How difficult is it for a lefty to shoot a pump shotgun?

[rbhargan]

I am right handed while my wife is a lefty. We are looking into picking up a shotgun (maybe two) but were wondering how problematic it is for a lefty to fire a pump with a right side ejection port. Any left-handed shooters care to share their experiences?

I know that there are left handed shotguns (although pickings seem to be slim), and she may prefer a 20 gauge for herself, so we may just settle on "his and hers."

Thanks and Happy New Year!

 

[UncleMike]

I am right handed while my wife is a lefty. We are looking into picking up a shotgun (maybe two) but were wondering how problematic it is for a lefty to fire a pump with a right side ejection port. Any left-handed shooters care to share their experiences?

I know that there are left handed shotguns (although pickings seem to be slim), and she may prefer a 20 gauge for herself, so we may just settle on "his and hers."

Thanks and Happy New Year!

No problem at all.
I've done it for fifty years.

 

[jayhawk]

Agreed, no problem at all. I love my 870, though the safety on the Mossberg 500 is a little easier to operate for a lefty.

 

[Mrmonte]

If your choosing between Mossberg and Remington, the safety on the mossberg is on the top of the reciever, better for a leftie.

Have you looked at bottom eject pumps? The browning BPS is a good example.

 

[chezuki]

They make a Lefty 870.

 

[HavokCycle]

impossible, left-wingers are terrified of guns

 

[Kedric]

I have a mossberg 590 and I am a Lefty. Have never had any issues with it.

 

[sig1473]

I'm a lefty and never experienced a problem at all.

 

[Birds Away]

I shoot long guns left handed. Never had a problem.

 

[N_K_1984]

My fiancé is a lefty. She shoots my 500 just fine.

 

[Leo]

Find a model 37 Ithica. It is a bottom ejector and a great shotgun. Whatever brand you buy, be sure it does not have a right handed stock, or a stock that has been set up specifically for a right handed shooter. I have mine set up with quite a bit of cast and rise, so it works great for me but a short lefty would never be able to hit anything.

 

[BE Mike]

The Browning BPS and Ithaca model 37 are both bottom eject shotguns, which would be great for a south paw.

 

[Colt556]

Those guys beat me to it but look for an Ithica. Great shotguns and they eject out of the bottom of the receiver. I have a couple Ihica Military/Police shotguns and they are great guns.

 

[usaf64]

I'm left-handed and have used shotguns for hunting. I would suggest that she get used to carrying the gun upside down with her left hand near the safety. When she needs to bring it up, she can snap the safety off and bring it up to eye level very quickly. The other thing I used to do when hunting with more than one person was to walk on the right side of the line with my shotgun pointing to the right. This kept the muzzle pointing away from the rest of the guys in the line. They, of course carried their guns point to the left. It was safer that way.

 

[Cheapdiesel]

I am not a lefty but, for some strange reason I shoot all long guns left handed and I have never had a problem in that area. My friends always tell me I am going to get hit by an ejecting shell. It hasn't happened yet. Never had a problem with my pump shotgun

 

[jhaynes]

I grew up shooting right handed Remington 870 shotguns left handed. The only problem I had was with getting the safety off quickly while hunting. When I was old enough to have my own I simply installed a left handed safety button (still easy to buy and install). Now I own a left handed 870. I also have owned several Browning BPS shotguns. They have bottom feed and ejection and a top tang safety so they are completly ambidextious. The ejection port really only matters on semi-auto guns. Sometimes hot powder will fly back in my face. You control when the action opens on a pump gun so not an issue. I've shot a lot of righ handed pump guns and never had a shell casing come close enough to my face to bother me.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

I'm slightly right handed but very much left eye dominant, so I shoot everything left handed by default, although switching over is no problem. I have a 500 and a 590, and like the safety on those. I actually prefer right handed firearms; in case I have to pick something up somewhere I'll most likely be familiar with it. When you get to a bolt rifle, keep your finger on the trigger and work the bolt with your right hand. You'll be amazed how fast you can cycle aimed shots.

 

[JettaKnight]

I'm slightly right handed but very much left eye dominant, so I shoot everything left handed by default, although switching over is no problem. I have a 500 and a 590, and like the safety on those. I actually prefer right handed firearms; in case I have to pick something up somewhere I'll most likely be familiar with it. When you get to a bolt rifle, keep your finger on the trigger and work the bolt with your right hand. You'll be amazed how fast you can cycle aimed shots.

How about just keeping your finger near the trigger.

The problem I have is that my thumb is in the way or I have to bring my head up too much.

 

[GMtoblat]

with comparison to the M500 vs Rem. 870 the mossberg's safety caters to the lefty but not a deal breaker. It's also easier to do a combat load for lefty

 

[strokin7.3]

The Browning BPS

This. I'm right handed and I still love my bottom eject. makes pickin up the empty shells easier cause they are all in a pile