Left Handed New Shooter

Paul

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My GF is a gunnut she is wanting to buy a pistol maybe a Glock she is left handed what would be a good pistol for her she is a brand new shooter but wants nothing less than a 9mm any suggestions ? any advice for helping a lefty begin shooting ?
 
Nothing wrong with a glock. The controls are set up for a right handed shooter, but they are easy enough to manipulate as a lefty as well. HK USP pistols can be configured quite easily to be mostly left handed.
 
I am a lefty.

The only completely ambi pistols for lefties are the CZ 85 Combat or the HK P7M8.

Others are moderately compatible, including Glocks, HK USPs, and some 1911 pistols. These guns can be configured with lefty safeties and mag releases, but not with lefty slide releases.

Sigs are, hands down, the most un-lefty friendly pistols out there.

Since she is a new shooter, I would recommend the CZ 85 Combat. It is cheap, and it is a very high quality pistol. Wolverine Supplies likely can sell it to you at the best price, and with top notch service.
 
I've shot my Glocks left-handed in competition (when the course of fire mandates it!) and other than the fact that it feels freaky I've had no problems manipulating the slide stop and mag release with my trigger finger—and I've smallish hands, too. I actually use my tigger finger to release the mag on my USP since it's got an ambi relase and otherwise I have to cheat the gun around in my grip a bit for my thumb to work.

I'd say that your GF would have no problem with it, especially if she starts off using the trigger finger—ideally, though, it'd be good to try it out first. As a brand new shooter, though, the Glock might be a little tough as a starting gun. I know you mentioned nothing less than a 9mm, but I'd really give some thought to starting with a .22.
 
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I'm a lefty, and I recommend getting used to dealing with right handed controls with your left hand, as you see fit, while maintaining control and being safe. You may just find a pistol with all the controls for a lefty, but you may not like it as a whole.
Point is of course, is that she should try before she buys, and with luck, start shooting with another lefty who could give her pointers.
While the CZ-85 slide stop and safety are Ambi, the magazine release is not. The XD line has an ambi magazine release, but the slide stop is not, and can be hard to release with the index finger. I like having the option of front slide serrations, makes it easier to #### and engage the slide stop with the top of the index finger. I love both my Sigs, but again, I've learnt to deal with right handed controls. Out of all the handguns I have used, I would say the Glocks suck the most for controls. ymmv.
 
UncleWalther said:
I am a lefty.

The only completely ambi pistols for lefties are the CZ 85 Combat or the HK P7M8.

Others are moderately compatible, including Glocks, HK USPs, and some 1911 pistols. These guns can be configured with lefty safeties and mag releases, but not with lefty slide releases.

Sigs are, hands down, the most un-lefty friendly pistols out there.

Since she is a new shooter, I would recommend the CZ 85 Combat. It is cheap, and it is a very high quality pistol. Wolverine Supplies likely can sell it to you at the best price, and with top notch service.
I would say that a USP would be a very good left-handed gun. In a Variant 2 set-up the safety is on the right side, easily manipulated by your left thumb. The mag release is completely ambi, and that other lever - the SLIDE STOP - is easily used by holding the pistol in your left hand, rotate it to the right (gangsta style), grasp the slide on the front half with your right hand, pull back & use the lever with your right thumb to lock the slide. To release the slide if your left handed - again holding the gun in your left hand, grasp the slide on the serrations, and in one quick motion - pull all the way back and let go.
 
I'm a lefty and I have a Beretta. Mag catch is Reversible, very easily done too. The safety is on both sides also. The only thing to get used to, which is done easily, is the slide lock
 
I've shot almost nothing but HKs, and I've never had major probs. The P7M8 is completely ambi, since the only control lever is an ambi safety, and the grip cocker is, by definition, ambidextrous.
 
THe only problem I have with the SIG is manully locking the slide open. The mag release is reversable, although I just use my trigger finger instead for mag changes and for the decocker, and I slingshot the slide.

Pat
 
UncleWalther said:
I am a lefty.

The only completely ambi pistols for lefties are the CZ 85 Combat or the HK P7M8.

.

Sigs are, hands down, the most un-lefty friendly pistols out there.

.

UncleWalther:

I have to disagree with you just a bit on the Sig being the most un-lefty friendly pistols.

I have had a Sig P239 for over 10 years and it is without a doubt the most accurate and reliable 9MM pistol I've ever owned. As of this moment the Sig P239 has NEVER malfunctioned in any way.. It is an excellent firearm...

