I'm planning out a rifle build in .300WM and the idea of a right bolt/left port action appeals to me because I have this thing about always keeping my firing hand near the trigger while I'm holding a rifle. Thing is, I've never shot a long action bolt gun and I'm wondering if the action is so long that I'd either have to move my head to cycle the action or bash my nose in order to keep a sight picture. Any input or experiences would be welcome.
Question For Lefties
- Thread starter KATLarsen
- Start date
I feel your pain.
I'm a lefty for semi-auto rifles because of an astigmatism in my right eye. I wasn't able to see pop-up targets past 200m during basic, so I swapped hands.
I want to get an M-24, but it's a long action and the bolt kinda got too close to my face for comfort whenever I cycled it. I had to watch my right hand come to my face, in order to not smash my face with the bolt. I then realized that any adjustable glass will focus the objective for you, after finagling with the dials for a few minutes.
Ultimately I was able to train myself to shoot bolt-action rifles right-handed. It takes a few trips to the range and a lot of dry firing at home to get the muscle memory going, but it's possible. It may not work for you, but I would give it a try. The bonus is that you become ambidextrous when it comes to rifle shooting, just like me. I shoot semi-auto left-handed and shoot bolt-action right-handed.
I hope this helped.
I'm a lefty for semi-auto rifles because of an astigmatism in my right eye. I wasn't able to see pop-up targets past 200m during basic, so I swapped hands.
I want to get an M-24, but it's a long action and the bolt kinda got too close to my face for comfort whenever I cycled it. I had to watch my right hand come to my face, in order to not smash my face with the bolt. I then realized that any adjustable glass will focus the objective for you, after finagling with the dials for a few minutes.
Ultimately I was able to train myself to shoot bolt-action rifles right-handed. It takes a few trips to the range and a lot of dry firing at home to get the muscle memory going, but it's possible. It may not work for you, but I would give it a try. The bonus is that you become ambidextrous when it comes to rifle shooting, just like me. I shoot semi-auto left-handed and shoot bolt-action right-handed.
I hope this helped.
Last edited:
That's about what I figured. The trigger hand thing is just a mental hangup that I can train out, but unfortunately I can't train away the 20/50 vision in my right eye. The hilarious thing is that I'm perfectly comfortable shooting right handed with a pistol so long as I'm in a dueling stance.
You don't train the eye. You train your muscles for "off-hand".
The focus issue you probably have can be somewhat compensated by using glass that can focus the magnification of the cross-hair to the same depth of field as the target, as well as the parallax.
Combine those adjustments together and I'm sure you can get something out of it.
Ask a buddy if you can borrow his rifle for a day at the range, if you don't have one yourself yet, and see if you can work something out with the glass. Just to see if you can compensate for your vision.
I did it with the following glass.
Amazon.com: Bushnell Tactical 6-24X50 Rifle Scope (Ffp Illuminated): Sports & Outdoors
This glass was recommended by a former Marine Scout Sniper, who said that it's way better than Leupold's Mark IV. And that's saying something.
The focus issue you probably have can be somewhat compensated by using glass that can focus the magnification of the cross-hair to the same depth of field as the target, as well as the parallax.
Combine those adjustments together and I'm sure you can get something out of it.
Ask a buddy if you can borrow his rifle for a day at the range, if you don't have one yourself yet, and see if you can work something out with the glass. Just to see if you can compensate for your vision.
I did it with the following glass.
Amazon.com: Bushnell Tactical 6-24X50 Rifle Scope (Ffp Illuminated): Sports & Outdoors
This glass was recommended by a former Marine Scout Sniper, who said that it's way better than Leupold's Mark IV. And that's saying something.
Last edited:
I hear what you're saying, but part of my build plan includes a GAP Templar V2 action. I don't want to spend that kind of money and then have to completely relearn shooting mechanics to accommodate it. Also, I don't really have any friends or family up here that shoot, those are all down in Kansas. Maybe I'm being stubborn about it, but I'd rather work to correct a single habit than build up basic mechanics and fine motor control all over again.
Thanks for the rec on the glass. I was looking at the Nightforce BEAST, but that's some really expensive glass.
Thanks for the rec on the glass. I was looking at the Nightforce BEAST, but that's some really expensive glass.
I'm right handed but left eye dominant. So i shoot long guns left hand and sidearms right handed. Head position will be the same no matter how you cycle the gun. If you are tall and your nose is into the bolt you will get whacked weather you manipulate the bolt with your firing or off hand. So go to a gun shop and play with a long action to see if that will be a problem. As for right bolt left port, this is a bench rest style action. If you are going to be shooting any kind of repeater events it's not going to work well because both hands are manipulating the gun. I own both right and left hand actions. If you like to keep a firm grip on the rifle through bolt manipulation go with a right hand action. You can anchor the rifle with a firm left hand grip and pressure into the shoulder and keep your right hand on the bolt for rapid action cycyling. This is actually a very stable firing position.
The bolt would get close enough to my beak to make me move my head a little. The right hand bolt for shooting lefty will work great for bipod work, but if you ever plan on any off hand shots, a left handed bolt will be the ticket.
what would make some real difference here,in opinion, isn't the difference about the action lenght, but well more the lenght of the shoulder stock related to your upper half body dimensions_
True, but the farther back you go, the longer the length of pull becomes. As a result, parallax changes and then you either have to refocus the glass, if it can even go that far, or move it.
Last edited:
Mr.Blu,
c'est la vie : as lefties, all our acrobatic exercises are included in the show's ticket price, of course !
c'est la vie : as lefties, all our acrobatic exercises are included in the show's ticket price, of course !
Last edited:
