If you are a left-handed shooter, then odds are you’re in search of a pistol that will be compatible with your dominant hand. It is quite frustrating for lefties who rely on pistols for any given application, only to struggle mightily because most favor right-handed shooters.
There is no shame in being left-handed. And you don’t have to struggle with using a pistol just because you prefer a different hand than most users.
If you think a left-handed pistol is hard to find, you’d be surprised. We managed to find five of the best left-handed pistols available on the market as of this writing. Before we get to the list itself, we’ll talk about the perks of getting a left-handed pistol and why these pistols made the cut.
Comparison of the Best Left-Handed Pistols
Perks of Getting a New Left-Handed Pistol
If you purchase a left-handed pistol, you will be able to enjoy some of the sweet perks that come along with it. You won’t know what you’re missing if you continue to struggle using a right-handed pistol. Let’s take a look at what you might enjoy if you decide to get a left-handed pistol for yourself:
Better Handling
Yes, if you own a pistol that is compatible with your dominant hand, chances are you’ll have better control and stability. That’s something you won’t get with a right-handed pistol in your left hand. Why settle for poor stability which will give way to poor accuracy? Besides, it’s a lot better to get a firm grip and stable control than to struggle with ill-fitting models.
No More Casings to the Face
One of the most frustrating things that can happen to a lefty using a right-handed pistol is dealing with empty casings being ejected and hitting you in the face. This could lead to burns (since they are casings of freshly shot bullets) and may cause serious injury given the speed of the ejection. With a left-handed pistol, you will avoid disaster.
No Need to Learn How to Shoot With Your Right Hand
There are those out there that say if you are left-handed, you should swallow hard and learn to shoot with your right hand. That’s probably the silliest idea anyone could come up with. Why waste time learning how to shoot with your right hand when you know full well you can utilize a pistol designed for left-handed shooters?
Review of the Best Left-Handed Pistols
The following is a list of the five best left-handed pistols you can find on the market. As you go through the list, you should make notes of any features and characteristics that stand out as interesting. If you find one that checks off the boxes of personal preferences and needs, you have a pistol fit for you.
Let’s start off this list by unveiling our best overall choice for left-handed pistols:
Best Overall:
Glock G19X G5 9MM 4" Coyote
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new users were happy with the pistol for a few good reasons. For one, the accuracy was dead-on with targets ranging from 20 to 40 yards out.
Even shooting groups across various types of 9mm ammo were consistently tight at these distances. One user said he was able to use this as a casual target shooting pistol, but intends to use this in concealed carry situations if and when necessary.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This Glock 19X is part of the Glock 19 group, which, by the way, is one of the most reliable concealed pistols on the planet. The pistol itself (regardless of which 19 model you use) is trusted by many law enforcement and military personnel in nearly 50 countries.
If it’s trusted by almost half of the world, you know it has to be good. The night sights included in the pistol is hands down one of the best features since they are quite visible in low-light settings. This is a major plus if you intend to use it in a self-defense situation.
Who Will Use This Most
If you want superior reliability, then you’re probably going to salivate (well, not literally) over this pistol. This bad boy is guaranteed to have no malfunctions through well over 100, or even 1000 rounds.
And it has excellent accuracy and superior firing power to go along with it. At this point, you’d be insane to pass up the opportunity to give this pistol further consideration.
Bottom Line
This Glock G19X G5 9mm pistol is no doubt the best overall choice for left-handed users. And it will be hard to beat when pitted against any challenger.
Expect this sucker to stay on as the best overall for quite some time because of its reliability, accurate shooting, and overall awesomeness. It would be really hard to beat a Glock pistol no matter what the intents and purposes are.
Runner-up:
Heckler & Koch VP9
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New users found this pistol to be quite accurate in their initial test shooting session at the range. The shooting groups were quite tight and the effective accuracy went as far as 45 yards.
Most of these new users say they were confident in the pistol’s ability to deliver accurate shots if and when they have an opportunity to use this pistol in a self-defense situation. They also added that the inclusion of two magazines made it much more convenient since one didn’t seem like it was enough.
Why it Stands Out to Us
For a pistol that is considered the “budget” option, it functions as though it should be twice the price it goes for. Not only that, it has proven itself as one of the more reliable and accurate pistols for those starting out with concealed carry (and for newbies who are left-handed).
Indeed, it’s the kind of pistol that has an ambidextrous design. So it will work for both righties and lefties alike. No matter which is your dominant hand, this pistol will probably serve as your training pistol (and probably the only concealed carry pistol that you’ll need for a long time).
Who Will Use This Most
If you are a beginner in search of a pistol that will be ideal for starting out with concealed carry, you might consider this as a viable option compared to some of the other newbie-friendly pistols that might be cheap in price and not the best in quality. You deserve high quality and performance above all else. Why should you settle for anything less than what this pistol offers?
Bottom Line
The Heckler & Koch VP9 will leave newbie users with a really great first impression by delivering precise, accurate shooting, superior firing power, and a price tag that is just too hard to resist. It ain’t cheap or flimsy in the slightest. But you will put this pistol to the test and wonder why it isn’t as expensive as it could be. Luckily for you, it might be a steal of a deal.
