Auto for left hander

[Maia007]

As a right hander, it is hard for me to imagine manipulating a slide stop or a mag release, let alone a typical decocker or safety while shooting left handed.

I wish to introduce the auto to my spouse, a left hander. Which pistols do you consider to be most friendly to lefties?

 

[mljdeckard]

The slide stop doesn't matter. All she has to do is reach under the gun with the support hand and drop the slide with her fingertips. OR BETTER YET, make a habit of releasing the slide by pulling it to the rear. This makes dropping the slide and racking it in a malfunction the same motion, she doesn't have to learn different motions for different situations.

A better question might be which guns have ambidextrous/lefty safeties, which is almost all of them.

 

[RetDep310]

Being left handed, I can honestly say that I have never had a problem with shooting any modern auto pistol. Only problem I had in the earlier days were guns with left side mounted safties. The left trigger finger can release the magazine, and as stated earlier, just pull back on the slide with the right hand to release it. That gets one used to malfunction drills. The Glocks are no problems, and even the Sig's levers or de-cocker can be released with the left trigger finger. Once you find a gun, might be helpful to find a left handed friend to help her get used to it.

 

[walksbyhimself]

CZ-82. Controls are all ambi except for slide stop, which, as previously noted, can be made into a non-issue if you rack the slide to drop it rather than pressing the lever.

 

[Hangingrock]

What I really enjoy about this subject is when a right-handed person tells a left –handed person how easy it is to manipulate or operate a function designed for primary right-hand usage.

I’d recommend the S&W-MP series pistol. The slide release is ambidextrous and the magazine release may be reversed for left hand usage.

Should one opt for the optional external safety I believe the levers are ambidextrous also.

The three grip inserts provided allow an ergonomic fit.

I like the magazine safety option if so desired.

 

[Rexster]

I think a SIG P229 (and related models) is a better lefty gun than rightie gun. The magazine release works better with the left index/trigger finger, the decocker also works well enough with the trigger finger, and the slide stop is just that, a slide stop, used for disassembly. In actual shooting, the slide is best released by an overhand grip-and-pull.

When shooting a P229 in rightie mode, the slide stop gets in the way when using a two-hand hold, and I must break my firing grip to get a thumb on the mag release. (My shooting thumb is NOT in the "high thumb" position, but if it were, as preferred by some shooters, the slide release would interfere.

FWIW, I am left-handed, but right-armed and right-legged. I shoot some handguns better rightie, and others lefty. I train with my serious defensive guns, such as my SIGs, using each hand as the weapon hand, both two-handed and one-handed.

I have related my experience with the P229, a double-stack autopistol that might be a bit wide for may women. The P239 is the single-stack cousin better suited for many smaller hands.

For a person who likes DA triggers, the DAK variant of the SIG models is even more ambi-friendly, as there is no decocker.

I also found Glocks to work slightly better as lefty guns than rightie guns, but I got away from Glocks due to hand fit issues, and though I don't have large hands for a guy, my hands are larger than those of most gals.

FWIW, most of my female co-workers select the S&W M&P40 as duty pistols, due to the adjustable/replaceable grip modules. The other choices, all .40s, are various Glocks, the XD, XDM, P229, and P226.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The most ambidextrious pistol I am aware of the HK P7. The slide lock lever, safety, decocker, and cocking lever are all one easy to manipulate front grip lever. The only thing non ambi about is the ejection port.

Might be worth a look into since you can still get these pistols relatively inexpensively and they are magnificent shooters.

 

[myusername01]

I agree with Hangingrock.
The slide release and thumb safety are ambidextrous and the mag release can be reversed on the Smith & Wesson M&P. It also comes with back straps of different sizes for different hand sizes and it's a very nice gun to shoot.

 

[hmphargh]

As a lefty, I'd say any handgun without an external safety or decocker is going to work reasonably well. I can operate most magazine releases with my left thumb, but YMMV. If you get a Walther or gun with a trigger guard mag release, I would imagine that would be even more left hand friendly.

 

[BridgeTooFar]

I'm a lefty, and no pistol has ever given me fits with the slide release, mag release or safety. I use my trigger finger to release the slide; I use my middle finger to release the mag; and I can take my left thumb around the back of the slide to turn on/off the safety. It takes a little practice (with a new gun, especially), but it can be done (and I do it regularly).

A mil-spec type 1911 (with no ambi-safety), a Glock 23, and a Buckmark were what I learned to shoot pistols with, and ever since, no pistol has ever given me any trouble in that regard.

 

[AKElroy]

CZ 85B is as full ambi version of the 75; terrific gun. You can go back to the late 80's for a Randall 1911; lefties, very well made.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I am a lefty and I also have never had trouble with my 1911's Om my Bersa I decock holding in right hand then switch back to fire for carry has a firing pin block so safe to carry. The 9 mm 40 and 45 have ambi safety& slide release The mag release is reversible if needed,
People need to stop thinking be a lefty is a problem. We adapt very well to you backwards ways of doing things

 

[MLee]

I'm a lefty and have no problem with operating my Sig 229 controls with my trigger finger. Just takes a little practice to get familiar with with. My hands are on the small side (Any smaller and I couldn't handle the size of the Sig, but I do have a short trigger on it) and I couldn't reach the controls with my thumb even if they were made for a lefty.

 

[ny32182]

As a left hander (Glock shooter):

I hit the mag catch with my trigger finger. I feel like I get more leverage this way than I would in a standard thumb layout.

I slingshot the slide. To me the upside is that this will work intuitively with any auto I'm aware of; I don't need muscle memory for a specific slide catch location. On the downside it is probably a little slower than hitting the slide catch.

I don't do external safeties, so that is not a problem. When I was a Sig shooter, I worked the decocker with my trigger finger as well, though that was a little more awkward than it is for a right hander using their thumb.

 

[mljdeckard]

As a right-hander, I practice weak-handed, and I know exactly what is involved with operating them.

 

[LawofThirds]

Smith & Wesson M&P is good.

So is the 1911 with ambi safeties and strong fingers.

 

[wleoff]

I'm left handed and have mainly had trouble with Sigs. Some of the controls keep falling under my trigger finger. I carry a 3rd generation Glock 19 with no problems. I tried a 4th generation Glock and the mag release extends too much, again, under my trigger finger. Still like 1911s where the safety can be switched. I've also done this to the mag releases on some pistols. Any pistol with ambi controls will probably work best. I also carry a Keltec P3AT, but that may be a little small for her. Years ago, I thought that a girlfriend would like something in a small caliber and she ended up wanting a Colt 1911 that I had. She may surprise you.

 

[Lefty Gunner]

I would also recommend the M&P line especially the compacts. Fully ambi with changeable back straps. The slide release can be stiff at first but use and/or a little stone work will make it work as intended.

I also like the HK P2000 and P30 but they are pricey. Get the LEM if you go this way.

9mm is sufficient with quality self defense rounds.

A full ambi gun will make life easy for a new shooter.

I can use most autos but why work so hard. KISS really works for new shooters.