Left, Right, or Dual Port - Pros & Cons

[Phil3]

At first, I thought the Savage LRPV rifle with right bolt, left port (RBLP) configuration was a neat idea, but now not sure why I thought that. Just how is this superior to the right bolt, right port (RBRP) arrangement?

Off a bench using a squeeze rear bag, I would have to use my right hand to operate the bolt and remove my left hand from the bag for loading. If it was a right bolt, right port, only my right hand has to move, albeit having to do two things (operating bolt and loading). I could see how the RBLP might be faster since two hands could operate simultaneously, shortening the time between shots, but if time is not an issue, the RBLP offers what other advantage?

Prone seems like a disaster for the RBLP, since your body is propped up by your arms. Having to use BOTH arms seems far clumsier than just one arm to perform all operations.

Off a bench in formal BR, maybe the RBLP is best. Increased speed to get shots off when wind is right, and perhaps due to the free recoil style often used, little worry about getting arms and hands back in position. I am not a BR guy, so correct me if I am wrong.

I have never experienced a blown primer, or anything where hot gases come back toward me from the bolt, so can not appreciate what that is like. But, from all reports, it can be very bad and exceedingly dangerous. Having my face on that side of the gun (left) worries me a bit.

Am I missing something that the RBLP offers?

Phil

 

[Leaddog]

If you shoot prone with a Harris bi-pod and a tactical style squeeze bag, the RBLP can be challenging. I use a Centershot bi-pod and an Edgewood rear bag. Problem solved. I like the RBLP with my F/TR setup.

I'm not familiar with your rifle but suspect you can load it from the right port as well. The port will be smaller, but doable.

 

[NorCalMikie]

If you're right handed and shooting off the bench, consider a left hand action mounted in a right hand stock. Your right hand stays on the stock and you work the bolt and feed ammo with your free left hand. Your right hand keeps control of the stock at all times. Feels even better with a thumbhole stock.
Seems kinda strange but using it feels natural after a bit. I like mine so much that shooting a right hand rig feels unnatural now.

 

[tome]

I shoot left hand from the bench. the right bolt , left port works great. it puts the port away from my good eye, it's easy to lift the shell out and reload w/ my left hand. working the bolt with my right hand feels natural. I don't move the rifle, since I don't come off of it to reload. the right bolt, right port seems much more disruptive to shoot left handed..at least for me.

 

[racesnake]

You are entirely right about left port danger. A guy I used to compete with was fire forming some PPC brass and had his left eye put out when a new piece of Lapua brass let go and a chunk of the case pierced his eyeball. He was wearing glasses but they didn't protect him. Chances are, he probably would not have lost his eye if the port had been on the right side. The load he was using was not a hot load and he was an experienced BR shooter.

 

[M-61]

To me a right bolt left port is perfect. Have three and got use to them in short order. Now my right port rifles seem awkward.

 

[Phil3]

Do you shoot from a bench and are you shooting right handed? If so, I would like to know the process you go through (what action, what hand to do what) for each round.

Thanks.

Phil

 

[LHSmith]

Go to Youtube........do a search for "right bolt/ left port".....or whatever.......you can spend hours watching every configuration imaginable in operation...........embrace the technology.......there is a lot you can learn by watching shooters or reloaders in action.

 

[Phil3]

I already had. Very little on RBLP in use. Found this, and seems like free recoil, not the way I want to shoot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3d0UPMaNGY

- Phil

 

[Uthink Uknow]

If you are worried about blowback getting you in the eye, the bolt and action can be "vented" away from you. I shoot BR, a lot of BR, and have never had nor seen anyone injured from blowback. Dr. Wozniak was killed in a BR accident when he fired while a cleaning rod was still in the bore, inserted in the muzzle. His panda action was destroyed. there was some separation of barrel and action as the action split there. Port configuration would have made no difference.
For short range BR, right bolt/ left port is the only way to go in most cases for a right eye shooter and the reverse is true for the left eye shooter. When you fire, open the action, load, and close the action you are off target and some adjustment of alignment is necessary anyway. So, removing your hand from the bag is no big deal for a bag squeezer. I'm a squeezer and trust me, it's not a hindrance for me.
After the shot is taken don't even look at the result of the shot. Clear, reload, and close the action while moving the rifle forward again. Now look and adjust accordingly. Wasn't that easy?

 

[LHSmith]

I already had. Very little on RBLP in use. Found this, and seems like free recoil, not the way I want to shoot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3d0UPMaNGY

- Phil

They are there for the searching....I found vids of notables like Sam Hall, Mike Ratigan,Greg Walley (Kelbly gunsmith), Jack Neary, and Geo. and Vera Carter....all using RB/LP

 

[TrxR]

Im probably an odd one out. Off the bench I shoot left handed and love my RBRP as I am right handed and my dominant hand does all the work. I will be trying F/TR this year and will be still shooting left handed and using a RBRP. I know I cant be the only one doing it.

 

[ReedG]

Phil, in my opinion, the RBLP(RE) set-up is only effective in "point-blank" benchrest and a windage-adjustable front rest or joystick front rest. (Left-handed shooters should get LBRP(LE)). The eject feature is only needed for the guys who can "run 'em" and fire several shots on target in a few seconds to take advantage of a condition. These are usually adjusted to just dribble the case out on the bench during ejection.

RBLP is very effective for "pickers" who methodically wait for a condition and can then open the bolt with the right hand, pick the spent case and reload with the left hand while closing the bolt. Either of these systems only work for me with very firm bags, free recoil and the ability to push the gun back against the forend stop and be on target with only minor touch-up -- or in score, a quick flick to the next bull.

A bag-squeezer, versus a knob twizzler or joystick user, is probably better off with RBRP. All three styles are open to lots of customizing by creative shooters and the action configuration for most is a matter of personal preference and/or availability and/or cost.

I don't shoot long-range, "belly benchrest" or from sling. Can't imagine RBLP working well in any of those situations. Most of my varmint rifles are RBRP with no eject because I don't like picking my brass out of the dirt or dented.

 

[LHSmith]

Im probably an odd one out. Off the bench I shoot left handed and love my RBRP as I am right handed and my dominant hand does all the work. I will be trying F/TR this year and will be still shooting left handed and using a RBRP. I know I cant be the only one doing it.

If I understand you correctly, you are either left-eye dominant ....or have super-tall scope rings for this to work ???

 

[TrxR]

Im left eye dominant.

 

[LHSmith]

Well, having hand/eye dominants the opposite can't be that rare....my grandson is LH/right eye dominant......but I don't recall any shooters that have a similar situation as yours. Whatever works for you.

 

[tome]

my left eye is my only eye. lost sight in my right eye years ago .im right handed in most things, so had to learn to shoot lh. I don't shoot free recoil, so once the setup is right and i'm into the gun, I don't want to come off till I finish the group. the rblp allows me to do this with ease. the less you disturb the setup between shots..the better the results.