Left hand or straight pull

[Andy Mauthe]

I’m left handed and left eye dominant. And over the years as I could afford it, I’ve swapped out all of my right handed bolt rifles for left it’s always funny when I’m at the shooting club with friends who want to shoot my rifles who are right handed. They all say they feel exactly like I did all of those years when I had to shoot with rifles that had the bolt on the wrong side. Fortunately there’s options out there now for us. You just have to be patient and realize that usually not all configurations are available in the left.

 

[Mr. Gain]

I like my LH Heym SR30, but mostly because it's a Heym... Though I also enjoy the cleverness if the ball-bearing lock-up. In no meaningful sense is it better than a turn-bolt.

Blaser's design (R93/R8) is great for a driven hunt where you want rapid cycling in an agile rifle that points well, but it's not a materially better design for regular stalking.*

I've come to the view that speed of reloading almost never matters. For the past year, I've been mostly stalking with a kipplauf and a drilling, and have yet to be caught short without a round in the chamber when I needed one. The tally has included a double on bucks, as well as a few on does + followers, and one animal that had to be stopped with a second shot.

* This is where the asterisk comes in. What I like about SR30s, Blasers, and my fixed-breech guns is that they all have a cocker/decocker, so you can always have a round in the chamber, totally safe, but ready to go. The extra time that gives for the first shot is worth more than any saving between shots since it usually means you need only one.

Back on the subject of handedness. I make occasional exceptions for R/H rifles if they are really interesting and only available in R/H, but I would never have one as my main rifle. Bolts/actions are handed for safety and well as ease of use.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

I make occasional exceptions for R/H rifles if they are really interesting and only available in R/H, but I would never have one as my main rifle. Bolts/actions are handed for safety and well as ease of use.

I'm the same, more or less, my most recently acquired rifle is a No5 mk1 and for some reason (I'm going to blame Communists or the Illuminati, or possibly both of them at the direction of the Freemasons) no left hand version of this rifle was manufactured. So I must make do with it as produced in 1944.

But I have true left-hand bolt actions in 308 and 375, and they are genuinely better to manipulate.

I also have a left-handed flintlock rifle, and I wish I had not bothered with that.

 

[Mr. Gain]

I also have a left-handed flintlock rifle, and I wish I had not bothered with that.

Interesting, I don't have a flintlock rifle, but I do own 2 flintlock smoothbores, one being a side-by-side double, and I definitely prefer shooting the LH barrel to the RH one. On the single-barrel gun, the cock and pan are just over an inch further forward compared to the double, which makes some difference, but not as much as an actual LH lock.

Re. RH rifles, military models aren't my thing (never say never!) but I do have got a bit of a yen for a Lee Speed, and am currently enjoying a M-S 1903, both unavoidably right-handed.

 

[Andy Mauthe]

Interesting, I don't have a flintlock rifle, but I do own 2 flintlock smoothbores, one being a side-by-side double, and I definitely prefer shooting the LH barrel to the RH one. On the single-barrel gun, the cock and pan are just over an inch further forward compared to the double, which makes some difference, but not as much as an actual LH lock.

Re. RH rifles, military models aren't my thing (never say never!) but I do have got a bit of a yen for a Lee Speed, and am currently enjoying a M-S 1903, both unavoidably right-handed.

I had a SMLE at one point as well since they used to be available here for about $80 US. And although I certainly appreciated the history of it, I eventually sold it to a right handed friend who still has it and hunts with it to this day. The only military rifle I still have is an M1 Garand. And while it’s right hand ejection, everything else including the safety is ambidextrous on those. So I definitely enjoy getting it out periodically and making some noise with it. Everything else in my rifle collection is left handed now including my AR-15’s which surprisingly are made in true left hand by a couple makers.

 

[Yorkie]

I am right handed but left eye dominant. Shot Pistols right handed, but have always shot Rifles and Shotguns left handed.

I have 2 Remington, 1 Tikka and a Borden based custom, all left handed. I would not have a right handed one.

 

[Loler UK]

Hi there.
In the mad rush to get going when the ticket was approved some years ago, I went and bought any old rifle to get going (savage model 11 I think in 308)

It's been a fine rifle but being cack handed I'm starting to look into getting something more comfortable.

My question is what do other lefties prefer?
A standard L/H bolt action like a tikka or a straight pull-considering the Beretta brx1 as I dont have blaser money.
Thanks!

I have a left hand blaser R93 I can do for £1250 with mod if that's of interest?

 

[grauerjager]

I have a left hand blaser R93 I can do for £1250 with mod if that's of interest?

Hi fella I'm not in the market right now. End of march/beginning of april I should be in a better spot for it. If there's no rush to sell it I could send you a message then but obviously if you need it gone I understand.

Is it a wooden stock or composite/plastic?

