Best Budget Left-Handed Rifles Under $500 (2026)
The best true left-handed rifles you can buy new for under $500 — accurate, reliable, and southpaw-friendly without breaking the bank.
By Brian Reinke
Founder & Editor · May 31, 2026 · 6 min read
The best budget left-handed rifle is the Savage Axis, often available new for around $400 in a true left-hand action. The Ruger American and Winchester XPR are the other two standouts under $500 — all three are accurate out of the box, chamber popular hunting calibers, and come in genuine left-hand configurations. Here's how they compare and who each one is for.
The top 3 under $500
| Rifle | Typical price | Why it's here |
|---|---|---|
| Savage Axis (left-hand) | ~$400 | Cheapest true left-hand bolt action; AccuTrigger on many models; excellent accuracy for the money |
| Ruger American (left-hand) | ~$450–$500 | Tang safety, smooth three-lug bolt, AR-style magazines on Ranch models |
| Winchester XPR (left-hand) | ~$450–$500 | Light, easy-handling, great trigger; popular first hunting rifle |
Best overall value: Savage Axis
The Savage Axis is the easiest true left-hand rifle to buy on a tight budget. It is regularly available new around $400, shoots well out of the box, and comes in common deer calibers like .308 Win, .243 Win, and 6.5 Creedmoor. If you want the most rifle for the least money, start here. (Browse all Savage left-handed rifles.)
Best features: Ruger American
The Ruger American line punches above its price with a tang safety (naturally ambidextrous), a smooth bolt, and — on the Ranch models — AR-style detachable magazines. It's a great pick if you want modern features and plan to add an optic and suppressor later. (Browse all Ruger left-handed rifles.)
Best for new hunters: Winchester XPR
The Winchester XPR is light, points naturally, and has a genuinely good trigger for the price, which is why it's a common first rifle for new hunters. It's offered in left-hand across a wide caliber spread. (Browse all Winchester left-handed rifles.)
What to know before you buy a budget left-hand rifle
- Confirm it's a true left-hand action, not just an ambidextrous tang safety on a right-hand bolt. Every listing in our catalog is tagged.
- Budget for an optic. None of these include a scope unless sold as a combo; factor in $150–$300 for glass.
- 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win are the easiest calibers to find in left-hand and have the cheapest ammo.
See every option side by side by opening the full catalog and filtering by price (under $500). Want to step up? Read the best left-handed hunting rifles.
Rifles mentioned in this article
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