Stupid question Monday, has anyone considered shooting an opposite handed rifle?

grainy

Private
Minuteman
Jul 14, 2025
7
4
NY
If I'm a righty shooting a right-handed rifle, I have to take my hand off the grip to cycle the action.

If I switched to a left-handed rifle, I could keep my dominant hand on the grip, possibly reducing how much the rifle is moving between shots, right?
 
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If I'm a righty shooting a right-handed rifle, I have to take my hand off the grip to cycle the action.

If I switched to a left-handed rifle, I could keep my dominant hand on the grip, possibly reducing how much the rifle is moving between shots, right?
Your firing hand isn't what keeps the rifle from moving between shots.
 
My son is left-handed, so i shoot his lefty gun right-handed plenty. More helpful than just not as much movement of the trigger hand, there's the benefit of being able to see the chamber pretty easily with that configuration. You can keep an eye on whether the bolt picks up a round. I've thought about building me a lefty, since it wouldn't be any big loss if it didn't work out, he'd just get a nearly new action for Christmas
 
If I'm a righty shooting a right-handed rifle, I have to take my hand off the grip to cycle the action.

If I switched to a left-handed rifle, I could keep my dominant hand on the grip, possibly reducing how much the rifle is moving between shots, right?

No, there would be a lot more problems and more gun movement. If you shoot enough weak-side/left handed with a right handed rifle you will have experienced this.

Shooting prone or any other modified prone with a bipod and a rear bag - your rifle should be supported by the rear bag and your non-firing hand stays on the bag controlling the rifle. If you run the bolt with your non-firing hand you lose all rear bag control. Shooting bipod/rear bag weak-side sucks because of this.

Off a barricade it's not too bad, if your rifle is balanced. Either way you can pretty much keep the rifle on target while running the bolt.

Shooting actual off-hand unsupported would be terrible. You'd have no way to hold up the rifle while running the bolt.
 
More helpful than just not as much movement of the trigger hand, there's the benefit of being able to see the chamber pretty easily with that configuration.

Good point!
Shooting prone or any other modified prone with a bipod and a rear bag
Didn't think about prone, was just thinking about barricades, but you're right -- this wouldn't help for prone.
 
If I'm a righty shooting a right-handed rifle, I have to take my hand off the grip to cycle the action.

If I switched to a left-handed rifle, I could keep my dominant hand on the grip, possibly reducing how much the rifle is moving between shots, right?

If the rifle is moving when you work the bolt you need practice and not try some useless band aid to your problem.
 
I shoot at RiflesOnly whenever I get a chance and most of the time, one stage requires weak shoulder to be utilized. So I practiced and gotten proficient.

Secondly, the wife is a lefty and I’m a righty. So I get a chance to practice both hands/shoulders when I feel like it.

I’ve gotten pretty proficient at it. I normally shoulder/eye left side but keep my hands running normally right handed.

But switching to a left hand rifle to keep your hand on the grip sounds like you’re gonna have trouble handling your rifle when moving or trying to get stable
 

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I shoot at RiflesOnly whenever I get a chance and most of the time, one stage requires weak shoulder to be utilized. So I practiced and gotten proficient.

Secondly, the wife is a lefty and I’m a righty. So I get a chance to practice both hands/shoulders when I feel like it.

I’ve gotten pretty proficient at it. I normally shoulder/eye left side but keep my hands running normally right handed.

But switching to a left hand rifle to keep your hand on the grip sounds like you’re gonna have trouble handling your rifle when moving or trying to get stable

Yup Jacob is good about that and it’s a skill a lot have lost as it’s not cool to shoot weakside anymore in matches and people bitch when it’s thrown in.

When you say running normal right handed do you mean pulling the trigger with the right hand or just irking the bolt? When I shoot weakside I work the bolt with my right hand but trigger with left as it’s on the grip.
 
Yup Jacob is good about that and it’s a skill a lot have lost as it’s not cool to shoot weakside anymore in matches and people bitch when it’s thrown in.

