Left Handed Shooters

[JOERM]

Watching left handed shooters really looks awkward to me. I realize there are a few mfg's that make rifles that eject the spent shell out the left side but to me those who don't have such a gun would have to have some sort of "extra" flinch with the empty shell blasting past their face and right arm. Shot gun or auto rifles would seem to be more of a "getting used to" than a bolt action rifle. Pistols may not make much of a difference.

Just kind of wondering how many lefties there are on this site and what comments you may have as to being sort of handicaped so to speak. Please don't take me wrong like I think you lefgties are weard, not the case at all. Just courious that's all. Hell, maybe it doesn't make a hill of beans difference to you at all.

 

[Erich]

I'm a southpaw and left-eyed as well. Honestly, one just adapts. I can run a right-handed bolt-gun really fast . . . from the bench. The shells flying into your face are not that big a deal, but you really never question the need for eye protection.

Thanks for asking!

 

[tom turner]

Doesn't bother me at all. I don't flinch when shooting a firearm. When one flinches for any reason, they miss.

 

[JOERM]

I'm a southpaw and left-eyed as well. Honestly, one just adapts. I can run a right-handed bolt-gun really fast . . . from the bench. The shells flying into your face are not that big a deal, but you really never question the need for eye protection.

Thanks for asking!

Hay Erich, I just noticed that we both signed onto this site in 2003 but you beat me by a few months. Kind of cool.

 

[Steve O]

Southpaws have to compensate for so many things in day to day life that right handers take for granted, shooting is just another thing that we have to adjust to.

 

[jframe]

Can't I get some kind of government check for being prejudiced against all my life? The school desks are for right handers, holsters are mostly in stock for right handers, hell, John Browning even hated us lefties when he did the 1911. I smell free money somehow!

 

[charlie sherrill]

I'm kinda mixed up. I'm left eyed and shoot handguns with my right hand and long guns lefthanded. Write left handed and throw and kick righthanded. Some things I do with either hand. I once shot the tires flat with a Ithaca shotgun on a car I was chasing while I was the driver of the cruiser. I couldn't have done it if had shot long guns righthanded.

 

[tops]

Everyone is born right handed but the great overcome it. Larry

 

[galena]

I am left hand and left eye dominant. I never had much trouble adapting to firearms, even RH bolt rifles. My major gripe is the lack of LH holsters and ambi safeties on semi-auto pistols. Remember, left handed people always operate in our right minds.

 

[bgrafsr]

Everyone is born right handed but the great overcome it. Larry

Yep, and Mr. Colt must have been left handed also, as the Colt Single Action Army is perfect for us lefties.

 

[A10]

I'm right handed and left eye dominant, so I learned to shoot ambidextrously. Leftys have advantages with bolt guns and 1911s. You don't have to shift your grip to operate either.

 

[Arik]

Im a lefty. I dont even notice when my AR and AK eject. Same with shotguns. Pull the trigger and repeat.

I can even shoot surplus bolt action rifles ( without scopes) just as fast as a righty without taking my eye off the target (almost)

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[Wyatt Burp]

Yep, and Mr. Colt must have been left handed also, as the Colt Single Action Army is perfect for us lefties.

Right. No wonder it's my favorite gun. Some things can be percieved as being a hassle, like .22 autoloading rifle cases bouncing off your right arm. Sharps type rifles have the hammer seemingly right in front of your face when aiming. But that all just becomes our "normal". I probably wouldn't know how to handle lefty scissors. When I use regular ones I have to keep a very stiff thump to keep the paper from bending. No big deal. I always thought a lefty Ruger International bolt action would be nice. But 90% of my rifles have levers.

 

[w8lfter]

Another lefty here. The only gun I've had trouble with was a Vietnam era M16 my department has, it doesn't have a shell deflector. I think most modern autos that have controls where Browning put them aren't bad at all. You adapt if you don't know any different. Bolt actions aren't too bad, the Mosin Nagant isn't easy with the knubby bolt handle. My Enfield is suprisingly easy for me to fire quickly.

The only problem I have with revolvers is during speed reloads and making sure I force the cylinder open all the way, but with practice it can be done. I think where being left handed shines is doing off hand work. All my partners struggle when they have to do malfunctions and reloads with their left hands and for me all the controls are in the right spot for once.

 

[dsbock]

Another lefty here. I only have a couple of bolt action rifles. Generally, I prefer semi-autos and lever action rifles as the adjustment to left handed use is easier for me. However, push button safeties all operate backwards. I've rarely been bothered by flying brass.

For my handguns, the only issue I have is the safety on my semi-autos. My single action revolvers are simplicity itself.

As another poster above said, we have to adjust to so much in our day-to-day lives, it's just expected after a while.

David

 

[hittman77]

Everyone is born right handed but the great overcome it. Larry

I heard you become right handed after your first sin.

 

[hittman77]

I too am left handed and left eyed.

On long guns, I never saw the need for a bolt action when so many semi-autos and pumps were on the market. I deer hunted with a Savage 170 in 30-30, shotgun with a Remington 870 Wingmaster and "plink" with 10-22s, AKs or Nylon 66s.

Revolvers have never caused me a problem but I agree with others that more semi-auto's could be better with their safety and mag releases.

Actually ...... a local store has a used Remington 870 in left hand and I viewed it more as a novelty than necessity.

I've never viewed it as "adapting" but it would be more convenient some times if things weren't put together so totally backwards. We leftys are a resourceful bunch.

 

[josh2415]

I'm a lefty, and my main issue is with safeties - I simply don't buy firearms that are R controls only. Love my SR9c with ambi-controls, and LCP with no safety.

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[Arik]

I'm a lefty, and my main issue is with safeties - I simply don't buy firearms that are R controls only. Love my SR9c with ambi-controls, and LCP with no safety.

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Im the opposite. I buy em without safeties or just dont use them. When i had a 30-30 lever i never used that little push button safety. My AR and AR never see the safety in the ON position

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[bricker]

My youngest son is left eye dominant, but he is right-handed. Got him a lever gun to hunt with. Works pretty good, still odd to watch him shoot left-handed, though!