Question Left hand friendly handguns

[Batman]

One thing about being left handed that no one's really discussing is the fact that most barrels are made so that the butt of the grip presses into the palm of your hand when shooting. So if the barrel is at the center of a clock with the butt of the grip at 6:00 when you fire it, it's designed to go counter clockwise towards 4:00 when fired. Great if you're a righty. If you're a lefty, though, it'll move the grip towards your fingers, where you won't have nearly the same strength to stop it as the palm of your hand. Here's where finger exercises will really help control the gun more.

 

[coelacanth]

As many said, post USP HKs are great for us Lefties, and I got P2000 SK for that reason. RH side slide release worked better/smoother on P2000 compared to VP9 in my experience.

1911 works surprisingly well LH and operating mag & slide releases is easy. If you have smaller hands, in a way they might work better than RH use without replacing them with extended parts. You absolutely want ambi-safety though. Adding one is quite simple (though might need fitting) and parts are available from multiple brands.

Glock gen 3 has been a mixed bag for me. Mag release is doable but I'm going to experiment with a few 3rd party options. Slide release is really hard to press down even with rounds in mag compared to say 1911, at least with my copy. Glock's official extended slide release extends towards the rear so you still have to re-grip to reach. I just added https://ghostinc.com/ghost-bullet-forward-slide-release-combat-black/ and now I can release the slide with my index finger without breaking the grip (tho still stiff).

 

[deephouse]

One of my favs is my FNS 9C.

 

[Helrios]

I like how a lot of folks are just saying to just get used to using your non-dominant hand (your right for us lefties out here). As a lefty myself, the first thing to know before trying out anything is to figure out which eye dominant is your friend.

If that person is right eye dominant, then it's easier to practice with your non-dominant hand right from the start. It's simply another thing right handed people have imposed on us haha. You can use any firearms you want since all firearms are designed for right handed people first.

If that person is left eye dominant, your options become limited. Ambidextrous controls become more important. It eliminates a lot of firearms without ambi controls, unless you're willing to adjust your operations of your firearm to work with your left hand.

Unless we're invaded or in a civil war, us lefties will never have to worry about "using other people's firearms in an emergency". Practice your own firearm with whatever is comfortable. If I'm caught without my preferred firearm, then I F-ed up or I simply avoid any and all conflicts I may have until I get my preferred firearm back.

 

[DrewN]

The only time having to adjust your grip to manipulate your gun as a lefty matters even a little is if you are shooting in certain competitions or are in F-ing Delta Force. It's not going to matter at the range, it's not going to matter on a hunt, and it's not going to matter in a gunfight. Drop the mag with your index or second finger, slingshot the slide. If you are shooting in competition, you practice more on the timer.

 

[tradersarmory]

I like how a lot of folks are just saying to just get used to using your non-dominant hand (your right for us lefties out here). As a lefty myself, the first thing to know before trying out anything is to figure out which eye dominant is your friend.

If that person is right eye dominant, then it's easier to practice with your non-dominant hand right from the start. It's simply another thing right handed people have imposed on us haha. You can use any firearms you want since all firearms are designed for right handed people first.

If that person is left eye dominant, your options become limited. Ambidextrous controls become more important. It eliminates a lot of firearms without ambi controls, unless you're willing to adjust your operations of your firearm to work with your left hand.

Unless we're invaded or in a civil war, us lefties will never have to worry about "using other people's firearms in an emergency". Practice your own firearm with whatever is comfortable. If I'm caught without my preferred firearm, then I F-ed up or I simply avoid any and all conflicts I may have until I get my preferred firearm back.

I'm not cross eye dominant, but I've had a number of customers who have been over the years. specifically with handguns, it seems not to be so much of an issue because its fairly easy to just present the gun in line with whichever eye you're dominant, which most people already do without thinking about it. the issue really becomes a problem with rifles and shotguns that are shouldered, at which point its usually best to learn to shoot with your non-dominant hand, to line up the sights or optic properly with your dominant eye.

for guns that are designed for right handed shooters like gen 3 glocks, i recommend just using the slingshot method to release a slide, rather than the slide release lever. mag releases aren't too much of a problem in my opinion, and I do practice dry firing a fair bit with my non-dominant left hand. you can definitely get used to it with practice

 

[Helrios]

I'm not cross eye dominant, but I've had a number of customers who have been over the years. specifically with handguns, it seems not to be so much of an issue because its fairly easy to just present the gun in line with whichever eye you're dominant, which most people already do without thinking about it. the issue really becomes a problem with rifles and shotguns that are shouldered, at which point its usually best to learn to shoot with your non-dominant hand, to line up the sights or optic properly with your dominant eye.

for guns that are designed for right handed shooters like gen 3 glocks, i recommend just using the slingshot method to release a slide, rather than the slide release lever. mag releases aren't too much of a problem in my opinion, and I do practice dry firing a fair bit with my non-dominant left hand. you can definitely get used to it with practice

I would argue that hand dominance when presenting your handgun matters when doing sight alignment (especially if you aim with both eyes open, which you should). You will get crossed eyes in the first half second when aiming if you are cross dominant. Might as well just start practicing on the same side as your eye dominant side. Practicing getting over being crossed eyed is so much more difficult. You can practice with your non-dominant hand but you cannot switch your eye dominance.

 

[schweatyballs]

Im left handed as well, so i know the struggle.

On roster left hand friendly pistols
S&W M&P 9 2.0, H&K VP9, Walther PDP, Springfield XDM, Sig P320, Canik MC9, Ross Martin RM1C, & Staccato HD P4.

 

[tomrkba]

Here's a little secret: Most semi-autos are left handed! Ambidextrous thumb safeties are necessary, however.

If the magazine release is on the left side, you can hit it with your trigger finger. You should be able to hit the SIG decocker too. Run the slide on all semi-autos by grasping it over the top with the rear sight between your fingers. You don't need to use the slide release, but you may be able to run it with your trigger finger on some guns. I can run it on my 1911's, but not my SIG P22x guns or Glocks. Beretta 92's can be a problem, but disengaging the slide mounted safety works by locking the thumb and hitting it as your hand achieves the grip.

 

[ospreyamamentsllc]

The HK p2000 is a great ambi gun! It has controls on both sides.
I disagree with the other guy that the dec0ker makes it any less ambidextrous as that is an administrative function that doesn’t need to be operated as fast or under pressure like mag or slide releases, plus it’s on the back of the slide so it can easily be reached by both thumbs. I am correct handed but when I hold it in my left it’s easy to hit with that hand’s thumb.

what he said

 

[Skillatron]

If they want a premium 1911 go with Les Baer or Wilson combat or ed brown you can find on the secondary market. Some models have an ambi safety.

 

[ikeo1]

Rost Martin RM1C is ambi with good controls for the money..

 

[tomrkba]

Again, there is no need for ambidextrous controls for a left handed shooter. Trigger finger runs the magazine release and possibly the slide release. Slingshotting the slide works on all handguns.

Flipping a magazine release to the right side just means you need to break your grip slightly for the thumb to hit the button.

 

[presscheckpino]

Hi all! Need some help.

My friend is getting into guns but he's unfortunately left handed.

Are there any handguns that come left hand friendly? With like ambidextrous safety / slide release / mag release.

Thanks in advance for the help!

The Springfield echelon is completely ambidextrous. Late to this post but hope this finds your friend somehow