Hand guns for left handed shooters

[Gerry G]

I am new to member to USA carry. Considering a hand gun for self protection, but I have one BIG problem I am left handed. I did go to some gun shops to check out what they have, but all the safety are on the wrong side. Can anybody help point me in the right direction on what would be the best way to solve this...........Thank you much

 

[BluesStringer]

I am new to member to USA carry. Considering a hand gun for self protection, but I have one BIG problem I am left handed. I did go to some gun shops to check out what they have, but all the safety are on the wrong side. Can anybody help point me in the right direction on what would be the best way to solve this...........Thank you much

I don't intend this to sound snarky, but the solution to your "problem" is to buy a handgun with no external safety. If you insist on having an external safety, several models come with either ambidextrous safeties (levers on both sides) or reversible safeties (ones that can be swapped side-to-side). Search (insert your favorite Image search engine _________ here) for "ambidextrous safety" or "reversible safety" and see what comes up. Or if you're shopping on a specific website, use their internal search engine with the same string(s).

Also, not all gun shops are created equal. If you happened to ask the counter help about a "left handed" gun, they may not have even understood what you were asking about, and even if you asked about reversible or ambidextrous safeties, they may not know which specific manufacturers/models offer those options. Do your research on the web and then go to the store to handle models that you know ahead of time will fit your requirements.

If I had it to start all over again though, none of my handguns would even have external safeties. They simply aren't necessary with modern trigger, butt or other internal safety mechanisms these days. With a good, high-quality holster, the gun won't discharge unless/until you put your finger on the trigger, which you should train yourself to never do unless/until you are ready to fire the weapon.

Blues

 

[bofh]

Blues already gave an excellent answer. The only thing I can add is get some training. Only in a defensive firearm training class you will find out what is important and what works. After that, you will realize that the quest for a left-handed weapon is quite nonsensical. Here is why:

What if your left hand gets incapacitated, such as by a gun shot in the left arm or a hit on your left arm or left hand with a tire iron? What if an attacker is holding your left arm when fighting you? You now need to use your left-handed weapon with your right hand. However, that's impossible, because it is a left-handed weapon, right? No matter what gun you end up buying, you need to learn how to handle it with either hand, including external controls (safeties and magazine release).

 

[bofh]

Another video on offhand only manipulation. This one is important as it shows how to draw with your offhand. I usually do the behind the back method due to the position of my holster.

 

[Chris Trombley]

my Ruger sr9c has it on both sides very nice gun also smooth trigger will eat any thing put in it

 

[timtheref]

Lefty here also. Check out Kahr for single stack as they have no external safeties, but lots of excellent internal safety features. Can easily be used right or left handed. Also check out Springfield. The XD, XDs, and XDM lines are all ambidextrous including ambidextrous mag release, and the external safeties are intuitive, being a grip safety and a trigger safety, so as long as you hold the pistol right, you don't have to worry about extra levers. You have plenty of options here.

 

[MamaLiberty]

I have to visit USA Carry more often... you guys stole all the good answers. I'm a naturally ambidextrous person, with no "dominant eye," and find that the XD compact 9mm is perfect for me to carry. I shoot equally well with either hand, together or alone. I also see no virtue in manual "safeties." One less thing to remember in an adrenalin dump...