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Posted: 10/14/2012 6:13:48 AM EDT
| I have a number of rifles but am buying my first AR15. I am left handed and have found that there are at least two manufacturers making them––RRA and Stag. Forgetting the premium price is it worth it to me to get a left handed rifle/ or should I get a deflector and an ambi safety? Second question––-I would look at either a RRA LAR Operator or a Stag 3-LH. I know the RRA has more eqt. on it, but is there a reason to pick one over the other? Thanks..... |
| its kind of hard to answer that as its a personal preference. I would suggest shooting a right handed one and see if it works for you, plenty of lefties do. If I was a lefty I would get a lefty model though, I find it annoying shooting lefty controls and all, with brass flying. I would say you wouldn't go wrong with either of those rifles. |
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I am a lefty. You should buy a "regular" AR. Lefty specific models have proprietary bolt
assemblies. This means that you do not have the capability to use commonly available parts. A 'normal' AR is fairly lefty friendly. In fact, using your trigger finger to manipulate the safety selector is actually safer (because the trigger finger is away from the trigger). |
| Yes the bolt, bolt carrier, barrel extension, and bolt release are different. All of these parts (when quality parts) will last a very long time. Buy an extra lefty bolt and don't worry about it. If you have an ambi lower then the bolt release wouldn't be an issue. |
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I'm a lefty too. The ergonomics of a regular AR15 are workable for a lefty. A few things can be customized though for faster manipulation, namely the safety, magazine release and charging handle. I put a Troy ambi mag release and BAD-CASS ambi 45 degree short-throw safety on mine. Just waiting for BCM to release their lefty or ambi charging handle, or I may get the Ranier Arms ambi charging handle. http://imageshack.us/a/img196/2750/001lhr.jpg http://imageshack.us/a/img443/7459/rifle3.jpg |
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I am a lefty and in the Marines and shoot right handed m16's and m4's all the time and yes they do work fine, my only gripe is when your are going through a couple hundred of rounds and you need to clp your bolt carrier and bolt up alot and you get the spray come back onto your glasses or into your eyes and on your face.
To answer your question as a lefty, yes it is fine, I personally own 9 weapons myself and the only "right" handed ones i have are my 2 pistols and my shotgun, everything else is lefty. I personally like the unique-ness of them and they turn heads at the range. As to the two models your looking at I don't like the stag becasue it is just a somewhat lefty upper on a right handed lower, the RRA models are completely made for us lefties in that respect I ordered a RRA Elite Operator Lef-t about a month ago and waiting for it to come in. If you have any questions just send me a PM benson821 |
| I had an accident with my right eye and had to change the charging handle and safety to a lefty. The forward assist and the rear BUIS windage knob does kind of get in the way of the grabbing the charging handle though, so I moved it forward a notch to allow more clearence. One other advantage to stay with a normal upper is that it is easier to see the chamber and clear malfunctions. |
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Yes the bolt, bolt carrier, barrel extension, and bolt release are different. All of these parts (when quality parts) will last a very long time. Buy an extra lefty bolt and don't worry about it. If you have an ambi lower then the bolt release wouldn't be an issue. ^ You sir are NOT LH and have no idea what you are talking about. The ONLY difference in upper parts for a LH eject upper is the BCG. Even within the BCG parts are interchangeable like the extractor, but the bolt itself is different. The barrels and extension are the same, the bolt release is the same. Now, if you have an RRA lower which is a mirror of a standard lower then yes the bolt release would need to be mirrored. As a lefty I have one LH Stag upper and it works well and seen 10K+ rounds and hard use BUT all my other rifles are RH. I shoot 3gun competitions at least once a month with a RH upper and standard lower. The only LH controls I have are my safety which is an ambi switch. Everything else, CH included, is RH. Benson mentions getting oil on his glasses but I have never had this happen in any great effect and I run my guns pretty wet here in the hot and dry desert. Maybe some spots on my glasses I notice later after a match. Maybe Benson is shooting in some dirty situations but you should be able to go more than a couple hundred rounds before requiring oil. |
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Yes the bolt, bolt carrier, barrel extension, and bolt release are different. All of these parts (when quality parts) will last a very long time. Buy an extra lefty bolt and don't worry about it. If you have an ambi lower then the bolt release wouldn't be an issue. ^ You sir are NOT LH and have no idea what you are talking about. The ONLY difference in upper parts for a LH eject upper is the BCG. Even within the BCG parts are interchangeable like the extractor, but the bolt itself is different. The barrels and extension are the same, the bolt release is the same. Now, if you have an RRA lower which is a mirror of a standard lower then yes the bolt release would need to be mirrored. As a lefty I have one LH Stag upper and it works well and seen 10K+ rounds and hard use BUT all my other rifles are RH. I shoot 3gun competitions at least once a month with a RH upper and standard lower. The only LH controls I have are my safety which is an ambi switch. Everything else, CH included, is RH. Benson mentions getting oil on his glasses but I have never had this happen in any great effect and I run my guns pretty wet here in the hot and dry desert. Maybe some spots on my glasses I notice later after a match. Maybe Benson is shooting in some dirty situations but you should be able to go more than a couple hundred rounds before requiring oil. Your right im not a lefty but I do shoot left for practice (same with my pistols) Ok I highlighted by color the parts…. they are the SAME parts I listed. And as for the barrel extensions look them up they are different because the bolt locks with a different rotation….. So how am I wrong????? |
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If you're planning to put a suppressor on it later, I'd get a Stag. If not, I'd just get a regular ol' RH upper.
