Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum Why no lightweight love for lefties

Before you launch into me hear me out: Why are there no 5 3/4 lb left handed bolt guns? I know weatherby offers the backcountry TI in lefty, but they are only available in the Weatherby cartridges (which goes to the 9 lug action which takes it to 6lbs) plus it has a 26" barrel.

If Kimber would make ANY of their rifles left handed, I would buy one immediately. I have been searching for a rifle with 20-22" barrel, lefty, that weighs sub 6lbs naked in the <$1500 range. The only gun that meets that criteria so far is the savage axis lefty in 350 legend. The savage is a good rifle don't get me wrong, but there is something in me that wont let me enjoy the "bargain rifles" but so much.

I am aware that Melvin will make me a model 20 in whatever I want and meet that criteria. I just don't have the patience to wait for a year or more to get it (plus its $4000).

So I guess my question is this: Kimber, why won't you make any of your rifles left handed? Remington, make a model seven in left handed? Savage, make the 110 ultralight or the lightweight hunter in left handed?

Are their rifles out there that I have overlooked that I don't know about?

I would buy a left hand Kimber Ascent in .270W or (gasp…) 6.5 CM in a heartbeat. Hands down best factory ergonomics for me of any production rifle. They just put the bolt on the wrong side.

That's because you have to be strong to make it though life as a south paw.

Hahahaha so true

My father in law (also a member here) has had a Montana 243 and an Adirondack in 6.5CM. I would buy either of those rifles right now if they were offered in lefty (except I wouldnt get the 6.5CM)

IIRC Kimber used to make their short action in lefty but only in WSMs. I have a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 243 that is a nice, tidy little rifle. Not as light as you want but me thinks you could drop one into a synthetic stock and come pretty close.

Instead of wishing for a product from a company that doesn't care about my business, I supported a company that does and bought a left handed Tikka Superlite.

I gave up and built a lightweight 223ai years ago. Sub 6 pounds, Pacnor mtn contour, lefthanded 700, Bansner sheep hunter, flip flop pad. Hard finding Rem lefthand actions so would probably punt and go Defiance Anti these days. Think those are a year out too. Easy button would be Tikka though I don't care for them.

Here's some ideas to lighten some ounces from a Tikka.

Thread on Rokslide

Milling receiver

Tikka is a good alternative and DryPowder gave some good links for taking weight off. To my knowledge, since Kimber moved from Oregon to NY there have been no LH rifles made. I asked Kimber if there was a LH rifle in their future and was laughed at. They told me there will never be a LH rifle made by Kimber.

I have a meager collection of LH Kimber of Oregon rifles and am pretty smitten with them.

Savage is supposed to be coming g out with the 110 Ultralite in left hand. There’s a thread in here about it. I think originally it was supposed to come out this summer, then got pushed to fall, and I think the latest is 2022. Hopefully this will co a to fruition at SHOT 2022. I don’t think I’ve heard of many, if any negative reviews on these firearms. I plan on rewarding Savage with their willingness to support lefties and picking one up.

This is just me thinking (hoping) out loud, but if they end up making the Ultralite action in left hand, maybe they will also make the 110 Lightweight Storm too.

I have been following that thread but my guts tells me that it might be a pipe dream. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will come out as they say. My other hope is that they will offer them in the same cartridge selections as the right handed version

Yeah, your gut might be right, but I hope it’s not. I’m not counting on it showing up in LH but if it does, I’m with you and hope it is in all the calibers offered in RH.

If you get a chance post a couple of pictures of your lefty collection.

Hal

Cooper Backcountry. 5.75#
4 currently in stock on Gunbroker.

I tried to talk myself into the one in 280 AI, but couldn't. I don't really have need to save weight and gain the negatives that go along with that.
So, I went total opposite and got an Open Country Long Range in the same caliber.

Around double the price range you mentioned, I know.

I held a 110 ultralight today at cabelas (righty obviously). If they make that rifle in lefty it will be amazing. I am not usually a savage guy but that is one sharp looking rifle. I am going to keep my fingers crossed that they will offer that rifle in lefty

You're gonna take a beating for that comment about not loving a Tikka. But I am in the same boat. I had a T3 original years ago in 270 WSM. Just never warmed up to it. Just a year n half ago I HAD to have the Sportsman's Warehouse exclusive SuperLite in 7mm Rem Mag. It's OK....but I never reach for it and seldom every even consider it. I JUST CAN"T warm up to them.

