First Time Buyer in CA, Left Handed, Need Advice

I am a lefty and a trainer. One of the things I do is advising students on this sort of purchase and I have seen many times where someone shows up at a class with a firearm totally unsuited to them, often purchased at a box store, sold to them by someone who knows little and only cares about selling them a firearm. Feel free to contact me through the forum. I would be glad to spend some time with you on the phone to assist you with your selection.
 
I am left handed, but right eye dominant. I have always shot long guns from the right shoulder, but handguns in the left hand. I have never felt disadvantaged.

With revolvers, I have had no problem with reloads. What works for me is for the right hand thumb to come over to hit the latch, pressing the cylinder out with my left fingers. Right hand comes over the top to slap the ejector rod, and right hand reaches for the speed loader or speed strip. After the rounds are seated the left hand closes the cylinder and the shooting grip is re-established. Easier to do than to describe.

With pistols with external safeties, like the 1911, I require an ambi safety. However, manipulation of mag release is done with my trigger finger. Guns without external safeties, like Glocks, don't require any modifications.

Weak hand (right) drills have been no problem, since I am already used to trigger work on the right side due to long gun use. Although much slower than using two hands, I can reload both pistols and revolvers one handed should the need arise, but you have to get creative, such as using your belt as a support (this often does violate Rule # 2, but if your life is on the line...)

Other than finding it hard to acquire holsters at times, I have not felt disadvantaged being left handed in the least.
 
I'm an instructor with an opinion different from most about starting with a .22.

99% of adult new shooters with good coaching on stance and grip can learn to deal with moderate recoil in 30 minutes with less than 30 rounds. For that reason we teach our 'Handgun Fundamentals' class with .38 specials and 9mms. (We do have .22s available during class in case we encounter a 1%er.) The .38 and 9mm have proven to be good teaching tools that are also effective choices for defense with modern ammunition.

My advice would be to pay for range time with an instructor and spend that time with a .38 special double action revolver and a striker fired 9mm.

Those actions and calibers would be my advice to any new shooter interested in a handgun for home defense. The long heavy double action revolver trigger is more difficult to master and a revolver reload is slower, but function of the revolver is more reliable and operation is simpler. The striker fired auto's manual of arms is closest to the revolver's simplicity.

I prefer Smith & Wesson revolvers and Glock semiautos but those choices are just my opinion. I would advise trying both but you need to decide what works best for you BEFORE purchase. Find an instructor, rent and shoot different brands and models. Figure out your own preferences. Good Luck.
 
Welcome abroad
 
I think the K frame .22 would be a good gun to learn to shoot with, but if you can only get 1 gun, a used K frame .38 special would probably be the best all around and easiest to shoot, left or right handed. You can always buy some different grip handles; there are scores of them out there in every price range. I'm not sure about CA, but you shouldn't expect to pay more than $450 for a decent model 10, used. (At today's prices.) Only my opinion.
Welcome to the forum! Read and learn...these guys, many of them, live and breath firearms! I'd stay away from "bargain" guns. Find a gun store you think you can trust; ask around at work or wherever for honest places. Oh, and good luck with that!
 
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