For a few years now I've
watched some Left Handed shooters struggling to load the Marlin lever action
rifle with their right hand.
The Marlin loading gate is situated on the right
side of the rifle and it can be very awkward to hold the rifle in the Left hand
while trying to push the round into the gate with their Right hand at such an
acute angle or switching it to the right side of the body to load with their
right hand which can result in a certain amount of fumbling and time lose.
I'd like to share with you my own tried and
tested method which cuts down movement, time & the risk of dropping a round or
two.
I've been using this method successfully for the past 12+ years and once you get
the hang of it you could be loading 6 rounds as fast as the Right handed shooter
next to you.
From pulling the trigger of the last shot to racking the first shot after
reloading 6 rounds now takes me less than 10 seconds.
Take for example the 1st stage of the 1500... 12
shots in 30 seconds to include a reload (6 shots then reload 6)
10 seconds to
shoot the 1st six shots - 10 seconds to reload with 6 rounds - 10 seconds
to shoot the 2nd six shots,
this gives you more time to take aim with each shot and you won't be rushing to
get the shots off before the target turns away.
The first thing you need to do is store your ammo on the
Left Hand side
of your body, an ammo belt is best and fastest.
Then when told to do so you load your first six holding your Marlin
Upside
down at your
Left Hand side with the stock tucked neatly between your
side and your elbow, your right hand fingers wrapped under the scope and your
thumb positioned against the stock supporting it, your Left Hand is now free to load from your belt.
After loading, grab the rifle with your Left Hand just behind the trigger and
move your Right Hand forward onto the Stock, you then twist the rifle clockwise toward
your body with your Left Hand until it is the right way up again and your ready
to start.
When you need to reload, you twist it anti-clockwise away from you with your
Left Hand to the upside-down position
again, tucking the stock under your arm and supporting the weight with your
Right Hand under the Scope.
Your ammo belt should be positioned just below and behind the loading gate so
that the distance the round has to travel from the belt to the gate is at it's
minimum.
It's important that you remove your fingers from inside the lever and take a firm hold
with your Left hand
when twisting the rifle, this ensures you don't drop it as you'll also be moving your
Right hand to take it's position under the Scope.
The photo's
below should give you some idea on how to and where to hold the rifle whilst
undertaking this manoeuvre.
Using this method I guarantee you'll cut down on the chance of fumbling and
dropping a round & the time taken to reload therefore giving you more time to
aim at the target and achieving a higher score.
~ Below are some photos of myself using this method during the
Phoenix at Bisley ~
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