10 Things All Left-Handed Shooters Will Understand

The plight of a left-handed shooter...

Let's face it, the world is just not made for lefties.

Nowhere is this more evident than in shooting sports.

Here are 10 experiences only lefties can relate to.

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1. Finding a left-handed bow or rifle

Okay, so this one is obvious, maybe not to right-handed folks, but all of us lefties know the struggle.

Right-handed folks can walk into any gun or archery shop and pick up something off the shelf and give it a whirl. Lefties have to special order, and even then, the model you want may not be available in a left-handed version.

2. Selling or trading your lefty model firearm or bow

So let's say you're actually able to find that Browning A-Bolt Hunter .300 WSM in a lefty. Good luck ever trying to get rid of it. Most lefties know once you buy a left-handed gun, you are stuck with it. Unless you have a lot of lefty friends, you may not find a buyer.

3. Trying to make a right-handed gun work

There's practically no way you are going to shoot a right-handed bow, but guns are a different story. Although, trying to work the bolt means you have to drop your shooting stance, then either reach over the rifle or switch hands. In addition to working the bolt, loading ammo takes some getting used to.

4. Safety and magazine releases on right-handed guns

If you're trying to shoot with a right-handed gun as a lefty, you soon find that all of the mechanisms are really inconvenient. You learn to press the magazine release with your index or middle finger. The safety on your shotgun requires using your thumb or reaching under with your middle finger to disengage.

5. Brass hitting you in the face

Probably the most annoying—if not dangerous—problems left-handed shooters face when using right-handed guns comes with autoloaders. Even though conventional wisdom says you should wear safety glasses when shooting, this is an absolute must for lefties shooting right-handed autoloaders. Depending on the rifle, you may be treated to hot brass in the face or down your shirt.

6. Hunting the right side of the field

I had to throw in at least one positive of being a lefty. When hunting with your right-handed buddies, you can take the right and they can take the left, allowing for a more natural range of motion when birds flush to your side. Life still sucks for the poor sap in the middle though.

7. Hey, check out my new bow!

When we get new toys, maybe the best part is showing them off to our friends. As a lefty, your friends can tell you all about their new Halon bow and how sweet it is to shoot, but that's where it ends. Unless you go out and spend the money on a left-handed model, you won't ever get to try it for yourself.

8. Hunting out of a buddy's blind

Hunting blinds tend to be personalized to the hunter. You go out and make your lanes where you know you will have a shot, clearing any branches that may be in your way. However, any lefty can tell you the branches that are in the way of a right-handed shooter, and the ones you left in place as a rest don't work from the other side.

9. Buying a new bow

I know, I mentioned it in number one, but this one deserves to be repeated. You right-handed folks have no idea how frustrating it is to not be able to go into the archery shop and pick up the new models and try them out.

When you're shopping for something new, it's like shopping blind, since most shops aren't going to order left-handed models of everything. Aside from that, not all manufacturers produce all of their models in left-handed styles.

10. Sorry bud, you can't borrow my bow, rifle, etc.

There is one big benefit to being a lefty in a right-handed world. When your annoying friend who won't buy his own stuff wants to borrow yours, you can always say, "Sorry, it's left-handed!" It's like the reverse of number seven.

Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.

NEXT: VIDEO: 3 JAVELINA SMOKED WITH 1 ARROW, YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE THIS!

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