Hey guys, nsaqam got me started on the left handed vs right handed situation on a differnet thread and I was wondering who the lefties are here. To me it seems like there are many more than usual (statistically speaking) here on the fire. I also want to know if you have a preference toward right handed rifles or left handed ones. I understand many grew up using right handed rifles since the availability may have been slim to none when you first started shooting. My first rifle was a sporteized m1917 with a heavy target barel on it and it was a tack driver. I got so used to the manipulation of the bolt handle on that side that now it feels like a monkey #$%$#@@ a football when I try to use my only left handed rifle in my battery. Would like to hear from you lefties here. Thanks, bsa....

Good thread and I'd like to see where we lefties stand percentagewise.

I started out with RH rifles too but I will no longer buy nor use a RH bolt action rifle.

I'm a lefty, used right handed bolts until I started buying my own guns. After I used the left handed bolt at the range a couple times the right hand version felt wrong. I've traded out most everything but shotguns, and I prefer the tang safety if the gun is right handed.

Heck I prefer the tang safety on any rifle.

leftie here to boot, use both port and starboard sided weapons

Being a left handed shooter you notice quickly the lack of affordable left handed bolt guns. You can't get into one under or around $300. I've transitioned entirely to Marlin levers and hunt/shoot accordingly.

Fellow "southpaw" here, started out hunting with model 94 that was my dads. As I got older and trasitioned into Bolts I shot right handed rifles. When I started buying my own I went lefty and just feel more comfotrable with them. Over the years my lefties have been Remingtons and Savages. Other than my military rifles all my bolt guns have been leftys. I think about the only Right handed hunting rifle I would consider would be a classy pre-64 Winchester model 70.

I am a lefty. Have both left and right bolt rifles but I prefer left. Also use a 7600 pump too.

Another lefty here, shooting lefty rifles except for Ruger #1 and 3s.

Steve

I'm a left handed shooter. I have 2 RH rifles and the rest are LH. I hunt primarily with my LH rifles or my TC Encore. Can't wait for Winchester to start making LH rifles again.

There are 'limited lefties'(will not/cannot shoot LH rifles) and 'unlimited lefties' (can/will shoot RH rifles)..

nsaqam's limited.. I'm unlimited..


But still left..

I am as left handed as most people are right handed. I doubt I could find the bolt handle on a right handed gun. As a kid, I used shotguns with the safeties backwards to me. As an adult, I've been able to buy left hand rifles and swap safties on shotguns.

You could always opt to buy a left handed shotgun or use an O/U or SXS. I got rid of all of my right handed shotguns and only use my lefties for wing shooting
Here are just a few I have:






Sorry I got off the rifle subject

I'm sure you guys remember when Col Craig Boddington wrote the article about having a house fire and having to replace all of his rifles. He said that was a good thing because he made the switch to all lefties. That got me to thinking back in the late 90's and I decided to do the same thing and got rid of some beauties, still kicking myself!!! Anyway that phase didn't last long. I bought a ruger mkii in 300 win mag and used it for everything for a while, but just didn't get used to it for some reason. I ended up buying some right handed rifles to feel normal again. Now I still have that left handed rifle, but don't think I'd get rid of it because of how well it shoots and it is a reminder of how I screwed up once

I made the transition to left-hand rifles a long time ago, and I have never looked back. To paraphrase a beer commercial(Warsteiner I think), "Life is too short to shoot wrong-sided rifles"
Left-hand guns are a bit harder to find, but are easier now than 10-20 years ago. I use a Tikka 595(7-08), Browning A-Bolt II(30-06), Savage 10(257 Roberts), and a Tikka T-3(223) all in left-hand. And that does not include the Browning T-Bolt, Kimber 82(22 LR and 22 Hornet) or the Anzchutz 22 LR. And I forgot the Stag Arms AR Left-hand in 5.56. I also use the Benelli M-2 left-hand(12 ga) a DeHaan 20 ga SxS, and a DeHaan SGr O/U custom(28 ga) all of which are left hand.

