Re: Lefty bolt worth it?
i'm all f'd up. i shoot rifle more naturally lefty (left eye dominant) shoot pistol rightie. play guitar lefty, write rightie. shoot a bow rightie, cross bow leftie, inline muzzle loader lefty. through shooting the right support side, i'm close to duplicating how i shoot lefty offhand, kneeling and sitting, that is, in a controlled range setting.
my right side (strength and coordination) is better on my right side.
so shooting offhand, i like to shoot lefty with a rightie bolt, as i am steadier with my stronger arm for support. of course this means a little more adjustment on the follow up shots - which may cause you to unshoulder the rifle, or have to come over the top to cycle the bolt with a rightie bolt, of have to get off target to cycle it. but the idea is not to have any follow up shots, make the first one count.
for bench or prone with a rest / bipod, the opposite is true.
shooting from a bench or prone at a range with a bipod or other front rest, i don't have a problem going leftie or rightie using a right handed bolt, as i don't believe anyone would.
but i actually prefer using the right handed bolt in this position for hunting or a timed competition for a few reasons:
1. the rifle stays shouldered
2. manipulation of the bolt allows my trigger finger to stay close to the trigger area - i'm actually quicker this way. also i believe there is less movement.
3. better manipulation of the optics turrets (i know you can turn it 90 deg, but what about side focus models?).
4. better view and access of the ejection port to clear any jams, etc.
5. able to use the natural dominant eye.
if the dominant eye becomes a problem, just keep one eye open and the other closed, problem solved.
after 35+ years of shooting rightie bolts left handed, if there is a miss while hunting and a follow up shot is required i tend to "lockup" in the heat of the moment - sort of confused to what to do next with what hand, and where did that bolt go to? also depending on how you carry the rifle during hunting, that bolt can get "popped up", keep checking it. if the optic has "unlockable turrets", check them also.
in the end what ever is more comfortable and more in line to what you have already been doing for years to avoid yourself from "locking up", even for a fraction of a second on follow up shots.
i know clear as mud.
on the downslope years of my life, i'm too habitual using a right handed bolt and wouldn't change to a left sided one except for maybe a bench queen where i have time and patience to remember where the controls are. for hunting i definately want to keep a rightie bolt. if you have used rightie bolts before, and have gotten your routines to be second nature, stay with a rightie bolt.
if you are newer to shooting bolts and haven't used a rightie bolt much, going with the leftie bolt may be the way - but still, my preference is still be to use the rightie bolt for the 5 reasons above.
in addition, assess exactly what you are going to use the rifle for (target, hunting, or both). list the pros and cons of each for what you are using it for, and let the longer list of pros dictate the purchase of a leftie or rightie bolt.
one more comment .... being a lefty rifle shooter and using rightie rifles, LOVIN' TANG SAFETIES!
