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Left-handed youth rifle options

12,338 Views | 30 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by JeremiahJohnson
AgEng06
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AG
Lo and behold, both of my kids are left handed, so I'd like to start looking into getting a LH rifle for them to hunt with. Right now they are shooting right-handed guns.

What are some mid-range budget ideas (less than $1K, less than $800 even better) of LH bolt rifles in calibers such as .243, 7mm-08, etc.? I'd also be interested in LH ARs in .308. 6.5 Grendel, etc.
Picard
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AG
I'd suggest having them learn right-handed shooting, especially if there's any chance of military service in their future.
SteveBott
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I'm a lefty. I second training on a right hand gun. Hell I never knew there were left hand guns until I came to this forum.
ought1ag
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another left here....we get screwed and we are used to it.

PS - I did splurge when I was about 30 and got me some real nice left handed scissors
AgBQ-00
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Maybe look at Tikka T3x model I know it comes in .270 and left-handed. Also choice between walnut stock or composite stock. I have an older T3 composite stock and love it.

Cabelas T3x Lite composite

JeremiahJohnson
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As a lefty, it has been hard to find good rifles until recently . Tikka makes a lot of good left handed rifles.
zachsccr
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Savage makes some good entry options.
I have loved mine in 30-06. Some of us are left handed, and left eye dominant. For a bolt gun, go left handed. If you go to the AR platform, I've never had any issues and all mine are right handed. Same with pistols and shotguns (my shotty is ambi).
AZAG08
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I've never shot a LH rifle in my life. I think at this point I'd be more confused.
I do like when pistols have the slide lock and mag drop that you can set up as LH though
AgEng06
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Thanks for the replies. You guys have made me feel better about buying RH guns that we can all use. Looks like the Ruger SFAR is next up on my list now.
dr_boogs
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look hard at Savage Axis II youth model. Available in RH or LH. I don't think there's a better valued rifle out there for kids. It's sub-MOA w factory ammo. I looked for weeks and settled on a RH model in 7-08. My son (11) has taken several deer and hogs w it. BTW he's right handed but left eye dominant. He shoots left handed (shotguns) and rifle.

I am left hand and left eye and grew up shooting RH bolt actions from my left side. There are some advantages of being a lefty and shooting a RH bolt gun, particularly as a beginner, as long as rechambering at speed isn't a big deal (and usually isn't for kids).

You can hold the gun at pistol grip in your left hand (trigger finger high and off trigger), open the bolt w your right, and tilt the rifle over just a bit to look down into the action/magazine. Then load w your right hand. In some ways it's easier and safer for a left hander to load a RH bolt action gun. I've noticed this advantage teaching a number of beginner lefties who are shooting RH bolt guns.
Ragoo
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Their handedness is irrelevant. Which eye is dominant? I am right handed but left eyed so I shoot left handed.
AgEng06
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Yeah. I should have included that. They are left eye dominant as well.

I'm cross-dominant (left eye, right hand) and wish I had learned to shoot a bow left-handed so I could keep both eyes open.
Picard
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Another fun fact to consider. I've had a gunsmith tell me that parts for left-handed guns are sometimes hard to find, especially on the lesser common calibers. So that left-handed gun you pass down to your children someday may not be easily repairable especially if SHTF in our society.

Or your children's children may not be left-handed.



Legend
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Another vote for Savage. I got my son a Left handed youth .243 that came with a scope from Academy. It is perfect for taking deer from a blind. When we site rifles in it is accurate as the more expensive rifles we also shoot.

Badace52
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My son is right handed and left eye dominant. I've had him shoot left handed with right handed weaponry and he has done just fine
CM
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muchow3414
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I bought savage 110 storm LH 7-08 for my 11 yo daughter. Has spacers to adjust length of pull and cheek risers. Shot her first deer this year at 145 yards. It's so accurate I bought a right handed one for her little brother.

https://www.academy.com/p/savage-arms-10-110-storm-lh-7mm-08-rem-22-in-centerfire-rifle

'02
fightingfarmer09
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Left handed here.

They will adapt great to using right handed equipment.

They will also learn to harbor great resentment to fuel the coming uprising.
F4GIB71
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Was at Army ROTC summer camp in 1970. We spent a week on the rifle range and had to qualify with the M-14. My right eye went bad before my left so had to qualify left handed. I am terminally right handed*. Couldn't wipe my butt if something happened to my right hand but can shoot long guns left handed. Vision correction surgery and red dot optics got me shooting back right handed. Sometimes I still shoot left handed in our monthly carbine matches. I recommend shooting left handed with "right handed" rifle. Too limiting to only consider the few left handed rifles on the market.

* Just wish I could learn to shoot my pistols left handed as well as I can rifles and shotguns!
BMF_AG95
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Get them to shooting left handed as soon as possible. Since they are left eye dominant. Even shooting a rh rifle left handed is better than shooting with the wrong eye.