Have a 308 with a Rem Mtn Contour take off in 308 also in a Bansner Sheep Hunter. It has been more than a few places although it's only fair at best on accuracy. Just works.

I have on order....a Ridgeline in 300 PRC. I've never seen brass for it, nor dies. I'll be hosed IF Christensen ever comes through and actually delivers the rifle. I think they make the Ridgeline in a 20" Creed. Mesa as well. Both check all your boxes I believe.

Seems like you're looking right over the Tikkas, you might be surprised.

It’s simple economics. Most are content to let that 7% market share slide. I can’t recall ever seeing a LH rifle on the shelf either, only the internet.

FWIW, I too yearned for a light lefty so much that I eventually ordered a Fieldcraft, telling myself I'd just shoot the righty on the left side. EZ enough. Turned out the Fieldcraft was an excellent rifle, and too much (or little) of a good thing. It taught me there was such a thing as too light. So I went back to the Tikka, which is light enough.

Only regret is that I let a good LH Tikka '06 out of my stable in the process.

Buy a discontinued Forbes and be done with it.
Poor man's NULA and they shoot lights out.

I've killed a boatload of game with my .308 over the last five years, feel very fortunate to own one.

I bought a Lefty Tikka Superlite, sold the factory plastic stock and replaced it with a McMillan Hunters Edge but with the standard fill. That particular stock design is very slim and compact to begin with. I knew from experience(having the same stock on a LH short action Remington 700) that even with the standard fill it would be plenty lite(I agree with Talus...a rifle can be too lite).

The McMillan did not disappoint, I’m now looking to buy another Tikka in the future and replace the factory stock with the same “standard fill” McMillan Hunters Edge.

All this from a reformed Tikka hater. I just couldn’t warm up to the plastic Tikkas...several of my buddies have them.Then I bought one and replaced the plastic. They are great rifles! Super accurate and very reliable. Lots of aftermarket parts for Tikkas to replace the trigger guard, bolt shroud etc. Not exactly cheap, but nothing is for a lefty as we all know here.

Leftybolt

good post, Leftybolt.

Several years ago, I had one of the early Left Hand 1:8" twist .223's. And sold it because I could not warm up to the ergos. However, I do like the fit and feel of the McM Hunters Edge. Duly noted for future consideration...

Orion,

I didn’t like the ergonomics of the Tikkas either. But more than that it just felt cheap(like Savage rifles feel cheap, in my opinion).

Then I saw one here on the Campfire that had been put into a McMillan Hunters Edge. I though, “Wow, that looks like a nice rifle without the plastic stock”.

So, in a moment of boredom, I decided to buy one and order a McMillan.

The Hunters Edge totally changed the feel of that rifle for me. Replacing the plastic trigger guard and bolt shroud made it even better. The Tikka now feels really solid...nothing cheap feeling about it. I can honestly say it is one of my favorite rifles now and I own several LH Winchester 70s and Rem 700s and a few CZs.

Leftybolt

I have a LH Tikka in 7 mag and a LH Christensen in 7-08. Like them both except as others have said the stock on the Tikka leaves a lot to be desired. Seriously considering spending the bucks for a McMillian. By the way, they are both shooters.

Now that is a tikka idea I can get on board with. I am slowly becoming a "reformed" tikka hater the more I read on this post.

I just assembled a LH 110 in 280 AI with a 23” barrel and a VX3 3.5-10 weighs 6 pounds 10 ounces no ammo or sling. I literally just got it together and haven’t shot it yet but so far so good.

Not trying to be contrary but I'd like to see the components listed out with weights to see how you got to 6lbs 10oz as I'm at 7lbs 1oz with a proof stock 19oz, proof barrel 22" sendero lite and a Defiance anTi SA (19oz)

I need to take the assembled rifle to work to weigh. I weighed all the components individually and it shows as 6.85 pounds like it sits which would be just under 6-14. The bare rifle is right on 6# components totaled. I think I may have had a scope weight of a 2.5-8 VX3. My bathroom digital shows 6.6 but I mange a lab that has several analytical balances calibrated annually by Metler that we check daily. The total components of just the rifle weigh 2721.52 grams. My barrel is a SS no name pencilweight and weighs 918 grams that at the time were rumored to be Bergaras and the stock is 770 grams including a Limbsaver, again a no name that I got used from a big Savage guy. He didn’t remember the maker and it’s definitely the weakest link.

