A Thankful Lefty in a Right Handed Gun World!

[twyacht]

This one is for the southpaw shooters!

Recently bought an Smith & Wesson M+P in 40 caliber. It comes with the slide stop on both sides AND an interchangeable magazine release, that took my local dealer literally less than a minute and a half to switch over.

Its nice that the features are unobtrusive and don't effect the profile for holstering at all. Someone at S & W finally,.. "kept it simple , stupid".

Especially since the Sigma was right hand exclusive, except in an emergency.

After sending my 1911's off for ambi safety's at our local gunsmith,  at roughly $50-75, each, but still adapting to a mag release and slide stop via the index finger on my left hand, its just something I've adjusted for from those pistols.

Since I don't have a couple thousand or more dollars for a true "southpaw custom", it was nice to see S & W offer these features right out of the box with no rocket science application or install.

Oh, and the pistol shoots absolutely on the mark.

Thank you Smith & Wesson!

Tom W.
Wilmington, NC

[sfmittel]

Congratulations, Tom.  It sounds like you've found lefty nirvana, which isn't easy.  I've been a lefty since 1948, and a shooter for over 30 years.  Time and again, I've had to adapt to the firearm instead of the other way around.  Bolt action rifles were a nuisance to cycle, where I had to reach my left hand over the receiver to cycle the bolt.  I got used to it and reasonably fast, but I never liked it. Now I own two bolt-actions, both left-handed - what a joy! And don't ask me about semi-auto .22 rifles - all but one blow gases straight back into my right eye.  That one exception is the old Browning SA .22 - mine is Belgian, than you.

However, I've found that being lefty can be a distinct advantage.  I can eject a magazine from a semi-auto pistol with my left index finger faster than most righties can do it with their thumb.  Slide releases are just that - releases - and I simply don't use them, preferring instead to slingshot the slide.  Again, it's generally faster compared to those handicapped righties.  Hitting the decocker on a SIG is much faster with the left index finger, also.  And reloading a revolver is much easier and faster for a lefty.  I can't imagine how weird it would be to use the new Charter Arms left-handed revolver - cylinder release on the right, and the cylinder swings out to the right.  It just doesn't seem natural.

I guess the bottom line is enjoy being built the correct way.  We're all born right-handed; only the best of us can overcome it. 

[Jim Urban]

God made a few perfect people...The rest he made right handed. 

[jaybet]

Hey Lefty.
I'm from the right side of the world, but I recently picked up a Ruger SR9 and was pleased to see that both the magazine release and thumb safety were on both sides of the pistol. The slide stop in righty oriented, however.

[tnroadrunner]

I'm right handed but when I lost my sight in my right eye, I learned to shoot lefty.  I have several XD's and they are great for lefties.  Got the XD's before the M&P's came out.  I also have a left handed AR from Stag Arms, great rifle.  So I am adapting.

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

Great to see the Lefty's post and find the pistol/rifle that can be a pleasure to shoot/ carry, and remember what Gunny Highway said:

Overcome and Adapt!

That's the niche that puts us in our "right mind".

Thanks.

[DDMac]

Being a '48er myself, I still suffer from the public school forced right hand conversion in effect during the first half of the last century. There Shall Be No Lefties. Write right handed, shoot about the same with either. Play two paddle Ping Pong. Amphibious, Closet Leftie.
Mac.

[Marshal Halloway]

Being a '48er myself, I still suffer from the public school forced right hand conversion in effect during the first half of the last century. There Shall Be No Lefties. Write right handed, shoot about the same with either. Play two paddle Ping Pong. Amphibious, Closet Leftie.
Mac.

Have to join the club. I am left handed, but was forced to write with my right hand. Well, I am not sure if forced is the right word. I guess it was more the fact that no one told me it was ok to write with my left hand. Now I can not write with my left, but the funny thing is that I shoot handguns with my right and long guns with my left. I am left eye dominant and have to tilt my head when shooting handguns. As Larry Potterfield says: "That's just the way it is". 

[Hazcat]

Have to join the club. I am left handed, but was forced to write with my right hand. Well, I am not sure if forced is the right word. I guess it was more the fact that no one told me it was ok to write with my left hand. Now I can not write with my left, but the funny thing is that I shoot handguns with my right and long guns with my left. I am left eye dominant and have to tilt my head when shooting handguns. As Larry Potterfield says: "That's just the way it is". 

Always thought you were half a bubble off!

[david86440]

I am a lefty and was never forced to do anything righthanded as a youngster, but my father had the foresight to know that I could be at a disadvantage later in life if I shot long guns left handed.

From the time I had my first daisy he would encourage me to hold it to my right shoulder. My first bolt action came at the age of 10, a custom mauser 98 that I still have almost 50 yrs later and cherish as a memory of my father and the great times we had together in the Maine woods.