Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

[sublauxation]

I have a couple nicer Ruger 10/22's that I plan to pass on to my two sons, and last night I found a nice pink laminate stock for my daughter at a price I couldn't pass on. That leaves me with a plain factory stock to cut down until they grow into the full size. Leaves me with a couple questions:

Any tricks to cutting a stock? It's nothing special but I'd hate to butcher it badly as it will be nice to hand down through future generations. I have a miter saw and table saw.

My daughter is a lefty. Left handed guns seem pretty scarce so I assume you must all shoot mostly right handed guns. Anybody have any tricks to make it easier or will it just come naturally since she's never done it the other way? She's pretty ambidextrous with her hands but definitely left eye dominant. Would it be easier to pull the trigger left handed so her eyes line up better, or pull the trigger left handed and lean further over the gun? I've heard varying reports about hot casings hitting arms and gas in the face.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

I've heard varying reports about hot casings hitting arms and gas in the face.

Sounds like that could be the most dangerous end of it to be on !!!! :smile:

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

Teach her to shoot with both eyes open. Easier to find and stay on target

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

There are no 10/22's manufactured for left handed shooters, they simply don't care, Marlin nor Ruger.

I would suggest a lever action such as a Henry Henry Repeating Arms | Fine Rifles Made in America and Priced Right it will also teach her to be frugal with her rounds.

It is an issue with my family as well.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

I am a lefty. So is the wife.
A 'lefty' is the only type that can be 'ambidextrous' because they physically have to do 'R' things and become proficient at them, because they have 'no other option'.

Your daughter will learn to fire her rifle left handed without it being a left handed rifle.
She will probably learn to fire off either shoulder perfectly too, so I wouldn't worry too much.

What really mucks lefties up, is having specific left handed tools, which is great when they have them, but once out of their environment, then they are in trouble. Bit like saying to you - sorry - no right handed pens available - you will have to do the exam left handed. Another one. Teach a lefty to play golf with R handed clubs. Lifetime benefits there.



i always had trouble with the M60 Mg.
The empty cases would bounce around and some days I would end up with little brown burn marks over the right side of my face. Next problem was, the boss use to pick me out as #3 in the patrol ' all the @#$%'& time', and I hated that. Never got a break down the middle of the patrol.
We have 11 casual workers - and we use scissors frequently. Really interesting watching the new workers pick up a 'blue pair' and wonder WTH is wrong with them. The black ones are right handed.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

Yeah Phil but your also in the southern hemisphere so if you come to North America are you still Left handed?

 

[NYBo]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

I'm strongly right-handed, and always shot that way. Pretty mediocre target scores. Then I discovered I am strongly left-eyed. I started shooting lefty, and my accuracy went way up. This Fall, I had the chance to shoot a Ruger SR-22, which I believe uses the same action as the 10/22. I had no trouble with the ejected brass. Wear safety glasses, though.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

I'm strongly right-handed, and always shot that way. Pretty mediocre target scores. Then I discovered I am strongly left-eyed. I started shooting lefty, and my accuracy went way up. This Fall, I had the chance to shoot a Ruger SR-22, which I believe uses the same action as the 10/22. I had no trouble with the ejected brass. Wear safety glasses, though.

Ahh. Brings back my basic training days with the M-1. I'm kind of a hybred, but my left eye is dominent (which I didn't have a clue about back then). So there I was, shooting right handed (the instructors wouldn't have it any other way, plus the brass would have been flying back in my face otherwise), scrunching over to line up the sights with my left eye. No wonder I couldn't hit anything.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

There are no surprises in the stock of the 10/22 to worry about, like some weapons I have owned, so as long as you are paying attention, there is no problem cutting the stock, and if you goof, the replacement stocks are pretty cheap to buy. I don't know of a 10/22 left handed model, but as small as this gun is, it should not be a big deal to shoot it left handed, my sister did it for years with no problems and not much worry about the brass. A properly working 10/22 throws the brass straight out to the side about 6 to 10 feet away, so she should have no problems being hit by the brass.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

Thanks for the info. I've held it up left handed a couple times and it's to awkward feeling for me to get any idea of how it would work. I've never worn shooting glasses in my life but this seems like a good reason to start that habit for me and the kids.

