1911 tips for a lefty

[MarkAlt]

I have 'collected' a few Colt 1911s, but only shot them a handful of times over the years. It wasn't a pleasant experience since none of them had ambi safeties.

This year, I want to get more trigger time behind a 1911. Just purchased a Rock Island 'GI' basic in 38 super. I figured it an inexpensive piece to experiment with and find if I can enjoy some trigger time with the platform.

The question is;
How practical is it to become proficient at my older age, considering the slide lock is on the 'wrong' side along with the safety? Never worked on my own guns, but I am thinking of trying to install an ambi (or left?) safety myself.

Keep in mind, this is only for punching paper or plinking at the range. ...for carry, I am sticking with a j-frame.

Any tips from experienced 1911 guys (especially if you're a lefty) are appreciated.

 

[waffles]

Go ahead and install an ambi safety, it's not a hard task.

As far as the slide lock, don't bother, just slingshot it (after magazine change, drop the slide by yanking the slide back with your right hand and let it go forward).

I'm a lefty as well, and I did spend awhile trying to get used to the safety on a standard 1911, either by contorting my thumb to get to it, or sweeping it off with my left index finger. I got OK at it, but success dropped on the clock, and it was just not worth the hassle when ambis are so available and cheap.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Chase down a Randall L.H.model? ( tho IIRC only made in .45acp)

 

[.455_Hunter]

I as lefty, I have learned to adapt to pretty much any right handed firearm, excluding bullpup semiautos and target guns with obscenely biased grips or stocks.

 

[Bastogne71]

What I did was to install an ambidextrous safety and an extended slide release. With the extended release, I have enough leverage to drop the slide with my trigger finger. The magazine release is easily pushed with the tip of my trigger finger without having to shift my grip. With these changes, I find my 1911 is very left friendly!

 

[Hair Trigger]

Hickok 45 has done some videos on lefties and right-handed safeties. It's not difficult to reach your thumb around and flip it off, and I've seen a few use their trigger finger to do it, but it requires a little dexterity, something us older codgers sometimes lose.

Good choice on the 1911 you got, I just bought one just like it two weeks ago, and starting to work up some reloads for it. I've put about 50 rounds through it so far, it's fun to shoot, not a lot of recoil, about like a 9mm, I think. The slide is pretty easy to rack, not a real stiff spring. It's the easiest of the three full-size 1911's I have.

 

[Sistema1927]

I am a lefty, and find that an ambi safety is all that I need.

I manipulate the mag release with my trigger finger, and with a standard slide stop I slingshot, but with an extended slide stop I am able to also manipulate it with the trigger finger.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I have been carrying a 1911 for many years and carried one for probably 25 of my 36 years in LE. I put ambi safeties on my guns and did everything else with my trigger finger. I could easily hit the slide lock/slide release with my trigger finger. I also hit the mag release with my trigger finger and to this day, I don't change them out on other guns. I find that I can manipulate the mag release easier with my trigger finger than switching it over to be used on the other side by my thumb. The 1911 is quite lefty friendly.

 

[BourbonCowboy]

I'm a lefty, and this is the main reason I don't own a 1911. Someday I'll get enough $$$ together to buy a Cabot.

 

[chief38]

My 1911's are probably my most frequently shot pistols. While I'm not left handed, I will say as a Range only pistol the safety rarely gets used. That said, it's not hard to install an ambidextrous safety.

I have also had a lot of experience shooting High Standard 22 pistols. Since the slide release is on the "wrong side" for right handed shooters ( which I am), I have adapted by using my pointer finger instead of my thumb or simply pulling rearward on the slide.

Obviously if this were a SD/HD or EDC then I'd view this in a different light but for Range only use it should not deter you from shooting it.

 

[MarkAlt]

Excellent info and tips from everyone.

I am going to practice a bit at home and try a few of these tips at the range next week.

This all started when deciding I wanted to try 38 super again. Fun cartridge as I remember.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Tex1001]

If you shoot lefty there are two things to always remember:
1) Duck when you shoot so as not to get hit between your eyes with ejected brass.
2) Button your shirt's top button to keep hot brass out of your shirt.

The above two statements are only partially made in jest.

 

[gregintenn]

I've installed several ambi safeties on 1911s. As a fellow lefty, that is the only modification I need. I have no problem tripping the slide release with my trigger finger.



It is also customary for me to add an ambi safety on an AR15.