Left handed slide release?

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akanotken

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I'm helping a new shooter think thru a pistol purchase.

He likes the idea of 9mm, and is thinking to use it as a bedside gun. He's left handed to boot and would really like a left handed slide release.

I understand that HK's have this option, but am I missing others?

I've explained to him:

a.The slide can be "slingshot" released, and the universiality of this method actually makes it worth training into (IMO)

b.The chance of needing to release the slide in a life or death situation is pretty rare (you've shot your gun dry and need more bullets immediately).

but I'm letting him make the decisions ...

Have I missed any other options?
 
CZ 85 has ambi controls including the safety. Other than the HK you already know about I can't think of any others. I would hope that if he has to fire 15rds in defense of his residence that he would have a shotgun or rifle handy to back up his pistol instead of another magazine that he would have to drop the slide to chamber another round.
 
Some slide locks can be released with the left index finger. A lefty friend of mine has told me it's easy enough on a 1911, anyway.
 
Just don't use the slide LOCK for a release. Insert loaded mag, and pull the rear of the slide in a slingshot fasion. It'll go into battery. That's the method I recommend. Slide locks can break. I've done it on my Colt.
 
I'm left handed and typically use my index finger to release the slide.

At one time I had to have a truly left-hand friendly gun, so I bought a Walther P88. Guess what, I still use my index finger to release the slide and eject mags....
 
Most lefty's quickly adapt to using left side controls.
I don't think it's that big a deal.

1224.jpg
rcmodel
 
My first thought for a truely lefty gun is w/ the HK P7M8 but since it is no longer in production, I'd probably go w/ the P2000
 
I'm another lefty that uses the index finger to overcome the cruel unfairness of the right handed world. LOL

From my XDs to my 1911 slides and mag releases and even decocking Sigs I can get along fine using my index finger..... but I prefer slingshotting the slides over reaching for a release and I train both ways... ya never know.
 
100_7991.jpg

All three of the Walther's pictured have a slide release recessed in a notch on both sides of the bottom (& rear) of the trigger guard.

The full sized P99/AS at top center has separate levers, one for each side, as does the compact P99c/AS at lower right.

The new PPS (lower left) has a lever on each side of the trigger guard in the same recessed manner as the P99's, but press either side and both move.

I'm a lefty by the way..

Best Wishes,

J.Pomeroy
 
modifiedbrowning:

You are entirely correct, and my apology for butting in with bad information. I guess "old fart ititus" has stuck again.

I somehow had my brain thinking "mag release" when it should have been thinking "slide release" but hey "getting old isn't for sissy's" so I just plead for mercy when I go dumb.

As an aside I had a Bersa Thunder 9/UC until recently. It was a fine pistol (as is my Firestorm FS22) and I would recommend it without reservation. The BT9/UC was VERY accurate and a very good firearm.

As to a concern for an ambi slide release, I have never given that much thought. My preference in a "bedroom" self defense weapon is in fact my Walther P99/AS with 16+1 rounds of 115grain Cor-Bon HP's in it. My wife, bless her little heart has a Ruger Security-Six with 6 357mag hp's in it, and I just cannot envision a situation where I would be needing a reload in a home invasion type senario.

All I want my pistol or revolver to do anyway is gain me time to get to my 12ga. HiStandard Riot (pump) shotgun..

Again my apologies for being stupid.

Best Wishes,

J.Pomeroy
 
Either index finger or slingshot it for releasing the slide.
Sometimes I use my middle finger to release the mag. But I do use my thumb some too, since the XD has ambi mag release.

Worst part for me is locking the slide back. Having to use my weak hand to hold the gun and push the lil lock up took some getting used to.
If he practices with it, he'll get used to it and it wont matter if its a half lefty gun or righty gun.

It always feels a little awkward handling a new gun at a store or somewhere.

Matt
 
I'm with dzl hog. The issue is locking the slide back, not releasing it. What can I say? Seeing northpaws all around me having the convenience of using the thum on the hand around the grip, I was ecstatic to get my minifirestorm 9 mm. Yes, I had adapted to the right hand world by using the middle finger of my right hand as I pushed back the slide, but it really is nice to be able to lock back the slide with my thumb--and to drop the mag with my thumb as well.
 
army nurse:

I had a Bersa Thunder 9/UC and it was a very, very good pistol. IMO Bersa/Firestorms are underrated, under appreciated, UNDERPRICED, and totally under the radar of most American firearm buyers.

I don't know why it is, but Walther and Bersa/Firestrom have the absolute crappiest public relations department in the U.S. And both are imo very good weapons.

Best Wishes,

J.Pomeroy
 
Lefties have adapted very well in this Right-Handed world, my index finger does an excellent job on the slide release of my Cz75b and Witness. If I ever had a pistol with a left hand slide release, I wouldn't know what to do.
 
Thanks all

The advice about slingshotting and very small chance of an "emergency need" had already been given, I'm a firm believer.

But I don't want to pick the pistol for him, advising is going far enough. If ambi is what he wants and drives his purchase choice then good for him ... and possibly if that becomes typical (now that there are 2 makers doing it) possibly it will cause manufactures to stop ignoring 10% of the populace.

Can someone confirm the M&P has an ambi slide release, I really like that gun and would love to suggest it, but I was unaware that is available.

Crosscut, My friend actually was doing research on his own and found the p250 and was telling me about it today at church! Looks pretty slick and he REALLY liked a sig226 that he tried at a range.

Good call on the P7M8/13. I'll tell him about those, I have a generous friend that would likely loan him one for a session at the range.

So, the list I have currently is:
Sig p250
H&K squeezecockers
H&K p2000
H&K p30
Bursa Thunder's (I know very little about the bursa's, I'm heading there to see about them now)

Thinking other pistols with ambi controls (safety and/or mag release) include the cz85 and the M&P (waiting to see if the SR is ambi) and the walther p99 class(I have one of these, and love dropping mags with my trigger finger, but my son is hogging it at the matches lately ... :) ), XD's ... and I think a good number of others.

Thanks for all of the help!
 
Ideal southpaw gun, at least to this sinister 1911ista:

TRT1911L1-L-actual.gif
TRT1911L1-R-actual.gif

These do not yet exist beyond my own concepting, but they will. Sorry about the size-disparity, but Photobucket did something to that left-hand view, I don't know what...

Basically a standard 1911, but with the thumb-safety and ejection systems reversed from "standard" and a dual-plunger-tube arrangement.
 
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