Right handed shooter

[The ole Marine]

I need opinions or first hand knowledge on this question.
If a person is right hanged and has a Hawken and the hammer is on the left side of the stock, is there a problem with the right handed shooter to shoot that left handed Hawken?
All your thoughts and opinions will be highly appreciated.
Thanks to all thee as t replies.
Ray
SF……

 

[64Springer]

Take a stick and put a piece of tape on the left side of the stick and pretend it's a left-handed rifle.

No go through the loading, priming, cocking and firing procedures and see if there's a problem.

Everyone is different.

Personally, I don't foresee any difficulties.

 

[IanH]

Wear safety glasses when shooting. I'm left handed and shoot a lot of right-handed flintlocks, no big deal.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I need opinions or first hand knowledge on this question.
If a person is right hanged and has a Hawken and the hammer is on the left side of the stock, is there a problem with the right handed shooter to shoot that left handed Hawken?
All your thoughts and opinions will be highly appreciated.
Thanks to all thee as t replies.
Ray
SF……

If you are right handed, the left side hammer will be a PIA. Can you shoot it, yes. Will you like it? Probably never.
I happend to be ambidextrous to some degree, and I would not like it.
Larry

 

[IanH]

Everyone is different. I have large hands and find it easier to thumb the cock on the opposite side of the stock than on the "correct" side.

 

[Notchy Bob]

A number of people shoot wrong-handed rifles. Lots of left-handed people shoot right-handed guns. I saw a video of Herschel House shooting a recently completed right-handed flintlock off his left shoulder. A right-handed forum member recently posted about buying a left-handed Tingle rifle without realizing it, but I understood that he was happy with it.

So, it will work. Consider that side-by-side doubles have both right and left-handed locks, and people have been shooting them like that for centuries.

If your gun is a flintlock, the pan flash and the bloom of priming smoke will be more in your line of sight. If it is percussion, there will be increased risk for catching cap fragments in your face or even your eye, so wear proper eye protection, glasses with big lenses and side shields. Those “old-timey” glasses with the tiny little elliptical-shaped lenses are wholly inadequate as eye protection.

One other point is that there is more to a gun’s “handedness” than placement of the lock. Consider the cheek piece, if it has one, as well as the cast-off.

Good luck, and be safe!

Notchy Bob

 

[Ed C.]

No problem. If the gun has a cheek rest it may make a difference to some. I have a LH and RH Hawken and can shoot either one equally well.

 

[The ole Marine]

Thanks gents for the replies.

 

[smokepolehall]

This is one of those things that you really need to handle the rifle before a purchase unless you have already own n or use one like that.
I am a south paw i use right handed factory rock sparkers n caplocks. I use those models that are made on a centerline, if its a RH with cast made for shooter. It becomes a very big pia trying to sight in n so i will not buy one.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I’ve a left handed Tingle I shot a bit before my left eye dominant daughter absconded it. It was a bit more awkward to cock but no other big issues. It might take a while to become adept at it. I wouldn’t pass on a nice lefty gun if it crossed my path. Two observations. As always wear shooting glasses and two, long sleeves may help prevent cap or flash fragments from peppering your forearm. I found this out a couple of weeks ago while shooting my double 12 gauge percussion.

 

[DixieTexian]

Jim Kibler doesn't seem to think it is a problem. Even with a little cast off and the cheek piece being on the wrong side.

 

[45man]

Some caps like RWS and those made in Italy are dangerous. They are brittle and you need a full face shield or you will be picking metsl out of your nose and chin. even with safety glasses. I will use nothing but Rem and CCI caps.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I have the opposite problem.

As a left handed shooter, I find that shooting a right handed caplock is generally not a problem. A righty flintlock is more noticeable and I much prefer shooting lefty flinters like the one in my avatar.

 

[The ole Marine]

Thanks for all your opinions gents.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

As noted, cheekpiece and/or cast may be an issue. With a Hawken (and the breech bolster mounted nipple) you should have less issue with cap flash than with a drum and nipple on other sidehammers. I shot a right handed Enfield in competition for years, but had to wear a sleeve over my right forearm or the cap flash would burn my wrist. A flash guard may also be helpful.

In terms of your ability to shoot accurately, I often shoot my lefty rifles off my right shoulder and I don't have any trouble hitting what I am aiming at. Perhaps less comfortable, but not an issue with accuracy. Leftys have been shooting right handed guns for a LONG time before the market started making them for us.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Rob M.]

I'm right handed and learned to shoot flintlocks on a left handed flintlock rifle , and killed my first deer with it ! It can be a P.I.T.A. at times but gotta do what ya gotta do . Work with what ya got !