Question for the lefties

[Dino1]

Two of my sons are left handed, when taking them out to shoot I had them start shooting right handed. They are both pretty good shots using their right hand. You can train yourself to shoot with your off hand. I did it because of the ejection port on the rifles. I have seen many a lefty blasted in the face or hot brass down their shirt. Not many firearms were designed for the south paw. Start them young and they know no other way.

 

[Ritz444]

Lefty here. Love this forum. I bought a M&P9 Full size and a compact as of this Aug. My first ambi handguns. Always shot with right hand long guns and pistols. I switched the mag release on the 9C and like it, but for now I have keep the FS on the right. Both guns have the safyt and I enjoy that fiture also.

 

[Linejudgemick]

I'm left-handed, left eye dominant handgun shooter... The ambidextrous capability of certain pistols has played into my decision to own or not own them. I have switched the magazine release on my M&P9C, Taurus TCP and Beretta Nano, while my Rugers and Walther PPS (paddle release) work right or left handed. I'm as conscious about a safety as I am the magazine release and my pistols either don't have one, or they're ambidextrous too. I might have given a Shield a try if it was more left-hand friendly.

 

[UncaGrunny]

Did you know that the stress involved in retraining the biologically left-handed to be dextro-oriented is one of the few clinically-known contributors to stuttering? (It used to be thought a direct cause, now the link is attributed to the stress involved)

 

[KKECK5]

After all these years being a lefty in a righty world, switching over at this point would be like changing wives after all this time. Taken me years to figure out how this one runs.

 

[D Binx]

Another lefty here. For my M&P9c, I switched the mag release over so I can press it with my thumb. I'm fine shooting and owning guns that aren't ambidextrous but if I buy one that is, I'm going to take advantage of it and switch it over. I did the same thing for my Beretta M9.

 

[Last of the Mohicans]

No, I left mine as is. I actually find it easier to use my trigger finger than my thumb to release a magazine.

 

[ginzo]

Changed both of mine over, no issues, mag drops, etc. Very comfortable with thumb. I only own ambi guns as it is very unnatural for me to operate the slide right handed, although I can do quite a few things righty.

 

[Old cop]

I also learned to handle my guns in a right handed world. The one time I did change the mag release over I kept hitting the button w/my thumb (I have XLG hands w/long thin fingers) and mistakenly dropping the mag in the middle of training. Like others my long yrs. of dropping the mag w/my left index finger just worked for me so I switched things back.

 

[tjtoolbox]

I'm totally a lefty... I shoot left handed with a dominate left eye.

My first auto was a 1911 and after I had an ambi thumb safety installed, I learned to deal with the right hand friendly slide stop and mag release. To change now would go against many years and tens of thousands of round worth of muscle memory.

On a semi-auto handgun, I drop my magazine and activate the slide stop with my trigger finger. It has never been a problem and works like a charm.


Lefties live the statement, "Overcome, improvise, and adapt."

Edmo

That is the same way that I use my S&W 3953, I am a Lefty, not a problem.

 

[njmedic1485]

The reason I decided on the M&P line was the ambidextrous controls. After a couple of range sessions I'm finding I like the location of the magazine release. I might swap it over to see if there is any change.

So here it is several months and several hundred rounds later, I've had the mag release switched over for left handed use for the last 5 range trips. It seems a little faster changing magazines with the magazine release switched, I haven't put myself on a timer, but it seems a smoother transition now.

 

[agksimon]

I shoot IDPA and steel challenge with my M&P9c and my M&P22. After getting used to doing fast reloads, I found it faster to use my thumb for dropping the magazine. It only takes about a minute or less, to switch the mag drop button to the other side. Make sure your use the right size rear grip panel, that allows your thumb to hit the button properly. Using your thumb, instead of your trigger finger, allows your trigger finger to stay along side the frame and makes it faster to get it back on the trigger.

 

[Rastoff]

agksimon,
What you say makes sense, but I don't use my trigger finger. Also, my other guns don't have the ability to switch the mag release around. Thus, I find it more practical leaving it on the left.

 

[Edmo]

... as a lefty, do you switch your mag release over? ...

No...

Edmo