I want to get a handgun for home defense. Being a left handed shooter some of the handguns I can purchase off the shelf are difficult to use. I am open to a revolver or semi auto. Caliber wise, I would like to stick with a 9mm. (Ammo is cheaper). I have looked a few of ruger's handguns and like them.
Left Handed Shooter
- Thread starter jdfdave
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fletcher
Member
If you find it difficult to use because of the safety/mag release, autos like the Springfield XD, S&W M&P, etc. are configured to allow for ambidextrous use, and are offerred in 9mm. Is there a particular style you would prefer (polymer, all-metal?).
Also, look here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=19959
Also, look here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=19959
My suggestion would be the M&P. It has built in ambi slide release and the mag release can be switched to the left side. I too am left handed and own a M&P. I have gotten so used to shooting in a right handed world, I just left the M&P set up for right so as not to confuse myself from my HD gun and my carry gun.
graywolfkayak
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- Feb 20, 2006
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- 20
I'm a lefty too, and after shooting and evaluating quite a few handguns I settled on the Glock 19. Minimal controls, and I don't use the slide release. Also, I use the middle finger on my left hand to release the magazine. I also have an older Taurus PT-908 (also 9mm) that has an ambidextrous safety/decocker lever. Good luck in your search!
Thanks for all the good info. Since I have a shotgun, and my wife has a colt .380, I can take my time and look at all the options. Money is not really an issue when it comes to our personal safety. BYW I have seen Academy advertising a S&W Sigma in 9mm or .40 caliber at a pretty good price. I have held one in my hand and it feels pretty good. But, I don't know much about it. Any thoughts?
tydephan
Member
P95 summed up my thoughts very nicely.
I'm a lefty that learned to shoot in a righty world.
I own several M&Ps. I tried swapping the mag release to a lefty setup and it didn't go well. It is now swapped back to the righty setup. The only left feature that I use is the slide stop.
On my M&P45, I also use the ambi-safety.
So...another vote for the M&P here if you need the ambi controls.
Do a search on the Sigma and you'll find that while most people do not like the heavy trigger, they are typically reliable weapons. For a few dollars more, though, I'd prefer the M&P.
I'm a lefty that learned to shoot in a righty world.
I own several M&Ps. I tried swapping the mag release to a lefty setup and it didn't go well. It is now swapped back to the righty setup. The only left feature that I use is the slide stop.
On my M&P45, I also use the ambi-safety.
So...another vote for the M&P here if you need the ambi controls.
jdf said:
Do a search on the Sigma and you'll find that while most people do not like the heavy trigger, they are typically reliable weapons. For a few dollars more, though, I'd prefer the M&P.
mainmech48
Member
You have many more LH-friendly models to choose from than we southpaws had even just a few years ago. Most of the Big Name outfits now supply at least an ambi thumb safetiy-something we used to have to go to the aftermarket and/or a good custom 'smith for.
When I bought my old Star M43 about 16 years ago it was about the only really compact factory production semiauto available that incorporated an ambi safety. That was a major reason that I bought it.
Now there are a host of DAO, SA and TDA options in several calibers in sizes from subcompacts to full 'service' and your choice of steel, polymer or alloy frames.
IMO, it's just as easy, if not more so, for a LHd'er to access the slide and mag release with the trigger finger as it is for most RHder's with the thumb. Part of that may come from all those years of having to adapt to what there was, but it's worked out that way for me.
The best I can offer is to take advantage of this "new" reality and choose what you find that fits your hand, style of carry and pocketbook best. The only "best" there is in how it works for you.
When I bought my old Star M43 about 16 years ago it was about the only really compact factory production semiauto available that incorporated an ambi safety. That was a major reason that I bought it.
Now there are a host of DAO, SA and TDA options in several calibers in sizes from subcompacts to full 'service' and your choice of steel, polymer or alloy frames.
IMO, it's just as easy, if not more so, for a LHd'er to access the slide and mag release with the trigger finger as it is for most RHder's with the thumb. Part of that may come from all those years of having to adapt to what there was, but it's worked out that way for me.
The best I can offer is to take advantage of this "new" reality and choose what you find that fits your hand, style of carry and pocketbook best. The only "best" there is in how it works for you.
BlindJustice
Member
My older daughter & son-in-law are both left handed. There's a good chance there first daughter will be LHer. My Dad and my sisters are LHers.
My Dad's brother was a LHer as well. After he passed his daughters are all
RHers, so I ended up inheriting a Savage 110 in 7MM Rem
Magnum with a Bushnell 4X x32 Scope
It's a LH Action - I am righthanded.
I have a nephew who is an active hunter - it will keep it in the family and he
can figure it out.
Pistols with Ambi controls - I think some of the CZ 75 family
have an ambi safety but the CZ 85 has an Ambi safety and
Ambi slide release. I have found my CZ 75B to be reliable,
accurate good features, and quality - great value for the $$$.
Randall
My Dad's brother was a LHer as well. After he passed his daughters are all
RHers, so I ended up inheriting a Savage 110 in 7MM Rem
Magnum with a Bushnell 4X x32 Scope
It's a LH Action - I am righthanded.
