Next step-up from 22lr for a Left Handed shooter

[mj52]

22lr has been fairly economical for me to shoot.

Would like to step up to the next level and am considering a .223.

Looking for other peoples' experiences. Feel free to offer opposing views or different calibers.

My main criteria is cost. Not afraid to purchase quality and I believe - you do get what you pay for.

If I shot as many rounds of .223 as I have 22lr I would be living in a box under a bridge.

I am looking for a LEFT HANDED bolt action.

Thanks, MJ52

[Edheler]

If you want a left handed bolt-action your best bet are to look at the various offerings from Savage they make more left handed bolts than anyone else.

[Roland]

Are you set on a bolt because...?

Cause for the price of a decent lefty bolt, you could get yourself a pretty fine AR, and they're pretty ambidextrous.

Not trying to change your mind (OK maybe a bit), but just wondering why.

[techres]

Are you set on a bolt because...?

Cause for the price of a decent lefty bolt, you could get yourself a pretty fine AR, and they're pretty ambidextrous.

Not trying to change your mind (OK maybe a bit), but just wondering why.

And if you really wanted to go lefty on the AR, Stag and others do that IIRC.

[Nero]

I shoot lefty, and that really cuts down the bolt gun world (Savage, R700, Ruger Scout).

But if you've been running a 10/22 right along, a SA centerfire action should do just fine.  I don't even notice the empties going past my nose any more.  (You're looking at your target, right?)

[mj52]

Roland,

My 1st weapon ever was that CZ452 ( A whopping 90 days ago) and I enjoyed cycling the bolt.

Other than that I have no real reason.

My range is only out to 200 and I believe another within a reasonable distance goes out to 300 (??).

So feel free to offer any and all opinions. I freely admit to being in need of assistance.

22lr 5c/round, 223 40c/round (??), 308 $??/round. But most importantly I will very rarely, other than a KD event, have the opportunity to come anywhere near a "Shooter's Mile"

My only must have will be a scope. So feel free to offer there as well.

Thanks, MJ52

[mj52]

Nero,
"But if you've been running a 10/22 right along, a SA centerfire action should do just fine.  I don't even notice the empties going past my nose any more.  (You're looking at your target, right?)"

Nero,
I don't even think about the empties at all. My big fat head is far enough away so that it has never been an issue of any sort. Now ants, ants walking over the back of your legs can be distracting. Dragon flies landing on the muzzle make me stop and watch them till they leave or I have had enough and shake them free.

What is SA (Savage Arms)??

As far as Left Handed goes, it is strictly in regard to a bolt action. You should see how hard I can make it trying to put the safety on (when it's on the right side). Let's just say it is fluid.

[wcmartin1]

(You're looking at your target, right?)

No.  I'm lookin' at the front sight. 

Get an M1, M1A, or AR15.

As mentioned before Stag makes a leftie if you're set on 5.56.

[didactic]

You will not go wrong with either a Savage bolt gun or a Stag AR-15, depending on whether you want a boltie or a semi-auto.  Both are lefty-friendly.

If you're interested in economy of operation, stick with .223/5.56 caliber. 

If you want more "oomph," a .308 or .30-06 or .270 Winchester is hard to beat, and will take almost anything on this continent.

My $.02, your several hundred bucks.

[floydf]

I shoot left handed (and bolts).

My preference is to shoot a right handed bolt as a lefty, especially the big bolts (308, GSR).  It works better for my hand, and I can run the bolt faster flipping it out with my thumb, and then running it back with the heel of my hand.  And I can attest that you can get all ten rounds for stage two (with an NPOA shift) off and in the black doing it this way (with time left over, but not a lot).  The big problem is how to deal with a scope (assuming you go with glass).  I'm running the scout scope forward, so have lots of space on top to handle the bolt.

The only problem with the AR is the ejection port tends to whack you in the cheek with empties if you don't have a deflector.  I'm cheap, so have the bottom of the line DPMS sportical (disposable) AR.  But good ESS glasses, and yeah, occasionally get whacked on the cheek.  But get whacked a lot more usually from the guy shooting next to me.

My experience is, don't sweat it.  One can certainly run a right handed bolt as fast with the left hand, and for me, run it better.

[SSG Platz]

Get a ruger scout and a nice long eye reliefe scope, if your going for a bolt, skip the .223 and go for a 308, or even better a 300 Win. Mag. Nice flat trajectory and you can really reach out and touch something if you want. 308 if your worried about recoil also if your looking for a lefty bolt for .22 savage makes a left handed mark II

~PlatzOut~

[Camljr]

I shoot lefty, and that really cuts down the bolt gun world (Savage, R700, Ruger Scout).

But if you've been running a 10/22 right along, a SA centerfire action should do just fine.  I don't even notice the empties going past my nose any more.  (You're looking at your target, right?)

He probably is focusing on the front sight,

so he should be seeing blurry brass flying by his nose... if at all....

[Roland]

Yeah. Get an AR, would by my recommendation for the "next step". Not much more recoil then a .22 (although a lot more noise!). Also a lot more capable and versatile of a rifle then a bolt.

[Edheler]

If you go with an AR, I would get a right-handed version and just add the ambidextrous bits. Resale value of dedicated lefty rifles is much lower than right-handed ones and the AR platform is very lefty friendly already.

[SSG Platz]

If you go with an AR, I would get a right-handed version and just add the ambidextrous bits. Resale value of dedicated lefty rifles is much lower than right-handed ones and the AR platform is very lefty friendly already.

True story, and it's Cheaper =^)
I still say you should stick with ridding a bolt gun, those semi auto guys don't know what they are missing, I shot a 247 at my first Appleseed with Chief Bolt-N-Gun (that's what I names him because he's a Savage haha!)

[mj52]

So far these 2 have tickled me.

Savage 3L or 6L (223)
Stag 10-FLCP-K  (5.56)

The must have is a scope.

Ammo ??

With a 22, at least in my case, it's been whatever the biggest boxes are and how many are sitting on the shelf behind the locked glass sliders.

[Charles McKinley]

Ammo- Federal bulk 223 as cheap as you can find it.  Then save your brass to reload.

After you get used to it you can pick up something different.

SSG Platz had a post on scopes a while back.  Basically as good as glass as you can afford.

[lupis42]

Look here for optics recommendations:
http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=1:the-rating-scale&Itemid=4&layout=default

One rifle to add, since it's similar to your .22, is the CZ 527 American, which comes in .223 lefty.

In order to make any of these recommendations, it's helpful to know things like roughly what the budget is, and what you're going to be shooting - paper, game, yotes, etc.

[mj52]

lupis42,

I'll look at that optic link tonight. Thanks, MJ52

[SSG Platz]

Now this doesn't really work for Appleseed, but when it comes to real world application (tatical applications/ shooting with a bipod) I've known a couple of B4's that were left handed and they liked the right handed weapons systems because they could run the trigger with their left hand and not have to take it off to work the bolt. Now don't ask me to explain how they did this, but it seemed to work well for them.

~PlatzOut~

[mj52]

SSG Platz,

When I shoot my CZ452 using a bipod I often do the same thing. The bolt movement was short enough that I never whacked myself. I enjoyed the drill of doing that and could get into a rhythm.