While I would like to get a Tikka T-3 Lite Stainless in 6.5x55, Beretta has refused to import any to the U.S. in left-hand. Which makes no sense to me since they would import the same gun in right hand, and still import the left-hand model to Canada. Maybe that is why I don't like Beretta, but I digress!

Ruger makes the Hawkeye in left-hand in several calibers other than the "standard" 30-06/270/7 Mag, and Browning is now making the X-bolt in left hand also. Left hand guns are available from Nosler and others, but the prices are more than I am willing to spend. But there are many options available for the left-hand shooter, and if all the left-hand shooters would shoot left-hand guns, then the market would react favorably and more would be available.

Lefties are by nature very adaptable, but as I get older(over 60 now), I just refuse to compromise any more. If the gun manufactures want my money, they had better make what I want. If not, I will find a custom shop that will, and the manufacturers can find some other way to make money, like cutting corners on manufacturing or using more plastic and pot-metal in their guns to increase profits. If the manufacturers want to ignore 10-15% of the existing market, they do so at their own peril. But I will stick to my left-hand rifles and shotguns. Now ask me what I really think!

Left handed right eye dominate, I can shoot both left hand and right hand but prefer to shoot left handed. I do shoot a right hand bow though. Funny thing is using a left hand bow just never felt right.

I shoot, write and eat left handed. All the rest right handed. Started out in the '60's with a left hand 110 Savage and other than a RH 7-08 and a RH 338 RUM, all my rifles are either left handed or levers. Shotguns are a whole different matter. I had a older mentor introduce me to trap shooting and handed me a RH 1100. Been shooting them ever since. I've apparently learned to ignore the empty shell casing fly in front of my face.

An interesting caveat to the whole thing is that when my right handed daughter was old enough to hunt she picked a left hand 700 out of group and hasn't given it up yet. I offered to buy her a right handed one and she declined saying she preferred left handed rifles. Gotta love the kid.

Same for me! I have a couple left handed bolts, but most of my rifles are lever actions. Bows, guitars, golf clubs, and lots of other things right handed.

I shoot left handed, but have never had a left handed rifle, Maybe someday.

Amen!!

Some folks find no problem in compromising and in supporting companies which hold lefties in zero regard. I do and I do unapologetically.

We respect you for doing so too. Just some of us are weaker than others, myself included :(: I've given in to the manufactures way too many times. That also includes the times when I've bought a left handed shotgun or rifle and paid the extra cost over the right handed model just because it is a left hander (that just shouldn't happen, but what can we do about it). Hard to boycott something. I'd be pretty interested in buying a new model 70 if they ever start producing them in that configuration. Left handed extreme weather would be the bomb I tell ya

I guess I'm kind of a mongrel. Bow, handgun, writing, eating, wiping etc. are all right handed for me. Rifles and shotguns are shot left handed. Don't ask cause I don't know why........

I shoot 98% of my game left handed. I have no problem killing a turkey right handed if he shows up over my left shoulder. Surprise, surprise Mr. Gobbler!!

If I had to shoot a bow left handed I'd quit! (maybe not)

As far as guns I hunt with, only one RH rifle, a HB Sako 22-250 and the rest are LH, NULA's and Remington 700's. My shotguns are RH guns with LH safety's.

I am right handed but have a dominant left eye. As a kid, I couldn't shoot very well and I read in a magazine how to determine the dominant eye. I have shot left handed since then and it's natural to me now. I use right handed bolt rifles and with my Ruger MKII I can leave the buttstock against my shoulder and work the bolt with my right hand. It works for me.

As a kid, my father bought all my stuff for right-handers until it came time for my first gun. That's the lefty 788 in 6mm I still use nearly 40 years later. Since, I've added an LH 870 and an 1100, along with LH Rem 700's in 7mm RM and 30-06, and a Savage in 270. There are some pumps added lately, with the Rem 14 in .25, .30, .32 and .35 Rem. The only RH guns are some from my step-dad that don't get hunted - WW-II vintage. For some reason I shoot a bit better RH from a bench, but won't try it in the woods for love 'nor money.

