Why Lefties Are At War With Gun Manufaturers

Status
Not open for further replies.
Several manufacturers of ARs now cater to the southpaw community. I built a lefty AR from DPMS many years ago.

Randall and then MS Safarii Arms (under Olympic) built left handed 1911s. So did Rocky Mountain Arms which ceased production many years ago.

BTW, I carried a Ruger Security Six as a duty weapon for years. I'd keep the gun in the left hand, pop the cylinder release with the right and then dump the empties with the left. The speedloader was grabbed by the right hand which then loaded the cylinder. After closing the cylinder with the left hand, the left hand would regrip the gun and I could pour another six downrange. I transitioned to a Sig P220 which was left hand friendly. The decocker was operated by the left index finger. I tried switch the magazine release for the left thumb but like using the index finger better.
 
7. Need I mention "Bullpup"?
Click to expand...

How about the FN PS90? It's a very Ambi bullpup. Safety can be engaged from either LH or RH with your trigger finger, ejects on the bottom, action levers on both sides, mag release on both sides.

I am right handed, can shoot fairly well with my LH in either rifles or pistols. Tried to do a LH course of fire with a Steyr AUG, not a good idea -- .224 crescent on my lip from the shell ejecting. AUGs can be configured for left or right eject with a different bolt, but the safety and operating lever are not switchable.
Another one that is almost Ambi is the Beretta CX4 Storm Carbine. Ejection, mag release and charging handle can be switched L or R. So, maybe it is truly Ambi? I'm going to have to pull it out of the safe and look at it again. I can't remember the safety though.

EM
 
Last edited:
Actually, the original title of this thread doesn't quite have it right.
A better title would be something like: "Why Gun Manufacturers Are Ignoring Lefties", etc.
A previous post mentioned the fact the left-handed people are the only "unprotected minorities" left out of the entire American public.
That's a shame, because we've got money to spend, if only someone would notice that we exist.
Back in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's, various firearms manufacturers produced several models of .22 rimfire bolt-action rifles for lefthanded shooters. The last one went out of production before most of us here were even born.
What happened? Aren't there more lefthanded shooters nowdays?
Doesn't it make good business sense to court and corner this market?
I'd bet that an aggressive marketing campaign would have southpaw shooters lining up at the door before the first gun even left the factory.
 
I'd bet that an aggressive marketing campaign would have southpaw shooters lining up at the door before the first gun even left the factory.
Click to expand...
Do all the lefties here own a Charter Arms Southpaw and one of the Stag Arms left handed ARs? If not, I suspect "lining up at the door" might be a bit of an exaggeration.
 
I can't speak for other lefties, but I've already got a "right-handed" Charter Arms Undercover 2" revolver, and I'm not too worried about "lefty-friendly" reloading in an emergency. If I couldn't hit my "up close and personal" attacker with the first cylinder full of rounds, then maybe I deserve to die.
Also, I've never been interested in an AR, or any other "black rifle".
Sorry!
On the other hand, I've been adapting myself to right-handed "sporting" rifles and shotguns all my life.
Just once, before I get too damned old, I'd like to own a rifle or shotgun especially built for a lefthanded shooter.
The Savage 110CL is as close as I've ever come in forty years. And even that was only available in three calibers back then. :fire:
 
Jorg said:
Do all the lefties here own a Charter Arms Southpaw and one of the Stag Arms left handed ARs? If not, I suspect "lining up at the door" might be a bit of an exaggeration.
Click to expand...
As I said in my earlier post. Gun companies don't make many left handed guns because lefties don't buy them. They are brainwashed by a right handed world.

And yes, I do have both a Charter Arms "Southpaw", and a leftie Stag. In additon to left handed rifles, shotguns, even a left handed Hawken. But I'm likely one of the few lefties who has worked to amass left handed guns. And, finding them is work.
 
Back in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's, various firearms manufacturers produced several models of .22 rimfire bolt-action rifles for lefthanded shooters.
Click to expand...