 

[Flarepath]

I shoot a pair of R93’s. .243 and 300wm both left hand straight pulls and I have no intention of changing them !
Yes, paid plenty “lefty tax” but absolutely no regrets not even for R8’s !

 

[HonestJohn]

Steel action rifles now come in left hand and are straight pull, also available in U.K.. Better than a laser, way better than BRX1.

Usual calibres, synthetic or wood, blued or nickel plated, etc.

Around £3k only.

@H et Al are distributors if you are interested

 

[sy247]

I'm left handed, left eye dominant. My stalking rifle is a Remington 700 in .270 which is left handed. I've got a left handed Anschutz in .22 but my target rilfe is RH. The stock is ambidextrous but I've never thought about the safety aspect with the bolt, the loading port and my face!

I have been looking at the beautiful Blaser R93 6.5x55 in the classifieds that is a LH. I shot an R8 once and wasn't keen on the safety and straight pull operation. I think I prefer the safety of a locking bolt system, but maybe I am being over cautious.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

From a fellow leftie, can't go wrong with a Tikka

100% once you get the knack of a cack hander it’s mustard

 

[Nrl72]

I have the BRX ..... bought because it was the only left bolt I could find at the time ..... I just can't get along with it .... accurate and comes up well enough but the bolt travels too far and I don't like the safety. I'd just prefer a bolt
Action TBH ..... thinking of either the Mauser M18 (think they only have lefties in standard) or a Tikka. The cal is 308 so will stick with that although I'd prefer 6.5 Swede .... anyone use Mauser and Tikka - what's the better option? And what model Tikka. Mod for BRX is 15x I think so handy to stick with that. Thanks.

 

[Siggy]

The Beretta has the advantage is that it can be switched between right and left hand and as accurate as a tikka (it is after all from the same stable). however the travel of the straight pull is so long that you have to lift your face off the stock which cancels any advantage of speed of reloading. I've seen it having problems chambering rounds. The design and feel is ugly, putting it mildly. another way of say this is that it isn't a Blaser.

Tikka on the other hand, although turn bolt is slick, once you have the muscle memory it is almost as fast. It's mechanically simple and there are loads of aftermarket options for stocks. You have to ask yourself, how often do you need a second shot with the speed you get from a straight pull?

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

get both!

LH Blaser R93 and R8s available here in Professional and Offroad
Range of LH Semi Custom and New Semi Custom Builds on Tikka and Remingtons

Drop me a line if we can help

Wouldnt recommend the BRX
Every one I have handled has had a problem
Most complex bolt and cocking mechanism on the market!

 

[Jh1986]

I keep reading about BRX issues, from firing when the bolt is closed to firing when the safety is disengaged.

I personally love having true left handed bolt actions. Nothing wrong with the performance of either of my Tikka (308 CTR and 223 M590)

 

[Emistie_89]

I’m also a lefty and opted for a Tikka T3X in .308 with a stainless barrel. it’s been out in all weathers and only has the occasional clean and a quick spray with legia and a wipe down after a stalk, it still looks as good as new. I could not recommend them enough

 

[Nrl72]

The Beretta has the advantage is that it can be switched between right and left hand and as accurate as a tikka (it is after all from the same stable). however the travel of the straight pull is so long that you have to lift your face off the stock which cancels any advantage of speed of reloading. I've seen it having problems chambering rounds. The design and feel is ugly, putting it mildly. another way of say this is that it isn't a Blaser.

Tikka on the other hand, although turn bolt is slick, once you have the muscle memory it is almost as fast. It's mechanically simple and there are loads of aftermarket options for stocks. You have to ask yourself, how often do you need a second shot with the speed you get from a straight pull?

100% agree ..... exactly where I'm at .... if the "advantage" of the fast reload (and in reality, how many times do you really need that for deer) ..... isn't practicable on the BRX - what's the point.

 

[Nrl72]

I’m also a lefty and opted for a Tikka T3X in .308 with a stainless barrel. it’s been out in all weathers and only has the occasional clean and a quick spray with legia and a wipe down after a stalk, it still looks as good as new. I could not recommend them enough

Excellent news ..... what model

get both!

LH Blaser R93 and R8s available here in Professional and Offroad
Range of LH Semi Custom and New Semi Custom Builds on Tikka and Remingtons

Drop me a line if we can help

Wouldnt recommend the BRX
Every one I have handled has had a problem
Most complex bolt and cocking mechanism on the market!

I'd be up in a minute only that I'm in Ireland! ..... a Blaser is definitely on the list at some stage - the K95 in 6.5 Swede is my dream rifle!

 

[Nrl72]

I keep reading about BRX issues, from firing when the bolt is closed to firing when the safety is disengaged.

I personally love having true left handed bolt actions. Nothing wrong with the performance of either of my Tikka (308 CTR and 223 M590)

I've never had that problem thankfully ...... the problem is that it's really hard to avoid thinking that it could be a problem ......