The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: lmmichael on January 14, 2011, 08:24:48 PM
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I'm a left-handed shooter who needs tips on the best techniques for safe and swift reloading of a revolver and/or semiautomatic handgun. I find it difficult to quickly reload/disarm either gun without passing the gun from hand to hand. Also, any great sources out there for left-handed holsters? Thanks.
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I'm not a lefty so I can't help you on revolver beyond saying that it is a matter of technique that you would need to practice, there is one company, Charter arms I think, that makes a revolver where the cylinder rolls out the right side of the frame instead of the left. In my opinion learning to deal with the right hand revolvers gives you more options of guns you can shoot rather than being limited to one odd ball.
In the case of semi Auto's many can be fitted with ambidextrous safety's and magazine releases, for these, check with a local gun smith, or, since they are fairly simple to change, Check Midway USA :
http://www.midwayusa.com/
Brownell's:
http://www.brownells.com/
Or Numrich :
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/ProductsMain.aspx?show=brand
For the parts you need
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I'm not sure if you're looking for gun recommendations but if you are look at the FNX line of pistols from FNH.
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Not sure why you're having trouble with semi-autos. I'd actually think you have it easier, as far as mag release goes, with a conventional right handed pistol. The mag release would be on the left side and you would use your trigger finger. I like my XD because it has an ambi mag release which I use shooting right handed. I don't like the conventional right handed (left side) mag release.
All the major holster makers make left handed versions of most every design.
Revolvers are a problem.
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I am a lefty and I have been looking into this, too. I won't claim to be an expert—just sharing book or "net" smarts I have gained.
First off, a lot of goodies here:
http://www.sigma9.info/sigma9-documents/Prime-Computer_docs/Ayoob%20firearms/Shooting%20left-handed.PDF
The above PDF makes the argument that lefties may actually have an advantage. My take on revolvers, is that you're moving you're hands anyway whether your are left or right-handed. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I haven't come across any left or right-hand reload that doesn't require some kind of change of grip—everyone's hand leaves the firing position at some point in the reload. I don't worry too much about passing from one hand to another since with a two-hand grip they are both in the neighborhood.
Currently, none of my firearms are "lefties", but there are options if you want to get a left-handed revolver. I understand Charter Arms makes some (I know nothing about their quality and have never shot one). Smith & Wesson release their bodyguard series recently and the .38 special 5-shot revolver is ambidextrous—again I haven't tried it.
For semiautomatics, the location of the controls are everything. Look for something that allow you to switch mag releases and safeties/decockers or at least has ambidextrous controls. Even if the controls are ambidextrous they still might not work as well both ways. I've been thinking about picking up a Beretta 92 and they have an ambi saftey/decocker. However, the safety is easier to manipulate right-handed. I suspect the actual part that engages is on the side a righty would use—so even though the lever is on both sides, it is harder to operate left-handed. (this was observed with a new firearm—once broken in this might become less of an issue). Short answer here is try out as many as possible, and see what feels right.
For me, my HK USP variant 1 (righty safety/decocker) actually works perfectly. I never engage the safety and the decocker is not something critical. One could easily argue that DAO or handguns without external safeties (i.e. Glocks) simplify things and make handedness less relevant. One thing I really like about the HK USP design is the mag release which is ambi and at the rear of the trigger guard. My left index finger can easily manipulate the release while maintaining a strong firing grip—something I have had trouble with with thumb mag releases. My hands are large enough to manipulate the slide release with my index finger if needed as well. I have thought about switching my HK to a variant 2 (for lefties) but finding someone to do it for a decent price has caused my to put it off for so long I no longer feel the need for it.
As far as holsters, it seems a search will turn up quite a few options online. I have never found a good selection locally at gun shops, gun shows, and other retail outlets. Most quality holster are available for lefties and custom ones—well they're custom so most reputable holster makers will set you up with whatever you want (for a price).
Revolvers with few exceptions function the same, but if you want to list specific semi-autos I might be able to give more opinions—as if I haven't given enough already :)
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This forum is quick! ;D
3 replies in the time it took me to write mine. Sorry for some of my redundancy.