My son is left eye dominant and we didn't catch it till later. He is shooting shotguns competitively right handed. It has taken him longer to develop. Yes there are ways to overcome but I've seen lots of shooters that would be better off shooting with the correct eye dominance.

I've also come across kids that are central eye dominant. No one single eye is dominant. Yes ways to get around this and trick the brain.
combat wombat™
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My son is a lefty but shoots right handed. My husband did buy him one (or two?) long gun(s) for lefties because of the way the shell/cartridge ejects.
combat wombat™
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Ragoo said:

Their handedness is irrelevant. Which eye is dominant? I am right handed but left eyed so I shoot left handed.


Maybe I'll try shooting the one my husband bought for my son. I am right handed but left eye dominant. Never thought of that.
Ferg
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Not necessarily a kids rifle but i have a 22 Savage Mach 2 left hander, and its great.
AnSci99
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One of my sons is RH but left eye dominant. He has a Browning BLR in .30-06 and it will be a rifle he can use then pass on to his kids. Beautiful ambidextrous rifle that's still at the top of your price range.
mwlkr
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AgBQ-00 said:

Maybe look at Tikka T3x model I know it comes in .270 and left-handed. Also choice between walnut stock or composite stock. I have an older T3 composite stock and love it.

Cabelas T3x Lite composite


My son has this one. This suggestion is hard to beat.
AgDad121619
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AgEng06 said:

Lo and behold, both of my kids are left handed, so I'd like to start looking into getting a LH rifle for them to hunt with. Right now they are shooting right-handed guns.

What are some mid-range budget ideas (less than $1K, less than $800 even better) of LH bolt rifles in calibers such as .243, 7mm-08, etc.? I'd also be interested in LH ARs in .308. 6.5 Grendel, etc.
I think Browning micro Midas in.243 or 7mm-08 still come in left handed versions. Only problem is I have not seen a Browning rifle in stock anywhere for two years - they are either down on production or being snapped up as soon as they hit the shelf
AgDad121619
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Also consider the Ruger American predator rifle - I have 6.5 creedmoor LH that is great gun. They also have .243 and 7mm-08 available. Predator barrel is heavier than the standard but it is still a manageable size gun for kids. The gun is only $450 - you could add a Leupold VX3- cds and have them an outfit they could use for life for around <$1000
JeremiahJohnson
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AgDad121619 said:

AgEng06 said:

Lo and behold, both of my kids are left handed, so I'd like to start looking into getting a LH rifle for them to hunt with. Right now they are shooting right-handed guns.

What are some mid-range budget ideas (less than $1K, less than $800 even better) of LH bolt rifles in calibers such as .243, 7mm-08, etc.? I'd also be interested in LH ARs in .308. 6.5 Grendel, etc.
I think Browning micro Midas in.243 or 7mm-08 still come in left handed versions. Only problem is I have not seen a Browning rifle in stock anywhere for two years - they are either down on production or being snapped up as soon as they hit the shelf


I ordered a left handed browning in 300WM and waited a year before just buying a Tikka. I actually ended up liking the Tikka better than my A-bolt. Tons more accessories too. It is far from a stock rifle now. They make a good base for building a custom.

Once they outgrow the caliber or stock there are q tons of prefit barrels and custom stocks to choose from. Barrel is proof sendero with Area419 brake and stock is McMillan Gamewarden
Strongweasel97
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Badace52 said:

My son is right handed and left eye dominant. I've had him shoot left handed with right handed weaponry and he has done just fine


Same here. I learned to shoot both left and right. Very handy (no pun intended).
dr_boogs
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That is a slick looking rig. I have a stock T3 hunter LH in 7mm-08. It's my favorite rifle by far. Why did you replace your stock and barrel? They are sub-moa out of the box.
txags92
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I am right handed, but left eye dominant. I learned to shoot right handed, until I went to El Rancho Cima at about 14 and the range master convinced me to try shooting left handed. By the end of the week I was out shooting him. I have several inherited left handed Savage rifles, two right handed Rugers, and a Ruger #1 lever action. I have never really had any trouble shooting any of them. My preference these days is to shoot left handed, but I am a strong advocate for teaching them to shoot both ways and then letting them pick what feels best later in life. Shooting a right handed gun left handed is not an issue, so I would buy a RH gun to start. Ruger and Axis both have some really nice guns you can get in that price range and still have money for some glass to pair with them.
JeremiahJohnson
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dr_boogs said:

That is a slick looking rig. I have a stock T3 hunter LH in 7mm-08. It's my favorite rifle by far. Why did you replace your stock and barrel? They are sub-moa out of the box.


Didn't need it. But I am glad I did. i wasn't crazy about the stock. I like to play with things. Haha. Always tweaking. Everything is substantially more rigid now.
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