their stocks are "neutral" for both left and right handed shooters- some are, some are not! If you can try the gun before purchase, the you can make sure the stock fits you, and stock fit is critical for a shotgun since your eye is the rear sight. If your rear sight is not in the right place, you will not shoot that gun well. My BPS, 725, and standard Citori fit me well, but I have tried others that did not fit well.

You can get a slug barrel for both the BPS and the Benelli, but they are not cheap, especially the Benelli!

I was not aware of the Browning BPS. How is the quality? I need a shotgun for hunting turkeys on our property in Tennessee.

I have the BPS with a rifled barrel. I think the quality is great.

In a shotgun, fit is everything. (okay, it's 99% but all the other factors are crammed into that last 1%).

The main thing for a leftie to watch out for is that many shotguns will have a small amount of cast off which is the exact opposite of what a southpaw needs. That's particularly true in older doubles which were actually made the way they should be, if you're right handed.

The Remington 870 and 1100 are neutral in that regard and both fit me perfectly. The Benellis I've shouldered also seem to fit perfectly - i.e., they line up exactly where they should be when mounted quickly. Brownings on the other hand, whether Citoris or the BPS will have me looking down the right side of the barrel but that's just for me. Others will find that a Browning fits them as it should.

To answer your question, any decent shotgun is going to work - Remington (I'd look for an older one), Browning, Benelli, Ithaca, whatever. But you will need to try a lot of them personally to see which one fits you - that will be the best shotgun for your needs.

The best pump gun for a Lefty is the Browning BPS in 16 ga or 20 ga.

I plan on looking at the BPS Stalker in 12 ga as it accepts 3.5 inch shells as well which could come in handy for geese and turkeys.

How is the feeding on these? Do they really handle anything from 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 without any issues?

BPS's are just wonderful - excellent quality for the price (better than an 870 Express IMHO).

I had an early trap gun in the late 80's but sold it when I gave up the game. The 16 is almost as light as a 20 and is in my future.

Look for an older 870 Wingmaster. I got one that I bought new back in the early 70's-----best pump action shotgun there is IMO. It's the Model 12 for the "baby boomer" era.

Are the Brownings drilled and tapped to accept a mount to put a "red dot" on them?

Browning BPS as stated by earlier posters. LH Remington 1100's are also good if you can find one.

I recommend a Benelli if you like them and your budget allows. I have two, a M1 and a montefeltro, and have never had a problem with either one. I use the m1 for doves primarily and occasional turkey hunts.

I love the LH Benelli Montefeltro 12 Guage for fit and feel. Need to put a season on it to see if it is good as it feels. The BPS is a pain to load and unload. Grew up with the Win model 12 easy to work for me, unloading for fence crossings and I shoot them well. With a shotgun its how it fits for you.

Kurt,
Why is the BPS a pain to load and unload?

I have been shooting a BPS since about 1988; never noticed any difficulty loading it.

+1, I'm going with you on this one. I would never get rid of my lefty 870 wingmaster:


Second choice would be an 1187:


However, The browning citori would actually tie the 1187 for second place. 3rd would go to the cheaper model 870 express:

The left hand Remington 1100's/870's are out there is the used market in 12 and 20 gauge. The 20 gauge 870's can be bought for
$800.00+ and the 1100 lefty 20 gauge for $1,800.00+. Recently there was a lefty 20 ga 1100 on Trap shooters in the box for $1,800 that did not sell....actually quite surprisingly. If I didn't already have a lefty 1100 in 20 gauge I would have bought it....as a spare.

None of the lefty barrels have have tubes in 20 gauge but Mike Orlen can install the tubes cheaply as compared to the cost of Briley tubes.


I have two lefty 1100 trap guns, one with a "light contour" 11/87
28" inch barrel I use for 5-stand that swings just beautifully. I picked the barrel up on Ebay for $75.00 and had it reblued.

Doc

Snowwolfe I grew up shooting the Win model 12, & Rem 870. Both you can half cycle action to unload chamber. Then close action unloaded chamber or leave it open. When I first got my BPS and loaded and unloaded it had several bad jams with double fed ammo. Operator error but prefer a action I am used to.
Plus the BPS are heavy in comparison.

if you don't need 3 1/2" shells that go with a m2.
budget it and sell some stuff if needed, you won't regret it.

Will shotguns such as the Benelli SBII really handle anything from 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 inches without a hiccup?

Is the only difference between the SBEII & M2 the ability to shoot 3 1/2?

