Is Ambidextrous necessary for lefty?

Mark-II

Mark-II

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
63   0   0
Location
Wpg
As a rule I don't like starting threads, since I've no doubt that the info is posted in here *somewhere*.

..anyway

I shoot left handed. Right now I just paper punch and blast at the steel on the range. I've just got a SAA clone and a Ruger Mk-II

At some point this year I plan to buy a semi auto, either in 9mm or .45ACP depending on the platform I choose.

At some point after that I might be interested in getting into something like IDPA, so ideally this gun would be suitable for that, since I do not wish to accumulate a large collection of handguns.

The question is: Is it necessary for a left handed shooter to have ambidextrous controls on the gun? Ergo - are there any manipulations of the pistol which must be done one-handed whereby an ambi safety or slide lock would be necessary?

If I buy a 9mm I would most likely choose the CZ85 Combat, so I'm good to go there.

If I buy a .45 it WILL be a 1911 (the two simply go together), however there seem to be few 1911 type pistols in my price range ($600-$800 approx) that have the ambi safety. I was looking a bit at the RIA tactical/tactical-II, but can't seem to find them in Canada. If I don't need the ambi controls for competition, then I could look at STI Spartan, Ruger, Remington, or even a SAM.

Would someone care to enlighten me (and possibly critique my hand gun selection above)?

I cast and reload, so calibre choice isn't a big deal for me.
 
If you shoot left handed you will need an ambi safety on a 1911 or any single action. If you shoot a DA first shot or glock it's not really necessary. You can operate the mag release with your index finger and on some models I've seen the slide lock operated with the finger...but try it and see how it works for you. Most autos can release the slide by pulling back on it, from slide lock, and this will work fine. Some, like 1911's may not release the slide by pulling it back and have to be released by the slide lock lever. In IPSC There are a few stages where you may have to use one handed pickups so ambis are handy for most of us, but in particular with a 1911 you need to have the ambi just to have a safety to operate at all. The good news is swapping from a single side safety to an ambi is pretty simple. There will be some extra cost.
 
For IDPA use, we do have weak hand shooting during a Standard Exercise. In those instances you would start from the low ready position pointed down range with the safety off. I would not expect nor have I seen an instance where a competitor was mandated to draw his gun from his holster and then transfer the gun to the weak hand to complete a course of fire. I have shot stages where the gun was on a table, and you shot the stage weak handed but there again the gun would be placed in front of you, pointed down range with the safety off for the start.

As a lefty you probably are aware most guns that have manual safeties that are not ambi have the safety on the left side of the gun. This precludes the normal use of the strong side thumb to deactivate the safety. If you decide to buy a gun with a manual safety then I would suggest you go for the ambi equiped gun.

You should know the Glock and M&P guns are now the most popular guns in IDPA, are relatively inexpensive to buy and do not have manual safeties. Too, there are a number of gun models that now come standard with ambi safeties ie Tanfoglio, ST and CZ to name three.

Take Care

Bob
 
Thanks for clearing that up, fellows

I'm going to try to bum a mag or two at the range this summer, or rent a few pistols to try-before-buy. I'm in no hurry, but at least I have some idea where to begin now.

From what I've read and understand, fitting an ambi safety, or just about anything on a 1911 other than grip panels, is gunsmith work. If that is the case I'd have to find one near me who works on the platform.

Ideally I would like to have something that works out-of-the-box, needing nothing that isn't optional or what I can't do myself.

Lots to think about anyway. I wasn't considering Glock and M&P guns, mainly out of aesthetic reasons. I've held one of the poly Rugers, though, and it felt pretty decent, if not small (big hands).
 
Last edited:
Both the Glock and M&P are two pistols the home gun plumber can work on. I am only familiar with the M&P and I can tell you that other than the front sight that really requires a sight pusher, the rest of the gun can be stripped down to the frame and back ny anyone who can watch a video, has the right roll pin punch, brass punch and a small hammer. I am told the Glock is as easy. Both are good to go out of the box and both can be "enhanced" for better peformance. Whether the enhancements really have much affect on your score is arguable but there you are. Niether gun will hold you back.

Take Care

Bob
 
Agree with PappaHotel01, the advantage in IPSC of using your trigger finger to dump the mag is that you cannot inadvertently change mags with your finger on the trigger, with practice you can drop the mag without shifting your grip.
Ambi safety on a 1911 is a must and just rack the slide by hand.

In my experience 99 percent just put the Ambi safety on and run with that.

Most importantly have fun!
 
I generally have no problem with hitting the mag release with the index finger, so that's good.

My sensible side says CZ85, since I already load 9mm for an old P38. I like the Hi Power looks of it as well and it feels solid in the hand.

The other side of me just likes my guns to be .375 or larger, given the choice ;)
 
If you run a Beretta or CZ or Tanfoglio in Production you won't need to worry about ambi controls. The Beretta has an ambi safety/decocker and with the CZ/Tanfoglios you lower the hammer manually. I think the Berettas mag button is reversible but I don't remember, but you can still operate all of these with your finger. As Canuck44 said the Glock/M&P/XD/and other striker fired gun are pretty ambi since they either don't have a safety or its optional.
 
I have a beretta px4 which has ambi de-cocker and mag release but not slide release. I have found it quite natural to use the index finger on my left hand to release the slide. I pull the slide back with my right hand and pull down the slide release with my left index. The only trick I've had to master is avoiding getting my right hand cheese grated by the decocker controls at the back of the slide when I release it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom