Advice For A Lefty - First Rifle

[Bolognaise]

Hello everybody.

I am looking for some advice. I am about to purchase my first rifle which I aim to use for stalking and the occasional practice at the range.

I am right handed but shoot left handed due to eye dominance issues, however it appears left handed actions aren’t exactly in abundance or even offered from some brands.

Are there any fellow shooters that have this issue and can advise whether I should hold out for a true L/H action by looking at alternatives, or whether a R/H action is feasible?

Thank you

 

[308rws]

Consider looking at the Beretta BRX1 Range as these straight pulls can be configured to L/H or R/H by design:

https://www.beretta.com/en-gb/firearms/firearms-family/brx

 

[Andyquadra]

Consider looking at the Beretta BRX1 Range as these straight pulls can be configured to L/H or R/H by design:

https://www.beretta.com/en-gb/firearms/firearms-family/brx

They've not had great reviews

 

[Andyquadra]

Hello everybody.

I am looking for some advice. I am about to purchase my first rifle which I aim to use for stalking and the occasional practice at the range.

I am right handed but shoot left handed due to eye dominance issues, however it appears left handed actions aren’t exactly in abundance or even offered from some brands.

Are there any fellow shooters that have this issue and can advise whether I should hold out for a true L/H action by looking at alternatives, or whether a R/H action is feasible?

Thank you

There are loads of left handed rifles out there

For Sale: Thread 'Calling all Left Hookers!'

Jan 29, 2026

Currently have a range of sporting rifles and donor actions for the rifleman of a left handed persuasion!!

• Tikka T3 Stainless Varmint .223 - £900 (Provisionally sold)
• Tikka T3 Stainless Varmint .243 - £900
• Tikka 595 Hunter .243 - £450
• Sako M591 Hunter .243 - £425
• Remington BDL Hunter SOLD
• Remington Semi Custom McMillan 6.5-284 cerakoted SOLD
• Sako 591 Semi Custom McMillan .243 Ackley Improved - £899 (provisionally sold)
• Blaser R93 Offroad .243/7x57/.30-06/.270
• CZ452 American .22lr 20" - £399
• CZ452 American .17HMR 20" - £399
• Anschutz 1417...

• Edinburgh Rifles
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Firearms

• 

 

[Bolognaise]

Yeah, I’ve seen a few L/H rifles out there. Just genuinely curious if there’s a definitive reason to choose a true L/H action before committing either direction

 

[Tim.243]

Yeah, I’ve seen a few L/H rifles out there. Just genuinely curious if there’s a definitive reason to choose a true L/H action before committing either direction

I am left handed also master eye is the left but have happily shot RH rifles for 51 years, both Browning's have a left cast in the stock, cheek weld is key for me so both 700's have the stock packed up so the mount for centre line is the same for my glass/digital scopes.
Remember the .303 is RH bolt so back then the service personal had no choice lol

 

[SouthernShot]

I'm a lefty but I'd never shot a L/H rifle before my fac but I'd shot a lot of R/H rifles. I went out and bought 2x L/H tikkas and I definitely don't regret it

 

[takbok]

I have a couple of LH Tikkas, and they're perfect. I also have RH rifles that I use even more for my roe stalking and don't have any issues with shooting them left handed at all.

 

[bullet chucker]

3 Left hand Tikka's and 1 Remington. Also a Remington left hand .22 and Anschutz .22 thumb hole stock. Why be handicapped as LEFT is best.

BC.

 

[Jager SA]

Hello everybody.

I am looking for some advice. I am about to purchase my first rifle which I aim to use for stalking and the occasional practice at the range.

I am right handed but shoot left handed due to eye dominance issues, however it appears left handed actions aren’t exactly in abundance or even offered from some brands.

Are there any fellow shooters that have this issue and can advise whether I should hold out for a true L/H action by looking at alternatives, or whether a R/H action is feasible?

Thank you

Tbh your looking at 2 different, you want one that's light enough to carry as a stalking rifle and the other stable/heavy enough to use on the range that wont heat up wander after a few shots. I have a customer with the same quandary...JMO

 

[Bolognaise]

Thanks all, some mixed reviews it seems. Perhaps like many things its down to personal preference! I admit that I do find operating a bolt left handed not as comfortable as the right, but that’s probably just down to lack of using a left handed bolt up to this point.

 

[Heym SR20]

I am like the OP, right handed, albeit quite ambidextrous and left eyed.

Find a left handed rifle. Of course I can use a right handed rifle perfectly well, but left handed is so so much better.

Most keep rifles for a long time. I have a left handed Heym SR20. I have had it for 30 years, and its my go to rifle. I also have a very nice Rigby, but its right handed. It is irritating to use.

Many right handers don’t get why we like left handed rifles. Hand them a left handed rifle and they are mostly completely discombobulated.

 

[Bolognaise]

Tbh your looking at 2 different, you want one that's light enough to carry as a stalking rifle and the other stable/heavy enough to use on the range that wont heat up wander after a few shots. I have a customer with the same quandary...JMO

Indeed. I am planning to buy a separate range rifle too eventually. Trying to retain the missus by obtaining one by one in the hope she doesn’t notice haha!

