Shooting A Righty Lefty

[Jason762]

Hello. I've found the muzzleloading rifle I'd like to have. It's the DGW Frontier rifle in .32 caliber.

Now my question is, since I'm a lefty, and the gun is a right handed flintlock, how would that be?

I'd take it hunting, and from what I see, hunters don't wear shooting glasses. What do you think, do I spring the extra $ 75 bucks and get a percussion?

Thanks, Jason

 

[DGeraths]

I am right handed but shoot lefty. I have shot flintlocks for years and have never had a single issue with it.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Jason,
I would rather shoot a flinter on the wrong side than a capper. Flinters don't throw metal shards.
God bless.
volatpluvia

 

[Jason762]

Thanks for the replies, I'm gonna go ahead and go for it.

But I'm courious DGeraths, have you ever shot the flintlock without shooting glasses? The ONLY time I'd do that would be while I was hunting small game.

Also, has anyone had any experience with this rifle? DGW Frontier Rifle.

Thanks!

 

[Harddog]

Anyone who has ever shot a double flint shotgun has shot a wrong handed gun, or at least a wrong handed barrel). Shooting a right handed gun left handed should not be a problem as long as it doesn't have a lot of cast off.

Harddog

 

[DGeraths]

But I'm courious DGeraths, have you ever shot the flintlock without shooting glasses? The ONLY time I'd do that would be while I was hunting small game.

I don't think I have ever worn safety glasses when shooting a flintlock... in fact, short of seeing a couple of people at a range target shooting, I don't think I have ever even seen a person wearing safety glasses while shooting a flintlock.

I don't wear them when I am at reenactments or treks and I don't wear them while I am hunting. I really don't know anybody who does. Guess I like to live on the edge... :v

 

[Jason762]

:thumbsup: Works for me! Filling up the shopping cart as I type...

What size flint do I need? I've got patches, bullets, short starter, and a pistol powder measure. Oh, and the gun itself :grin:

What else, will I be needing?

 

[ol vern]

I am a southpaw and shot right handed flinters left handed for years without any problem.

I do wear glasses,cant see without the damn things But personally would never fire any muzzloading gun without protection. Make that double for cap locks!

 

[boar]

Jason I have the blue ridge by Pedersolli looks like same gun . It shoots good killed alot of groundhogs,squrrels with it,20grs3fff,rb. only thing I dislike about it eats flints, I have to use the man-made ones in it. Dilly

 

[CARBABY]

A lefty shooting a right flint lock:!? I’ve done it for years. Started shooting an original Charleville musket in 1966 at 16 years of age. Talk about flash in the pan. I would advise wearing glasses. I have to wear glasses so I have no experience shooting without them. PC correct or not wear glasses, one never knows”¦. you only get Two eyes”¦. Protect what you got. Of course some guys ride motorcycles and no brain bucket (helmet)”¦ I prefer to error on the side of safety. I have shot an original navel blunderbuss at times at, that one did Spit. I just put on a bandana, (like a cowboy robbing the stagecoach) pull it up on my nose before shouldering the rifle and life was good. Shooting original flinters with massive military musket type locks with worn vent holes is one thing.”¦ New flinter’s with proper venting should not cause much concern. Once You get used to holding through with that flinter while all that commotion goes on and off you will soon develop a rifle hold like a rock”¦. The only thing that would break your hold and concentration is someone kicking your leg out from under you.
Hold Solid and Flint on!

 

[2172]

OK Jason, here's a negative view. I shot a right-handed flinter from my left shoulder for 5 or 6 years..swore it didn't bother me. Finally realized I was flinching every 10 or 20 shot..not much, but enough to screw up the shot. Bought a couple of Lyman left handed flinters 2 years ago, no problem. Shooting a right handed gun may not be a problem for you, but if you don't already own the gun, why buy trouble...and, yeah, my favorite caplock is right handed, and I still shoot it...Hank

 

[No Deer]

Was talking to a gentleman this past weekend that is left handed and used to shoot a righthanded flintlock. I say used to because he found a left flinter after a mishap. He had a misfire. Cleaned the touchhole, reprimed and as he was bringing it up to his shoulder, for some reason it went off (he did not elaborate as to why), the exhaust from the touchhole burned his right shoulder. This happened because, as a left hander, he was cradling the gun over his right elbow/forearm as he cleared the touchhole and reprimed. Now, most I have seen (righthanded people) do this the same way, only over their left arm. This is not a problem because the vent is now pointed away from the body. A lefty using a righty gun doing this has the vent pointed right at his body. Made sense to me why he went out and found a lefty flinter.

 

[musketman]

One of my left handed friends shot my right handed flintlock once, he "had" a long ZZ-Top style beard before he pulled the trigger, yep, the flash set his beard on fire...

Good thing it was snowing, we quickly put the fire out by hitting him in the face with snow balls... :haha: (true story)

 

[riarcher]

I am a "lefty" shooting a "righty", and there are issues to beware of.
As mentioned before, the flame hole is worth being extra cautious about. Once had a problem with ignition to the point of just wanting it to go off so I could get out of there. Eventually I got it to go off while held low and pointed to the ground. Yes, that flame thrower hurts for a long, long time when it shoots to the inside of the elbow (and I was in a long sleeve shirt - burnt right through like nothing).
Other issues, priming on the "off-side", if using a sling to carry the lock may stick your back. things like vent picking takes extra handling, and if it's a smoothy and you're loading shot it can be a P.I.A. at times.
None of these issues are any big deal, just somethings you may not appreciate from time to time.

 

[reddogge]

I always wear shooting glasses no matter what firearm I'm shooting. To not do so would be incredibly foolhardy. I hope all that read this thread will take heed.

 

[Blivetmaker]

If you don't want shooting glasses for a hunt you might want to look into having a pair of smaller normal glasses made up for you. They don't really get in the way much but offer reasonable protection. When you're miles away from help you really don't need flint shards driven by explosives entering the only eyeballs you'll ever have.

 

[Sham66]

Howdy!

I too am a righty who shoots lefty. Who knows why. I am also left eye dominant. I have a righty perc. rifle and a lefty flintlock rifle. No issues at all with the perc. or flintlock.

My only gripe is that there are some cool rifles out there and most are not lefty. And they seem to cost more. Discrimination plain and simple

James

 

They say to use 3/4" flints. The lock is pretty hefty. Mine eats 3/4"ers fast. I use 7/8" ( bevel down). Make sure it clears the barrel and you're set. I got mine from October Country.

 

[CG6018]

Jason, I'm a lefty and started out thirty years ago with a TC Hawken (rh), then a Hatfield (rh), and finally decided I was either the world's worst shot with a flintlock or I needed to try a left-handed rifle. I was amazed that I was no longer looking through the haze of the flashpan smoke, and could actually see beyond the muzzle after the shot. My shooting improved immediately and packages of venison began to appear in the freezer. If you are left-handed, get a left-handed rifle, but that is just my opinion. :thumbsup:

 

[Darkhorse]

Just my opinion but; Save your money and buy a lefthanded flintlock. You will be money and happiness ahead in the end.
I am lefthanded and began with a righthand because that was about all that was available back then. Now I have 3 left hand flintlocks and will never squeeze the trigger on another righty flinter.
I do however have a couple of caplock rightys but those are a whole other story.
As for shooting glasses the "ONLY" time I don't wear them is while deer hunting. A lot of stuff comes out of the flintlocks pan such as powder residue, pieces of flint, and hot scraped metal. All of which can give an eye a permanent bad day.