My wife is a lefty too, but she just shoots semi-auto pistols, as long as they have an ambi-dextrous safety, which isn't really hard to find.

My son and daughter are both righty's so I get to keep all my lefty's and they don't have to deal with hand-me-downs.

Another lefty here. I've had a few right handed rifles in my time but all are now left hand bolts with the exception of a Browning BAR and a couple of Ruger #1's. RH pump shotguns don't bother me a bit, have a couple.

LH Left Eye. I shoot Winchesters.

I am a lefty, and in my youth used many right handed firearms,mostly shotguns. I have seen first hand a Remington 1100 come apart, and that kind of changed things for me. I own about 10 left handed rifles and shotguns, but the pickings are slim. I would dearly love a left handed 20 gauge 870, Remington's version basically a 12 gauge with the smaller barrel. Remington's left handed rifle page on its web site has a lefty shooting a right handed rifle, and that kind of sums it up, although I am grateful for what Remington and Savage provide us. At least Mossberg has a tang safety. I really hate it when a righty says we should just compromise. I have purchased and will continue to purchase left handed firearms that appeal to me.

I also golf and shoot a bow, and it seems that both of those sports cater to left handed participants much better than the firearms industry. A right handed bolt action, is a single shot to a lefty with a convenient place to hold ammunition.

Another lefty here...

+1 for the Winchester classic in Lefty again, amen brother.

I'm a lefty, and I prefer a RH bolt gun to a LH version of same. Call me crazy.

Left eye dominant. Learned to shoot firearms and bows left-handed since I was a kid. I have an 1100 lightweight with a left-hand safety and the right-hand ejection doesn't bother me at all. I had to have an Armand Swenson leftie safety put on my 1911 back in 1978 when I bought it. The selections of left-handed weapons and pistols with ambi safeties is a lot better now. I've never been one of those people who shoot right-handed bolt guns and such. My first centerfire rifle was a leftie Remmie 788, and my first .22 LR was a leftie Browning T-Bolt..the original one.

LH & much prefer the safety of shooting LH rifles. Can buy a LH rifle a lot easier than replacing an eye!

My brothers from different mothers, fellow lefty here also.

My one son is a lefty too.

lefty here.

LH & much prefer the safety of shooting LH rifles. Can buy a LH rifle a lot easier than replacing an eye!
Shooting a RH Ruger 6 MM Tang Safety LH factory round and primer let go. Lucky to save my eye.

Count me as another lefty who started out shooting RH bolt guns. Now the only RH bolts I have are family hand-me-downs that I would never sell.

kk alaska; Did that case have a flash hole punched in it? I've run across one or two in fifty years of loading that didn't. Just curious.

Yes bullet hit target, and a small piece of primer almost went through my cornea. Kind of interesting that Bill Ruger was LH and with all of Rugers safety warnings. They never caution lefties shooting RH rifles. After this happened I certainly do.

Was wearing safety glasses when shooting my loads , then got complacent and took glasses off, when shooting the factory loads.
Right eye & face are exposed to gas relief, when a leftie shoots a RH rifle.

A total lefty here. I started out on right handed guns like most. Then I bought an Ithaca 37 and had a left hand safety put on it. then I decided to get a left hand bolt gun. The dealer would not order one for me. He said I would never be able to sell it later. I told him I was buying it to keep. He went on to suggest I buy a lever gun or an auto.

I walked out and shortly after found a used Savage 110 in left hand. It is still in my safe after about 25 years. Today I have all left hand or ambidextrous guns. It was a bit painful selling rifles like my CZ 527 Hornet in right hand, but I don't miss them.

Were you wearing shooting glasses?? If you wern't, do you think they would have helped in a case like this. Also, do you think it would have done the same thing to a right handed shooter since the eye placement is still behind the action when you pull the trigger. Sorry to hear about your misfortunate event.

