AR 15 Leftie

[VBshooter]

I am in the market to get an AR15 or M4 ,,Got a question about shooting left handed,,, I am nearly blind in my right eye so I shoot lefthanded with rifles and shotguns,,I see the upper receiver on the newer AR's has the deflector for the ejection port,,,Would it be better for me to locate a left handed upper receiver or will the deflector keep the brass out of my face? I am going to build this myself so all options are open at the moment... Thx,,,

[Moccasin]

Do they make a left handed receiver? I've never seen one. In the Army we had brass deflectors that snapped on between the top of the receiver and the carrying handle although they didn't work all that well. I've seen a mesh bag used to catch brass so you don't have to pick it up off the ground, that would probably work better than any deflector. I'll see if I can locate it online again.

[Moccasin]

Found it (brass catcher) at MidwayUSA. They also have brass deflectors avilable. If the one you describe as being part of the upper receiver is what I am thinking about, I don't know that I'd trust it too much. I don't shoot left handed though and what I know of it comes from having spoken to those who do. Maybe someone who shoots left handed will be able to give a better review of the built in deflector.

[OakRidgeStars]

Stag Arms makes a true left-handed AR-15.

http://www.stagarms.com/index.php?cPath=13_21

[VBshooter]

I have been looking at some ,,Stag included,, I really would like to do the build myself but if it looks cost prohibitive i will consider a ready made,,, Some of the info I have read said that the deflector on a right side type would deflect OK for a left hander,, But I know from experience that hot brass on bare skin totally sucks... Hopefully someone can shed some light on that bit of info.. Here is a pic of one if you've never seen one,,

[Moccasin]

Looking at the deflector built on to the right side (I found one that had it) and having seen people use a larger snap on deflector years ago, I'd find it hard to trust that little built in deflector. I saw an awful lot of brass hit people shooting left handed, if the larger one can't stop it how can a smaller one?

[VBshooter]

I agree ,thats why I am trying to find out before I buy ,,, The stag arms lefties look good ,,am going to speak to a dealer tommorow

[Vahunter]

Stag makes a great ar.

[babarsac]

I'm a southpaw and have considered building a lefty AR myself. Since prices on lowers have come down (check AIM Surplus http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Receivers.html) one of those mated to a Stag lefty upper would save you some money. Plus you wouldn't have to worry about brass hitting you in the noggin.

[VBshooter]

Agreed,, we southpaws get a beating using a right handed rifle.. I have been hit with brass and shotgun shells ,didn't enjoy it,,, Funny though I shoot a pistol right handed looking thru my left eye,,, Lot of fun,, Debating on the build thing vs, buying ,,,It seems if you buy a built top it kind of negates the savings by building the lower,, Also If you do it all ,Finding a barrel is tough,,, I started the other day just for kicks and the only ones I found were on Gun Broker and nothing I wanted,,, I am gonna check out a couple places today,,, Also if any members run iinto a Stag Arms Left handed model at ANY dealer please let me know,, Not afraid to drive to get what I want,,

[KaosDad]

VBshooter -

How did this all turn out? The reason I am asking is that at the November Chantilly show my son & I scored eraly Christmas presents - a couple of Stag Arms ARs and very low prices (think: the $700 range). Got them home and, guess what - both lefties. I know, I know, the big "2L" on the case should have tipped me off but the fact not only escaped me & my son, the guy selling us the firearms also did not comment we were trying them out right handed and two of the folks from the range were there and it slipped past them also.

Anyway - there is another show in Chantilly next month. I plan to go to just look around, but I'd be happy to go back to the dealer and see if they have a L model and contact you.

[grumpyMSG]

I have lots of experience shooting the AR/ M16 family of weapons and I am left handed. If you are left handed and shoot the older ARs or M16s/ A1s, you do have the potential of being hit in the face by flying brass. Not all rifles eject their brass that far to the rear. Most eject to the side, I did however have one that was issued to me that left the "Olympic Rings" on my cheek from it's ejection pattern. The solution to that problem isn't as bad as you think, change the extractor and spring and the ejector and spring and the pattern changes. That problem is strictly related to the older style upper receivers. As for the plastic clip on brass deflectors, they clip on between the carrying handle and the rest of the upper receiver. I had one of those fly off during rifle qualification in basic training and smack me in the end of the nose. Needless to say, I failed to qualify, I couldn't see because my eyes were watering. After that I learned to button up my shirt, It hurts when hot brass gets in there and the heck with brass deflectors. When the M16A2 came out it had the little bump circled in the photo attached and "Viola, no more problems. I have never tried to catch brass in the brass catcher from Midway, but that looks like a jam waiting to happen.

I have never really had problems with the controls on the AR15s, like everything else you do in life, you learn to make little adjustments. I think in some cases, things that are supposed to be right handed work better for a left handed person. Heck I don't think I could work a "left handed" bolt gun near as well as a "right handed" gun. The plus side to purchasing a "right handed" AR is parts availabilty, the possibility of installing a "right handed" part in a "left handed" gun, I can just imagine if by accident a right ejecting bolt carrier ended up in a left ejecting rifle, it would try to throw the brass out the side with no ejection port. As for other thoughts, putting an Eotech or Aimpoint on the rifle is a great option, depending on the model in the $300-600 range, An ACOG will set you back around a grand. Leupold has a couple of attractive scopes in the Mark AR and Mark 2, you can pick them up in the $250-500 range and even a cheap NCStar 4 power for 59 dollars works decent.

[VBshooter]

Thanks for the input guys...Shortly after that posting I had to put all new purchases on hold, The economy has put me in the buy what I need versus buying what I want..I have discussed the Left handed issue and have found the same conclusion,that depending on the mechanics, a right handed gun will eject in a certain way,Sideways vs. backwards.. Stag Arms has a good reputation and guarentees their guns for life I have handled several of them and did like them,,Will be looking again when the $$$ starts to flow a bit better,

[KaosDad]

Cool, but the offer stands. Hit me up when you are back in the market & I'll be GLAD to scout the CHantilly show for you. Of course, if you come across a brgain StagArm 2R and want to trade uppers.....