Being a "wrong hander" myself I have found the Sig P239 to be quite "lefty friendly". The Sig P239 has no external safety, only a de-cocker. The de-cocker is on the left (off-side for us), but there is seldom a need to use it, and when there is it's quite easy to activate with the right hand, over the top of the slide.

The slide release is reversable, and I have reversed mine. I always keep a round in the barrel, mag. fully loaded, and my first shot would logically be d/a.

I own (or have owned) a S/W 3913, Browning HiPower, Star BM, KelTec P11, Walther P1, Tokarev(Chinese), Bersa Thunder 9 (UC),Glock(s) 26, Taurus PT92, Browning BDA380,Keltec P32, Beretta Tomcat, Walther PP,etc. NONE of the above pistols were as accurate (for me) as the Sig P239, or more "lefty friendly" to use.

Additionally Crimson Trace is releasing for sale this weekend (shown at the Shot Show 2006) a set of CT Lasergrips for the Sig P239. I have CT grips on a snubby J-Frame Smith, and I will certainly buy a set for my Sig P239. The CT lasergrips add tremendously to your potential accuracy in any lighting conditions other than bright sunlight.

Ease of use and considerations for "lefty friendly" firearms have always been important to me. I can't speak for any other Sig pistol beyond the P239, but I can assure you that for this "lefty" the Sig P239 is extremely user friendly.

Just my old fart opinion.

Best Wishes,

JP :D
 
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My wife is a lefty and she shoots a g22 in IPSC production. It works well for her. She is eagerly awaiting the new S&W M&P though, ambi controls and the interchangeable backstrap might make this the ultimate gun for her. Time will tell.

Dave
 
We can't own the P239 in Canada because of the barrel length. Is the slide release reversible on on the Sig 220 or 226?

Laserlips said:
UncleWalther:

I have to disagree with you just a bit on the Sig being the most un-lefty friendly pistols.

I have had a Sig P239 for over 10 years and it is without a doubt the most accurate and reliable 9MM pistol I've ever owned. As of this moment the Sig P239 has NEVER malfunctioned in any way.. It is an excellent firearm...

Being a "wrong hander" myself I have found the Sig P239 to be quite "lefty friendly". The Sig P239 has no external safety, only a de-cocker. The de-cocker is on the left (off-side for us), but there is seldom a need to use it, and when there is it's quite easy to activate with the right hand, over the top of the slide.

The slide release is reversable, and I have reversed mine. I always keep a round in the barrel, mag. fully loaded, and my first shot would logically be d/a.

I own (or have owned) a S/W 3913, Browning HiPower, Star BM, KelTec P11, Walther P1, Tokarev(Chinese), Bersa Thunder 9 (UC),Glock(s) 26, Taurus PT92, Browning BDA380,Keltec P32, Beretta Tomcat, Walther PP,etc. NONE of the above pistols were as accurate (for me) as the Sig P239, or more "lefty friendly" to use.

Additionally Crimson Trace is releasing for sale this weekend (shown at the Shot Show 2006) a set of CT Lasergrips for the Sig P239. I have CT grips on a snubby J-Frame Smith, and I will certainly buy a set for my Sig P239. The CT lasergrips add tremendously to your potential accuracy in any lighting conditions other than bright sunlight.

Ease of use and considerations for "lefty friendly" firearms have always been important to me. I can't speak for any other Sig pistol beyond the P239, but I can assure you that for this "lefty" the Sig P239 is extremely user friendly.

Just my old fart opinion.

Best Wishes,

JP :D
 
Please explain 'sling shoting it':confused:

I use my index finger on the decocker (changing grip of course) with no ill-effect.
 
Paul said:
My GF is a gunnut she is wanting to buy a pistol maybe a Glock she is left handed what would be a good pistol for her she is a brand new shooter but wants nothing less than a 9mm any suggestions ? any advice for helping a lefty begin shooting ?


It might be heresy, but have you considered a DA revolver, like the Smith & Wesson 586/686? Or a Ruger SA Blackhawk? For shooting, there is no difference left or right hand. Reloading requires a little bit of shifting between hands, but no worse than a pistol.
 
Slingshot: After having inserted a fresh magazine into the pistol, grasp the rear of the slide and pull it rearward, permitting the slide lock to disengage automatically, and then release you grasp of the slide, allowing the slide to travel forward under spring pressure, stripping the top round from the magazine and chambering it, locking in the fully forward position.

It takes less time to demonstrate it than to actually write it down.:)

Pat
 
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