Best Left-Handed Shotguns

Gone are the days of putting up with spent hulls flying in front of the face of left-handed shooters or struggling with odd palm swells and backwards controls. Though several companies offered left-handed variants for many years, they were few and far between, often requiring special order.

While this is far from a complete list, the following choices represent current-production southpaw-friendly shotguns that are readily accessible, including pumps, repeaters, single shots, and doubles.

Winchester SX4

The newest addition to our list – freshly announced at SHOT Show 2022 – has us enthralled. Winchester’s proven line of gas-driven autoloading shotguns now includes several models built for southpaws. Left-handed variants have been added to both the 12- and 20-gauge families. The SX4’s Active Valve Gas System cycles a wide array of loads without adjustment.

That drive, plus the company’s Quadra Vent ports for cleaner operation, equal less felt recoil in a reliable platform. The left-handed options can be had in many configurations, including wood, synthetic, and camouflage furniture to suit everything from hunting to clays. Winchester’s SX series of shotguns have long marked an ideal balance between quality and price point.

RELATED: Winchester SX4 Review [VIDEO]

Beretta A400 Xplor

The Beretta A400 was an instant hit when it came on to the scene, building off of the company's sterling reputation for building superior hunting shotguns. The Xplor lineup of shotguns takes that to another level to combine the innovative features of the A400 with the classic looks of walnut and blue. The gas-operated action is built for speed and reliability, able to shoot four shells in less than one second. Combine the looks with the function, and this shotgun is well-suited for either a duck boat or a romp in an upscale hunting club. Available in 12, 20, and 28 gauge, the Beretta A400 Xplor will be sure to make any southpaw smile.

Browning BPS

The Browning BPS is one of very few on this list that need not be built specifically as a left-handed variant to work well for lefty shooters. With the ejection port at the base of the action, the usual hang-ups are eliminated with Browning’s standby pump-action shotgun. Further, very few models show any grip swell that would hinder opposite handers.

Dual steel action bars mean the gun is durable. In addition to a reputation for reliability, BPSs are quite well-balanced guns. Given the longevity and array of model variants, there’s literally a BPS for every style of shooting and hunting. Whether shopping new or used, there’s no shortage of Browning BPS pumps on the market in almost every gauge, finish, barrel length, and price point.

Tristar Viper G2

Specialty guns – which is the category where left-hand variants usually fit – are generally more costly than their mass-produced right-handed counterparts. That’s hardly the case with self-proclaimed value expert TriStar Arms. Its Viper G2 family of gas-driven semi-automatic shotguns are plentiful, affordable, and available in more left-handed versions than almost any other brand. There are wood, black synthetic, and camouflage choices built to cover everything from sporting and waterfowl hunting to home defense.

Further, the G2 is far from the company’s only lefty-friendly choice. Double lovers or upland hunters will gravitate to the side-by-side Bristol and any number of the company’s O/Us – though not built for southpaws – will suffice.

EAA Akkar Churchill 212 Field

The Akkar Churchill 212 Field shotgun, imported by EAA, is a popular scattergun for lefties featuring all left-handed controls and a budget-friendly price. The synthetic stock and aluminum receiver keep this lightweight, while the 3+1 capacity and 3-inch chambering make it an ideal choice for the duck boat. The fiber-optic sight ensures you'll get on target quickly, and the single-action trigger allows for quick follow-up shots when needed.

BROWNING LEFT-HAND CITORI 725

Sporting over-unders often show a significant amount of palm swell, cast, and other metrics specific to righties. Browning turns the tables with their lines of Citori 725 shotguns built specifically for lefties. These Citori's are fast-swinging over-unders built specifically with a left-handed stock fit, left-hand top lever, and all the other features that continue to make the 725s a sleek success.

This represents the most serious sporting option for left-handers from a production model on this list. Southpaws will want to check out the Citori 725 Trap, Sporting, and High Rib Sporting, with adjustable combs and ported barrels available on several models.

Benelli Super Black Eagle 3

Benelli has a track record of being more accommodating to left-handed shooters than most of its competitors over the years. One of our top picks is the latest generation of the company’s venerable Super Black Eagle family. The autoloading guns, with their inertia-drive action, have built a reputation with waterfowlers in the harshest conditions.

The choices center around the 12-gauge chambering, with either black synthetic or Realtree Max-5 furniture, a magnum 3.5-inch chamber, oversized controls, and the company’s Comfort Tech stock.

Henry Single Shots

While the majority of single shots are southpaw-friendly, Henry’s single shots top the list for several reasons. They’re in current production, have a reputation for superior reliability, and offer shotguns in a wide variety of options. In a specifically accommodating move, they use a break lever that pivots either left or right to open the action. Models are available in either blued steel or polished brass, with choices of 12 and 20 gauge or 410 bore. The guns feature interchangeable chokes, ejectors, American-walnut stocks, a brass front bead, and are designed sans manual safety.

In addition to the above, Henry also produces a 3.5-inch 12-gauge magnum option that’s fully camouflaged as a Turkey gun along with a rifled slug-barreled 12-gauge single. There’s even a single-shot youth shotgun in 20-gauge with a 26-inch barrel and lesser length of pull. Of course, these and every other Henry firearm are made in America.

CZ SCTP STERLING SOUTHPAW

The CZ SCTP Sterling Southpaw is specifically cast for lefties and provides a load of attractive features that would make any shotgunner smile. The Turkish walnut stock and forend are particularly attractive, while the aggressive stippling makes it easy to grip in the field. The four-way adjustable comb helps fit the shotgun exactly to the end user's cheek, ensuring that you'll come up on target every time. The ejectors spit out empty shells and make reloads effortless and quick. Five chokes (F, IM, M, IC, C) are included with the purchase and put this gun comfortably on the trap range or in the field chasing ringnecks.

CZ spent years fine-tuning the stock and has found that the increased pitch makes this an ideal candidate for slender frames, women, and youth shooters.