Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum Rifle for nephew?

My great nephew is left handed and I’m looking for recommendations for a rifle for him. I actually bought a Remington Model 7 in .243 before I discovered his handedness. The looking around I’ve done has me thinking that a compact Savage Axis might be the way to go but thought I’d gather some opinions first.

Thank you

Before you purchase a Left Hand rifle, it might be worthwhile to check his eye dominance. If he is right eye dominant, he will be much further ahead to learn and build muscle memory of shooting from the right side (dominant eye) with the current Rem Model 7 that you have already purchased.

IF he is Left Hand dominant and Left Eye dominant, there are used Left Hand Rem 700's in .243, .260, 7mm-08, and 308, if you look for them. Also, Left Hand Tikka T3/T3X's for probably less money than the Remington 700's at the moment...

Thank you Orion - I had not thought about that. I’ll talk to his mom and dad and see f they’ve had his eye dominance checked

Short action Left handed 700s are scarce as hen's teeth. But they're out there somewhere.

I have a Tikka T3X 7mm08. My granddaughter shot her first deer this season with it. She's about 5'2" when she stands on a phone book. I downloaded some 120 grain TTSX and it was about perfect for her. Not much recoil - she enjoys shooting it.

Hello sir I live in Saint Gabriel Louisiana and I've got a left handed Tikka T-3 SS 22-250 with a 1-8 twist that I might sell or trade. PM me if you have any interest. Good luck with your search.

I managed to find my 11 year old son (right handed, left eye dominant) a LH Browning Micro Midas in 6.5 CM. Slick little rifle, especially if you’re looking for something wood stocked. Found some cheap magazines and we were good to go.

Checking eye dominance is a 30 second exercise you can do at home. Take longer to explain than to do it. Basically have the boy extend one arm. Make a circle with thumb and fore finger. Focus on a distant object while looking through the circle. Slowly move the circle back toward his face. Circle will eventually land on the dominant eye. Do it two or three times to confirm.

Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate the information provided. Orion2000 - I hope the see the boy on Sunday and we’ll give the eye dominance test a go. Elkhunter49 - thanks for the info on the Tikka, I’ll send you a PM

Eye dominance is the most critical part of this thread. That should always be checked, regardless of which hand he favors. He's more than likely left eye dominant, but its always best to check to be sure. I've been seeing more left hand Tikka rifles on the used rifle rack. That's what I'd buy, if it were me. Good luck with it and good on you for being a thoughtful uncle.. Kids need that..

Tell your nephew's parents to give him a camera and take their picture. He will instinctively pull the camera up to his dominant eye. Good luck!