5 Best Left-Handed AR-15s: Options for the 10%

by Kat Ainsworth-Stevens

January 18, 2024

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Being left-handed in the gun world can be frustrating because the vast majority of firearms are made for right-handed shooters. Sure, you can be a leftie and run a right-handed gun, but it would certainly be easier to utilize guns specifically designed for people with a dominant hand on the less-common side. We’ve done the research to make southpaw shooting easier by finding the best left-handed AR-15s on the market. These AR-15s are not only made for people who shoot—or want to shoot—left-handed, but they have specific purposes, and we’ll tell you all about it.

Best Left-Handed AR-15s

The history of the AR-15

Maybe you’re a left-handed shooter who’s never run an AR-15. Or perhaps you have shot an AR-15 and aren’t yet convinced of their usefulness. We’re here to help. Eugene Stoner designed the AR-15 platform in the 1950s and entered production around 1962. This is a semi-automatic rifle created for civilian use. It shouldn’t be mistaken for the M4, a fully automatic rifle made for military use. There’s a rather common misconception that the two guns are one and the same, but that isn’t accurate. And while the AR-15 was originally chambered in 5.56 NATO, today it’s offered in more calibers than we can easily list here.

The AR-15 is often referred to by other titles such as MSR—Modern Sporting Rifle—and by manufacturer-specific titles. For example, Wilson Combat labels theirs as WC-15s and Bushmaster Firearms refers to them by titles such as the XM-15. This is because the company that owns the AR-15 trademark is Colt Manufacturing, so while other manufacturers can produce AR platform firearms, only Colt owns the right to market them as an AR-15. But whatever they’re called, these rifles are great for self-defense, home defense, truck guns, hunting, range use, and competition. They’re also highly customizable and are undoubtedly the most versatile rifles that exist.

Gun University’s Choices of the Best Left-Handed AR-15s

Best Left-Handed AR-15s

STAG 15 Tactical
  • Magpul furniture
  • Free floating M-LOK handguard
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P2A Valiant
  • Billet upper receiver
  • Side charging upper
  • 20 inch barrel
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Wilson Combat Protector Carbine
  • Match grade button rifled barrel
  • Wilson Combat stock and pistol grip
  • Ambi safety
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Davidson Defense OYL
  • Budget friendly
  • No forward assist
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Radian Model 1
  • Completely ambidextrous
  • High end components
  • Sub MOA guarantee
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Spec Comparison of the Best Left-Handed AR-15s

Below is a table of the specifications for the best Left-Handed AR-15s.

RifleCaliberBarrel Length (in)Capacity (rounds)Ambidextrous?Ejection Side
STAG 15 Tactical5.56 NATO1630NoLeft
P2A Valiant5.56 NATO2030NoLeft
Wilson Combat Protector Carbine5.56 NATO1630NoLeft
Davidson Defense OYL5.56 NATO16.530NoLeft
Radian Model 1223 Wylde1630YesRight

Best Left-Handed AR-15s

Here is our list for the best Left-Handed AR-15s:

  1. Best overall: STAG 15 Tactical
  2. Best rifle length: P2A Valiant
  3. Best accuracy: Wilson Combat Protector Carbine
  4. Best budget friendly: Davidson Defense OYL
  5. Best ambidextrous: Radian Model 1

Best Left-Handed AR-15s – Reviews 

1 STAG 15 Tactical Left-Handed : Best Overall

STAG 15 Tactical Left Handed Featured Image

STAG 15 Tactical Left-Handed

A left-hand ejecting AR-15 with Magpul furniture and MLOK rail.

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  • Shootability A-
  • Reliability B+
  • Ergonomics A-
  • Accuracy B
  • Value A

Our Grade

A-

Reader’s Grade

A+

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STAG 15 Tactical Specs

  • Caliber 5.56 NATO
  • Barrel Length 16 in
  • Ambidextrous No
  • Ejection Side Left

STAG 15 Tactical Review

STAG Arms offers an entire line of high-quality, left-handed AR-15s—and AR-10s—making it the clear winner for best overall. The STAG 15 Tactical is a basic AR-15 but does include Magpul MOE furniture. This is a great overall pick because it comes with the updated furniture you will want, but nothing extra that you don’t need. The rifle is optics ready to mount your preferred sighting system.

This gun has a 16-inch barrel, making it carbine length, and is chambered in 5.56 NATO. The STAG 15 Tactical has a mid-length gas system, Carpenter 158 bolt with an 8620 carrier, and a 13.5-inch M-LOK handguard. A MIL-SPEC trigger comes standard, and the safety is ambidextrous. This is a fantastic gun for all applications.

