Semi for Lefties?

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Tbu61

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Everett, WA
I have a lady friend that happens to be a Southpaw.

Looking for advice/experience on 9MM, 40S&W, or .45ACP Left-hand friendly concealable Autos for CCW. Mid-size frame is a plus.

She is USMC and has experience with firearms, recoil is not a primary concern.

Ambidextrous suggestions are also very welcome.

tbu61
 
I am a lefty my suggestion is HK P2000 or P2000sk either 9mm or 40 whichever she prefers. Both have left hand everything and a recoil reduction system, which is real nice. Get the LEM trigger with Night sights.
 
+1 for the P2000 or SK. My wife (a lefty) was VERY pleased to see a manuf. make a truly ambi gun! I have the V3 (DA/SA) in 9mm and like it quite a bit.
 
I'm a lefty myself (and former USMC, too) and my favorite pistol is a 1911 with ambidextrous safety. It's a Para LDA and I had to have the ambi safety retrofitted, but many fine 1911s come so equipped from the factory. I find it more natural to work the mag release with my index finger than my thumb, so that control was never a problem.

I used to have a 9mm P99, it has an ambi mag release, no affirmative safety and is a fine gun; I just found it uncomfortable for concealed carry because of the width. And, of course, Glocks are pretty control neutral, too.
 
HK P7 is a pretty good choice for lefties; pay a bit up front for quite a bit of shooting pleasure down the road. The PSP's, with their heel mag release are especially left-hand friendly.
 
Southpaw friendly guns would include the old Walther P38, P1,P4 and the Walther P5 series guns all eject to the left. The heel release is easy for lefties. The Walther P88 and the compact had ambi safeties. Unfortunately all are out of production but plenty of surplus P1s are out there at very reasonable prices right now. The Walther P99 series, Beretta 92, and many others have ambi safeties as well.
 
I carry and shoot a Springfield Loaded 1911 that has an with ambi safety. It is full size so may be a little larger than what you're (she's) looking for. On the other hand the 1911 is a slim profile. Springfield also makes a Loaded champion which is a 4 inch version and weighs in at 28 or 30 oz, compared to 38 for the full size.

I use my trigger finger for the mag release with no problem, (and I'm not overly coordinated so this should be no problem for a lady)
 
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I am a lefty.

Although I have no problem operating weapons set up for a righty, I've found that the Smith and Wesson M&P (available in full size and/or compact) both are very ambi-friendly. I have a fulll size 9mm and love it. Has an ambi slide release and swappable mag release. I left the mag release on mine set up for a righty, as I have grown accustomed to using my middle finger on my left hand to release the mag very naturally.

The M&P is at a very good price point right now in many places. They were running $399 in my location until about a week ago. Fantastic value.

They are only available in 9 and 40 right now (.357sig may also be out in the full size models). The 45 full size is supposedly shipping currently and expected to hit shelves at any time.

Just a thought. Good luck to you and your friend.
 
Lefty here also.

+1 m&p

I like the following for their lefty friendly features.
Beretta 92 or Taurus PT92
HiPower
Steyr M1a
XD
Glock
S&W 6900 series
1911 with ambi safety is great choice.
 
The XD lineup. No ambi slide release, but most use slingshot anyway. Ambi mag release though!
 
There are a number of good quality handgun models out there with lefties in mind, all of the suggestions so far are great, but keep in mind that these are few and far between, and she should at least try opperating handguns that don't fall into the super lefty category. I mean try Glocks, Sigs, Hk's or anything except models with single sided thumb safeties. Here is where the CZ 85 comes into play perfectly compared to the 75 model. A 1911 or BHP has to have an ambi, no questions asked for her. My index finger works great for the slide stop, mag release, decocker, etc. I just adapted to the designs like all other left handed people.
 
There aren't alot of pistols out there these days that, IMO, can't be used fairly effectively by a lefty with the inclusion of an ambidextrous safety (on certain models). Personally I find the 1911's controls very easy to use as a southpaw, and most modern polymer framed pistols are virtually guaranteed to be useable by lefties. The only major brand I have issues with is SIG: their rearward positioning of the slide release makes it more or less impossible for me to manipulate without using my right hand (this is also a bit of a problem on a few other short semi-autos).
 
Let's see, southpaw friendly guns I have shot and would endorse:

(Full Sized)
Springfield Armory XD45 Compact (w/ full length mag and sleeve)
FN High Power Mark 3
RIA 1911 with ambi safety
CZ-85B

(Carry friendly)
Springfield Armory XD45 Compact (w/ compact mag)
Kahr K9
Browning BDM
CZ-82
FM M95 Detective

(Pocket Pistol)
Kahr PM9

Tex
 
She's got experience with Beretta M9s...

Reverse the magazine release IF she so desires, and she's all set to go. She'll already have an ambi safety, left-handed magazine release, and doesn't need the slide release to be set-up for left handed operation (she should be trained to slingshot the slide anyways).
 
As a lefty, I find Sig and Glock easy to use. I hit the mag catch (both) and decocker (sig) with my trigger finger, and slingshot the slide, no problem.

In fact I actually consider my methods as a lefty to be more universally effective than a right hander using the controls as intended.
 
Beretta 92, Glock 30, and SA 1911 no ambi(haven't put one on yet) work well for me. I have just gotten used to using my trigger finger to flip the thumb safety as i draw it. Doesn't really cause a delay it getting on target. By the way anyone have a Highly polished Stainless Ambisafety for a SA 1911A1???Just thought I would throw that in also.:neener: (seriously though)
 
Check out the Ruger P-series, available in 9mm, .40, & .45 cals. Ambidextrous safety/decock, ambi mag release, right side casing discharge. They are on the large side though, so they may not be an option.
 
are there any guns that spits out to the left? (if they can make car with steering wheel on the right... surely it's easy with a gun!)
 
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