Is shooting left-handed with a right-handed shotgun a big deal?
I asked the question a while ago about the Mossberg 12ga. tactical persuader shotgun and the answers have pretty much got me very excited to purchase one. Now I’m just wondering in your personal opinion, how do you feel about shooting left-handed with a right-handed shotgun? While I have never tried this yet, I don’t believe that the shells will cause any distraction to me as they fly through my line of sight. The main concern is more along the lines of safety, what are the chances of receiving an injury to the face by a shell being ejected from the gun? I will of course be wearing eye protection at the range.. but in the event of a home invasion there isn’t much opportunity to throw on some safety glasses. The safety position on this particular gun is on the top so it operates the same for right and left-handed shooters.
Posted in tactical shotgun
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
When it comes to tactical shotguns, in many ways, using a gun with the ejection port to the inside (lefty shooting a right handed gun or righty shooting left handed gun) is better, because the ejection port is easier to reach with the support hand for slug select drills and jamb clearing. In fact, many right handed shooters will pay top dollar for a left handed 870, and then pay to have the safety swapped for the right hand version for this reason. Vang comp has built a number of custom 870′s for right hand shooters based off of left hand receivers. I personally want to buy one of the lefty vang’s.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
Not a good idea…get a left hand shotgun. You will be on the moving during home invasion and shells will be flying everywhere….
http://www.benelli-usa.com/shotguns/benelli_left_hand_models.php
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
I’ve never seen anyone in our classes have a problem with it, but we don’t get a lot of lefties. If you can, try shooting one at a range and see how you get along with it. I don’t know of any left handed shotguns, so, if you’re going to own one, the Mossberg is as close to ambidextrous as you’re likely to get.
In the heat of battle there are a number of safety precautions that have to be ignored for the sake of speed and survival (clearing duds immediately instead of waiting for a possible hang fire, for example). That’s just the nature of the situation. You do what you have to do.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
Since the Persuader is a pump action, I wouldn’t worry too much about any injuries, though wearing shooting glasses is always a smart idea. If it was a semi-auto that would be a different story. With a semi-auto there’s always a chance you could get some small portion of the blast directed out at your face.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
they are great guns, I have several friends that are lefties and they’ve never had a problem with pumps (including my 500). a shell may occasionally bounce off your arm if you cycle the action softly (faster you pump the further the spent shell will fly) but it shouldn’t be a problem for you. I think you’ll be happy with the mossberg.
if you find that your more comfortable with a left handed pump shotgun the remington 870 (express only I think) is available in a left handed model and is pretty comparable to the 500. the ithaca model 37 and browning bps are both bottom ejecting but I’m not sure if the safeties are reversible. the bps and model 37 in a tactical configuration are a little more expensive than the 500 and 870 but not by to much, get into the hunting models and they get spendy, especially the ithaca.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
Only folks I have ever seen have a problem was with an auto. (Them hulls are hot!) Should not be a problem for a pump gun. Hold one up to you shoulder before you buy, you will be able to tell pretty quick if you think it will be uncomfortable.
Dave
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
I have shot long guns left handed since 1951 and have never even had a left handed gun. I have no problems with it at all.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
My son is left eye dominant and has been shooting left handed with right handed guns since he was 7. A year or two ago he started messing around with his 10/22, WASR-10, and AR-15 shooting them right handed. He always comments about how weird it feels. He has never had any problem with pump shotguns, semi-auto rifles, or bolt action rifles. Up until this fall (he is 16 now) he had never shot a firearm with much recoil right handed.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
I’m left handed and have shot a mix of left and right handed weapons. The ones that I’d most care about shooting left handed weapons were an M-16 hot brass flying toward your steady arm is very unfun, and bolt actions (it’s doable but you end up having to take the weapon off your shoulder to chamber another round).
The only weapon i couldn’t use were smallbore match grade target rifles. (They have adjustable cheekplates and other things that made ambidexderous shooting impossible). I’ve never had a problem with any shot gun.
Finally, make sure your left eye is your dominant eye. Although most leftys are left eye dominant some aren’t and you’ll want to shoot with your dominant eye.