best left hand 22lr

[RichM]

hi guys. new guy here.

I have just completed my probation at my gun club and applying for my licence.
naturally, Im super excited about getting my first rifle and having struggled with the club guns, I really want to get a left handed one.
my budget is around £600-700 and am not to fussed whether its new or used as long as its been looked after.
my wish list is its got to be bolt action and have a thumb hole stock.
the only rifles rifles that i have found that fit this bill are the anschutz 1417 ( would have to be a used one and the Savage arms 22lr SS

i would love the Anschutz as i know they are great quality but finding a lefty is gonna be hard. I really like the look of the Savage but i do not know anything about them so have no idea on the quality and accuracy.

can anyone offer any suggestions or have any experience with the savage, any help would be greatly appreciated

[Dave 101]

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[dave_303]

Check guntrader regularly,

There was a 10/22 Ruger with a left handed thumbhole stock not all that long ago, Browning Make T-Bolts in left handed format and CZ 452 are also made in lefty form

The CZ's in my opinion are pound for pound the best value bolt action .22 you can buy

[AHPP]

CZ bolt actions are great, as are the Brnos (older CZ). American bolt action rimfires are generally not so well made (like the cheap pressed crap mag setup on a Savage or Marlin). Newer Anschuetzs are too nice to use in many respects. The older ones have a bit more character.
In the world of bolt action rimfires you can't go that far wrong as long as it captures your imagination and suits your taste (unless you do make the mistake of buying aforementioned yank rubbish and go demented accidentally dropping the mag out).

Semi autos are great fun when they work but will never be as reliable as a bolt action. Never be without a bolt action .22LR but definitely get a slot for and keep your eyes peeled for a semi auto. I assume there are left handed Ruger 10-22 derivatives out there by now. AR15s are great but not really available left handed (right handed rifle shot from the left shoulder might be alright but equally might be a lot of carbon and empty cases close to your face - not sure).

There are then underlevers, falling blocks, long barrelled pistols and all the other funky stuff but by the time you get into them you'll know enough to know what you want.


Hope that helps. Never be without a .22LR bolt action.

[dave_303]

Or you go buy a Walther G22, switch the mechanism over to left handed, and then love and hate it all at the same time

[dromia]

Welcome Rich.

What type of shooting are you looking to do with the .22" RF?

BTW why don't you introduce yourself in the New Members Forum?

[IainWR]

If you want a target rifle, the first company to produce true left-handed .22 TRs was the French MAPF under the brand name Unique.

A Unique T66L was my first rifle, I still have it, and it still shoots better than I do. It is built to ISSF Standard Rifle limits, and had the market for left-handers sewn up for several years in the 1970s until Anschutz realised they were missing a trick and started building true LH guns (whereupon I understand Unique went bust - anyone confirm?).

T66Ls are rare on the market, and no I'm not selling mine, but will be a lot cheaper than a 1417L and unless you are at least at Home International standard, you will not be able to tell the difference for guns of similar usage.

Another TR option is to get a BSA - underlever actions are close to ambidextrous anyway - and carve the butt to fit LH. That should be dirt cheap - BSAs are deeply unfashionable so can be had for a song but fantastically strong and long-lived.

Iain

[RichM]

Welcome Rich.

What type of shooting are you looking to do with the .22" RF?

BTW why don't you introduce yourself in the New Members Forum?

thank you guys.

the shooting i do is target shooting (25yrds) at my local club, ill be entering some competitions next year and would like to shoot greater distances.

I got the chance to have a good look over a Savage Arms Mark II BTVS .22 LR on saturday and really liked it, the only thing i didnt like was the magazine which looked very cheap and the mag release looked a bit finicky.

ill go introduce myself in the new members forum now sign92

[dromia]

I would look at second hand BSA Internationals and the older Anschutz 54s.

I shoot rifle left handed and used both an International MK111 and an Anschutz 54 when I shot serious small bore prone. My favourite was the BSA albeit sensitive to sling tension, I moved to the Anschutz when I wanted something a bit lighter when the arthritis in my hands started effecting my shooting.

I still own and shoot both rifles occasionally with a view to restocking them for the old man and cripple competition, bench rest, when I become too decrepit.

[RichM]

Sorry to hear that age is taking a tole on your shooting but I do appreciate the advice.

There is a anschutz 64 LH on gun trader at the moment, what would be your opinion on that?

I would look at second hand BSA Internationals and the older Anschutz 54s.

I shoot rifle left handed and used both an International MK111 and an Anschutz 54 when I shot serious small bore prone. My favourite was the BSA albeit sensitive to sling tension, I moved to the Anschutz when I wanted something a bit lighter when the arthritis in my hands started effecting my shooting.

I still own and shoot both rifles occasionally with a view to restocking them for the old man and cripple competition, bench rest, when I become too decrepit.