Why do they seem to make rifles that way?

[chriswjx]

So blame @Smellydog for this question, on why CZ do a left-handed 457 in 22LR but not in 17HMR.

Why don't rifle manufacturers seem to make their rifles as actions, barrels and stocks. Then assemble as required?

I guess there's the thought of having to headspace the completed rifles? Definitely don't know enough about rifle production But can't see why this doesn't seem to be the done thing...

 

[Klenchblaize]

Simples. No one wants a visit from the:

K

 

[Apthorpe]

So blame @Smellydog for this question, on why CZ do a left-handed 457 in 22LR but not in 17HMR.

Why don't rifle manufacturers seem to make their rifles as actions, barrels and stocks. Then assemble as required?

Probably because they don't build to order.

I guess there's the thought of having to headspace the completed rifles? Definitely don't know enough about rifle production But can't see why this doesn't seem to be the done thing...

 

[Smellydog]

With the 457 it would be a simple task.

There is possibly a channel to make a request??

 

[Domer]

I’m pretty sure CZ do a left handed HMR in the American sporter and varmint models for the 457. Or at least they claim to do so on their website.

 

[Border]

Aren’t they switch barrel rifle systems?

 

[Tim.243]

So blame @Smellydog for this question, on why CZ do a left-handed 457 in 22LR but not in 17HMR.

Why don't rifle manufacturers seem to make their rifles as actions, barrels and stocks. Then assemble as required?

I guess there's the thought of having to headspace the completed rifles? Definitely don't know enough about rifle production But can't see why this doesn't seem to be the done thing...

Most of the world is right handed so the market is geared to the better sales in the 85/90% market.
Approximately 85% to 90% of the world's population is right-handed.
military-issue .303 Lee-Enfield rifles were not produced in a left-hand action. The rifle was designed solely for right-handed use.

I am left handed and shot rh rifles for 50 years so at 14 shooting the club .22 .303 and would have known nothing about RH rifles, but Dad had my SBS 12b cast LH
my Browning's are a std RH but both have a left cast in the stock.
A true LH Browning will have the top leaver open the other way (I think) but again I never knew that.

 

[chriswjx]

Most of the world is right handed so the market is geared to the better sales in the 85/90% market.
Approximately 85% to 90% of the world's population is right-handed.
military-issue .303 Lee-Enfield rifles were not produced in a left-hand action. The rifle was designed solely for right-handed use.

I am left handed and shot rh rifles for 50 years so at 14 shooting the club .22 .303 and would have known nothing about RH rifles, but Dad had my SBS 12b cast LH
my Browning's are a std RH but both have a left cast in the stock.
A true LH Browning will have the top leaver open the other way (I think) but again I never knew that.

Indeed. Although in many sports the left hand proportion is significantly higher than that at the professional level. Google would suggest that in fencing it can be as high as 50:50!!

Would also argue that the Enfield (and rifles of that age) are not exactly great examples, as those date from a time when being left handed was "corrected" out of you...

To be honest, it doesn't even really apply just to the left/right hand business.

You see it from Tikka, Sako etc., who offer certain model and calibre combinations, when really, 9 times out of 10, the difference really just comes down to the stock (and maybe the trigger).

Appreciate also the comment on rifles aren't built to order, but equally, from what I gather currently, Tikka (for example) will do runs of say 100 of model X in calibres A - G. When they could just be running their action lathes to alternate between Rimfire, Short CF, Long CF. Churn out barrels in batches still. Churn your stocks out.

Final assembly to still follow a schedule and would need a bit of fettling so that you would produce fewer stock to sit in your warehouse, as in theory they wouldn't need to make enough to cover a full X month period where they cycle the production line through the entire catalogue.

From an efficiency view, I can't help but feel that would work better? Than just having the factory currently producing model X for the next month, before we move to model Y then Z etc.

Would also mean that you could offer a better turnover of "special orders" (could even have a special order build team). And fully open up your rifle calibre combinations for little to no extra hassle (as any "uncommon" ones would get tagged as a special order, and finished separately).

