Ambidextrous Weapon?
After having owned a S&W 4506, and having been issued S&W revolvers in the past, I would much rather have a revolver if S&W were the ony choice of maker. The Springfield Armor XD and XDM pistols are as ambidextrous as they come. They have a grip safety similar to the old 1911, and a trigger safety, similar to the Glock, except that it is metal, not plastic. The magazine release, which is the ony control you have to maipulate in the field, works from either side equally well. The slide release and takedown lever are on the left side of the pistol, but if the slide is locked back, and you put a new magazine in, just give the slide a quck tug and let it go. it will close without having to manipulate the slide release. In any good training for using your weapon, using it with your off hand will be covered, because if your strong hand is disabled, say by a gunshot, you have to be able to operate your weapon with your weak hand. We even had a drill were you stuck your semiauto in your belt and inserted a magazine and closed the slide, all with the weak hand, under stress conditions. Who knows? You might have to do it in the field someday. Of course, there is never a condition in the field which will require you to disassemble your weapon, so the take-down lever is not even considered. That is for when you are in the comfort of your home or shop and are cleaning it.