Left handed and right handed, left eye dominant.

Shoot rifle, handgun and shotgun left handed, write and eat left handed, kick left footed. Throw a ball right handed, bat right handed, catch with my left hand, play guitar - well, I can't play, but when I've tried I play it right handed.

Can't shoot a bow at all cause I naturally draw it right handed, feels wierd to draw left handed, but then the string's under my right eye and I'm looking crosswise at the target with my left eye.

Grew up shooting right handed bolt actions and bringing them down to work the bolt with my right hand. First time I worked a leftie bolt the way they were meant to be operated I was hooked.

Have 10 LH bolts, one RH bolt, and one right hand Model 1100 shotgun with a left hand safety. The rest are levers or Ruger 10-22 semi-autos.

Southpaw here, and all my current big game rifles that get use have LH bolts. Shotguns are over-under or side by side. Hate crossbolt safeties.

Lefty all the way. I have bought a few RH rifles that I always end up selling. Found the LH 870 also. As someone else said, Craig Boddington was an influence on me to seek LH. I live about 2.5 miles from a 3 major gun marts. If I was bought RH...... I'd be in real trouble.

Another person of the sinistral persuasion here, left-eye dominant. I started out with a right-handed bolt, went to a single shot B78 for years, now I'm back to a right-handed bolt. I've handled a southpaw bolt but haven't found it to be enough of an advantage to invest in one. Shotguns are a different story. I hate right-handed shotgun safeties. My BPS works for me.

Right handed, but very left eye dominant. Shoot bow and long gun left handed, pistol right handed (off the left eye). Never learned to work a right handed bolt, though I've taken a few shots off the wrong (right) shoulder when circumstances dictated. Tang safeties are good.

Ella

Let's see------LH 700, LH Tikka, LH 870, Lh 22 Savage. For trap shooting it was a BT99. Got a few Marlins, Browning 22 Lever. The only right handed rifle is a 17 HMR in Savage Bull Barrel. Just added a 375 Ruger in LH

I've always thought safeties on the triggerguard that were converted to lefthand would be unsafe. Seems like anyone else using that gun could be prone to forgetting and maybe have it backwards. I don't want to complicate things, and I have some triggerguard-safety guns that can't be converted to lefthand, so I'd end up with say, 870s with safeties that work one way and Ruger 10-22s that works the opposite.
Also, alot of people don't like CZs "backwards-working" wing safety, and I'm one of them.

eat, shoot a rifle and write left handed

throw, shoot a handgun right handed, though I'm equally comfortable with a handgun left or right, only really shoot it left handed if I'm trying to snipe something aways out there



bought a lh 700 in 7 mag in 1979, .338 in 700 in the late 80's early 90's, bought a CDL in .223 a few years ago and finally a NULA lh in 7mm=08 from rockchucker a couple of years ago

other than that, lever actions as most of my family is right handed

put me down in the camp that prefers tang safeties.

still have my rh'ed 870 WM, used it so much I'm pretty comfortable workin the safety, where the hull ejects has never been a problem

though I do like the tang safety on Mossbergs so I have a few of them.


I could use a rh bolt in a pinch but can't see any reason why I'd equip myself with one

Another lefty here...like most of us I started out with RH bolts because thats what my dad had. I only buy LH bolt guns anymore though.

Left eyed, right handed. Have hunted deer most of my life with right bolts since my right hand is more natural. Newest bolt is a righty bolt in a lefty stock. Works really well off the bench. Shoot bow lefty also. Have a couple of lefty bolts. Favorite lefty is the tang safety savage. Shoot o/u shotgun with tang safety (Ruger).
Pistols I shoot either hand, but use left eye.
Newest rifle is an automatic 7400 .243. Seems to be the ticket for pigs where multiple shots are necessary. Second shot for a deer is seldom necessary and never been an issue. Even used a single shot for many years with a tang safety. Ruger.

jcc

I started out with right hand guns (thats all my family had) but started switching over while I was still in my teens. I can still use right hand guns pretty efficiently but I pretty much only use lefty's now, especially when hunting.

