I handled the RIGHT HANDED XCR's quite a bit. Since I'm a lefty, I didn't have a chance to handle one with the bolt on the other side though. In fact, I think that my left handed XCR was the first one to come into our local Gander Mountain.

As far as scope ring height, I've always mounted the scope as low as possible. With the bolt throw on the XCR and the 44mm bell on my Zeiss, I can use medium height rings and get adequate clearance.