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Little Red and Alf are right. I'm a lefty, but shoot pistols RH. Still, when practising off handed, the Glock mag release is just as easy to reach with the trigger finger rather than the thumb. Its the same with my AR (where I do shoot LH). I find it easier to manipulate LH than RH. I would get a gun without a manual safety and then find the one where you can hit the mag release with your trigger finger the easiest. It will be about the fit of the grip and the size of your hand. You won't lose much, if any, time in switching mags though. As far as revolvers ???....They are why I shoot handguns RH. ;)
FQ13
PS Correction I left out something important. I use my second finger, not my trigger finger on LH mag changes on the Glock 26. The trigger finger is extended along the slide. The triger finger is awkward, though it works, the second finger is far easier and very natural. Sorry, I just typed without thinking. The trigger finger works great on the larger G-19 and G-17, just not as well on the small gun. This gets back to what I was saying about choosing a gun based on grip size and what fits. I love my G-26, but if I were shooting lefty, I'd take the G-19. FWIW.
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Unlike FQ, I shoot pistols lefty, and rifles righty.. On those non ambi-semi autos, like the PPK/S, EAA, I adapt with my index finger for mag release, slide release, and left thumb, for safety engage/disengage. It does take practice.
With a semi, DO NOT pass the gun hand to hand, it's a time consuming habit. A fellow member told me that for something to develop into muscle memory, it must be done 70 times.
From a locked open slide,pistol in your left hand, (unloaded of course, or snap caps), drop the mag with your index finger, while bringing another empty mag up with your right hand, keep the muzzle pointed down range, turning it outward to ease reloading than bring the pistol back on target, and try to close the slide one or two ways.
Index finger, or right had racks (or 1/2 racks) to close.
Revolvers: Different animal. As a southpaw, this requires much more personal style and preference. I personally use speedloaders, but I have to swing open the cylinder, cradle the revolver in my left hand, middle and ring finger through the frame holding open the cylinder, point it up and away, slap the ejector rod with my right hand, (if needed), than muzzle pointed down, and bring the speedloader, to the cylinder reload. It's smoother than it sounds, but takes practice. ALOT, like 15min-1/2 hour a day with snap caps. But the revolver stays in the strong hand throughout.
Especially from holster. Even more with a snubby. :P
Most holster makers have LH Holsters, your local gun shop just may not carry more than one or two. Online resources, are very helpful.
Hope this helps. Since we Southpaws, are in our "Right Minds", generally we adapt with practice. I will recommend reading the "Natural Superiority Of The Left-Hander", by James T. deKay. ;D
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I am cross eye dominent and shoot everything left handed. I have found some double stack pistols cause me to slightly change my grip to lock back a slide to clear a double feed. It's a pretty automatic response now.
Everyone has covered this extremely well so all I can add is to practice alot. Reloads are the one thing you can do at any time with an UNLOADED firearm. Get snap caps and dummy magazines and practice, practice and practice.
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I'm a lefty and have never had an issue with auto pistols. In fact I prefer the trigger finger mag release but if you don't look at either a pistol with ambi controls or something like a Beretta 92 that has a reversible mag catch. As far as revolvers it's just a matter of proper training. Right handed people still use two hands to reload a revolver so it's just finding a method that works. When shooting revolvers I prefer keeping my spare ammo on my strong side, I usually have 2 single speed loader pouches, 1 in front and 1 behind my holster. As soon as I want to reload I transfer the revolver to my right hand. As I reach with my left hand for a speedloader/speed strip or moon clip, depending on what I'm carrying, I am already opening the cylinder with my right hand. As I bring the left hand with the reload up I use the edge of my left thumb/heel of my hand to hit the ejection rod. I make my reload and either drop or stow the loading device, depending on how fast I want to be. I don't usually shoot a revolver for speed though, it's more of a in the woods backup for me. I then make the transfer back to my left hand with my middle and index finger extended to make sure the revolver locks up tight. I do find if I shoot the revolver a lot I tend to try to do a hand transfer with my auto pistol the next time out, damn muscle memory. This isn't a horrible thing though since whenever I'm in a stressful environment or carrying in a higher risk location I normally carry a single mag pouch on my strong side as well as my normal single or double on the weak side. This way if muscle memory takes over I can still make a clean reload from either side and I have an easier weak-hand reload prospect if I'm injured.