Shot righthanded for 30 plus years. Switched to shooting lefty for eye dominance and degrading vision in my right eye. A little slower on target still but shooting much better. As the kids have started shooting, discovered they are both left eye dominant as is my wife. All shooting lefty despite righthanded.

My next challenge is converting over to lefthanded bow shooting. Archery goal is to draw an archery sheep tag and to shoot one lefthanded to go with the one I shot righthanded in 2000.

Guys, my little girl is left eye dominant and as a result I have her shooting a BB gun left handed. I bought her a right handed auto loading 20ga. for her to use when she gets older. At the time I bought it we were not yet sure if she was going to shoot right handed or left handed. Is this going to be a problem?

My favorite shotgun for teaching kids is an over and under. Instantly know if loaded or unloaded, easy to check for barrel obstructions. I like the top tang safeties. That said, son just sold his and bought a lefthanded Benelli.

I'd swap it for a 20 gauge BPS with top tang or spend more dough on an over and under 20.

An O/U make or even a SxS makes a lot of sense. The BPS with its "Made in japan" on it would make me sick to my stomach. Maybe a Ruger Red Label for her.

Lefty here too. My job requires I use Dept. issued RH guns that I use from the LH side, I also shoot very well from the RH when shooting weak hand. As far as my personal guns old winchester lever actions, single shots, Browning BPS and LH bolt actions. Like some of the other guys I now refuse to spend my money on RH guns. My youngest son is LH too so he will get a truck load of LH stuff when I die...

Switched over from RH rifles to mostly LH 20 years back. Sold most of the RH bolts and replaced them with lefties. I think I made a mistake though in selling the RH 700 varmint rifles as I shoot them off the bench more than anything and having the loading port on the right side really is more convenient. I am acquiring more singles shots now as I get older.

It gladdens my heart to hear of so many lefties who refuse to buy RH guns any longer.

I only hope the manufacturers take heed of a rather large and largely untapped market.

10-12% of the population, if only all lefties would shoot LH guns we would have more options...

Been saying that for years!

I'm not a big fan of Savage ergos or aesthetics but I give them BIG props for always catering to the LH market.

I've often wondered if one or more of the Savage bigwigs in the 50's and 60's was lefthanded.

lefty here also. No right handed bolts in my safe!!!!!

I'm a righty with left eye dominance. I worked really hard, age 13, to save up paper route money to buy a Remington 700, and always wondered why the bolt was on the wrong side. It was the first bolt action anyone in the family ever owned (Dad only occasionally hunted and then with a Win 94). I now only own lefty bolts, but shoot pistols right, along with everything else (bow, golf, etc).
Don

Was right handed, then the stroke, became a lefty, now I'm right handed again!

Lefty here also. Started out with lever guns, still have about 6 that I use, I also shoot SXS and O/U shotguns, (my trap gun has a true left handed fitted stock)
I'll only shoot LH bolts, The LH bolts I have are 7-08 Browning SS, 270 Model 700 BDL, 338 Model 70 and a custom MRC 1999 in 358,
The only RH rifle I shoot is an AR, I could have bought a LH Stag Arms but went with the tried and true Colt instead. (so far not a problem)
Pistols are a S&W 1911 with ambi safety and a Colt SAA, (Sam Colt was a lefty and made the SAA very LH friendly)
As we all know, lefties are in their right mind.

Yet another lefty here too.

I actually grew up as a right handed shooter and suffered an eye injury in sixth grade. Legally blind in my right eye for over a year. Had to learn to shoot lefty. Finally had a lens replacement surgery but there is no ability to focus at varying distances--just varying amounts of blur.

My first rifle was a Marlin model 60 (pre-injury). I spent some time with bows but eventually got bit by the rifle bug. I was 15 when I got my first centerfire rifle--and it was a lefty!

