What ambidextrous 9mm carbines are on the market?

[Skribs]

I shoot lefty, and most weapons are designed for right-handed shooters. What options are there on the market where the mag release, safety, bolt release, and charging handle are ambidextrous (or can be made ambidextrous). "Reversible" isn't good enough, I want to be able to fire the weapon right handed at the range and then pass it to my friend who is firing left-handed.

The only option I'm seeing thus far is the Kel Tek Sub 2000. Given the mixed reviews that company has received, I would like to know if there are any other options available.

Other features I'm looking for include the ability to easily attach RDS and flashlight, as well as a magazine that holds at least 30 rounds.

I am not a fan of the AR-15 conversions; I do not like the big block attached to the magazine to make them fit in the magwell designed for rifle cartridges for a multitude of reasons.

On the same lines: what parts on the Just Right Carbine are interchangeable with aftermarket AR-15 parts? Would I be able to buy ambi AR-15 controls for a JRC?

 

[me26245]

the only weapon type that I can think of that might be close would be an HK or one of it's clones.

 

[Awsomepossum]

Calico 9mm
others that don't come to mind

 

[Skribs]

The charging handle appears to favor righties on the calico.

 

[Speedo66]

Mixed reviews on the Kel-teK? Well here's one: works great, fires every time i pull the trigger.

I'm lefty, and depending on the ammo, I will sometimes get some hot particles on my face. The Russian stuff seems to be the dirtiest, and the worst for the particles.

If you can find and afford one at current prices, match the mag version to your favorite pistol and buy it.

 

[Awsomepossum]

The charging handle appears to favor righties on the calico

You got 50 or 100 rounds, before you need to worry about the bolt.
Also being left handed, I have never had trouble with a Marlin camp 9, Calico, or Ar-15. You should look into a 9mm Ar-15 with the magpul bad lever. On a side note how about a lever action 357?

 

[Skribs]

I was thinking Glock because of those purdy 33-round magazines.

The dearth of the alternatives suggested so far highlights the large problem for lefties in a right-hand dominant market.

 

[Walkalong]

Beretta CX4 Storm.

This light and compact gun also features a unique patented design that allows the user to reverse ejection and extraction with no special tools or additional parts. Combined with the reversible safety and magazine buttons, the Cx4 is the ideal solution for lefthanded shooters.

http://www.berettausa.com/products/cx4-storm/

 

[Skribs]

"Reversible" isn't good enough, I want to be able to fire the weapon right handed at the range and then pass it to my friend who is firing left-handed.

From my OP.

This light and compact gun also features a unique patented design that allows the user to reverse ejection and extraction with no special tools or additional parts. Combined with the reversible safety and magazine buttons, the Cx4 is the ideal solution for lefthanded shooters.

This is my problem with most of the gun manufacturers. They're like "we'll make it so you [me, a left-handed individual] and your right handed friend can go to the range with this weapon. If you want to use it and hand it off to your friend, you will first need to take the gun half-way apart and swap around this, that, and that other thing in order for your friend to use it just like you would."

I don't understand it. I think that especially on rifles it would be easier to just design an ambidextrous component than it would be to make sure it is user-reversible on most components.

 

[crazysccrmd]

I think it's easier for most companies to design a right handed rifle with the possibility of being changed to a left hand configuration. I don't know the numbers, but I would guess 90% of shooters are right handed, so the market for left handed stuff is pretty small by comparison.

 

[Skribs]

While that is true, Crazy, this is what I'm thinking. Take a rifle with reversible charging handle as an example. They design it so that you can remove a part and plug it in somewhere else, and wa-la it's left-handed! Wouldn't it be simpler to just install the handle on both sides and call it ambidextrous? I think it takes longer to figure out how to make it user-friendly to reverse it than it would to simply place the control on both sides.

 

[Walkalong]

"Reversible" isn't good enough,

Missed that. Hmm, a tall order.

 

[jmorris]

A friend of mine is a lefty. His favorite rifle to shoot is my Marlin camp 9.

If I am shooting 9mm out of a rifle these days it is generally out of an AR 15.

 

[Skribs]

Awesome, somehow I missed your post earlier.

Good point regarding frequency of manual operation on the Calico. Regarding the Marlin, I prefer buying new. AR-15s converted to 9mm require a big block attached to it to help it fit in a 5.56 magwell and just bugs me - its wasted space. Lever-action wouldn't fit the bill. I already have a pump shotty which I would prefer over a lever action .357.

 

[Walkalong]

AR-15s converted to 9mm require a big block attached to it to help it fit in a 5.56 magwell and just bugs me

They do make lowers machined to accept 9MM mags with no block (RRA and maybe another), but they are not any shorter overall through that area.

 

[Skribs]

Thats good info walkalong, thanks!

 

[jmorris]

AR-15s converted to 9mm require a big block attached to it to help it fit in a 5.56 magwell

Mine is a part that stays in the lower and is tapered inside, so the end result is a mag well for the 9mm mags.

 

[Skribs]

What make is yours, Morris?

 

[jmorris]

It came from model1sales not sure who makes it. Pm me your email add and I can send you some photos of it.