As far as another advantage I feel like a single action auto is an advantage for the lefty as well but that's a whole different procedure and outside of cowboy action not many people are trying to speed reload a single anyway.
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Revolvers: Different animal. As a southpaw, this requires much more personal style and preference. I personally use speedloaders, but I have to swing open the cylinder, cradle the revolver in my left hand, middle and ring finger through the frame holding open the cylinder, point it up and away, slap the ejector rod with my right hand, (if needed), than muzzle pointed down, and bring the speedloader, to the cylinder reload. It's smoother than it sounds, but takes practice. ALOT, like 15min-1/2 hour a day with snap caps. But the revolver stays in the strong hand throughout.
This is the same procedure most (all?) right handers use. (watch the Jerry Miculek videos)
The only way to truly control the cylinder is by using the left hand as above.
My speedloaders are on the right side of my body to ease their use, my mags for semiautos are on the left side for the same reason.
Releasing the slide by pulling it back rather than using a slide release keeps the gun in your proper shooting grip, is a gross motor movement and does not slow things down. No having to 'hunt' for a small lever. It works well for lefty reloads.
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This is the same procedure most (all?) right handers use. (watch the Jerry Miculek videos)
The only way to truly control the cylinder is by using the left hand as above.
My speedloaders are on the right side of my body to ease their use, my mags for semiautos are on the left side for the same reason.
Releasing the slide by pulling it back rather than using a slide release keeps the gun in your proper shooting grip, is a gross motor movement and does not slow things down. No having to 'hunt' for a small lever. It works well for lefty reloads.
The kicker is a right handed person, opens a right handed revolver with the cylinder opening toward the center of the body, left hand is brought to reload, Miculek style.
A lefty, that doesn't switch the pistol to the weak(right) hand, the cylinder opens to the left side of the body. The right hand than has to cross over the left hand to reload. the outboard cylinder. Similar, but different. Especially if all the fired rounds don't just "fall out"....
It's a personal preference, that's why I have two M+P's ambi-everything, including mag release, but I can drop a mag with my left trigger finger very quickly, on a "righty" pistol.
Same on slide release.
Carnegie hall,......practice, practice, practice.
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I wish I had a DA revolver....I'd make a short vid of a reload I've seen done by a lefty at our range.
He uses a style with his snubby .38's that, due to his constant practice, was smooth as silk for him.
Hard to explain in type, and also sounds awkward, but as he rotated the gun, he hit the cylinder release with his left thumb and let it roll around in his hand using his index and middle fingers to flip the cylinder out and his thumb hit the ejector (similar to a technique I've seen Ayoob do before, I think). He then loads with speed loader in right hand, closes cylinder with left thumb, and re-acquired the shooting grip with both hands.
Again, it sound very awkward...but for him, it worked well.
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Had the wife help take pics,...maybe this will help.
My Rossi .357 Mag. "unloaded" simulating fired all 6 rds.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/Tutorial001.jpg)
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/Tutorial002.jpg)
Cylinder opened, with left thumb, and held open by strong hand middle and ring finger.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/Tutorial004.jpg)
Pointed up and away while right hand depresses ejector.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/Tutorial003.jpg)
Speedloader comes across left wrist and inserts fresh rounds.
Ready to re-engage.
Takes about 4-5 seconds. But I practice....Wife looks at me funny, I use snap caps for actual loading/reloading, but it can be done, smoothly, quickly, and reliably. Looks funny to you "righties out there" don't it? ::)
Hope this helps....
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twyacht,
how do you OPEN the revolver left handed? This is one reason I like the Ruger LCR. Also, it's said the SAA is lefty.
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TW, that's very close to the way they guy I was talking about does it. He opens the cylinder release with his strong-side (left thumb) as he shifts his grip. Good pics.
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Maybe I should call it the Head-Banger Salute aka, Ronnie James Dio, tactical Lefty Revolver Reload... ::)
twyacht,
how do you OPEN the revolver left handed? This is one reason I like the Ruger LCR. Also, it's said the SAA is lefty.
Left thumb comes across the grip to push the cylinder release, as middle and ring fingers push cylinder out, and hold it there.
You should see me with spiral notebooks, and angled spatula's..... :P