Amidextrous 40 S&W suggestions?

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range_rider13

range_rider13

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Gentlemen,
I'm new to this forum so please bear with me. I am left-handed and am looking for a CCW in 40 S&W which is ambidextrous. I am somewhat familiar with the H & K USP Compact.

I have been a wheel man all of my life and can shoot my 6" barrel Model 29 with pretty good proficiency which allows me to shoot my 6" Python with great proficiency.

Is a compact 40 too much to handle? Is the recoil less than the Model 29? I do plan on going to the local range and renting any semi-autos mentioned to try them out.

Thank you!
 
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Welcome to THR! There is a wealth of knowledge here, take advantage of it & enjoy yourself while you're at it ;)

As for an ambi 40 S&W. My 1st though was of the HK P2000 or maybe even a USP/USPc 40 & its lefty varient.
The recoil should be less than a 44 magnum, so you should have nothing to really worry about!
C ya on the boards!
 
Glocks are all lefty friendly,S&W 4013 etc with ambi safety works well, for me.
But being lefty in the righty world, we learn to work around it.:rolleyes:
 
Im a righty but I believe that the HK P2000 is considered to be very ambidextrous. HK style mag release, slide release on both sides, and the de-cocker is on the back of the slide. I thought it would be wierd, but when I fired the gun, it worked EXTREMELY well. They also have the P2000SK sub compact model.
 
S&W M&P is 100% ambidextrous. The slide release is on both sides and the mag release is relersable in 2 minutes. The 3 sizes of palm swells with fit your hand no matter what.
 
+1 for S&W M&P, I just bought one and I love it! I'm right handed but it would be the perfect handgun for a lefty. Like DrDremel said above, the slide release is located on the left and right side, the mag release is easily changable and several grip options, also if you like the design of the USP then you will probably like the M&P also. That would be my pick if I were a lefty:D
 
I'm a lefty too, and I have carried a Glock 19, SW99, P99, and a 1911; in 9mm, 9mm again, .40SW, and .45ACP.

The Glock has no affirmative safety, the mag release is easily operated by the left index or middle finger.

The SW99 and P99 are practically the same gun. They are available in a couple of different action types; mine were traditional DA/SA with a decocker. The mag release is built into the aft end of the trigger guard and can be operated with either hand.

My 1911 has had an ambidextrous safety installed. The mag release is in about the same position as the Glock's and I work it the same way.

The slide release on all these guns is on the left side of the frame.

Recoil on the .40 is brisk compared to a 9mm or .38 but not at all difficult to manage, especially for someone used to shooting a Model 29. Renting and test firing your final candidates is a sound idea.
 
+1 on the .40 M&P Compact. Easily sets up for a southpaw. Has 3 various sized grip palm swells, mag release is reversible, etc. Also one great shooting little gun and well made. I also have a 6(29) and the .40 M&P recoil is nothing in comparison . . . maybe like a .44 special load.
 
Beretta 96

My friend is a lefty and shoots a 92FS great. He loves it. I would think that a 96 (it is the same size) would be the same.
 
Springfield XD. You can get it all the way from a subcompact to a not-so-compact and it has an ambidexterous mag release :)
 
Might help if you could give us more info on the desired mode of CCW and size/weight considerations.

That said I find the Kahrs are very concealable small CCW. For a pocket pistol I'd suggest one of the Kahr PM40s or a S&W 642 (I know it's a wheelgun, but a very nice pocket pistol when equipped with CT Lasergrips). I've got a K9 that I've been very happy with as well as a 642.

For a polymer pistol I'd look at one of the XD40 variants. With no external safety other than a grip safety it will translate easily for someone used to double action revolvers. They come in four sizes/barrel lengths allowing you to choose what fits you. I have a XD45 compact and once again I'm very happy with it.

For a full-sized steel frame pistol I'm a big fan of the CZ 75 family. I have a CZ85B which is ambidextrous, accurate, reliable and fun. CZ offers the CZ75B in .40 which allows you the option of carrying either single or double action.

Tex
 
more info on the desired mode of CCW

Texfire,

I live in San Antonio but spend most of my time down on our ranch about halfway between here and Eagle Pass as well as on other ranches in the general area. I notice you're from Austin, so you are probably familiar with the area I'm talking about. Due to the location of the ranches, we have quite a few illegal aliens passing through at certain times of the year. Most are decent folks but a few aren't, and there have also been reports of MS13 gang members passing through the area.

I always have a rifle in the pick-up with me and usually one of my wheelguns under the seat, but would like to have a CCW on me just in case. It needs to be light and not too bulky(and left hand friendly) because I will be doing various chores on the ranches pertaining to wildlife management, which at times does include physical labor. I am usually working by myself except during hunting season when I'm guiding whitetail deer hunters.

Thank you and everyone else for responding.
 
the only lefty 40 is the HK P2000. left handed mag release and slide release.
of course the empties still go to the right ;)
 
If I'm not mistaken I think the S & W Model 410 is a ambidextrious 40. I was looking @ one last week in the local gun shop. From what I understand ccw is one of the reasons S & W makes this model...this is what I am being told @ the gun shop. There are almost no aftermarket parts available for that model either...I hope this helps!
 
welcome to THR.
As for an ambi 40 S&W. My 1st though was of the HK P2000 or maybe even a USP/USPc 40 & its lefty varient.
Click to expand...
once again 10-ring gives excellent advice!:)
i agree totally and after shooting with my new range budy i can tell that his usp works out great for him btw he is a lefty!
and after shooting his usp i can tell you that the recoil isn't an issue as a matter of fact i was suprised at how smooth the whole gun was, recoils was never an issue.
 
Springfield XDs have ambidextrous magazine catch. The button works from both the right and the left side, no need to reverse it. The slide catch is not, however, ambidextrous.
 
Range Rider, as far as I know, in Texas open carry is legal on privately owned property with permission of the landowner. Not sure if this applies to your situation, and if there is any question I'd suggest getting legal advice before doing so.

For light, lefty friendly and not too bulky I'd suggest you look at one of the various pre-cocked striker-fired action polymer frame pistols. They generally offer lowered weight due to the polymer frame, high capacity magazines, and a consistent action that has the same pull every time much like the revolvers you're used to. You do lose double strike capability with the various striker actions, but get a lighter pull than a true double action. Variants include the Springfield XD line, Glock's line, and Kahr's polymer frame line. Since none of these have an external manual safety the manual of arms will be very similar to a revolver. As far as which one would be best for you the only way to tell is go and hold some, rent them and see how they shoot for you, and see which one is the best fit.

One additional complication is Texas weather. As much as we'd like to dress around our carry, sometimes we have to carry around our dress during the summer months. Having several modes of carry gives you flexibility to fit your level of expected activity and dress.

Tex
 
lee n. field said:
Springfield XDs have ambidextrous magazine catch. The button works from both the right and the left side, no need to reverse it. The slide catch is not, however, ambidextrous.
Click to expand...

There are very few pistols that have an ambi-slide release, my CZ85B being the only one that springs to mind. I haven't found this to be a problem, as a lefty I've learned to slingshot the slide, this works on every gun and makes my manual of arms the same for all my guns, making for me the lack of an ambi release irrelevant. As far as mag release, I operate it with my index finger, so once again no big deal if it's ambi or not.

The only deal breaker for me is a safety or decocker that can only be operated on the left side of the gun. For this I stick with guns with ambi safeties, double action only actions, or like I did with my RIA 1911 add an aftermarket ambi safety.
 
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