With all the aftermarket 10/22 stuff I'm surprised nobody has done a lefty version, but maybe that would screw people up like Kiwi Phil said. If she gets into it shotguns should be easier, something like a BPS that dumps shells out the bottom should work well.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

Although, the 10/22 is one of the most popular .22 ever made(Marlin 66 is the most) To completely machine and set up for a left handed version would be cost prohibitive on a gun of this nature. As far as firearms go, they really are not all that expensive and they last a long time, I have had mine over 40 years now. Shooting glasses are always a good idea, especially with younger children just starting out, things can be unpredictable when a youngster is just learning to shoot.

The one rifle that always got me, was that darn Winchester Model 94, that ejected the shells out of the top of the receiver, I used to get hit in the head all the time with those 30-30 shells when I was younger..

 

[gm280]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

I am left handed and have been shooting guns for over 40 years now. I have shot tons of 22 ammo out of Ruger 10/22's without one problem what so ever. I've even shot bolt action, semi-auto action rifles and pistols as well and with the single exception of an old Westren Auto pump shotgun not sealing up tightly and spitting some ehaust gases back, I never had even one issue with empty rounds hitting me or any other problem shooting right handed guns left handed. I can easily operate a bolt action gun faster then people would ever believe. It is all in what you get use to. As far as the cutting of any gun stock, remember that most stocks are tapered towards the barrel end of the gun and therefore you have to take that taper into consideration when cutting any stock shorter or you will end up with a non-squared off butt plate area. A cut-off saw (chop saw) will work if you get the stock adjusted for that taper. Then just cut away and reinstall the flate and straight butt plate...
You can find out what the child's length of pull is by measuring from their bend arm at the inside of the elbow to their bent trigger finger (like they are ready to pull the trigger). Adults LOP is usually arounf 14", but obviously kids will be shorter. So measure them before cutting to fit their needs.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

The one rifle that always got me, was that darn Winchester Model 94, that ejected the shells out of the top of the receiver, I used to get hit in the head all the time with those 30-30 shells when I was younger..

Our Army pistol team armorer was skilled..... if you pissed him off.....he would play with the ejector on the 45 and the brass would just miss your head..... very distracting so the key was to keep him happy

 

[sccatfish]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

Wrap some masking tape around the stock, mark the tape, and cut through the tape to help keep chipping the finish to a minimum. You can also keep the piece you cut off and add it back if you need to, but that will take some work to make it look good.

As far as shooting left handed, while it may be first instinct and most comfortable to shoot that way, you can teach your body to shoot the other way, especially when shooting at non-moving targets. The younger you start the better. If the person has a dominant eye that is more important than which shoulder feels the most comfortable.

 

[generator12]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

I have similar problems shooting pool left-handed with a right-handed cue-stick.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

I have similar problems shooting pool left-handed with a right-handed cue-stick.

That one goes both ways, I tried a lefty stick once and couldn't hit squat.

 

[JB]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

John Browning designed several very good rimfire rifles (and shotguns, too) that eject either straight down or straight up. Some examples are the Winchester 1897, 1906 and 62. I owned several 1906 Winchesters and one 62.

I owned one Ruger 10-22. It was a very good rifle, but my favorite .22 of all time is my Belgian Browning semi-auto. It was made under license by Remington for a while and a replica is now made in Japan, along with several knockoffs of the 62.

The Ithaca model 37 shotgun is another Browning design that ejects down.

There are a number of good options for a lefty that don't involve brass in the face.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

... If the person has a dominant eye, that is more important than which shoulder feels the most comfortable.

Everyone has a dominant eye. It is the one you reference the world with.

If you do not know which one you are; Look at a small object at least 10 feet away from you.
Focus on the object, and then without much thinking, quickly point you index finger directly at the object.
Now close One Eye.
If the finger is still pointing at the object, you are using your dominate eye.
If the finger is pointing off to the side of the object, the OTHER Eye is the Dominate Eye.

Another Method.

 

[sccatfish]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

Not everyone has a dominant eye. I and others I know can do the tests and wind up on either eye. Those test basically involve focusing on a far away object and seeing which of the two images (one for each eye) of a nearby object (your finger/hands) you see the best. I see both images equally and can choose either one. I can shoot with either eye as well, but I would need a little practice to be very good shooting left handed. If I have a dominant eye it is a very small dominance.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Left handed shooting right handed gun, and cutting stock.

not sure why you need to cut the stock, im strongly right handed, but shoot as a lefty. actually have never had a lefty gun in my hands. ( would give my right arm to be ambidextrous tho!! ) shooting lefty with a righty gun will become second nature, ......i dont think i could reload a left handed bolt action gun with confidence.