Mossberg made left hand versions of several bolt action .22 models. i own numerous left hand guns including a Mossberg .22 and a Mathieu that was made for Weatherby in the early 50s. My son has a left hand Randall model 1911 clone.
 
An issue is the willingness/necessity of lefthanders to adapt which is the reality of the predominant right hand world. So from day one to when we pass from this place it’s adapt-adapt-adapt. The market share is simply diluted by this necessity to adapt. We have meant the enemy and they are us applies.
 
A few notes from a fellow lefty;

I use my middle finger to hit the mag release in handguns, I've got a few ambidextrous ones but it's just natural at this point to use my middle finger.

I reach over with my shooting hand to work the bolt on rifles, not the best approach but again, it's natural so it doesn't bother me.

My AR is a lefty, I'm glad there's an option for that.

My 1911 has an ambidextrous aftermarket safety.

The one thing that is a bit of a challenge is the revolvers, I'm fine with them as is but I think if I wanted to get good with them I would want a lefty because I think speed reloading would be a bit difficult.

My biggest issue is seeing a gun come in that I would otherwise like/buy that has a right handed thumb hole stock. Those are very uncomfortable and makes me have to put the gun down and walk away :(
 
I am a south paw who adapded a long LOOOng time ago starting when I was 8 years old with my Daisy red rider BB gun on Christmas day:D then a Crossman pump after that,
the only fire arm I own that is ambidextrous is my Tarus PT92 all others are right handed it is really no big deal to me it is what I got used to and just took it to be as normal. I shoot just as good if not better than the average RH shooter.

Adapt, Overcome
 
Do all the lefties here own a Charter Arms Southpaw and one of the Stag Arms left handed ARs? If not, I suspect "lining up at the door" might be a bit of an exaggeration.
Click to expand...

As I've mentioned somewhat earlier, I'm not looking for LH models of current production weapons. I'm looking for weapons with ambidextrous controls. I'm fine with a rifle ejecting to the right, so long as it ejects right instead of back-right. The only issues for me are some manually-operated firearms (like most revolvers or a bolt-action), but I have no real need for those and don't use 'em anyway. A bullpup would give me trouble, but I don't plan on owning one. The FN bullpups (PS90 and FS2000) look like they would be the way to go if I desired one.

I understand that reversing the entire weapon would be an aweful lot of money to design a product for 20% of the people. I also believe that making the controls on a semi-automatic (which is pretty much the best option for my purposes anyway) can easily be made ambidextrous should the manufacturer want to. Instead of catering to 80% of the population, they cater to 100%.

The more modular platforms, however, give people the option of whether they want one-sided or ambidextrous controls.
 
GEM said:
My friends call me a Leftist when I shoot and the SO has to move to the other side. Haha!

I will protest too many right hand friendly stages at matches. I'm suing!

I did go to a match that had a mystery gun - that you retrieved from a case. It was a left handed Stag AR - that threw folks for a bit. Been tempted to get one.
Click to expand...

I have never seen one either. I wonder what they cost compared with standard RH models?
That would throw some shooters, and would be a nice twist on a show like Top Shot.
 
Do all the lefties here own a Charter Arms Southpaw and one of the Stag Arms left handed ARs? If not, I suspect "lining up at the door" might be a bit of an exaggeration.
Click to expand...

I've got a left handed Stag, a leftie Charter undercoverette, and four left handed bolt actions. I'm also partial to pump 22's and lever-actions.

I've got a whole bunch of right-handed bolts and antiques as well. But I prefer lefties when I can get them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
a couple of lefty AR questions, need opinions
Replies
23
Views
2K
ArchStanton
A
D
  • Locked
Any issues with lefties shooting Browning BAR
Replies
3
Views
2K
Abel
A
T
  • Locked
Revolvers for lefties
2
Replies
43
Views
6K
urbaneruralite
U
StrikeFire83
  • Locked
Lefties: Do you think IWI will ever release a "Tavor 6" ?
Replies
4
Views
474
StrikeFire83
StrikeFire83
F
  • Locked
Lefty Lever Gun
Replies
2
Views
309
jeepnik
jeepnik
Back
Top