Left-handed rifle FAQ

A left-handed rifle is a rifle whose action is mirrored for left-handed shooters: the bolt handle is on the left side and spent cases eject to the left, away from a left-handed shooter's face. This lets a southpaw run the bolt with their right hand while keeping the rifle shouldered on the left, and keeps hot brass and gas clear of their line of sight.

Yes — for a dedicated left-handed shooter, a true left-hand action is worth it because it cycles faster from position, keeps ejection away from your face, and is more comfortable over long shooting sessions. Left-handed rifles also tend to hold their value well because they are harder to find. If you only shoot occasionally, an ambidextrous design or a right-handed rifle with ambi controls can be a lower-cost alternative.

Yes, a left-handed person can shoot a right-handed rifle, but it is not ideal. The main drawbacks are that the bolt is awkward to operate with the left hand and the ejection port sits on the same side as your face, sending brass and gas toward you. Lever-action, pump, semi-automatic, break-open, and single-shot rifles are far more ambidextrous and are good options for lefties who cannot find a true left-hand bolt action.

Major manufacturers that make left-handed rifles include Ruger, Savage Arms, Tikka, Bergara, Browning, Winchester, Weatherby, CZ, Christensen Arms, Sako, Mossberg, Nosler, and Fierce Arms. Savage Arms offers one of the widest ranges of affordable left-handed models, while Tikka, Sako, and Bergara are popular for accuracy. Lefty Firearms tracks every current left-handed and ambidextrous rifle from these brands in one searchable catalog.

A true left-hand rifle mirrors the action — bolt on the left, ejection to the left. An ambidextrous rifle works for either hand, with symmetric controls or a bolt and ejection that can be switched sides (common on straight-pull rifles). A left-hand-friendly rifle still has a right-hand action but a design — like a centered stock, tang safety, or top-loading gate — that makes it usable by a lefty, which is typical of lever-action and single-shot rifles.

New left-handed rifles usually cost the same as their right-handed equivalents — manufacturers list them at the same MSRP. However, the selection is smaller and they can be harder to find in stock. On the used market, left-handed rifles often sell for slightly less because demand is lower, which can make a used left-hand rifle a good value.

The Savage Axis is typically the most affordable true left-handed bolt-action rifle, often available new for around $400. Other budget-friendly left-handed options include the Ruger American and the Winchester XPR. These deliver good out-of-the-box accuracy at an entry-level price.

Popular left-handed deer rifles include the Tikka T3x, Ruger American, Bergara B-14, Browning X-Bolt, and Winchester XPR, most commonly chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, .270 Winchester, or .30-06 Springfield. The best choice depends on your budget and how far you carry the rifle — Tikka and Bergara are favored for accuracy, while Savage and Ruger lead on value.

6.5 Creedmoor is by far the most common chambering offered in left-handed rifles, because manufacturers prioritize their highest-volume cartridge when they produce a left-hand run. .308 Winchester, .243 Winchester, and .30-06 Springfield are also widely available, and .22 LR is the most common rimfire option for left-handed shooters.

You should generally shoot from the side of your dominant eye, not your dominant hand. About one-third of people are cross-dominant (for example, right-handed but left-eye dominant), and eye dominance usually wins for accuracy. A simple eye-dominance test — forming a triangle with your hands and centering an object, then closing each eye — tells you which eye is dominant and therefore which side you should shoot from.