What does a left-hand small bore rifle shooter do?

[*chris*]

So to re-live my childhood, I want to buy a .22 rifle with iron sights and shoot prone target. At first, I was going to buy a Ruger 10/22 Target gun and put peep sights on it. I really wanted a bolt-action rifle and ran into the Savage MarkII series of rifles, specifically the FVT model. It has a great price, bolt action, and peep sights. Only problem is it is right handed and I have read the composite stock is pretty flexy. Not sure if there is an ambidextrous wooden stock for this gun, but I am sure there is. Now I see that Savage makes a Mark II BTVLSS which has an even nicer stock and it left handed, problem is neither Savage or Williams make a set of peep sights for it.

What the heck do I buy? I may consider joining a league and shooting semi-competitively, but I am probably not gonna wear a shooting coat, get an adjustable comb and in general go all out. For stock categories, should I just go to optics and get the left handed gun or should I simply fight with the right handed action as I have done for years? Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions?

Chris

 

[mousegunfan]

Look around the gun shops for used. I got lucky. I always browse the used guns when I go to buy ammo and came across an older Savage/Answich left handed bolt 22 with iron sights that I bought on the spot. Don't settle for a right handed bolt. Keep looking. Also consider a lever 22, they come with iron sights.

 

[dwarven1]

Check to see if Tech-Sights makes a model for that Savage. www.tech-sights.com.

 

[Chuck Would]

I doubt you'll find a used lefty bolt gun and new will be pricey. You might try taking a ride up to Riely's in Hooksett. He has had a number of long guns for us port siders.

As far as mounting sights on it. Find a good smitty and have him find a way to mount the sights.

 

[mike93lx]

Check to see if Tech-Sights makes a model for that Savage. www.tech-sights.com.

If they don't make one for it (and I don't believe that they do), you can buy the rear sight for a Marlin (mounts to a 3/4" rail) and the bull barrel adapter for a 10/22 (assuming that the Savage has a .920" diameter barrel). The only issue that you might have is the height of the rear sight in relation to the front, which might end up necessitating a taller NM front post. I have a 10/22 with that setup and it has worked pretty well, I just can't quite get it zero'd at 50' due to the rear sight being a little too high.

 

[Knob Creek]

Go up to Rimfire Central in the Savage section for ideas.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24

My Savage I use for .22 Silhouette:

 

[*chris*]

Check to see if Tech-Sights makes a model for that Savage. www.tech-sights.com.

I forgot about them, it looks like this maybe the solution. Since it doesn't have a front dovetail, I need to buy their adapter, but the problem is the ID on the adapter is .990 and the diameter of the barrel is .880. I am going to have to machine a shim for the barrel but it should work.

Is the Savage Mark II a more accurate gun than the Ruger 10/22 Target? They are about the same price.

Chris

 

[*chris*]

Beautiful rifle, is that a Mark II BTVLSS with the original stock?

Chris

Go up to Rimfire Central in the Savage section for ideas.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24

My Savage I use for .22 Silhouette:

 

[mike93lx]

I forgot about them, it looks like this maybe the solution. Since it doesn't have a front dovetail, I need to buy their adapter, but the problem is the ID on the adapter is .990 and the diameter of the barrel is .880. I am going to have to machine a shim for the barrel but it should work.

Is the Savage Mark II a more accurate gun than the Ruger 10/22 Target? They are about the same price.

Chris

From what I have seen, yes the Savages are definitely more accurate than an out of the box 10/22, even the factory bull barrels. However, there are some aftermarket barrels that really improve accuracy and you can have a Ruger barrel rechambered to help out a lot.

Ruger factory triggers suck, but aren't too expensive to fix. A savage is far better though.

Unless you really want a semi auto, I would recommend getting the savage.

 

[Knob Creek]

Beautiful rifle, is that a Mark II BTVLSS with the original stock?

Chris

Yes it is

 

[*chris*]

Yes it is

Wowsers, I am going to head down to Four Seasons on Tuesday to order one. I am going to still try to fuss with the iron sights, but do you have any recommendations for a scope and magnification? I am not sure what I would primarily be using the scope for, I guess from 50 foot to 100 yards? Is that too much range for a scope to cover well?

