Southpaw's Question

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chainofcommand02

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Hello all, I'm a leftie and relatively new to guns. I know there are a couple of explicitly ambidextrous 9mm Luger semiautomatic pistols (namely the Ruger SR-9 and the S&W M&P), but in my eyes they both have some drawbacks. So, are there any other guns that are, by default, a "rightie" gun, that would be easy to operate with my left hand?
 
CZ 85 and CZ 75B Stainless (for some reason, the stainless is ambi, but blued isn't)
Springfield XD and XDm
S&W Sigma
CZ 82 (9mm Mak, not Luger)

Those are the ones that pop to mind right now...

FWIW, I'm a lefty and I have the SR9c and CZ 85 and had the M&P.

I also have a Springer Loaded (ambi thumb safety) and a RIA Compact (non-ambi).

Q
 
Ah yes, I meant the SR9c, as well. Do you use the finger-rest magazine butt plate for the SR-9c?

I was hoping to find a metal frame gun, but maybe I'm stuck in the past, and polymers are the way to go. The SR9c is looking better.

I'll look into the CZ 75 and 85. I already have another Makarov-chambered pistol and I would be iffy regarding the 82.
 
S&W M&P, but in my eyes ... have some drawbacks
Click to expand...

Ummmm, what draw backs?

Especially when M&P is one of few semi-autos that has slide lock release for the left handed shooter (the mag release is reversible).
 
So, are there any other guns that are, by default, a "rightie" gun, that would be easy to operate with my left hand?
Click to expand...

The 1911 is surprisingly easy to operate leftie even though it is fairly explicitly a "rightie."

The magazine release is very easy to hit with the offiside hand (right) middle finger. You can kit it out with an ambi safety easily, but it's also quite easy and quick to swipe the existing rh (left side of gun) slide safety with the left thumb in an opposable (pivoting) manuever. I am not leftie, but practice this weak-handed frequently. I do know a number of LH shooters who don't bother modifying the gun in the least, they just shoot it as-is happily. I have a 9mm Commander model I am very fond of. It's not the cheapest option for a 9mm autopistol, but it's an extremely pleasant one to shoot and darn easy to live with. It's the only 9mm I own still own, actually.
 
Newer Hi-Powers (with ambidextrous safety levers) are very easy to operate from a left-handed person - like me. Just hit the magazine release with your middle finger and the slide release with your index finger.

Boris
 
Quote:
S&W M&P, but in my eyes ... have some drawbacks
Ummmm, what draw backs?

Especially when M&P is one of few semi-autos that has slide lock release for the left handed shooter (the mag release is reversible).
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm being too picky, but I just don't like how the M&P trigger pull feels. I like the Glock and the SR9's trigger breaks better than the M&P, but they use the 'blade' trigger safety, and not the 'joint' safety like in the M&P.

I hadn't considered the BHP and the 1911, honestly. Those large frame guns would be fun to take to the range, but I need something that I could carry comfortably IWB as well. Same story with the 92FS, a great gun, that meets what I want (reversible mag release, ambidextrous safety) but a bit much to have in your waistband all day.

To head off any Glock fanboi-ism, I am thinking of a Glock (probably model 19) as a 'last resort', in that I could reasonably hit the magazine release with my left hand index/trigger finger, and I don't have a safety lever to worry about.

Thank you all!
 
I have two short mags for my SR9c - one with and one without the finger plate. It helps control the gun a little more but, as I have small hands, it's not unmanagable with the other mag.

I despise the full-size mag with the plastic /filler shroud. It is not a solid fit and feels like a cheap marketing thing (see! you can use a full-size mag). It's a compact gun, not a full-size wannabe.

FWIW, I agree @ the M&P trigger and prefer the Ruger's new trigger.

Q
 
I am not leftie
Click to expand...
Place all the functions as designed for left hand operation and listen to all the right-handers’ whine. It’s a bit nettlesome to hear right-hand dominant person tell a left-hand dominant how easy things are. If it’s so easy why not simply use the firearm with your left-hand all the time.:uhoh::banghead:
 
I had an SR9 that was very lefty friendly. I ended up getting rid of it because the barrel was peening and the trigger sucked.

I currently carry a Glock that is set up in right hand configuration and cannot be made to be a lefty. (G36 doesn't get any of the cool features of its bigger brothers:evil:).

Really, the only thing I have to monkey with is the mag release. I had to sand the tiniest amount of corner off the release because it was biting my finger as i fired. To drop the mag I just rock the gun back in my hand and use the meat of my callas to press in on the release. Feels OK to me.
 
I despise the full-size mag with the plastic /filler shroud. It is not a solid fit and feels like a cheap marketing thing (see! you can use a full-size mag). It's a compact gun, not a full-size wannabe.
Click to expand...

lol, I had thoughts along those lines. When I handled it at the local gun emporium yesterday, the full size mag with grip sleeve just wouldn't eject properly anyway, the grip sleeve kept hanging on something and impeding the operation.