 

[Tim.243]

Indeed. Although in many sports the left hand proportion is significantly higher than that at the professional level. Google would suggest that in fencing it can be as high as 50:50!!

Would also argue that the Enfield (and rifles of that age) are not exactly great examples, as those date from a time when being left handed was "corrected" out of you...

To be honest, it doesn't even really apply just to the left/right hand business.

You see it from Tikka, Sako etc., who offer certain model and calibre combinations, when really, 9 times out of 10, the difference really just comes down to the stock (and maybe the trigger).

Appreciate also the comment on rifles aren't built to order, but equally, from what I gather currently, Tikka (for example) will do runs of say 100 of model X in calibres A - G. When they could just be running their action lathes to alternate between Rimfire, Short CF, Long CF. Churn out barrels in batches still. Churn your stocks out.

Final assembly to still follow a schedule and would need a bit of fettling so that you would produce fewer stock to sit in your warehouse, as in theory they wouldn't need to make enough to cover a full X month period where they cycle the production line through the entire catalogue.

From an efficiency view, I can't help but feel that would work better? Than just having the factory currently producing model X for the next month, before we move to model Y then Z etc.

Would also mean that you could offer a better turnover of "special orders" (could even have a special order build team). And fully open up your rifle calibre combinations for little to no extra hassle (as any "uncommon" ones would get tagged as a special order, and finished separately).

Good luck

 

[Tim.243]

Good luck

@chriswjx guess you never did an apprenticeship when you were sent to the stores for left hand nails rainbow paint or a long weight.
my question is do you drive a lefthand drive EV as surly there are lot more choice in Europe

I have left hand tin snips but both Spaniels cock their right leg for a pi ss

 

[LateStarter]

Aren’t they switch barrel rifle systems?

Yes! So a long way around to the problem would be to buy a LH 22 and then get a HMR barrel for it

 

[Mr. Gain]

Yes! So a long way around to the problem would be to buy a LH 22 and then get a HMR barrel for it

I don't know about the CZ457, but barrels can be "handed" (extractor cuts, bolt recesses, feed ramps).

 

[trickie]

My Dad had the “left handedness” knocked out of him in School. That left him ambidextrous a foot trait for a Plumber. I’m a leftie but shoot exclusively right handed, trained that way as a Cadet in the late 60’s

 

[HonestJohn]

So blame @Smellydog for this question, on why CZ do a left-handed 457 in 22LR but not in 17HMR.

Why don't rifle manufacturers seem to make their rifles as actions, barrels and stocks. Then assemble as required?

I guess there's the thought of having to headspace the completed rifles? Definitely don't know enough about rifle production But can't see why this doesn't seem to be the done thing...

Because they look at the US market when making decisions - and there’s a lot more people shooting 22lrs, so the pool of lefties will be far higher than 17’s. Why not 17 ‘as well’, small consumer pool to make it a viable investment decision

 

[Tim.243]

My Dad had the “left handedness” knocked out of him in School. That left him ambidextrous a foot trait for a Plumber. I’m a leftie but shoot exclusively right handed, trained that way as a Cadet in the late 60’s

I first shot Dads .22rf at 14 it is RH and myself LH, all the club target rifles were RH including the LE .303's so buying and using a RH Rem 700 with a plastic stock was not a drama, flip it around and you don't see many people in the UK insisting they want the steering wheel on the left the same side as their bolt lol.
I painted a lot of cars vans lorries and used my right hand/arm when the left got tired lol
When I sat with the dive boat crews having dinner I used my right hand being left hand and they liked it with one lad saying "Tim please use you left hand as you are left handed and dropping the food lol"

 

[Merlyn]

I am right-handed and was right master eyed too. Then I lost half the sight in my right eye, glaucoma, and now shoot my right-handed shotguns and rifles off my left shoulder. Takes a while to adjust, and then you don't even notice it.