Any Lefty's Shoot F-Class?

[HTSmith]

I gave it go for the first time earlier this summer with my varmint rifle and I may be bit. I'm thinking about upgrading my rifle and have been keeping an eye out for used guns. Left hand ones are scarce. All I've ever shot is a left hand Remington 700. Does any one have any experience shooting a right handed bolt from the left shoulder at fclass? How does right bolt, left port work? If I could make a right bolt gun work, then I could have a much bigger selection of used guns. Appreciate any feedback

 

[Immike]

I have 2 lefty shooters on my team and one is using left port,right bolt with ease.

 

[SEB-USA]

I shot Open at both Nationals and World with a single-shot RH action.
Used another RH single-shot for the TR team comp.
Not difficult at all.

 

[DMC]

I'm a lefty but shoot a RB/RP action ( off the bench ) no problems at all for me, i prefer it that way now, left had stays on grip and right hand loads and uses front rest, I don't shoot off the ground, but i don't think you'd have a problem after you get used to it - and besides, if you shoot that way, theres a lot more actions available !

Safe Shooting !

DMC

 

[BradY]

I have shot left bolt left port and right bolt right port and found no difference. If you want the ultimate I think it would be left bolt right port.

 

[okshooter]

I shoot tr left handed with a RBRP rifle and like it. I would stick with either an RBRP or LBLP for prone shooting. I haven't tried it, but my thoughts on a RBLP are that you have to roll onto one elbow to open the bolt, the other to insert a new round, and back to the other to close the bolt. Seems like a pain to me. My wife shoots a dual port Savage in F open and never uses the left port for this reason (she's a righty).

 

[RHux]

I keep the gun in my shoulder and push up the bolt handle and slide it open with my right thumb . I then pick the spent case out and replace it. Position stays solid and no flying cases.

 

[jamesl]

I shot a right bolt barnard action in a left hand master class thumbhole stock at world with good results.

James Laney

 

[B Mize]

I like my LB/RP. I do shoot a RB/RP some and it works fine.
I like being able to see in the port with ease.

 

[kyreloader]

I shoot left handed and shoot either a right bolt, dual port, eject right or a right bolt left port.

I use a spotting scope on the right side of my gun for seeing mirage during matches, so need a left side loading port because I have no room on the right side of my rifle for my ammunition to sit. Loading from the left side of the gun works much better for me.

 

[Hombre0321]

I shoot tr left handed with a RBRP rifle and like it. I would stick with either an RBRP or LBLP for prone shooting. I haven't tried it, but my thoughts on a RBLP are that you have to roll onto one elbow to open the bolt, the other to insert a new round, and back to the other to close the bolt. Seems like a pain to me. My wife shoots a dual port Savage in F open and never uses the left port for this reason (she's a righty).

Okshooter has this pretty close to the way it is, at least for me it works that way. I am right handed but "HAVE" to shoot left handed. It works just great but I do have to break my position more than I would with a Left Bolt rifle. I ran into the same problem you have and Left Bolt guns are very hard to find on the used market or as New Actions on hand somewhere.

I have two dedicated F-Class rifles, one is a Farley action and it is RBLP no eject, the other is a Pierce Action RBLPRE. With the Peirce I just load from the left side eject port and there is no problems at all that way. The Farley where with its left port you can not and will not be able to see in to action but that is really not a problem at all once you get used to it, you will have to break your position some this way however as you will need to use your left hand to load with thus turning loose of the pistol grip and moving and shifting some. It really is not a big deal in actual use however, and after a time you will not really notice the difference at all.

If at all possible I would use a LBRP, but they are not easy to find as you are finding out. Go with a right Bolt rifle and just adapt.

Roland

 

[HTSmith]

Thanks for all the input. I am right handed also, but have to shoot left handed because of very poor vision in my right eye. I shoot pistols right handed. I've pierced maybe two or three primers in all my years of reloading. Would that be an issue for a lefty shooting a right port action?

 

[lperry63]

Is there some reason why you don't want to use the left hand Rem 700? You can build a perfectly good FTR rifle starting there.

Laura

 

[HTSmith]

Laura, it is an issue of cost more than anything else. I met a gunsmith at the only match I've attended that built several of the top shooting rifles on the line. I believe he said that the cost to build one was north of $3000, not including the action. I'm trying to ease into this so to speak.

Another question for you, I noticed all of the top rifes had flat fore ends and flat, parallel butts. How critical is this to success?

Thanks so much for all the information

 

[kelbro]

I've pierced maybe two or three primers in all my years of reloading. Would that be an issue for a lefty shooting a right port action?

Yes, it would be on a factory right hand action. It's not a pleasant occurrence right in front of your eye. Another reason safety glasses are a requirement and the main reason that I shoot lefty rifles.

 

[lperry63]

Laura, it is an issue of cost more than anything else. I met a gunsmith at the only match I've attended that built several of the top shooting rifles on the line. I believe he said that the cost to build one was north of $3000, not including the action. I'm trying to ease into this so to speak.

Another question for you, I noticed all of the top rifes had flat fore ends and flat, parallel butts. How critical is this to success?

Thanks so much for all the information

Well, I started with a stock Rem 700 with a Leupold scope and it didn't cost anything like $3000! If you have a Rem 700 action and stock that you like, you could probably get by with upgrading the barrel to 30", having the action trued, a good bedding job and getting a good trigger (CG Xtreme is great). Then again I used the stock Rem trigger for a few years before upgrading. I shot 197 and 198 a few times at 1000 yards with that rifle configuration and placed third in the US F Class Nationals with that rifle in 2011.

I personally prefer a sloped butt so that I can adjust elevation easily without fiddling with my bipod. Again, that is very much a personal preference sort of thing. I wouldn't rush out to buy a different stock first thing. I did try a flat butt stock, but we ended up modifying it with an angle. Shoot what you have and then adjust things as you go.

Note that I am talking about FTR. If you're looking to get into F Open that's a different game and the flat fore end and butt are more important.

Laura

 

[ericskennard]

I have two Kelbly F-Class Panda actions for sale. Left Bolt left port available now. They are new.