Chris

 

[Andy in NH]

I had the iron sights from a Savage Cub put on my Savage MKII GL by a gunsmith. They are not click adjustable, but rather the "bump and nudge" type. They work well as a BUIS, but probably not something you would want to use in a match setting.

Still, you might be able to find a sight that you like and have a good gunsmith make it work.

In the pictures below, the insert is removed from the sight so that the aperture functions as a "ghost-ring".

 

[*chris*]

I wonder if the BVTLSS has that rear dovetail or did you have it machined? Can you post a photo of the front? I have a milling machine and a lathe and am not worried about doing any minor gunsmithing. Tapping a hole to attach the front sight should not be that difficult.

Chris

 

[Andy in NH]

The rear dovetail was machined. The reason I went with the rear sight from the Savage Cub was that the sight base was long enough to machine in a dovetail and still mount the sight close to my eye.

The front sight was soldered on.

I'd like to find a click adjustable rear sight for my .22 Scout Rifle, but what I've found is that those type sights all mount to the (left) side of the receiver and are bulky - which obviously won't work on a left-handed boltie.

 

[mac1911]

http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=67439&d=1297745992
you could convert a righty bolt to lefty ?
I gave up long ago on the left handed guns. I have just come to relize LH guns are designed and manufactured by RH people.......doomed to fail.
You can find some LH bolt guns used but be prepared to pay. THEY take advantage of US.
I cant see why you could not convert a lyman 90mjt sight to mount on the right side of the gun. Of course like all things converted it will be assbackwards but looking at my old redfield it appears the apature could just be removed and reversed. Any decent gunsmith or machine shop should be able to install a mount.

You could also consider mounting a peep sight on the left side just forward of the bolt when closed. Im not sure how this would work but it may ?
When I want to shoot with out doing the cross over with my bolt guns I just switch sides. We left hand shooters can do this, those pesky RH shooters cant.

I had to dig out some older crap to find it. Theres a reason I forgot about these, they do make a lefty model though. Theres also centra or sentra sights 300+ on these also.
http://www.phoenixprec.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2

 

[KMM696]

Wowsers, I am going to head down to Four Seasons on Tuesday to order one. I am going to still try to fuss with the iron sights, but do you have any recommendations for a scope and magnification? I am not sure what I would primarily be using the scope for, I guess from 50 foot to 100 yards? Is that too much range for a scope to cover well?

Chris

Look at the Mueller APV scope - I've got one on a BVTLSS, and it's a good scope for the money. It's a little fussy on eye position, but not bad. There's better out there, but $$$.

 

[Jasper]

Mac Tilton had some Anshutz 1411 prone guns for reasonable $$ last time I talked to him ($800-900 range), came complete with sights and handstops too

mtguns.com

 

[highlander]

Have you looked at the Browning T Bolt ? They come in a left haned model,they are a straight pull rather than turn bolt but it might just fill the bill.

 

[jasons]

Do what all smallbore shooters do:

(I kid!)

 

[colt_fan]

Check out target rifles (CM) from Izmash.

I would avoid Tech Sights for prone matches. The aperture size is too big and they have horrible windage/elevation adjustments. If you are on a budget, get a Liman (sp?) rear. Also the way most peep sights work is that they they slide on so you can adjust for eye relief.

Where are you located, I have a couple of FVTs that I for my youth program. Given the option, I'd get buy something more substantial next time. They are a good starter rifle though.

 

[mac1911]

I know this is a old thread but a few ideas maybe and some for the young shooters here is my latest project. Williams FP low profile target sights on my daughters savage rascal


Now Im left handed and always thinking "how to do it for LH " So if you get a LH bolt gun you can remove the sight attaching piece. flip it over and re install the sight assembly. You will need to reverse the peep sight base or just DT it so you can thread on the peep.

Here is the sight assembly set up to mount to a LH rifle

You will just need the sight "base" DT'd and installed on the receiver.

 

[Chet0729]

My brother has the same issue. If you look hard enough you can usually find what you want. He bought a G22 that is convertible and he also has the savage bolt in 17. He ad to order the savage. It is a nice gun

 

[dcmdon]

I can't believe that there are 3 pages of suggestions and nobody mentioned a CZ 452 or 455. (I believe thats the model number.)

I'm a lefty and enjoy the 10/22 but have been thinking of getting CZ or an Anschutz in LH.