Walthers would also be excellent choices but I'm not finding them locally... :(
 
Most striker fired guns are ambi except for the mag release.

You allready have two hands on the gun, I just move the gun to my right hand and go for my fresh mag with my left and push the mag release with my right. So i do my ma changes right handed allways, with pistols.
 
DAO, DAK, DA/SA and SAO Sig Sauer P-series handguns are very leftie friendly. They aren't fully ambidextrous in that the controls (other than SAO guns) are all on the left side of the frame, but all the controls are easily actuated by the trigger finger.

the dao and dak guns don't have safeties, the SAO ones have ambidextrous safeties, and the DA/SA's decocking lever is extremely easy to reach with the trigger finger. I have a DA/SA P220 as my EDC, and I've always felt that the placement of the controls are just about perfect for me. Personally, I can't stand using my thumb to eject magazines. Feels weird to me
 
As a fellow lefty, my honest opinion is, "Why bother?" If you get a single/double, you don't need to have the safety on in the first place. Just carry it round chambered, safety off, hammer down. Unless the grip is funky, there is absolutely no real disadvantage to using a right-handed gun.

Basically: go for a single/double gun and you're all set. I shoot primarily military surplus or military-style pistols, and all of them are fine.
 
I would buy the best expressly ambidextrous pistol I could, in fact I am doing so.

it encourages more manufacturers to pursue the ambi market. (I'm left handed, but fairly ambi and I shoot better right handed. go figure. still buying an ambi pistol on principle)
 
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Lefty here too.

Lots of good choices.
Browning Hi-Power is my favorite.
CZ 75/85 is Awesome.
HK P30 and P2000 are great. (prefer the 2000 myself)
XD is easy to manage.
Glock is easy to manage.
1911's are easy to manage.
I can't really think of a gun that isn't easy to manage once you get used to doing everything with your index finger.

To me, Sigs are not lefty friendly, because of the placement of the decocker on the grip panel. I'd like one though.
 
Maybe I'm being too picky, but I just don't like how the M&P trigger pull feels.
Click to expand...

Easily fixed.

And it's not too big to carry, as long as you get the right holster.
 
Beretta 92 and 96fs series pistols. They feature a ambi safety and the mag release can be swapped to the right side. I am reasonalby sure that the 84 series can as well.
 
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Maybe I'm being too picky, but I just don't like how the M&P trigger pull feels. I like the Glock and the SR9's trigger breaks better than the M&P, but they use the 'blade' trigger safety, and not the 'joint' safety like in the M&P.

To head off any Glock fanboi-ism, I am thinking of a Glock (probably model 19) as a 'last resort', in that I could reasonably hit the magazine release with my left hand index/trigger finger, and I don't have a safety lever to worry about
Click to expand...
.
chainofcommand02, I am a fan of Glocks (really like the G22/G27 combo) and have competed with G22.

I also like the M&P because of better ergonomics and the trigger can be easily worked on - http://www.burwellgunsmithing.com/misc/M&Ptriggerjob.pdf
 
HK P30, P2000 LEM, P2000SK are all fully ambidextrous. The HK USP line can be easily changed from righty to lefty as well.
 
Maybe I'm being too picky, but I just don't like how the M&P trigger pull feels. I like the Glock and the SR9's trigger breaks better than the M&P, but they use the 'blade' trigger safety, and not the 'joint' safety like in the M&P.

I hadn't considered the BHP and the 1911, honestly. Those large frame guns would be fun to take to the range, but I need something that I could carry comfortably IWB as well. Same story with the 92FS, a great gun, that meets what I want (reversible mag release, ambidextrous safety) but a bit much to have in your waistband all day.
Click to expand...

Hi,

A GREAT trigger pull makes for a better shooting, more accurate YOU!

Most "lawyer-proof" police-type auto handguns today have long, mediocre trigger pulls, and they use plastic . . . err "polymer" frames and have done away with mechanical safeties to save bucks. Yeah . . . I know . . . those striker guns HAVE "safeties" . . . of sorts . . . that work well as long as one doesn't accidentally move the trigger.

These police guns are also fat and blocky. Some call 'em Blocks.

For an incredible, short trigger . . . and a super light + super flat CCW automatic, consider an aluminum-framed compact 1911-style .45ACP.

Weighting just 26oz., my Kimber Ultra CDP is small, accurate, slim . . . and it carries a great punch. Nightsights are standard on this model, as is the ambidextrous safety that is SO IMPORTANT TO US FELLOW LEFTIES!

Shown here is my S&W Model 36 snubbie .38 Special revolver . . . also a 26 oz. handgun:

2256357CCW.jpg
 
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