Left-handed AR shooters?

[hole punch]

I got a guy interested in building an AR15 from scratch, from a stripped lower up, and just realized he's a sinister lefty!

What am I going to need to know to help him learn this new platform he's totally unfamiliar with?

I know he shoots rifles lefty. Should he learn to shoot the AR righty? Are there any aftermarket options he should lean towards or avoid? Ambi selector any good?

BTW, it's the Spikes lower from the group buy, so a dedicated lefty lower like a Stag is out of the question.

Thanks for any thoughts, hints, opinions, etc!

-hp

 

[BenL]

Stag Arms.

There are only 3 specific parts (upper reciever, BCG, and ambi barrel extension) to build a lefty-specific upper (stag's lefty lower is just a regular lower with an ambi safety.) If you email Stag, they can sell you those 3 parts. Ambi Safety is a must.

 

[hole punch]

a dedicated lefty lower is out of teh question.

is he going to be disappointed with his new gun? i'll feel bad swaying him twds an AR if it's not going to be fun to shoot...

 

[JamesBailey]

I have been shooting lefty on a right-handed AR since my days in the Army. It is easy and only a bit of a disadvantage. I can work the safety w/ my index finger just as fast and easily as most righties use their thumb. Mag release is easy with the right hand (right hand also loads new mags as left hand holds the weapon). The ejection port doesn't bug me at all - never had a problem with hot brass or gas.

 

[kohburn]

as long as it doesn't eject backwards there shouldn't be a problem - i shoot lefty on right hand rifles because I am left eye dominant.

 

[JeepDriver]

Spikes and POF have lowers that have ambi bolt releases, then all you need is a Norgon mag release and a ambi safety.

Stick with a standard upper, that way all the parts are standard, no need to track down specific parts if something fails.

I'm a lefty and I have no problems shooting any of mine.

 

[BenL]

Spikes makes a lower with ambi bolt release?

The POF is a work of art.

 

[hvymax]

Ambi lower controls are readily and easily available so the upper is the only issue and stag has that covered nicely.

 

[Name Taken]

I agree. Lefty and I shot just fine with a "normal" Ar.

Part of the idea for the AR platform was parts being readily available. Not really sure why you'd want to screw that up with propertary parts on odd ball platforms.

 

[kgain673]

I'm a righty by left eye dominant, I grew up shooting rifles right handed, but my eyesight has slipped in the right eye, even with a correction. I was unwilling to give up shooting and chose to learn how to shoot rifles left handed. It's a bigger problem with an AK or bolt action, but an AR is rather ambi' in the world of rifles. Build him one and he'll love it just the same. It takes a little muscle training. but it's no problem. Now I out shoot many of my friends who thought they were so much better then me when I was shooting with a disadvantage. Also a lefty learning how to shoot a left handed AR puts him a greater disadvantage because it forces his muscle memory to learn a rifle that is not the standard, so when he picks up a standard AR he's he's all messed up. I've also chose not to add any ambi parts and just teach myself how to adapt.

 

[JeepDriver]

Spikes makes a lower with ambi bolt release?

The POF is a work of art.

The billet lowers have the ambi bolt release built in.

 

[Hyper-W]

I am a rightly but left eye dominant. I shoot a Stag Left model.
This thread comes up quite a bit and there is always a mix of responses.

I highly recommend a Stag for lefties. In my opinion, it beats getting brass flung in front of your face and powder residue in the face. I certainly would not recommend learning to shoot right-handed.

You could get a Stag left handed upper, ambi safety, and a Stag left handed Bolt Carrier Group.

 

[Jackson923]

I'm a handed shooter, both of my AR's are right handed. The only thing I changed was the safe/fire selector. I bought a ambi selector switch. I haven't had any problems with brass hitting me. I tried a left handed Stag and it felt completely wierd after using my right handed AR's. Is he left eye dominant? If he is he may not be able to adjust to shooting as a right hander.

 

[davsco]

i shoot rifles left handed (pistols right handed but i am definitely not ambidextrous). I have a couple of right handed ARs and no problems at all shooting them left handed. But, i wouldn't be comfortable without having the brass deflector. never had brass nor gas blow anywhere near my face.

 

[Hyper-W]

The brass flies clear of my face but certainly by my face. The gas generally does not hit me but lots of powder residue.

 

[cobra]

HP I' m one of those left handed shooters.
I've never owned or shot a spec LH rifle. Allways shot RH guns.
Shooting my AR. Plus being new to the AR platform. See no reason why they would even notice any difference between RH or LH rifles.
Being new the charging handle won't seems backwards or RH.
The shells when ejecting are a non issue.
The safety "unless" you were already familar and trained. Won't be noticed as RH either.
Just a lefty's perspective for someone not familar to the workings,function,location of controls of the AR.

 

[Proto]

I'm a left handed shooter and recently shot my friends AR this weekend without any problems. My shotguns are also meant for RH. Being a lefty you learn to adapt to the right handed world.

 

[davsco]

to me, the operation of an AR isn't as sensitive to shooting it RH or LH as it would be for a bolt action rifle. so i'd rather select from a large population of righty ARs than a small population of lefty ARs (is stag the only one).

for bolt guns however, thankfully there is a good supply of lefty rifles and my hunting rifles are all lefty.

 

[LostSoul]

Being a lefty, I have no issue with a normal AR. A ambi selector is nice, but not that necessary.

 

[hole punch]

Great responses, all. Thank you! I think I will pass this thread on to him and let him decide for himself