Question for someone who knows about guns (army , TA)

barto · Post by **barto** » 19 Aug 2008 13:24

I've been reading some old books I have about the special forces (all from about 1990) and noticed quite a few photos of guys holding guns left handed. Wondered how common this is and whether there are any benefits and/or disadvantages to being able to shoot left handed?

paul463 · Post by **paul463** » 19 Aug 2008 17:10

Could be a photo printed the wrong way round! I may be wrong but historically troops when in single file carried the weapons in alternate directions i.e. first man right handed second man left handed. This was so that shots could be let off in that direction, again in the early days it was difficult to swing a long rifle around.

These days the standard issue UK weapon must be fired from the right shoulder. I have a left handed mate who tried to fire it left handed on a SAT range, he knocked a tooth out and badly spilt his lip (Scar still visible today).

Others may disagree with the above but its just a wee bit of my knowledge.

Paul463
Crab Air Rep

tintinlostsnowy · Post by **tintinlostsnowy** » 19 Aug 2008 17:26

The SA80 and LSW are both right handed although they were contemplating making a left handed version with the ejector and bolt on the opposite side, There is some weapons you can fire left handed it all depends where the bolt and ejection openings are as they can and often do try to knock your eye out along with the ejected round flying through the air, Quite often on firing ranges the man next to you will be hitting you with his spent cartridges ejecting at a very fast rate (and they are bloody hot!) so you don't want to be firing wrong handed and getting them in your face.

barto · Post by **barto** » 20 Aug 2008 13:00

Thanks fellas.

Wondered about where the spent casings went! I'll try and post some of the pics, one's a bloke with an M16 with the grenade launcher attachement..

paul463 wrote:I may be wrong but historically troops when in single file carried the weapons in alternate directions i.e. first man right handed second man left handed. This was so that shots could be let off in that direction, again in the early days it was difficult to swing a long rifle around

Also thought this might be the case. Hot casings aside, how easy is it to shoot accurately 'wrong handed'? Clearly I type as someone who's never fired a gun in hs life!

paul463 · Post by **paul463** » 20 Aug 2008 17:56

It isn't really recommended. The Idea is to get one or two shots off and then get in to cover! there is also an eye dominance problem as well most rigth handed people are right eye dominant so shooting accuratley with your other eye is extremely difficult.

Even shooting with your correct hand and eye can be a problem as I found out last weekend, my eye relief wasn't quite right for one of my shots and I ended up scratching the lense of my glasses an expensive day out on the range!

barto · Post by **barto** » 20 Aug 2008 20:33

pictures from 'the world's elite forces' guild publishing, london, 1987:

: left01.jpg (18.24 KiB) Viewed 218 times

: left02.jpg (15.47 KiB) Viewed 218 times

: left03.jpg (16.89 KiB) Viewed 218 times

paul463 · Post by **paul463** » 20 Aug 2008 20:42

I'm sure there is a left handed version of the M16, not sure about the AK47 though.

Blood for the Baron!

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