Any ideas on a reasonable left hand bolt action for a kid

[crazyjjk]

Since I cannot find a Savage MKII left handed youth model anywhere are there any ideas on a reasonably priced left handed 22 rifle I can cut down for an almost 12 year old girl who wants to shoot indoor sporter rifle.
I tried a TC Contender Carbine and she hated that. It didn't fit her right. She doesn't have a huge amount of upper arm strength so more than likely I will have to cut something down which is not a problem. I don't want something as small as the Cricket. The Savage youth model is about the right size. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Squirrelsaurus Rex]

What's a Cricket?  Is that like the Chipmunk?

[crazyjjk]

Yes  I think they are the same. I saw some at a gunshow which the dealer  called Crickets with pink laminated stocks The stock was right up my daughters alley but the thing is real small. A good fit for a kid about 7 or 8.

[Keith L]

If you can chin a single shot take a look at the Savage Stevens Favorite.  It is light, and you can shorten the stock to any length you want.  Mine has a half way good trigger and shoots well for what it is.

[Questor]

My left-handed son shoots a CZ Scout. It's a right-handed bolt action. He has no problem using the bolt action. I told him we'd consider a left-handed bolt action centerfire after his growth spurt, when he can use a full-size gun.  The CZ is a much better gun than any other youth 22 I have seen. It is simply superb.  Get it with the optional 5 round magazine and forget the single-shots.

[Questor]

By the way, I agree that the TCs, even the Encore, is a bad choice for a kid. They have to do too much fumbling with the action and the hammer. It looks like an accident waiting to happen.  I think the Encore and probably the G2 are OK for a bench-fired gun for taking a kid varmint shooting, though.

[crazyjjk]

Thanks for all the great advice. The only problem with using a right hand bolt action for indoor sporter rifle is you have to load each round individually ten rounds at a time. That makes for alot of fumbling between rounds for a kid to work the bolt handle and load an individual round between shots with the wrong hand. I love my daughter but like me she isn't very agile especially with her off hand, and I think this might discourage her enthusiam. I think if I were able to cut an acceptable rifle down it would fit her for the rest of her life as I do not believe she is going to be very large statured. I guess I am trying to steer away from a right hand bolt.  So far my best choice would be a Savage MKII left hand youth model. Second choices would be older Remington 581 in left hand (I believe they made a few) or Savage 22 in left hand (I know they have some) that I could cut down. If anybody knows of any other versions that might work for a left hander please let me know. As for the CZ's they are great guns. I have a 452 Silhouette and a Model 550 in .270.

[Questor]

In that case, I'd order a Savage.  They make good guns. Worst case scenario is that you may need to make a few adjustments to get the fit you want, but that's normal for any competition gun.

[crazyjjk]

I have a left handed Savage Youth Model on order right now. It has been on order for over 3 months with no luck finding one. I was hoping that someone might have seen one in a gun shop or a Wall-Mart or have one they don't use anymore but so far no luck. Man I never new how aggravating it is for left handed shooters until my daughter wanted to shoot. Again thank you for all your help.

[dukkillr]

i feel your pain.  i shoot left handed but have adapted to shoot mostly right handed guns.  I have the safeties on my shotguns moved over and shoot right handed rifles.  i'm not convinced it makes me shoot slower.

[dangerranger]

My dad and one of my sons is left handed. my dads answer was semi auto, and reverse the safety.When I tryed this for my son he was very small,and had little arm strength .I found a marlin 70 papoose.its a take down model with only the weight of the barrel ahead of the action.Now that hes grown conciderably he favors lever actions. they are more or less ambidextrous. hope this helps.

[Flash]

You might be able to turn a right handed rifle into a left handed rifle. A long time ago at my first gun show, a fella had this Revelation bolt 22 that someone had made into one. It seems that the bolt was assembled in sections so the handle was removed, bent and turned 180 degrees to place the handle on the left side and the bolt was reassembled. A grove was cut rather nicely for the handle to cam over when closed and I'm guessing it was done with a milling machine. An ejection guard like on a Remington 552 was also installed which looked like it was cut from a magazine tube or something. It was a very effective and functional looking piece and back when lefties had nothing to pick from, was probably quite cherrished.