AR-15 question

**mojo** · October 20th, 2008, 03:39 PM

I have a co-worker that is looking to buy an AR-15. He is left handed, so he has been looking at Stags. We went to a local dealer and they were telling him about the .22 conversion kits and he really liked the idea of them. They told him that the kits will only work with right handed rifles.

1. Can anyone confirm this?
2. Is it possible to put a RH upper on a LH lower? Logic is that the safety and what not is on the correct side for him.

I haven't really got into ARs (yet), so I don't feel confident recommending anything.

**Hawk** · October 20th, 2008, 03:45 PM

No real advantage to going to a left handed AR if you're a lefty (I am).
Buy a righty! You'll also be able to sell it easier.

**00leland00** · October 20th, 2008, 03:46 PM

I could be mistaken, but I think the only difference in the left/right Stag's is the upper configuration. Maybe the dealer was trying to tell him they don't make a lefty .22 conversion and he misunderstood.

ETA: I agree with Hawk. I'm a lefty and have no problem shooting my AR's except for the occasional nose full of expended gas, which isn't really a problem. It'll also be easier to sell later.

**mojo** · October 20th, 2008, 03:49 PM

They were definitely telling him that the .22 conversion would only work on RH uppers.

So are LH lowers the same as RH lowers?

**Hawk** · October 20th, 2008, 03:57 PM

The direction of the ejection is only slightly to the rear. It doesn't even come close to ones face even if you have your nose on the charging handle.
If you wanted to, you can always cut one ring off the ejector spring and the brass will be thrown to the right front corner - about 3 feet.

**Hawk** · October 20th, 2008, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by 00leland00

I could be mistaken, but I think the only difference in the left/right Stag's is the upper configuration. Maybe the dealer was trying to tell him they don't make a lefty .22 conversion and he misunderstood.

ETA: I agree with Hawk. I'm a lefty and have no problem shooting my AR's except for the occasional nose full of expended gas, which isn't really a problem. It'll also be easier to sell later.

The gas you're feeling is most likely coming out from between the charging handle and the upper, a common problem that is correctable.

**Emptymag** · October 20th, 2008, 05:44 PM

I'm pretty sure the answer is either "yes", or "no"... not "buy a right handed upper".

Hopefully someone will come along and answer the man's question...

**00leland00** · October 20th, 2008, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by mojo

They were definitely telling him that the .22 conversion would only work on RH uppers.

So are LH lowers the same as RH lowers?

Now I'm curious. Somebody tell Lycan to get in here.

Bumpfire
Bumpfire
Bumpfire

**lethal93ta** · October 20th, 2008, 05:50 PM

the lowers are the same but I never seen a left handed .22 upper, the bolts and carriers are diffrent for a left handed rifle, the carrier needs the detent to knock the cover open on the left and the forward assest notches need to be on the left. same for the bolt the ejector needs to be on the left side. so they are right in saying it will not work on a left handed upper recever.