I’ll try to sneak the whole thing into work tomorrow. My company has a no weapons policy so I have to be a little stealthy.

Look forward to final result! Don't get fired-- figured you might have a pencil steel barrel but the stock suprised me! Interested in the weight of just the savage action/bolt/bottom metal and barrel nut?

Weights in grams. Action includes trigger (Rifle Basix) and mag box. It's a blind mag.

Action 566.09
Bolt 382.20
Barrel Nut 35.07
Recoil Lug 24.16

It also has Talley Lightweight extendeds. The barrel helps, but the stock is (to me) where the savings is. If you hold my stock and a wood stock in each hand, the wood feels like you're holding a brick. The pencil barrel had me nervous, but it doesn't feel whippy or weird, at least to me.

Duck hunter,
Based on your build components and listed weights I have to assume you have a rather heavy scope and mounting set up to reach over 7 pounds (at least compared to the leupold single shot has on his)

Here's the list:
Proof Lightweight Hunter Stock (with javelin insert, painted and bedded)- 20oz
Defiance SA anTi: 19.2oz
Proof Sendero Lite 22" (7saum) w/ 2 port Ti brake: guessing around 42oz
TT Special: 2.2oz
Rem 700 aluminum bottom metal/follower/spring/wyatts box: ?? Don't recall exactly but it was lighter than the hawkins or alamo BDLs

Originally it had hawkins lightweight hybrids (3.7oz) and a Leupold Mk5 3.6-18x44 (26oz) and the total weight combined was 7lbs 5oz-- switching to 30mm hybrids and a lighter scope saved over 4oz!

Looks like your barrel is close to a 1/2lb lighter, and the stock def helps compared to most on the market. Big difference in receiver weights as expected between a SA and a LA. Im impressed how light your rifle came in!!! Post some pics when it's all done!

So I checked and I had 326 grams in for the scope, which would have been the 2.5-8x36 VX-3. I ran into this like new VX-3i 3.5-10 CDS which is responsible for almost another 50 grams. I'm also in Talley med height rings. I tried the lows but couldn't get the clearance or my head in good position with the lows. That's probably a few grams too but that puts me within 5 grams of my expected. I didn't weight the scope or rings that are on it.

Total is 3160.7, which is 6.968 pounds, or 6#,15.5 ounces. I'm happy with that.

I'm not really sure how to exactly maneuver photos here but this build link will take you to the image gallery for a pic and a pic of the weight.



Build

Usually I say if a rifle is sub 7lbs ready to hunt (even if its 6 lbs 15.9oz) then I consider that a win. As long as the first number is a 6 then I feel like I did all I could.

Okay so you guys convinced me....I am going to go with a Tikka. Apparently they are hard to come by right now since the foreign gun makers aren't importing so my dealer said he has no idea when he could get me a lefty Tikka. I have found one online in 270wsm and several 30-06. Here is my question: the 270wsm I found appears to be an older model so the gun has t3 on the bottom of the grip (not t3x) and the stock is a little different that the current stock.

My question is were the older models (t3) heavier than the t3x lite or superlite? if so, that will go a long way in helping me decide which to buy

What caliber are you looking for? I have a LH Tikka T3x 6.5CM that I'm not shooting and also a Christiansen Ridgeline 6.5 CM that is pretty light in weight that I would make available. Send me a pm if you have any interest in discussing these.

Have an early bolt locking LH Rem 700 in 270 Win that I had a Take off Rem TI Take off LW barrel in 270 Win installed FL bedded in LH Mcmillion. Light and very accurate. Just never use it.




Did the same with a LH Rem 700 in 06 used a Mtn SS take off barrel tight chambered in 06. FL bedded in a Mcmillion. Very accurate. Leupold M8 6X42
in early Leupold Detacho Mounts. Same deal never use it. Both right over 7#

Couple nice “do all” rifles.

I hear you. My lesson in lightweights came courtesy of the Fieldcraft, which I bought and shot on the left side. The piece taught me the meaning of "too much of a good thing". It's just too light. I sold it on the 'Fire and bought a Tikka, which is pretty close to perfection. Lesson learned, I hope.

Well, seems the topic is so interesting I posted twice

Also, Kurt, I wholeheartedly approve your choice of slings.

For anyone folllowing this thread and is interested in the Savage 110 Ultralite in Left Hand. It’s finally here! I started a new thread specific to it below.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...lite-in-left-hand-it-s-here#Post16418649