Left handed bolt actions
- Thread starter Kersnow
- Start date
They do come up .. you just have to be patient 
Cletracboy
Active Member
I started out shooting with right handed actions, I had one converted to left handed stock but only finally brought a left handed action rifle about 3yrs ago. Having always wanted a left handed action I now slightly regret it, I do most of my shooting off sticks and occasionally a bipod and I find a right handed action just as easy to reload. Left handed severely limits your choice of rifle and sometimes increases the cost. For me also I had got used to carrying my rifle on a sling like a right hander and find the bolt digs into my back now on left handed gun and can't get used to carrying it on the other shoulder.
So as a confused person with both I recommend making your decision carefully and stick to it.
My right handed actioned left handed stocked 6br is for sale on gun trader at the moment looking for another confused southpaw.
So as a confused person with both I recommend making your decision carefully and stick to it.
My right handed actioned left handed stocked 6br is for sale on gun trader at the moment looking for another confused southpaw.
Tf223
Well-Known Member
I have centrefire in left hand (with left handed stocks) and rimfire in right handed bolt (ambi stocks).
Off quad sticks it makes little difference to me speed wise. Carrying a right handed on the left shoulder I can feel the bolt but on a little rimfire it’s not an issue. Wouldn’t.want it if I were to be spending hours carrying a bigger heavier setup
Maybe if I had stuck to left handers from day one it’d have been better, but I’ve never been minded to change rifle because of the bolt side. As said about they do come up, less often perhaps, but then again sometimes you can get them a touch cheaper if they’ve sat there for a while waiting for the right left handed to come forth!
Long and short - go leftie if possible, but I wouldn’t worry about going right hand bolt on an ambi stock.
Off quad sticks it makes little difference to me speed wise. Carrying a right handed on the left shoulder I can feel the bolt but on a little rimfire it’s not an issue. Wouldn’t.want it if I were to be spending hours carrying a bigger heavier setup
Maybe if I had stuck to left handers from day one it’d have been better, but I’ve never been minded to change rifle because of the bolt side. As said about they do come up, less often perhaps, but then again sometimes you can get them a touch cheaper if they’ve sat there for a while waiting for the right left handed to come forth!
Long and short - go leftie if possible, but I wouldn’t worry about going right hand bolt on an ambi stock.
I have shot RH rifles since the age of 12, being left handed off a dead rest the lh person is quicker as your trigger finger does not have to cycle the bolt. Swap it around and a rh person using a left hand rife would be the same.
Apart from cross over stocks and semi autos, my shotguns have a left cast to suit me.
reiver
Well-Known Member
I am left handed and shoot a Lh sauer 202. In 30-06. I used to shoot with right handed cf rifles for over 30yrs as people said there just as good and due to the shortage of lh used rifles . !. Well in my opinion once you get to shoot a Lh bolt action you realise that rh bolts are definitely not just as good. I think it boils down to gun shops just wanting to sell what ever rifle they have on the rack .
stock fit is wrong unless you buy a lh stock for a rh gun .bolts always going it be slower to operate which in its self can cause accuracy issues for the lh shooter with stock fit and scope alinement with second / Subsequent shots
Definitely quicker shooting free hand and at moving targets with multiple shots ( eg train of pigs) I have shot with both and without doubt lh action is the way to go in a centre fire rifle . Just wish I had bought my Lh rifle years ago .
stock fit is wrong unless you buy a lh stock for a rh gun .bolts always going it be slower to operate which in its self can cause accuracy issues for the lh shooter with stock fit and scope alinement with second / Subsequent shots
Definitely quicker shooting free hand and at moving targets with multiple shots ( eg train of pigs) I have shot with both and without doubt lh action is the way to go in a centre fire rifle . Just wish I had bought my Lh rifle years ago .
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jay 22
Well-Known Member
I'm a lefty and like the chap above said. Use to find it easy to reload with right hand bolt when on a bipod or rest. Maybe not so easy if you were free hand shooting alot.
With a true ambi stock and grip. It isnt a problem.
What I would say is right handed bolt does sell easier then a lefty would. And not a problem if you plan on keeping a rifle. Just bear it in mind
If selling in future though
With a true ambi stock and grip. It isnt a problem.
