.22 for a left handed youngster

My son has been learning to shoot with a Brno bolt action .22 and he's coming along fine. Slight problem is that he's a left hander and is finding it rather difficult to operate the right handed bolt. Can anyone recommend a suitable and not too expensive rifle that would be more suitable? I have thought that perhaps a bottom ejecting semi auto would fit the bill but am not sure about what, if any, models are available.

I am left handed and have been shooting for 40 years. The rifles that I like are browning semi auto bottom eject I think some company like Rossi or Tarus make a replica. I like the Marlin lever guns. The only guns that are hard to handle are the bolt actions.

Paul

I'm a fan of the Browning semi-auto, as well as the Winchester 94/22 lever gun.

The Remington Fieldmaster .22 pump is a competent choice as well.

Randy Wakeman

Dersu, while any excuse to buy a classic Browning Auto .22 is a good thing, a T/C Contender Carbine (if that fine little implement is permitted in New Zealand) would make a fine starter as well - especially since T/C offers a Youth length butt stock. Good hunting! Michael

The only bottom ejecting autos I am aware of are Browning and the Nirenco copy. You would have to shop the used market because the have Browning has been dropped and the Nirenco is no longer imported as far as I know.

You might try a side eject. My left handed wife had no problem adjusting to a lever .308 and a side eject .22.

I'll add my vote to the others for the Browning semi-auto bottom-ejector. The safety might be inconvenient for a lefty, I don't remember how it works. I don't know of any left handed bolt action .22s.

Someone mentioned the Winchester 94/22 I think. It ejects from the right but the operating controls are ambidexterous. I have one and love it but don't think having a spent case flinging burnt powder clear past my face as it would shooting lefty is the best idea. Little breeze, crap in the eyes, not good. no guarantee shooting glasses would help much.

Final option might be a single shot like the TC contender carbine. Funny thing, as I get older I'm leaning more towards beginner and trainer guns.

I have a Savage Mk II Left Handed Bolt Action in .22LR. Has 10 round magazine/clip. Great little rifle. About $110 US. If it's too big you can always have the stock changed. Soon my boys will get to try it.

A bopttom ejecting rifle may be the way to go buy I dought it will be as accurate as the brno. I think sako or anchutz might do a LH .22lr bolt

Savage makes an inexpensive LH bolt action. It's magazine fed and grooved for scope.

Sam A. Kersh NRA Patron L.E.A.A. Life Member TSRA Life Member GOA, JPFO, SAF

Anschutz offers the 1516LD, and Savage has a line of rimfire rifles as well. These are the two bolt-actions in what I'd call the 'affordable' range. Cooper Arms offers a LH .22 but it costs $1100US. Browning used to make a T-Bolt .22 in LH about 20 years ago. You might find a used one around. As for bottom-ejecting autoloaders, the Browning 'Semi-Auto' that does just that.

Unless the rifle ejects to the rear and the spent casing clips his ear, a right hand eject will not be a problem. Any lever action, pump action or semi-auto .22 will be fine. I shoot left handed and have a Marlin semi- auto, a Remington pump, and a Henry lever action. The only reason I would prefer a bottom eject semi-auto is my impression that they have less of a tendency to stovepipe spent rounds.