 

[Andyquadra]

Thanks all, some mixed reviews it seems. Perhaps like many things its down to personal preference! I admit that I do find operating a bolt left handed not as comfortable as the right, but that’s probably just down to lack of using a left handed bolt up to this point.

See if you can have a play with both rh and lh, see which one feels more comfortable

 

[chriswjx]

Times have moved on from Tim.243's days.

Just because people had to put up with it back in the war doesn't mean you should have to. (We thankfully don't have to put up with the wartime diets now do we? Although based on some of the clothing sizes for sale on here.......... )

I personally liked shooting a RH action when target shooting, as I found it very easy to maintain position. Equally I really disliked a RH action when shooting off sticks.

I now only have LH actions (aside from my SMLE - which still gets shot left handed, and reach over to cycle bolt), and also would not go back.

Other thing to note. Many older wooden stocked stalking rifles frequently come with cheek risers shaped for the side of the rifle action (i.e. pad on the right of stock for a left handed rifle). This can therefore be both quite unsightly and also not fit you as well should you shoot a RH action off the left shoulder.

 

[Heym SR20]

There is also a little matter of safety. It doesn’t happen very often, but if a case does let go a bolt action is designed to send gas / powder residue away from the shooters face, and out through the ejection port.

If you are a lefty shooting a right handed rifles rifle, and a cartridge case lets go, all that gas is coming straight into your right eye.

It happened to me once a long time ago in Zim. I was using the old farm Brno mod 2 to discourage baboons from the maize fields. Ammo was old, but all that was available. Case split and I a 22’s worth of gas straight in my right eye. It was very painful. Being a kid, i just reloaded, and the next cartridge did the same.

A 22 has very little powder, and pressures are low. I wouldn’t want to be behind a centrefire case full of powder at 60,000 psi when that lets go, especially if it was a right handed rifle, and the powder charge is coming back into my face.

 

[Heym SR20]

Times have moved on from Tim.243's days.

Just because people had to put up with it back in the war doesn't mean you should have to. (We thankfully don't have to put up with the wartime diets now do we? Although based on some of the clothing sizes for sale on here.......... )

I personally liked shooting a RH action when target shooting, as I found it very easy to maintain position. Equally I really disliked a RH action when shooting off sticks.

I now only have LH actions (aside from my SMLE - which still gets shot left handed, and reach over to cycle bolt), and also would not go back.

Other thing to note. Many older wooden stocked stalking rifles frequently come with cheek risers shaped for the side of the rifle action (i.e. pad on the right of stock for a left handed rifle). This can therefore be both quite unsightly and also not fit you as well should you shoot a RH action off the left shoulder.

Don’t try a sharp roll over cheek piece from the wrong side. It bloody hurts.

 

[Navarone]

Hi mate exactly the same as you. Right handed but left eye dominant…

Here’s a thread I did on the issue…there is a safety aspect (one in a million but still)

N

Thread 'In reality how dangerous is a right handed rifle to shoot left handed..'

May 8, 2025

Hello all,

Just wondering about the thread title question. I’m right handed but left eye dominant so shoot left handed…

If you go onto guntrader there’s about 6000 rifles available, if you filter to left handed there’s about 200!!!

So yes, my question is with standard factory ammunition, how dangerous do you think it is to have the bolt pointing towards your face…ie shoot a right handed rifle left handed.

Thanks for any thoughts in advance!

• Navarone
• Replies: 108
• Forum: Rifles & Calibres

I held out and have gone left handed for all my rifles (and an under lever). LH Schultz and Larsen 6.5 x 55, lh cz 457 17hmr.

I’m very pleased and glad I went left handed.

I went to a gunshop before buying anything and tried lefty and right bolts and there wasn’t much between them tbh but marginally preferred the left it feels more intuitive once you get used to it. With that and the safety aspect my decision was made.

Only other thing is, I have always experienced bolt grazing of my thumb/hand with right handed rifles so that’s something to consider…Dno if it’s my hands or how I hold it or whatever but worth going to try yourself.

 

[Tim.243]

Times have moved on from Tim.243's days.

Just because people had to put up with it back in the war doesn't mean you should have to. (We thankfully don't have to put up with the wartime diets now do we? Although based on some of the clothing sizes for sale on here.......... )

I personally liked shooting a RH action when target shooting, as I found it very easy to maintain position. Equally I really disliked a RH action when shooting off sticks.

I now only have LH actions (aside from my SMLE - which still gets shot left handed, and reach over to cycle bolt), and also would not go back.

Other thing to note. Many older wooden stocked stalking rifles frequently come with cheek risers shaped for the side of the rifle action (i.e. pad on the right of stock for a left handed rifle). This can therefore be both quite unsightly and also not fit you as well should you shoot a RH action off the left shoulder.

I was born in 1961 so shot .303's at 14 (Right Hand ones from the club also all the .22 were RH )

Why are you shooting a relic from the dark ages at bits of paper

 

[Shabz]

I’m left eye dominant but shoot rifles, shotguns, bow and arrow both right handed and left handed. Buy something ambidextrous and get good either way. Great for shooting rabbits out the car window.