Left handed 1911 owners

[mustangLX92]

These questions are for left handed 1911 owners. I was just wondering how these guns work for you guys? How easy is it to move the mag release and slide stop (did you even move them)? Any brass in the face?
Any other problems?

Thanks

 

[cratz2]

I'm right handed but I've shot 1911s left handed from left handed holsters because I have had WAY too much time on my hands.

I don't use the slide stop but think that would take some getting used to.

As for the magazine release, many lefties find it easier and quicker to use than right handers, esp on larger guns such as the Para 14/45. Not everyones right thumb will easily reach it with enough authority to drop the mag, but every left handed persons first knuckle of their middle finger should be able to drop it.

Don't recall a problem with brass either.

 

[tech]

I am a lefty and find the controls easyer to use. Second finger for mag release and trigger finger for the slide.

Mike

 

[BenW]

I recommend you do a search here as this has been discussed a lot in the past. As a lefty, one of the reasons I have more 1911s than anything else is because I find them so easy to use left handed. All I do with any of mine is buy them with, or install an ambi safety.

 

[George S.]

I'm a leftie and I find my SA 1911 Loaded is very easy to handle. It came with an ambi safety and although the right-side lever is thinner than the left side, it works just fine.

I release the slide lock with my trigger finger and also the mag release. I really would like a right-side mag release but as I don't do any competition shooting with it, it's not a big issue.

Never had any issues with brass hitting me directly from the ejector port. On occasion I will get a case bouncing around me when I am shooting from a rest and have a spotting scope on the bench to my right.

 

[MyRoad]

I agree with the others, the controls are easy to use with your left trigger finger. The only thing I would mention is be aware that ambi-safeties that are primarily used by lefties will most likely be the first part on your gun to fail you. The the side of the safety that a lefty uses is attached to the main safety, and that point of attachment can weaken over time. I've personally had, and read many accounts of folks with Kimbers who've had the ambi-safety break off. Get's a lot of people talking about (poorly made) MIM parts etc.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Lefty here too.

Just got a Kimber Pro Carry about 3 weeks ago and its easy to function for a lefty.

Only thing I did so far was put a Wilson Combat ambi safety on it since it didnt have one previous.

Also am gonna throw an extended slide release on it in the near future to help with slide release.

 

[clubsoda22]

I am a lefty and find the controls easyer to use. Second finger for mag release and trigger finger for the slide.

Yep, that's what i do on my 1911 and most other guns.

 

[BenW]

be aware that ambi-safeties that are primarily used by lefties will most likely be the first part on your gun to fail you.

Good point. I've always noticed that "weakness" and generally try to click off the safety from the left side when I'm just plinking. I haven't had a failure yet, but can definitely feel wiggle on the ambis in a couple of my older guns with lots of rounds through them. Of course those were "do it yourself installs" so eventual failure might get blamed on the installer.

 

[Graystar]

I use my middle finger for the mag release and I slingshot the slide closed. I don't bother with manual "safeties" so that's not a problem for me.

 

[Third_Rail]

I know a man who made a custom 1911 from a receiver, he made it a southpaw gun. Quite interesting, actually.

 

[MyRoad]

I know a man who made a custom 1911 from a receiver, he made it a southpaw gun. Quite interesting, actually.

I always keep an eye out for that, I've often wondered how one might make a single-sided lefty safety that was a single solid piece. Don't know enough about it myself to know how it would be done, or why, if that's the case, it can't be done.

 

[Third_Rail]

He milled his own slide and internals except the barrel, which he just polished to fit. The receiver was bought at an auction, I don't remember the brand.

 

[rock jock]

Only problem I have had is with a two-handed grip my right thumb sometimes hits the slide stop pin that sticks out on the right side of the frame during recoil causing the gun to jam. This is an officers model, BTW.

 

[tc300mag1]

Other than a Ambi safty i havent done anything to mine use middle finger to release mag and dont use slide stop for reloading i just slingshoot the slide.

No brass in the head or anyother odd things.

 

[Treylis]

I'm ambidextrous, tending towards right-handed when I shoot, but I still practice about 20% of the time with my left hand. I have a SA 1911 and with the ambi safety, everything works out just fine. Wonderful design for either hand.

 

[geekWithA.45]

As long as you've got the ambi-safety, the rest works out just fine.

Without the ambi-safety...well......urgh.

 

[admar2]

I'm a lefty and find 1911's one of the easier pistols to use if it has a ambi-safety. I find it much easier to use the mag release, or the slide release for that matter.

 

[Liberty Ship]

No problem operating the slide release or the mag release.

Here are the problems I've had that lead me to go to a Glock instead:

Sometimes my trigger finger would hit the slide release when shooting, locking the slide back even though there were still rounds in the mag.

You have to have an ambi safety. In order for the ambi safety to work it must be somewhat easier to disengage than the simple right handed safety. This keeps the shearing tension down on the transfer bar. On numerous occaisions when carrying cocked and locked, I would find that during the course of the day the safety would get knocked into "off" position. That bothered me.

So I switched to Glocks which have no safeties to get knocked off. For some reason, that made me feel better because at least they were performing as designed. And I haven't had the problem of accidently locking the slide back with the Glocks.

My beloved Government model is in a place of honor ready to jump into the fray if called upon.

 

[mustangLX92]

Thanks for all the help guys. I should be picking up my SA 1911 next week.

 

[arinvolvo]

I dont have 1911's, but i am a lefty...i think "right handed" guns are easier to operate being a lefty...all controls reached with index and middle fingers.

 

[MyRoad]

I dont have 1911's, but i am a lefty...i think "right handed" guns are easier to operate being a lefty...all controls reached with index and middle fingers.

I mostly agree, except with SIGs. I find it difficult to use the decocker, and difficult to release the slide on my P220ST with my trigger finger. I love SIGs, but as a lefty they give me more problems than others do. And for my GSR, SIG does not make (i.e. has not sourced yet) an ambi-safety. I know, it's a 1911 and any ambi will fit, but I'd really rather send the gun to SIG for this then send it out to some other shop. Oh well.

 

[michiganfan]

I am left handed and agree. Get the ambi safety or have one installed.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I don't use the slide stop & prefer to rack the slide & release it to close the action.

Regarding the magazine release, trigger finger does that (just like the Sig P220).

Finally, a must have is an ambidextrious safety. That's the one concession I make for myself when using a 1911 type firearm.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

I like my 1911s and I'm a lefty, no problems with the mag release just use your trigger finger to activate it, same with the slide stop or just pull back on the slide. The only thing you really need is an ambi safty.