I have a couple of Bushy’s and a lefty Stag for my son who is a southpaw. Couple of Armalite’s (AR-10’s) as well. Good weapons all and properly set up.
You’re right about stepping up and buying ia quality weapon of you don’t have any skill/interest in gunsmithing.
I’ve built a couple of AR’s for fun (out of stuff available from various manufacturers) and they were OK weapons but never performed as well as the factory stuff. Converted them to .22LR for plinking.
Yes we have some plinkers also. Guns are fun.