I will never buy a RH bolt for myself. I will have them for my wife and my daughter (if that is her dominant shooting side) but I refuse to purchase a RH rifle for myself.

I will stick with my few LH Model 70 classics and Ruger #1's. If Kimber would pull their head out of their ass, I would love to have a Montana one day. I am still pissed that Winchester has not revived their LH line.

Fellow southpaw here too!

Buy only LH rifles. Got LH Ruger Hawkeye, LH CZ452 American. Most semi-auto pistols are set-up for righties, so only have two revolvers, S&W 617, and Ruger GP100.

Don't currently have a shotgun. Three choices basically: Ithaca M37, Brownin BPS, or an O/U shotgun.

raises left hand

Bolts in LH (Tikka, Ruger, Browning, CZ)

Shotguns w/ tang safety (BPS for now, but I have a hankerin' for a 20ga O/U or SxS)

Savage 99c (tang)

Next on the list - Marlin 45/70 (lever,) 760/7600 (I'll switch the safety,) and a RH bolt .223 to shoot from the bench

I won't buy a RH bolt to hunt with.

I lament the lack of LH offerings but I'm sure it's saved me considerable money.

If Remington can make a true LH 870, why not a 7600?

Lefty here! The whole world's backwards to me. I've never owned a "left handed" gun. I grew up shooting traditional guns, and anything made for southpaws is as backwards to me as to any right hander. I do prefer guns that don't eject empties into my face, but I really don't discriminate if I like the gun otherwise. 99 Savages with tang safeties, 37 Ithaca pump shotguns, Doubles and Over-unders all make fine left handers.

I'd imagine just not enough call for a LH 7600.

My friend, spoil yourself with a Benelli LH M-1 or M-2. The Super Black Eagle comes as a lefty also.

My 12 year old son (he's a lefty too )quickly learned how to beat me to the gun safe on trap day,I guess he needs his own M-1.

Great choices there.

Funny thing though, I have two RH Benelli's, a SBE and 20 gauge Montefeltro (sp?). I use the 20 gauge for some clay birds and dove hunting in PA. I can load that 20 gauge faster than I can a LH shotgun. I keep the loaded rounds in the right side of my pouch. When reloading, I just drop my right hand down from the forend and grab some more shells, stuff 'em in. Left hand never leaves it's position on the stock. I never had a problem with flying brass/gas and wear glasses when shooting 99.9% of the time.

Works great for me.

Lefty here also.

Used my dad's Pre'64 Model 70 30.06 and my Grandpa's Savage 99 250 sav. until I'd saved enough moola, as a teenager, to buy my first LH rifle(a Rem 700 30.06). The first time I shot at a deer with that gun I instinctively reached over the scope for the bolt to chamber another round in case a follow-up shot was necessary; boy did I feel stupid when I'd realized what I had done. Only happen once though.

When it comes to rifles being LH has been the curse of a lifetime for me. I have drooled over and still do drool over all the options you RH'ers have.

It has taken me 20+ years to locate and purchase them but all of my rifles are LH bolt guns: several New Haven Model 70's, couple of Remington 700's and a Ruger or two(M77 MKII's). Most of these have come at a premium but, being a lefty, I wouldn't have it any other way. There's just something about cycling the bolt of a Winchester 70 built just for me(bolt on the appropriate side) that get's me thinking about the approaching hunting season.

The only exception to this is my Grandpa's old and still nearly prestine Savage Model 99 250-3000 cal. that was just recently handed down to me by my dad; you just can't replace that one.

I too, hope Winchester will bring back the Model 70 LH but only if it includes standard short action calibers(243, 7mm-08 etc) in both the blued steel and stainless featherweight configurations.

I have taken game while working a right-sided bolt gun as well as by shooting right-handed when the shot angle just wasn't good for a lefty. But, it has always felt very awkward to me.

Leftybolt

A bit late here. lefty on firearms. righty on everything else. left eye dominate. but, I can drink beer with both hands!

lefty here. can shoot rh but prefer lh actions.