I have a nephew who is an active hunter - it will keep it in the family and he
can figure it out.
Pistols with Ambi controls - I think some of the CZ 75 family
have an ambi safety but the CZ 85 has an Ambi safety and
Ambi slide release. I have found my CZ 75B to be reliable,
accurate good features, and quality - great value for the $$$.
Randall
RustyShackelford
member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2006
- Messages
- 4,018
Charter Arms .38spl "lefty" model..
Hi
As a left handed American I understand your concerns,
.
www.gunsamerica.com sells a left handed Charter Arms DA/SA revolver in .38spl. It looks
but does work for left handers.
For semi-autos see the Bersa models or if you have the $$$, check into the super great HK P-2000/P-30 series. They are ambi and highly rated!
Many top pistols have ambi features(safety, slide release, mag release, etc) but the issue is quality. Check around and see what meets your requirements. The major brands; Walther, Ruger, Taurus, HK, SIG Sauer, S&W, etc are best...
Hi
As a left handed American I understand your concerns,
.www.gunsamerica.com sells a left handed Charter Arms DA/SA revolver in .38spl. It looks
but does work for left handers. For semi-autos see the Bersa models or if you have the $$$, check into the super great HK P-2000/P-30 series. They are ambi and highly rated!
Many top pistols have ambi features(safety, slide release, mag release, etc) but the issue is quality. Check around and see what meets your requirements. The major brands; Walther, Ruger, Taurus, HK, SIG Sauer, S&W, etc are best...
Goblin
Member
Are you also left eye dominant??? That can a big diff!!
GLOCK45GUY
Member
I'm left handed and the only ambi control I need to operate a hand gun is the thumb safety if equipped.
I use my trigger finger to release the slide, and the middle finger to release the mag catch.
I have to switch the gun to my right hand in order to manually lock the slide back, but why would I be doing that in a defensive situation?
I use my trigger finger to release the slide, and the middle finger to release the mag catch.
I have to switch the gun to my right hand in order to manually lock the slide back, but why would I be doing that in a defensive situation?
Yellowfin
Member
HK P7 is fantastic. It's fantastically easy to use, compact, accurate, and easy to carry if you feel inclined to use it additionally for daily carry later on.
USMCDK
Member
I am with you yellow... I have an HK USP45 and I love the controls on that baby, it's geared toward the right hander but is easily used by a lefty. I could switch the safety over and slide catch/release but I have become comfortable with it the way she is. I was begining to wonder if anyone was going to mention an H&K product.
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- Dec 19, 2002
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- 22,510
Left hand friendly guns? With exception of pistols that have a right thumb safety, almost all pistols are left hand friendly. I'm a southpaw and I have a Sig P220. I tried reversing the magazine release, but found I like it better when set up for the right thumb. I use one of my fingers (and don't have to shift my thumb) to release the magazine. There's no manually operated safety to speak of and as for slide release, I slingshot it with the non-dominant hand. Want to hear another advantage a southpaw has over any righthander? Failure Drill.
In a failure drill, you generally execute tap, rack, ready. With the rack, you rotate the gun such that the ejection port is facing down. Now, for a right hander, to rotate it that way they have to turn it clockwise, which is unnatural for the right handed person. So, most righties turn it counter clockwise. This works, but isn't optimal as the ejection port isn't 180 degrees reversed and facing the earth. For a southpaw, you automatically rotate it counter clockwise, and it's very natural for you. The ejection port is facing the ground and you're maximizing gravity in your favor.
Glocks work well for southpaws as do Rugers (Rugers tend to have ambidextrious safetys) and the newer S&W (the old 645 had only a right thumb safety and that's why I picked the Sig P220 over the S&W).
Wanna know something else about virtually any new pistol? It's a matter of practice to familiarize yourself with the gun. Practice, practice, practice. Being a southpaw isn't a disadvantage and when I was a young-one, I was trained DA shooting with a revolver (yep, I'm dating myself). I was in DA shooting (natural point) and my revolver would get so hot it was hard to hold when reloading.
In a failure drill, you generally execute tap, rack, ready. With the rack, you rotate the gun such that the ejection port is facing down. Now, for a right hander, to rotate it that way they have to turn it clockwise, which is unnatural for the right handed person. So, most righties turn it counter clockwise. This works, but isn't optimal as the ejection port isn't 180 degrees reversed and facing the earth. For a southpaw, you automatically rotate it counter clockwise, and it's very natural for you. The ejection port is facing the ground and you're maximizing gravity in your favor.
Glocks work well for southpaws as do Rugers (Rugers tend to have ambidextrious safetys) and the newer S&W (the old 645 had only a right thumb safety and that's why I picked the Sig P220 over the S&W).
Wanna know something else about virtually any new pistol? It's a matter of practice to familiarize yourself with the gun. Practice, practice, practice. Being a southpaw isn't a disadvantage and when I was a young-one, I was trained DA shooting with a revolver (yep, I'm dating myself). I was in DA shooting (natural point) and my revolver would get so hot it was hard to hold when reloading.
USMCDK
Member
damn you're old 4v50 Gary LoL 
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