Mostly. Consider the M1 Super 90 over the M2 if money is an issue. Good left-handed M1 Super 90s can be had for less than $1K.

I forgot to mention the bottom ejecting Ithaca Model 37. It is sweet to shoot and is tough as nails.

Visited a LGS today and handled a BPS. Man oh days that is the smoothest pump shotgun I ever handled.

An Ithaca 37 with a left hand safety installed is a true left hand gun. I have a 20 gauge that I bought after my 12 gauge Ithaca 37 was stolen while I was away at college in the early 1970s and a 16 gauge that I rescued from a pawn shop about 4 years ago. Both are slick as snot and both have left hand safeties.

I second the Ithaca 37. Have 2 a 12 and a 16 gauge . My 12 gauge Ithaca is actually lighter than my 20 gauge BPS both with 28 in. barrels. Keep in mind that the newer Ithaca's are heavier than the old ones. I think the Browning is a very well made shotgun but when it comes to handling it doesn't even come close to my 16 ga. Ithaca made in 1950.

My son loved my Model 37 20 gauge so much that he bought the first 37 in 12 gauge that he found. He and his buddies used to get together on weekends and shoot clay pigeons. He always beat them using my 20 gauge and them using their 870s and Mossberg 500s. They finally figured out that it was the gun. They would all shoot the 37 until it got too hot. My son still beat them though.

How do you lefties like the bolt release on the Ithaca 37 to me it feels awkward.

Older BPS have barrel cut off which allows for easy unloading of the chamber. I'm also very fond of a tang safety. In my opinion, it is far easier and faster to any safety in and around the trigger guard.

I agree a tang safety is hard to beat but the safety on the Ithaca is fine once you are used to using it. Think it is better than the Model 12 which is located on the front of the trigger guard. As far as the bolt release it releases automatically upon firing so I don't see it as an issue at all. But as I said in an earlier post I think the handling qualities of the older Ithaca far exceed the Browning. Plus the Ithaca's have always been made in the USA !

12Ga BPS have the balance of a Groundhog on the end of a pitchfork. 20s are fine.

Light and quick? The old Ithaca Featherweights.

Best balance of the bunch? Model 12 16 ga, but not a lefty.

Remington 870's in 12 Ga are heavy for all day carrying. 20's are sweet. Find an old Wingmaster 870. Run from the others.

Autos? Benelli or Beretta. Wouldn't buy a Remington 1100 for half the price if you planned on using it more than a little.

This is what I recommend^^^ Bottom eject is perfect for leftys. I have the Deerslayer II for slug hunting here in Iowa and it's great. My turkey/pheasant/coyote shotgun is a Benelli Vinci. Doesn't seem to ever bother me or eject in my face. Both guns are great.

Friend of mine shot a Model 12 until he lost his right eye and had to learn to shoot left handed. He bought a BPS and used it the rest of his life. I liked it so much I bought one for myself.

A BPS is heavy - but no heavier than an 870 with a 3" chamber. The BPS I like best is the Upland Special with the 22" barrel, because it balances a great deal better than the longer barrels. You can get the US in 20 ga too, and it weighs about 6.5 lbs, which is just about as light a gun as I can shoot well (I'm a fairly big guy).

No problem with trigger guard safeties - but I have used tang safeties for many years and habitually reach for the tang when the bird takes off.

I'm not left handed, but I've owned some shotguns. I would buy a BPS over an 870 or a Model 12 (I've owned both). FWIW

12Ga BPS have the balance of a Groundhog on the end of a pitchfork. 20s are fine.

Light and quick? The old Ithaca Featherweights.

Best balance of the bunch? Model 12 16 ga, but not a lefty.

Remington 870's in 12 Ga are heavy for all day carrying. 20's are sweet. Find an old Wingmaster 870. Run from the others.

Autos? Benelli or Beretta. Wouldn't buy a Remington 1100 for half the price if you planned on using it more than a little.


^^^^^
this

My 12ga BPS Upland is pretty dang light...Good handling too. I like it a lot, and have zero problems loading or unloading. The stock is a bit odd for use with my slug barrel, but I kill a lot of deer with it, so I guess it works!

I had a 12ga Browning BPS, which felt like 2x4.

The BPS 20ga feels like it handles a lot better IMHO.

Have other south paws notice that most 12ga o/u are mostly made for rights while the 20gauge stocks seem more neutral cast?

Good shotgun, but it stomps you with 3.5" loads.