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Pictures of Left Handed and Ambidextrous Firearms

19K views 70 replies 32 participants last post by  BradB  
#1 · (Edited)
Pictures of Left Handed Firearms and Ambidextrous Firearms

Here is a beginning for a thread, where we post pictures of our left handed and ambidextrous firearms. I suggest including ambidextrous firearms because they are as user friendly for a lefty as are true left handed ones. I have personally owned many of each and have come to truly appreciate both options.

I ask each member posting a picture to include details on the make, model, cartridge and (if known) the year of manufacture. I will be asking for this to become a "Sticky Thread."

Here is my first offering:

This is a left handed Anschutz 54:18 MS. It is a single shot (22 LR) rifle built primarily for Metal Silhouette competition. The 5018 trigger was the finest trigger I have ever experienced in a rimfire rifle. The barrel tuner was not original to the rifle. It was the beginning of a BR conversion.:
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Because I was primarily a benchrest shooter at the time, I had Don Stith build me a BR stock for the action:
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#3 · (Edited)
Ambidextrous action would be a single-shot type gun, like my 1990 Ruger #1 Varmint in .223 Remington. Scope is a Bausch & Lomb 6-24x. Rifle has had some trigger work done to it and the fore end was bedded.

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#5 · (Edited)
This is a Musgrave Ambidex. It is a straight pull .22 similar to the Browning T-Bolt. The difference in design includes the slot for the bolt handle is cut on both sides, and the bolt handle can be switched from one side to the other. I have had a gunbroker automatic search set up for one for YEARS. I have never seen one for sale in the States.

 
#46 ·
This is a Musgrave Ambidex. It is a straight pull .22 similar to the Browning T-Bolt. The difference in design includes the slot for the bolt handle is cut on both sides, and the bolt handle can be switched from one side to the other. I have had a gunbroker automatic search set up for one for YEARS. I have never seen one for sale in the States.

That is interesting I have a grade II browning T Bolt circa 1969 yes mine is left hand I had a couple Grad I alas both gone. but I am intrigued but since it is no longer in production and very few were imported in the States, I believe I will never see or touch one.
If a manufacturer here in the states would recreate the Musgrave Ambidex I would buy one or two. which manufacturer would be interested?
 
#6 · (Edited)
Ruger M 77 Hawkeye (204 Ruger)

Here is a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 204 Ruger. Unfortunately it appears to be a discontinued model.:( If you can find one, I highly recommend it for amazing accuracy. The scope is a Nikon 4.5-18X40mm Side Focus Prostaff 5 :t:

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#7 · (Edited)
CZ 452 with Don Stith Stock (22LR)

Here is my CZ 452 American with a Don Stith light sporter BR stock (Sasafrass and Red Wood). It was bedded by Russ Haydon. I finished it myself. The trigger spring was replaced. Other than that it is OEM. The scope is a Nikon Side Focus 6-18X40mm Buckmaster:

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#8 · (Edited)
Browning Model 78 High Wall (Ambidextrous)

Here is a real rare find. It is a Browning Model 78 in 243 Winchester. The scope is a 4X Leupold.

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Same rifle with a Nikon Buckmaster 6-18X40mm Scope.


This rifle is a great example of why I am grouping ambidextrous rifles along with true left handed rifles. It functions just as easily with either hand and it is well worth searching for.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Martini Cadet in 218 Bee (Ambidextrous)

Martini Cadet (219 Bee). These rifles (made in England) usually come from Australia where the were commonly military practice rifles. Originally in 310 caliber, they are frequently converted to Bee or Hornet.

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#10 ·
Vickers Martini (22 LR) (Ambidextrous)

Here is a very rare (1922) Vickers Martini. Unlike all other Martinis, the Vickers Martini came with a one piece stock:

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The Vickers, like all Martinis has an action called a "falling block action." Actually it rotates open, so I wonder if it should not really be called a rolling block, like some other similar rifles. By comparison, the Browning Model 78 and the Ruger No. 1 Varmint pictured above are true falling block rifles as the action opens by having the breech block drop straight down.

Like all falling block rifles these are single shot rifles. That hardly matters to me as the first thing I buy for any new magazine feed rifle is a single shot adapter. It makes me be more careful with each shot and it saves on ammo.

As long as the rifle does not have an aftermarket stock with a high right handed comb, any falling block rifle or rolling block rifle will be as easy for a lefty as a right handed shooter to operate.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Anschutz Exemplar .22LR, one of several I own. Nice left-handed action...