I have to shoot left although I'm not a natural lefty and I'm not left eye dominant either.
When I was 20, I took a .22 bullet in the spine at shoulder level that put a severe crimp in my style. I no longer have enough use of my right hand (almost none) to operate a trigger.
Soooo, I learned to shoot left. Almost all of my rifles are set up for lefties, with the exception of the first rifle I bought after I was shot - a BAR in .270 Win. I had the bolt handle built up to make it easier to load.
Everything else is either left-handed bolts, levers (some with safeties reversed) a semi or double barrels, with the exception of a couple of .22 rimfires.
I'm at least as good a shot now left-handed as I was for the first 20 years of my life, probably better.

Lefty here. Always shoot RH bolts. Son has a LH 7-08.

Kenneth,

Those are recoil-operated semi-autoes, correct? I was hoping for lefty gas-operated semi-auto. I think Remmy use to make the 11-87 for southpaws, not sure if they still do?

Right handed but left eye dominate. Have 2 BLR's, 1 Marlin lever and a Citori(but the darn thing is cast for RH). I do have a RH Ruger RSI in 6.5X55.....was to pretty to pass up. Haven't been able to find a LH bolt I like in the caliber I want.

Went to Cabela's this past weekend looking for a good used 12 ga O/U....ever single one I picked up except for a one Ruger Red Label was cast-off.

Lefty and all my rifles are lefty

I'm a guilty lefty also.....

Lefty here but I shoot right hand bolts. I used to have a 700LH in .22-250 though.

I almost forgot. I used to have left handed Savage 110's in .243 and .308. They both shot so poorly that I'm trying to forget them I think!

another lefty here. started out with RH bolt rifles and still work them pretty good, but switches to LH rifles and havent looked back.

lefty C

All my 20+ bolt guns are left handed. I don't like shooting RH guns. It's just all wrong for me.
just my 02.
sbsmith

[img]<a href="http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc381/Keith366/?action=view&current=Rem-1001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc381/Keith366/Rem-1001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/img]

Another port-sider. Used Remington pumps and Winchester levers for years, still do a lot of times. Have a half-dozen or so LH bolts, various makes and models. Tried RH bolt rifles a few times, felt like the monkey and the football. I have LH safeties on the pump guns also.

Well since I don't think anybody ever made a left hand .35 Whelen I guess my next purchase will be another right hand bolt.

Mike,
I bought a LH 700 action and put a Douglas 35Whelen barrel on it.
Works and shoots really well. Glad I did it.

Steve

Well that's one way to get around it I guess. Sounds like a pretty good idea. I could do that to a Ruger I guess since I prefer my .35 Whelen to be CRF when I get it.

I use right handed rifles for varmit shooting even though I'm a lefty. With the forend supported by a bipod, I can maintain my hold on the pistol grip and manipulate the bolt with my right hand which is doing nothing anyway. I think I'm at an advantage here. Hunting and shooting offhand is another story. Levers, pumps, single shots, and semi auto rifles are sure handy as is a left handed bolt. The pumps and semi auto rifles always have the safety wrong though and all but the left handed bolts and single shots tend to have crappy triggers. I like doubles in the shotgun category, so being a lefty is a non issue when bird shooting.
Dan

Count me in as a lefty for long guns, but I do shoot pistols right handed. All my bolt guns are left handed, but I do have a Stag Arms AR that is left handed.

sometimes. I am left eye dominant and I sometimes shoot from that side. Have interchangable left and right handed bolt actions on my main gun.

Grew up shooting right though, so if its for the money I would shoot from that side.

I consider myself lucky. I'm truly left handed but right eye dominant. I do everything right handed except for writing, but can write with both hands. I feel for the the guys who have to run left handed rifles.

Nother backwards SOB....but cursed with only Left Eye dominance. A natural righty in everything, other than shooting. Since getting a job at 14, I have always invested in lefty bolt rifles. Semi-difficult to train myself to shoot pistols lefty. In Law Enforcement and shoot my handgun lefty. But can shoot it right equally as well, and score 92% or above, either hand. A nice bonus. Easy to score well in "weak handed" drills.

