Shooting UK: Choosing the correct Shotgun

Hi Joshua,

Welcome to the forum — I hope you get the answers you're looking for.

Firstly I would recommend getting down to the CLA Game Fair this weekend at Blenheim as a starter. You'll see the largest range of shotguns all in one place on Gunmaker's Row, and there'll be any number of people available to give you advice with quite a few of the guns on offer with a try before you buy facility on the clay line.

But turning to your question more specifically, my brother is left-hand left-eye dominant, while I am right-hand right-eye dominant and we have both swapped and changed the same guns for many years. He often says that he would like to get the stock cast off on one of the guns so that it suits him better, but I do think that up to a point you can cope and adapt your shooting stance if you have a gun that you use regularly. It's not an ideal, but for many people getting a gun specifically tailored to fit them is not a priority — just ask the majority of Browning and Beretta's customers.

I would imagine that stock length is, to an extent, more of a critical issue. With a gun that's too short or too long you will exacerbate any cast issues in the stock.

I take it you are talking about a semi-auto and not an o/u or a s/s? Generally, I think they tend to come with fairly straight stocks anyway (especially laminate models) but one that may be of interest to you is the Webley & Scott 810 semi-auto. For £469 you can get a left-hand stock (left ejector as well I think), which is just £20 more than the r/h model. I realise it's over your budget by a bit, but you would be getting a specific left-hander's gun. Have a look at Lewis Potter's review on the Shooting Times site and see what you think.

Are there any left handers out there who'd care to share their experiences?

Alastair.

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Alastair Balmain, Deputy editor, Shooting Times

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