Au contraire! Anschutz designed this for the handgun silhouette competitions, as the ultimate pistol for RIGHT-handed shooters. Shooting from the creedmore position, the right hand grips the gun, while the left hand manipulates the bolt, thus allowing the shooter to maintain a constant grip on the pistol. Later, they marketed a version for us lefties, using a right-handed 64 action.

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#15 ·
Custom Ruger No. 1 V in .222 Remington

This is the only Ruger No, 1 I currently own. It started out as a 2013 Ruger No. 1A in 222 Remington. Back then it looked like this:
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My first modification was a Jard 1.75 lb trigger. Then, I had it converted to a 1V by replacing the skinny 1A barrel with a Shilen varmint barrel (still 222 Rem.), mounting 1V scope bases on the barrel and trading the 1A forearm for a 1V forearm. With those changes, I got this:
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Remington never produced the 1V in 222 Remington. I fail to understand the logic of this decision. I recently came close to selling it but came to my senses before it was too late.
 
#17 ·
:whistle: Pictures please.

As stated in the original posting, this is a picture thread. There is already a sticky thread dedicated to just listing left handed firearms. I started this thread after another member complained about the lack of a lefty picture thread. Seemed like a good idea.
 
#18 · (Edited)
MOA Maximum pistol, a falling block action, in .30BR, as it came from the factory. Very popular for handgun hunting and silhouette competition. They also make them with 14" barrels. There is even a rimfire version which has an ejector, similar to those used on single-action revolvers, mounted under the barrel.

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#19 · (Edited)
MOA Maximum pistol, this one in 6.5mm BR. Factory fluted 1.25" diameter barrel and fore end, suitible for shooting off a rest. The original version above uses a single-action revolver-type grip. With large calibers, the recoil really makes the gun roll into the hand, and you could get the hammer spur driven into your hand.

After much deliberation, MOA offered a newer version with a double-action grip frame, like this one. That stops the rolling action and gives the gun a much different feel.

Sights on both of these are Bo-Mar rear and Bond globe front, adjustable for blade height and width.

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#21 · (Edited)
BSA Martini Model 12/15 (22 LR) Ambidextrous

Another example of the Martini falling block, single shot rifle. Though my 12/15 had a right handed comb on the butt stock, I had no problem shooting it left handed.:

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Here I am shooting my 12/15 with the original target sights:
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Shooting the same rifle with an Unertl 10X scope:
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Same rifle with a very cool Fecker scope:
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#22 ·
BSA Martini International MK II (22LR) Left Handed

OK, here is my last Martini. This is a heavy target rifle. It came either left or right handed.

With a Hawke Sidewinder scope:
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With its original sights:
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#23 · (Edited)
BAT Machine Custom Varmint (222 Rem) Left Handed

Here is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. It could hide 5 shots under a dime at 200 yards. BAT Machine makes a variety of different actions in different styles and cartridges for different uses. While they are pretty expensive, they live up to the cost.

What you see here is:
1. A left handed BAT SB action
2. A Krieger 12 twist varmint barrel
3. A Jewell 2 oz. Benchrest trigger
4. A Kelbly HCFB stock
5. A Weaver T-36 scope

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#24 ·
CZ 527 American (223 Remington) Left Handed

Here is my most recent purchase. This is CZ's small bore centerfire rifle. You can have it left handed in either .223 Remington or 204 Ruger. The scope is an old Japanese Tasco 8-32X40mm Varmint scope. Unlike many of the rifles I have shown here, this CZ is still in production:

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CZ has several different left handed models. You can see details at CZ USA:
http://cz-usa.com/product-category/rifles/

I am quite annoyed that the new CZ Model 455 will not made left handed.
 
#25 ·
Savage 93R17 (17HMR) Left Handed

Another lefty still in production is the Savage 93R17. This inexpensive left handed bolt action rifle in 17 HMR can be very accurate as the 200 yard target below shows.

I bought mine from gunbroker.com, it came with two stocks, the original factory stock and a Richards Microfit stock:
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I mostly shot it with the Richards Microfit stock, achieving this 5-shot group at 200 yards one fine day. The lonely shot at the upper right is a perfect example of the benchrest shooter's equivalent of buck fever. That is a hasty shot with your heart racing. It was, of course the fifth shot after mistakenly checking the progress through my spotting scope:
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#26 · (Edited)
A BF Arms Model 97 in .22LR. Falling block design, this one was custom built for handgun silhouette with a fluted 15" Shilen Matchgrade barrel. Left-handed thumbrest grips by E.A. Brown Co. Sights are Bo-Mar rear, Bond front globe.

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