STAG 15 Tactical Pros and Cons

  • Extensive line of left-handed ARs
  • Quality furniture
  • More accurate barrel
  • MIL-SPEC trigger

STAG 15 Tactical Deals

2 P2A Valiant Left Handed 20in : Best rifle length

P2A Valiant Left Handed 20in Featured Image

P2A Valiant Left Handed 20in

A left-hand ejecting AR-15 with a side charging Gibbz arms upper receiver.

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  • Shootability B+
  • Reliability B+
  • Ergonomics B+
  • Accuracy A-
  • Value B+

Our Grade

B+

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TBD

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P2A Valiant Specs

  • Caliber 5.56 NATO
  • Barrel Length 20 in
  • Ambidextrous No
  • Ejection Side Left

P2A Valiant Review

As nice and portable as carbine-length AR-15s are, there’s a lot to be said for longer barrels, too. The P2A Valiant is one such rifle with its 20-inch barrel. It’s chambered in 5.56 NATO and the longer barrel is good for getting the best ballistics possible out of your chosen ammunition. The barrel has a 1 in 7 twist rate and a rifle-length gas system. The upper is a Gibbz Arms left-handed, non-reciprocating, side-charging billet aluminum receiver with a Gen 2 handle and a black anodized finish for resistance to wear. As for the bolt itself, it’s a left-handed, MIL-SPEC, MPI tested design with a nitride treatment for lubricity and durability. 

Thanks to its SOPMOD MIL-SPEC FDE stock with six-position buffer tube, the shooter can easily adjust the P2A Valiant to fit their needs. The shooter can add optics or thermals on the full-length Picatinny rail, and they can also easily mount lights or lasers using the M-LOK compatible handguard. The muzzle device is a standard A2 flash hider. Other features include a low-profile gas block, MIL-SPEC trigger, and MIL-SPEC lower receiver. This is a solid option for situations where a longer barrel is a benefit and you have the space to maneuver. The greater length also makes it a better option for a lot of hunting applications such as calling coyotes.

P2A Valiant Pros and Cons

  • Longer barrel for improved ballistics
  • Side charging if you prefer it
  • Customizable
  • Side charging if you prefer a charging handle

P2A Valiant Deals

3 Wilson Combat Protector Carbine Left Handed : Best accuracy

Wilson Combat Protector Carbine Left Handed Featured Image

Wilson Combat Protector Carbine Left Handed

A high end AR-15 that ejects to the left.

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  • Shootability A
  • Reliability A
  • Ergonomics A-
  • Accuracy A
  • Value B+

Our Grade

A-

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Wilson Combat Protector Carbine Specs

  • Caliber 5.56 NATO
  • Barrel Length 16 in
  • Ambidextrous No
  • Ejection Side Left

Wilson Combat Protector Carbine Review

For a truly accurate and beautifully made gun, there’s the Wilson Combat WC-15 Protector Carbine. This left-side ejecting carbine has a CNC machined, MIL-SPEC forged receiver set. It’s designed for superior performance for tactical applications but is also versatile enough to be a range gun or to be used for hunting. The 16-inch Wilson Combat Recon profile barrel is precision button rifled, and the gun is chambered in 5.56 NATO. Wilson Combat lists the Protector Carbine as having an overall weight of approximately 6 pounds, 10.3 ounces, and does mention there could be slight variations in weight. This firearm is made for ease of use, portability, and impressive durability.

Features of the Wilson Combat WC-15 Protector Carbine include a black Wilson Combat/BCM Starburst Gunfighter grip, a Wilson Combat Bulletproof ambidextrous charging handle, and an ambidextrous safety selector. The Wilson/Rogers Super Stoc is adjustable for length of pull. A full-length Picatinny rail makes putting optics on the rifle easy and an additional length of rail on the underside of the muzzle end of the handguard facilitates the addition of a bipod, lights, or lasers. The standard Protector Carbine is all black, but there is also an optional Coyote Tan Armor Tuff finish. If you want an exceptionally high-quality AR-15 that’s built with incredible attention to detail, this is the gun for you.

Wilson Combat Protector Carbine Pros and Cons

  • High-quality design
  • Versatile
  • Maneuverable
  • Higher price point

Wilson Combat Protector Carbine Deals

4 Davidson Defense OYL Left Handed : Best budget friendly

Davidson Defense OYL Left Handed Featured Image

Davidson Defense OYL Left Handed

A budget friendly AR-15 that ejects to the left and does not have a forward assist.