What I would say is right handed bolt does sell easier then a lefty would. And not a problem if you plan on keeping a rifle. Just bear it in mind
If selling in future though
WildBoarHunter
Well-Known Member
Buy a LH rifle. There are many options. It's built to fit you. We only live once.
I can use a right hand system with left handed stock. I own two rifles in that setup. But do they fit me the way my true left handed R8 does? No way.
I can use a right hand system with left handed stock. I own two rifles in that setup. But do they fit me the way my true left handed R8 does? No way.
palmer_mike
Well-Known Member
There’s a lovely left handed sako for sale on here at the moment (it’s mine
)To be honest I use both left and right handed actions shooting them all off my left shoulder.
I do find left handed are easier to use and as you say quicker to reload, but RH rifles are easier to find and much easier to sell…..
I am left handed but I am fairly ambidextrous in life being two footed in football, able to use both hands for most things apart from writing really. Happy eating using a spoon right handed, that sort of thing. I can shoot right handed no issue but am better left handed.
If I want to use power, maybe throwing a punch or arm wrestling, I would use my right hand. I bowl underarm right handed but bowled left handed in cricket and would throw over arm left handed.
My rifles are all right handed bolts. I carry rifles on my right handed shoulder and could not imagine doing it on the left. All stocks are either ambi or left hand stocks with right hand actions.
Stock fit is way more important than bolt orientation in my view.
I will certainly never go to a left hand bolt. I like it on the right hand side. Suits my type of shooting.
If I want to use power, maybe throwing a punch or arm wrestling, I would use my right hand. I bowl underarm right handed but bowled left handed in cricket and would throw over arm left handed.
My rifles are all right handed bolts. I carry rifles on my right handed shoulder and could not imagine doing it on the left. All stocks are either ambi or left hand stocks with right hand actions.
Stock fit is way more important than bolt orientation in my view.
I will certainly never go to a left hand bolt. I like it on the right hand side. Suits my type of shooting.
I’m a lefty but use rh rifles.
No complaints from the beasts I’ve shot .
I feel I can get a second shot off faster as I don’t need to take my eye from the scope - take the shot, move hand from fore-end to bolt, cycle the bolt done!
No complaints from the beasts I’ve shot .
I feel I can get a second shot off faster as I don’t need to take my eye from the scope - take the shot, move hand from fore-end to bolt, cycle the bolt done!
what cartridge?
We have several in stock
We have several in stock
I’m a lefty, started out with right hand rifles then discovered left handed rifles. If having the bolt on on the opposite side is so good then why aren’t right handed people all using them.
How fast do you need to reload? It’s not the Wild West. 99.9% per cent it is 1 shot 1 bullet.
been looking at guntrader and there is about 100 if you exclude .22 and her.
How fast do you need to reload? It’s not the Wild West. 99.9% per cent it is 1 shot 1 bullet.
been looking at guntrader and there is about 100 if you exclude .22 and her.
I have one LH rifle, a Tikka T3, and love it.
I have 3 RH rifles and enjoy using them just as much.
I'm happy to buy either which gives me more choice.
I have 3 RH rifles and enjoy using them just as much.
I'm happy to buy either which gives me more choice.
I am left handed, apart from my main foxing rifle which i put a custom stock on as it started as a right hand 85, all of my other rifles are ambi stock with right hand bolt and i have no trouble at all, as is said above, finger doesnt have to leave trigger area to reload.
monarman
Well-Known Member
Shooting sitting...... shooting kneeling..... shooting freehand..... shooting using a tree ...... all wont work with a right handed bolt as a left handed......
Look at where the gas escape holes are on a rifle.... tbey are on the opposite side to where your face is.... for a reason!!.... and should a primer burst or something along those lines its not nice... it jappened to me using a right handed bolt action as a left hander and I was lucky I wasnt blinded.
Look at where the gas escape holes are on a rifle.... tbey are on the opposite side to where your face is.... for a reason!!.... and should a primer burst or something along those lines its not nice... it jappened to me using a right handed bolt action as a left hander and I was lucky I wasnt blinded.
You can argue that righties should shoot a right handed bolt gun from the left shoulder as well. The trigger hand position is the most important for good shooting so it makes more sense to preserve its position and cycle the bolt with the non-trigger hand. Faster and more accurate.
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