Switching to left hand- Gun issues?

fuse

fuse

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Hey guys I'm looking for a bit of experience for a question. I'm one of those ###y right handed left eye dominant people. I've switched my long guns and bows over successfully and now right handed feels strange. Now I'm considering trying it with pistols.

Things I'm wondering about, gun mod's to make it easier to operate left handed, tricks or tips for starting out as a left handed shooter. I'm thinking of starting/converting a 1911.

When I shoot right handed I fight with sight alignment, when I hold left handed, sights are naturally lined up.

Thoughts?
 
good luck finding a leftie 1911, some are custom made in the u.s but cost thousands. go for grand power if you want a nice platform for a leftie, ( im left eye dominant and left handed). i wish there were cheaper left handed 1911s... :S
 
I am a lefty and I have never had a problem with a right handed gun. I rack the slide instead of using the slide release, and the finger bend for the mag release becomes second nature. What it will take is a pile of rounds down range to get it second nature (as with most skills). If that is not what you wanted to hear, a CZ85 Combat has a reversible mag release and an ambi slide release. I have shot an 85 and found the ambi slide release a PITA for holstering. Tell the truth, I switched the mag release on my Beretta 92, but practiced so much with a 1911 and Shadow without the mag release reversed, that I reversed the Beretta as I was having problems pushing the wrong side of the frame.
 
I don't necessarily need a full lefty gun. I run a BPS for most shotgunning but also have right handed semi's that I work.
Corey, the slide release was on my mind, I never even thought about using the slide as the release, thank you. Working the mag release as a lefty doesn't seem to be an issue?
 
I am in the same situation as yourself.
When I comes right down to it, do whatever seems your most natural position without causing yourself undue physical exertion.

Don't listen to anyone else other then your own body/muscles.

Cheers!
 
I've taught myself naturally into left on others, thinking I may try this as well. Do you shoot right or left now?

Brutus said:
I am in the same situation as yourself.
When I comes right down to it, do whatever seems your most natural position without causing yourself undue physical exertion.

Don't listen to anyone else other then your own body/muscles.

Cheers!
Click to expand...
 
Lots of guys shoot a 1911 left handed... Ambi safety, depress mag release with index finger, rack slide with support hand (over-the-top release). Nothing magical required.

There is a left hand thumb mag release part you can buy - some guys like those, but I'd give the index finger method a go first.
 
I'm right handed, but always add left handed practice to my shooting session, including left hand and left eye - shooting opposite requires some thought at first, but doesn't take long to adapt to. It's actually easier to release the mag with the 'strong' hand trigger, or middle finger. Some noted shooters actually run the mag release on the "off" side because they believe it's quicker.
 
fuse said:
I've taught myself naturally into left on others, thinking I may try this as well. Do you shoot right or left now?
Click to expand...

I shoot pistols, rifles and shotguns left handed. Some dedicated target rifles and target pistols are LH only. Several Ithaca M37s, lever guns and semi-auto rifles. Many of my bolt action 22s and varmint rifles are RH bolt but shot left handed. But my recurve bow is shot right handed, the one and only RH harvest tool. lol
 
enefgee makes a good point to keep practicing with both hands, although not exactly to screw with people's minds. Many competitive shooting disciplines will require a match or two where you shoot with your week hand. At the NSCC there is the strong hand/weak hand match. When I am shooting right handed (weak hand), I have to close my left eye completely and aim about 8" right at 10 meters or I do not hit center. I have had problems with it if I forget to close my dominant eye first.
 
fuse said:
Hey guys I'm looking for a bit of experience for a question. I'm one of those ###y right handed left eye dominant people. I've switched my long guns and bows over successfully and now right handed feels strange. Now I'm considering trying it with pistols. Things I'm wondering about, gun mod's to make it easier to operate left handed, tricks or tips for starting out as a left handed shooter. I'm thinking of starting/converting a 1911. When I shoot right handed I fight with sight alignment, when I hold left handed, sights are naturally lined up. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I am also right handed, and left eye dominant. I shoot everything (incl handguns) left handed, and its much better than trying to battle against it. (I still practise and shoot weak hand (right hand) only when a COF requires it, of course).

