Thoughts on Best Gun for Left Handed Shooters

[rugersigkimber]

I have someone I know who asked me which gun is best for lefties.

I was just in a handgun class, and I was interested in the instruction for left handed shooters.

I'd be interested in know what others think.

From what I have gathered, lefties make some modifications on their own, and generally shot anything they feel comfortable with...but is that true?

I see that the M&P9 has ambi slide release and ambi magazine release...is that an advantage?

I also see lefties shooting Glock just fine.

Any comments or experiences.

If you are a lefty, what do you shoot?

Thanks in advance.

[dad4mnc]

Thoughts on Best Gun for Left Handed Shooters

I have an HK USP45c and P2000sk for carry and a 1911. I like the large slide release lever vs the Glock, XD, M&P size. For me, it gives me a bigger purchase for locking/releasing the slide should the need arise (ex malfunction drills).I use my index finger or thumb for mag changes.
I don't think the ambi controls offer all that much. They're nice but not necessary. Lefties have to adapt to right hand controls on AR's, bolt action, etc. Maybe it's just me but I see it as an advantage.

[CSACANNONEER]

As a LH shooter, I've switched ambi safeties to LH before and switched them back almost immediately. I want to be able to pick up any gun and know where the controls are instead of fumbling around with it because my gum is set up special. Besides, I have stubby thumbs and prefer using my trigger finger to drop mags.

[Ninask]

As a lefty I look for ambi safeties, like a High power in pistol,
and lh bolts, lever guns and semi autos (Browning )
on some guns the safety is by neccesity OFF because it cannot be accessed easily
by a lefty (e.g. Millennium)
N

[18Dmedic]

Definitely use any firearm you like. You can adapt to use it. It's all about your fundamentals and time in training. But simpler the firearm, the easier and less adopting you will need. Glock and M&P series pistols are great. No decockers to worry about. Slide release and ambi safeties aren't that important.

[rugersigkimber]

Thanks for the input so far. This is very helpful!

[ChuckW]

I'm left handed and don't worry about it. I just buy the gun I want. Like somebody said, everything manufactured that isn't symmetrical or specifically made for left handers is right handed. We get used to it.

[jsuros]

I agree that lefties can adapt to any RH auto pistol. Reloading a revolver quickly is difficult, though.

[kaosfreak]

i shoot pistol LH but a rifle RH, go figure.

i adapted my pistol for my LH. i moved the mag release to the right side so my left thumb can hit it. and i just power stroke the slide to chamber a round on a fresh mag. i have tried to use my index finger on my left hand to hit the slide release, but it is uncomfortable and i have to use two hands to hold the weapon at that point anyways.

i love it when people pick up my pistol and have to look around to find the mag release. it's mine and how i want it. if i could somehow get the slide release to the right side, i would. but sig doesn't make a LH slide and when i called and asked why, they said because only a very small % of people shoot LH and they don't see the need to make them.

[tbc]

Thoughts on Best Gun for Left Handed Shooters

Lefty here. Shoot rifle with my left hand but switched to using my right hand when I started to learn shooting handguns. If you are looking for ambi handguns, try:

HK P30
HK P2000
HK 45
FN Herstal FNS (not sure if FNX is also fully ambidextrous)




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[hundreddollarman]

I'm a lefty shooting right-handed, although I occasionally shoot left as well. Pretty much any modern pistol will have ambidextrous safeties or ambi/reversible mag releases. Those are easy to modify to suit your needs or for you to adapt to right-handed shooting. The only thing that's not ambi on most pistols is the slide lock lever, but I don't use that to chamber a new round from a fresh magazine.

[gigglemonkee]

I am a lefty and use the following for left hands. Modern CZ can have the mag release reversed. 1911 with an ambi safety. CZ Tac sport for limited and open with extended safety and switched mag release. Revolvers I am pretty fast since I can cross load using moon clips. Remember the Colt SAA and Ruger SA revolvers are all left handed guns since they were designed to be loaded with your right hand.

[Gh0sT]

Southpaw that shoots IDPA, IPSC/USPSA.

My recommendation
1) Rent at range or shoot friend's guns to understand which firearm you like overall just on how it shoots. Shoot all different kinds of firearms. It is up to you to understand which gun you like in your hand - we can all recommend guns all day long and in the end you will probably get every common manufacture: Glock, S&W, XD, CZ (mine fav), HK and in the end you will still be stuck with too many opinions.

2) After figuring out which is your favorite smelling shampoo...Determine if the ergonomics can be adjusted. i.e. 1911(s) having the safety on both sides or switching sides.

Additional note on the slide stop. Most pistols only have the slide stop mechanism fit for right handers. During reloads I usually use my trigger finger to bring the slide forward into battery.

See 3 reloads below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojoYwzwrgBc

[sigfan91]

Single Action Army - loads on the right side

Walther P38 - ejects to the left and has Euro style mag release

[sofa88]

Lefty here. I shoot pistol left but rifle right, weird but it just feels better this way. I use an xd since it has ambi mag release but slide lock is on the left so I'm very used to using my left index finger to engage that. I never use it as a release and just rack the slide to release. This is a better way to train for me since I also like shooting my 1911s with no lefty controls. Dropping the mag with my left index is pretty comfortable too since I shoot right handed guns often enough. It's all in how often you shoot and train. I've never run into a problem with unfamiliar guns that have no lefty controls.