When you say running normal right handed do you mean pulling the trigger with the right hand or just irking the bolt? When I shoot weakside I work the bolt with my right hand but trigger with left as it’s on the grip.
I run left shoulder left eye but I keep run my hands right handed as normal

So my left hand is still working the bag/forend, and my right hand is still working the bolt/trigger/grip. Hopefully you can see in the very blurry photo, I’m on my left shoulder/eye but my left hand is still working the bag and the right hand is working bolt. It’s a learning curve for your shoulder and eye but still comfortable on manipulating the rifle.

Yeah, I’ve noticed the constant complaints when it comes shooting in a tight corner, forcing them to shoot weak side or an awkward position. IMO, isn’t matches suppose to be challenging and competitive?
 
I run left shoulder left eye but I keep run my hands right handed as normal

So my left hand is still working the bag/forend, and my right hand is still working the bolt/trigger/grip. Hopefully you can see in the very blurry photo, I’m on my left shoulder/eye but my left hand is still working the bag and the right hand is working bolt. It’s a learning curve for your shoulder and eye but still comfortable on manipulating the rifle.

Yeah, I’ve noticed the constant complaints when it comes shooting in a tight corner, forcing them to shoot weak side or an awkward position. IMO, isn’t matches suppose to be challenging and competitive?

Have you tried to use the left hand on the trigger? It’s much easier than bending your right hand back to the trigger. At least for me. Takes a little getting used to but becomes much easier with use.

And yup they are. I switch to left when in a tight corner or a place where right is too much work and it’s so much better. They are doing a disservice not pushing people like Jacob does.
 
My problem is being "Cross-eye dominant." Right handed (and, therefore, right handed gear), but I sight via the left eye. It doesn't cause too many problems. I can still get some decent groups, but it's just a PITA. Still, not worth switching to left handed gear.
 
My problem is being "Cross-eye dominant." Right handed (and, therefore, right handed gear), but I sight via the left eye. It doesn't cause too many problems. I can still get some decent groups, but it's just a PITA. Still, not worth switching to left handed gear.

I’m cross eye dominant also and never slowed me down using my right eye for matches. It helps when shooting weakside but you don’t need to use your dominant eye to shoot.
 
Have you tried to use the left hand on the trigger? It’s much easier than bending your right hand back to the trigger. At least for me. Takes a little getting used to but becomes much easier with use.

And yup they are. I switch to left when in a tight corner or a place where right is too much work and it’s so much better. They are doing a disservice not pushing people like Jacob does.
I’ve tried so many times using my left hand on the trigger but I couldn’t get comfortable enough to be confident in my trigger break and safely manipulate the rifle. It just felt better just to bend my wrist just a bit to get on the grip and straight with the trigger, I’ve trained well enough to clean his stages many times that calls for weak side, so I just stuck with it.
 
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Have you tried to use the left hand on the trigger? It’s much easier than bending your right hand back to the trigger. At least for me. Takes a little getting used to but becomes much easier with use.

And yup they are. I switch to left when in a tight corner or a place where right is too much work and it’s so much better. They are doing a disservice not pushing people like Jacob does.

What if a guy only has one eye?
 
A really good shooter I know was blinded in his right eye at a young age, now he shoots with his left eye and left hand in the trigger, runs a right bolt with left eject, and wins a lot of national and world matches. Sponsored by NF and Foundation and makes custom rifle barrels now. Great shooter and really cool person I look up to.

Doesn’t mean what he does everyone should do, just saying he found what works for him and he’s an excellent marksman.
 
I’ve tried so many times using my left hand on the trigger but I couldn’t get comfortable enough to be confident in my trigger break and safely manipulate the rifle. It just felt better just to bend my wrist just a bit to get on the grip and straight with the trigger, I’ve trained well enough to clean his stages many times that calls for weak side, so I just stuck with it.

Match directors in our area specify that it has to be all three - weak side trigger finger, weak side shoulder and weak side eye.