There was a really nice lefty bolt gun in 35 Whelen on here for sale a few months back. There was also a Ruger 77 on GB in 35 Whelen in left hand around the same time... sold for about $500.

anyways, I'm a lefty also.

First given a pre-mil Savage 99 to deer hunt with. Santa brouht a BPS when I was about 10 or so... then brought a post-mil Savage 99 with the tang safety at 14 or so. I hunted a few times in there with a right handed bolt gun but not often and never owned one.

The Savage 99 bug stuck HARD... I now prefer to shoot a "pre-mil" (lever safety) 99 with a funky gizmo from the 50s that adds a tang safety and looks like this:




they are pretty hard to find but work slick as snot, I've managed to dig up about 4 or 5 of them now.

I pretty much only shoot SxS for shotguns... including turkey and the little waterfowl I hunt.

I fully reject the idea of buying a right handed bolt gun ... just bought my first LH Rem 700 and will make my own custom out of it.

The only complaint I have against Savage is they don't offer the 250-3000 in the left hand model 14... how hard can it be to screw the same damn barrel on a different action??? And what, put the extractor cut on the other side? I imagine its more a matter of inventory...

I am a lefty. I gave up on specialized lefty rifles the righty's can buy over the counter. I chose single shot rifles and marlin lever actions.

Doc

Effie Sullivan in the Savage Custom Shop would be happy to get you a LH Savage 14 with a 250-3000 barrel.
BTW there are no extractor cuts on a Savage barrel.

Remember when I said the 99 thing stuck HARD!! I am not very familiar with most bolt actions so I was not so certain about the extractor...even more reason it should take about 2 seconds. The 14 just stuck out to me as I think its attractive and everyone that I know that has one in 250 says they shoot lights out, well under MOA right out of the box.

I did ask my local FFL/ small gun shop to please see if he could get a model 14 in 250 from Savage for me and he called his distributor agent about 20 times over a few weeks and never was called back. I then emailed one of the sellers on GB that has a stack of new Model 14s for sale and asked if they thought they could get one... they ignored my email.

Can I contact the custom shop myself? My only complaint about that is I would likely have to pay retail + custom shop charge where I can buy any new production model 14 for $200 under MSRP.

I believe this is the number you need to call.

(413) 568-7001 ext 4399 for Special Orders

Ask for Ms. Sullivan.

At least you could get a price.

Pretty stupid that they offer the RH 14 in 250-3000 but not the LH 14.

THANKS!!

I'm interested in you tang safety conversion for the pre mil 99's.

Never knew such a thing existed.

I like the pre mil 99's for their quality and for the fact that my C&R FFL allows them to be shipped directly to my door.

What machining is required on the action to fit these and where would one find one?

to find one... you basically have to be diligent as hell about searching out Savage 99s and just stumble across ones that are already installed for sale. I bought one from GB, one from AA, one from JC Devine Auctions before they went under, and one recently from a small farm auction in PA. i have seen at least two others for sale on GB but passed. I have never seen one for sale (not complete at least) not on a rifle. I did take one off a rifle and sold the rifle as it was a real beater... I plan to build a custom 7mm-08 pre-mil Savage 99 and use it on that. The fit is really not bad... a hole in the tang where a screw goes from the inside out and then a slot above the lever safety so a little set of "ears" can grab the existing safety. Its also anchored by replacing the bolt stop on the rear left side of the lower tang but involves simply removing and replacing. I have a copy of the original installation instructions as well.

I might sell one in the next year or two if you are interested I will keep you in mind.

Boy, I hate to mention this but with the nonstop coverage of the death of Osama Bin Laden I couldn't help but seeing footage of this POS shooting an AK47 off of his left shoulder!

Yep, I remember seeing footage of that a long time ago. Let's keep him out of our list though ok .