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  • Shootability B
  • Reliability B
  • Ergonomics A-
  • Accuracy B
  • Value A

Our Grade

B+

Reader’s Grade

TBD

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Davidson Defense OYL Specs

  • Caliber 5.56 NATO
  • Barrel Length 16.5 in
  • Ambidextrous No
  • Ejection Side Left

Davidson Defense OYL Review

If you want to keep your left-handed AR-15 more affordably priced, check out the Davidson Defense OYL. This is your basic black AR-15 chambered in 5.56 NATO. Not only are the controls designed to be ambidextrous—yes, it does eject to the left side—but the safety selector has a long and a short side. Davidson Defense designed the selector so it can be switched with whichever length the shooter prefers on either side. Other ambidextrous parts include the charging handle, end plate, and magazine release. A nice benefit of using ambidextrous components is that the gun can be run mirror as well, making it more versatile and offering greater options for tactical applications.

The Davidson Defense OYL has a 16-inch Mercury Precision Satellite barrel with a Government profile and nitride finish. It has a twist rate of 1 in 7 and a mid-length gas system. The upper receiver is a Davidson Defense left-handed Black Diamond series billet with no forward assist. This rifle ships with Trinity Force aluminum flip-up iron sights but does have a full-length Picatinny rail for easy addition of optics. The stock is an Adaptive Tactical EX Performance Adjustable Stock that’s adjustable for length and features a well-padded buttstock. This is a nice entry-level, left-handed AR-15.

Davidson Defense OYL Pros and Cons

  • Affordably priced
  • Ambidextrous controls
  • Iron sights come standard
  • No forward assist

Davidson Defense OYL Deals

5 Radian Model 1 : Best ambidextrous

Radian Model 1 Featured Image

Radian Model 1

A completely ambidextrous AR-15 available in many barrel lengths.

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  • Shootability A-
  • Reliability A-
  • Ergonomics A-
  • Accuracy A-
  • Value A-

Our Grade

A-

Reader’s Grade

A+

Based on 1 Reviews

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Radian Model 1 Specs

  • Caliber 223 Wylde
  • Barrel Length 16 in
  • Ambidextrous Yes
  • Ejection Side Right

Radian Model 1 Review

The Radian Model 1 is an ambidextrous model, meaning it ejects on the right-hand side but has ambidextrous controls. This is a 223 Wylde chambered rifle. Meaning it’s designed according to more exacting tolerances and will give you fantastic results with either 5.56 NATO or 223 Remington (there’s also a model available chambered in 300 Blackout). The great thing about a 223 Wylde chambering is that you can use both 5.56 NATO and 223 Remington and both will perform with greater accuracy than through a 5.56 NATO barrel (and the 223 Rem will do better than using a 223 Rem barrel). Radian backs this model with their sub-MOA accuracy guarantee when using Black Hills Match Grade ammunition. In its 16-inch barrel configuration—there are others offered—it has a mid-length gas system. This rifle does have a forward assist for those who prefer it.

This rifle’s barrel is a match-grade, 416 stainless steel model with a polished crown and feed ramps. The handguard is a proprietary extended aluminum design with a Magpul M-LOK mounting system. The rifle also includes a full-length Picatinny rail, allowing the shooter to mount their preferred optics, thermal, or magnifier. It’s made with either a SilencerCo ASR flash or Dead Air flash hider, both double as a suppressor mount. The stock is adjustable for length of pull. If you don’t necessarily want a left-side ejecting rifle but do require ambidextrous controls, the Radian Model 1 is a great option. 

Radian Model 1 Pros and Cons

  • Ambidextrous controls
  • Match grade barrel
  • Suppressor compatible flash hider
  • Right-side ejecting receiver

Radian Model 1 Deals

Conclusion

There are probably more left-handed rifles on the market than you realize—these are just a few we prefer. Before you choose one, decide on the importance of features like a forward assist or an ambidextrous charging handle. Remember that you can easily swap out small parts like triggers for aftermarket designs. In fact, AR platform firearms are so versatile that there are endless options out there for changing out parts. Prioritize what you require from an AR-15 and go from there. There are some great guns available for left-handed shooters. Which is your favorite?

If you are in the 90% of people who are right handed, check out our list of the best AR-15s.

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About Kat Ainsworth-Stevens

Kat is a respected author and dedicated student of the gun. To date, she has published three books and written thousands of articles on firearms and self-defense in print and online.

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