It's interesting to note that a standard barrel extension will work A-OK with a left-handed bolt. I have a Noveske barrel in my lefty and that thing is probably the most reliable rifle I own. |
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If you're planning to put a suppressor on it later, I'd get a Stag. If not, I'd just get a regular ol' RH upper. It's interesting to note that a standard barrel extension will work A-OK with a left-handed bolt. I have a Noveske barrel in my lefty and that thing is probably the most reliable rifle I own. I have heard of it not being an issue. But here is an archived thread showing the difference. http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=212480 |
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The barrels and extension are the same The barrel extension, and hence barrel assemblies, are not the same. Left handed (Stag's are ambidextrous) barrel extensions have bevels in the correct direction for a left hand BCG, which rotates the bolt the opposite direction during locking. People have run standard barrel extensions with a left hand bolt but it's a kludge, and I wouldn't do it. |
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I used to have a Left handed FAQ stickied but it seems to have been removed.
first off DO NOT buy a left handed upper. Its just stupid, the only thing it does is eject the brass out the other side of the rifle. Instead get a standard upper and get ambi controls for the lower. a BAD Ass safety selector, a troy mag release is really all you need. Bolt assists and ambi charging handles are not really needed but I can see where they help I am left handed I shoot every thing left handed I speak from experience I have owned a left handed stag and found it did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help with shooting or manipulation of the rifle I use the Bad Ass selector, troy ambi mag release, and BCM gun fighter charging handle those are the only ambi control i use |
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Another lefty here, and I agree with most of the stuff above
A lefty upper is not neciaasary unless you plan to shoot a lot of suppressed, then it's nice to not have all that gas go right into your face.... But your gonna be wearing eye pro anyway so.... I have a stag lefty and love it.... But honestly I shoot my other three ar's just fine, almost all the controll are on the lower anyway Get a raptor charging handle, Troy mag release and any ambi safety you prefer, mine is s stag one and works fine, but I hear good things about the BAD-ASS ones If you have the coin get an AXTS lower, that is pretty much the best of the best for leftys |
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The barrels and extension are the same The barrel extension, and hence barrel assemblies, are not the same. Left handed (Stag's are ambidextrous) barrel extensions have bevels in the correct direction for a left hand BCG, which rotates the bolt the opposite direction during locking. People have run standard barrel extensions with a left hand bolt but it's a kludge, and I wouldn't do it. I stand corrected. |
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Fellow southpaw checking in..I own or have owned over two dozen AR's over my lifetime and all of them were standard set ups. The only thing I've ever added to most of them were ambi selectors and mag releases. I still own a few that do not have the ambi additions and keep them that way for training purposes.
IMO, as long as you train with the weapon you have, you can become proficient with it and the way it's et up. It may not be ideal, you can make it work..If you feel you need a left handed model, Novekse also makes one that's sold through a different company. I haven't checked them out in a few years but, I knew they were available in the past.. |
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Yes the bolt, bolt carrier, barrel extension, and bolt release are different. All of these parts (when quality parts) will last a very long time. Buy an extra lefty bolt and don't worry about it. If you have an ambi lower then the bolt release wouldn't be an issue. ^ You sir are NOT LH and have no idea what you are talking about. The ONLY difference in upper parts for a LH eject upper is the BCG. Even within the BCG parts are interchangeable like the extractor, but the bolt itself is different. The barrels and extension are the same, the bolt release is the same. Now, if you have an RRA lower which is a mirror of a standard lower then yes the bolt release would need to be mirrored. As a lefty I have one LH Stag upper and it works well and seen 10K+ rounds and hard use BUT all my other rifles are RH. I shoot 3gun competitions at least once a month with a RH upper and standard lower. The only LH controls I have are my safety which is an ambi switch. Everything else, CH included, is RH. Benson mentions getting oil on his glasses but I have never had this happen in any great effect and I run my guns pretty wet here in the hot and dry desert. Maybe some spots on my glasses I notice later after a match. Maybe Benson is shooting in some dirty situations but you should be able to go more than a couple hundred rounds before requiring oil. Your right im not a lefty but I do shoot left for practice (same with my pistols) Ok I highlighted by color the parts…. they are the SAME parts I listed. And as for the barrel extensions look them up they are different because the bolt locks with a different rotation….. So how am I wrong????? You are correct on extensions. Bolt release is the same if using a standard lower but you didn't specify standard or the RRA lefty lower. |
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Lefty been shooting 24 years. Forget the Stag and Rock River.
Get a standard rifle. Colt, BCM, Daniel Defense, Noveske, or KAC. Get a Battle arms selector, Troy ambi mag release, Ranier Arms Raptor ambi charging handle. Get ammo go shoot, repeat,repeat,repeat. |
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