Lefty Shooting a Double Rifle

[Don Colter]

I'm a southpaw and desperately want to add a double rifle to my collection. I have had the opportunity to shoulder a few doubles, but they have all been left handed. Most felt like they pulled up to my shoulder and eye well, but without actually shooting them I don't know. I shoot a very nice Spanish double sidelock shotgun with double triggers and have no problem even though they are right handed.

My question is even though a double usually has a cheek piece for a right hander, is there any reason a lefty can't effectively shoot a right handed double? Growing up I shot right hands bolt rifles all the time because my Dad and brothers are all right handed and that's all we had. Since growing up, chronologically anyway, I have had the luxury of having left handed bolt rifles. My new 375 is a lefty.

Anyway, any input welcomed.

Don

 

[Timt]

Well I don't have experience with many doubles except for the Krieghoff 470NE that I currently own but I have no problems shooting it as a lefty even though it is a right handed rifle.

The stock is 100% straight though so it fitted me really well even if it did have a cheek piece on the wrong side of the stock.

I decided to have a gunsmith take the cheekpiece off and refinish the whole stock which I am now waiting to get back.

I would say that if the stock fits you and feels good it doesn't matter if it was built as a rh rifle, you might get your trigger finger slapped by the front trigger if you shoot a large bore caliber but otherwise it shouldn't be a problem same as the shotguns.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

My double is also right handed and I have had no issues with it I added a neoprene pad on my side (cheeck pad) and it handles beautifully.

Shoot it feel it and if you like it but it....

 

[spike.t]

if there is no cast on the stock and the sights line up when you put it to your shoulder should be fine. depending on your budget you could have one made and stocked to your measurements.

 

[Red Leg]

Your only issue will be cast -the amount the stock is bent to one side to place the dominant eye over the rear sight. A cheek piece will accentuate the amount of cast. You can compensate for that, but it can show up as a problem in two areas. First, in a quick shooting situation (i.e. a charge) instinctive fit matters. A rifle with opposite cast will not naturally point in the same way a properly fitted rifle will. The second is recoil. With opposite cast, you will not be able to achieve the same spot weld as with a properly fitted rifle resulting in more perceived recoil.

Now the good news. There are a bunch of double rifles out there without cheek pieces. A stock can be bent very easily by a competent gunsmith. Find the right gun, and then have it fitted with the correct cast and length of pull by one of the good gun smiths/makers. Cost will be incidental compared to the investment in the rifle.

 

[zephyr]

As a left handed shooter in a right handed world the prospects of shooting a double are not that grim. Red Leg gives sound advice. Most doubles are easily bent by a competent gun smith, (look for some one that uses dry heat, if they use the hot oil method then you will have to pay for a stock refinishing job unless you plan on taking the cheek piece off)....Box locks can be re-inleted but you stand to lose a bit of the wood to metal fit. Cheek Pieces may be taken down if you prefer. Don't forget the triggers most double triggers are bent towards the right handed shooter they are easily bent for a left handed shooter or what I have done is bend them neutral.

 

[Shakey]

If you're going to order a double, then order a LH built to your dimensions with the triggers set for a LH shooter. If you're looking to buy a used one, either have plenty of patience and be prepared to act quickly when you see what you want, or go the RH route and modify if needed. I'm RH, but left-eye dominant and I shoot LH. I presently have 2 Heyms, one RH and one LH, and I found both used. For whatever reason, the LH has the LH stock and cheek piece, but the triggers are RH. The previous owner used the back trigger first, but I use the front trigger and have had no issues other than one double fire due to glove material engaging the back trigger when I jerked the front. That was an easy fix and I haven't had an issue since, even in the heat of the moment. My boys shoot the RH one, but I do as well from time to time. They both shoulder fine in the living room, but under actual shooting conditions, I prefer the LH model with the cheek piece on the right side of the stock ....

 

[Shooter65]

Just noticed this thread so sorry for late reply, If you are looking at a new DR then just get it left handed with a left handed stock and trigger set up. Heym, Merkel & Chapuis all do left handed stocked and triggers as standard if customer orders it that way at no extra cost.

 

[zephyr]

Beware ..... One problem with getting a Left Handed Double is the Top Lever. If the Top Lever is truly Left Handed then it swings to the left to open the gun. If one has been shooting Right Handed Guns all their lives and making changes to the gun, cast, triggers, cheek piece, such as I, I would be baffled having one gun and a Dangerous Game Gun at that having a top lever moving in the wrong direction.
IF you get a bespoke gun make sure the Top Lever goes in the direction you want it..
Good Shooting.

 

[Brett Becker]

Had both , right handed double Sabatti and now have a left handed Merkel. I didn't notice a lot of difference between the 2 ,although the left handed triggers on the Merkel are a nice touch. The Sabatti , although right handed , had a longer length of pull and virtually no cast, was comfortable to shoot. I am not a true left hander as I am blind in my right eye and am forced to shoot left handed and up until recently had only right handed rifles , as it was difficult to find ANY left handed firearms. So go with what you are comfortable with, if a right handed one feels better, go with that. Plus it will easier to sell later on if you decide to do so

 

[Tim Beahan]

I share your pain, Brett. Learning to shoot all over again, replacing your battery with lefties. Tough to do; old habits die hard....