Savage Model 99: workable as a lefty?

[Chuck Dye]

Family and friends have been on the lookout for a left handed bolt action for my best friend's south-pawed ten year old. Dad has been keen on the .243 Win, I have touted the .257 Roberts, and various cousins, uncles, and friends have argued in favor of several other chamberings. It dawned on me that a Savage Model 99 in .243 Win should be great for a small shooter but I have been unable to determine whether the ejection angle would allow a left handed shooter to cycle the rifle without getting smacked in the face or shooting glasses.

How about it, 99 shooters, does anyone shoot theirs on the port side?

 

[Mike Irwin]

I've shot mine many times left handed with no problems.

Just to make sure, though, I'll try to remember to eject a couple of empty shells this evening with it on my left shoulder.

 

[youp]

If I routinely shot left handed, I would be sure to find a Savage Model 99 sporting a tang safety. I have a 99M that is and an E that is not. I think the C model also had tang safety.

 

[TacticalFriedChicken]

heck yeah!
my grandpa and uncle are both left-handed and both hunt with 99s. My grandpa's is a .250 with the tang safety which i think makes it easier as a lefty. My uncle's is a 300. Doesn't have a tang safety, but he's never complained.

I think a 99 in .243 is darn near a perfect first deer rifle for ANYONE, right-or-left handed.