Other than the latest "ambidextrous" polymer guns, the 1911 is probably one of the easiest platforms to adapt for left handed use. Put in an ambi safety and you're off to the races. The mag release is easily manipulated with the trigger finger while shooting left handed.
 
I am right handed, left eye dominant. I shoot all rifles and shoot guns right handed, both eyes open without issue. I shoot my handguns, right handed by just shifting my hold over slightly to my left side and using my dominant eye, both eyes open. It works perfectly. |No reason in the world to change over hands, just move your hands over about six inches and you are set.
 
1911 is my go to gun and I run into no issues. I don't compete, so I don't care about the safety. I have long fingers, so a middle finger mag release works best for me. I can manipulate the slide release just fine but not to lock it back.

Right handed I don't think I could drop the mag without shifting my grip..

Now the Browning Hi Power has one up on the 1911. That teeter-totter slide stop they have? Press down on the front of it with the index finger and lock the slide back. I'll bet that JMB put that little touch in there just for us ;)
 
HIGHRPM said:
I am right handed, left eye dominant. I shoot all rifles and shoot guns right handed, both eyes open without issue. I shoot my handguns, right handed by just shifting my hold over slightly to my left side and using my dominant eye, both eyes open. It works perfectly. |No reason in the world to change over hands, just move your hands over about six inches and you are set.
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I get shooting handguns right handed, I do that as well, but I had to switch sides (to left) on the long guns. I also shoot with both eyes open but how do you align the dominant eye shouldering the long guns on the opposite side?
 
fuse said:
Hey guys I'm looking for a bit of experience for a question. I'm one of those ###y right handed left eye dominant people. I've switched my long guns and bows over successfully and now right handed feels strange. Now I'm considering trying it with pistols.

Things I'm wondering about, gun mod's to make it easier to operate left handed, tricks or tips for starting out as a left handed shooter. I'm thinking of starting/converting a 1911.

When I shoot right handed I fight with sight alignment, when I hold left handed, sights are naturally lined up.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

As previously suggested if you like polymers many are "ambidextrous" (as CV32 put it, lol). It's a good start to see if you can actually pull off the switch. You might find that handguns require a little more dexterity than long guns, I know I did, so I shoot long guns left handed and handguns right handed.
 
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HIGHRPM said:
I am right handed, left eye dominant. I shoot all rifles and shoot guns right handed, both eyes open without issue. I shoot my handguns, right handed by just shifting my hold over slightly to my left side and using my dominant eye, both eyes open. It works perfectly. |No reason in the world to change over hands, just move your hands over about six inches and you are set.
Click to expand...

This works for you and that's great friend. If one gets into single handed shooting disciplines, coaches and learned shooters call this cross fire technique. It's a big no-no in standing unsupported single handed handgun shooting. It is highly discouraged. Because this over the time frame of a long match, this is more tiring on the body. Specifically the head, neck and even somewhat the back and arm muscles too.

Natural position is paramount.

cheers
 
I'm ambidextrous shoot both , right eye dominant . Takes practice to see what feels best in terms of where hold arm, trigger finger, closing one eye etc.. Wanstalls has a Maximus LH Gladiator 1911 ...bit pricey though think it's about $2200. I like to shoot revolvers myself. Both at the same time preferably!
 
Doc Rainbow said:
I'm ambidextrous shoot both , right eye dominant . Takes practice to see what feels best in terms of where hold arm, trigger finger, closing one eye etc.. Wanstalls has a Maximus LH Gladiator 1911 ...bit pricey though think it's about $2200. I like to shoot revolvers myself. Both at the same time preferably!
Click to expand...

If large calibre be sure to hold them 6 or 8 inches apart!
 
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