Best for the Money:
Beretta PX4 Storm
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
As expected, a lot of new users were happy with the overall ability of this pistol. Not only was it easy to handle for most left-handed shooters, but it also allowed for excellent stability (thus leading to straightforward, accurate shooting).
One user said that he didn’t feel a single bit of recoil while pulling the trigger, thus further confirming he had total control over the pistol. So far, he’s been able to hit his targets from distances ranging from 30 to 40 yards.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Berettas are known for being pretty solid pistols. This one proves that its no exception to the rule. It’s small in size, thus making it super-easy to conceal. And if anything, max concealment is always a plus when you want to keep your pistol out of sight. No one will know you are carrying until you draw it to warn an attacker that you are not one to mess around.
Who Will Use This Most
Among the users who will rely on this most will obviously be the concealed carry users. Whether you are new to the whole thing or have been around for a while and need a new pistol for EDC use, you may want to take a closer look at this pistol.
Its American-made durability will certainly be hard to beat compared to cheap, foreign-made pistols. And with top-of-the-line quality, you can expect this to be reliable for many years (or even decades).
Bottom Line
If the Beretta USA PX4 Storm appeals to you with its overall performance, it might be a pistol you’ll enjoy shooting. While you might be inclined to use this in a target shooting setting, it’s a pistol you may consider using if and when you need to defend yourself in a dangerous situation.
No matter what, you'll have a pistol that won’t malfunction through hundreds of rounds, nor will it be a real pain in the butt to pull the trigger.
4. SIG Sauer P320 Compact Handgun
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New users had nothing but great things to say about this pistol. Not only was it malfunction-free through well over 100 rounds (or more), it remained consistently accurate regardless of the brand of rounds they have used.
One user said he was able to hit various targets from as far out as 30 yards. He added that it also didn’t have a lot of recoil to mitigate, which was a good thing since it gave him so much control over the pistol.
Why it Stands Out to Us
SIG Sauer is a name that is relied on by many law enforcement and government agencies that rely on a sidearm for protection. And it’s also a favorite among civilians, as well.
Why did they choose these over the Colt 1911 a couple of decades back? The answer: reliability. And with this SIG Sauer pistol, that is what you’ll get. Since it’s an ambidextrous design, both righties and lefties alike will enjoy putting it to good use at the range.
At the same time, it’s the perfect sidearm to have handy when you want to prepare yourself for any kind of dangerous attackers or prowlers. At its size, it’s got the concealment-advantage so you can carry every day and keep it out of plain sight until you absolutely need it.
Who Will Use This Most
If you want a reliable sidearm and are a member of law enforcement (or a civilian) that shoots left-handed, you might find this pistol appealing in a few ways. Indeed, it has the reliability. And yes, it’ has good concealment. Top it off with accurate shooting and the quick ability to draw it out of your holster, and you have a pistol that will not let you down, no matter what.
Bottom Line
If you’re a lefty in search of a pistol that is reliable, concealable, and does some serious damage, you may want to consider the SIG Sauer P320 Compact Handgun as the best possible option. It has perfect dimensions and ability to go the distance. And best of all, it gives left-handed shooters all the stability and control they need to make this pistol a lot more enjoyable.
5. Walther PPQM2 4IN 9MM
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
According to new users, this pistol was pretty durable in quality. In fact, new users were able to handle the pistol in both good weather and bad in an outdoor setting.
The gripping ability was second to none and it provided excellent stability (which of course leads to accurate shooting), one user reported. He also added that it was easy to handle in a “run and gun” situation (which he was able to do during his latest run on a course at his local range).
Why it Stands Out to Us
If you are in search of a pistol that will deliver a good amount of accurate shots at various ranges up to 50 yards, this left-handed pistol makes a strong case as to why it’s one of the best.
The shooting groups maintain tightness no matter what kind of 9mm rounds you put in the magazine. High-end, cheap rounds, you simply cannot lose. You can leave a lasting, damaging impact with this pistol if and when you use it in a target shooting or concealed carry situation.
Who Will Use This Most
This pistol is a great choice for multiple applications. You get a pretty good pistol known for not only delivering consistent accuracy, but it’s certainly the pistol you’ll love when it comes to reliability.
When the competition is intense or your life is on the line, you want a pistol that won’t malfunction or give you any kind of grief. It’s the kind of pistol that any concealed carry user might want to consider for an easy-to-conceal weapon with a quick draw (even for left-handed shooters).
Bottom Line
If you want accuracy, reliability, and concealment in one nice, little package, then the Walther PPQM2 is probably going to be the go-to option. Whether you use it for a day at the range or as an EDC carry pistol, it’s no slouch when it comes to performance and quality. It’s so durable that you can expect this puppy to get you through the day for many years to come.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Left-Handed Pistol?
It’s better to be well-informed about a purchase than to choose one at random. This is the case when looking for a left-handed pistol. If you want something that will be worth the investment for someone like yourself, here are some things you need to know:
Ambidextrous is Usually Better
While there aren’t really a whole lot of pistols made strictly for left-handed users, your next best bet is the ambidextrous design. Not only are they beneficial for lefties, but right-handed shooters will use them, as well (assuming they are happy with the overall functionality). And they come with little recoil right out of the box.
Find a Left-Hand Oriented Holster
Since most of these pistols are intended for concealed carry, obviously that means finding a holster. If you are a left-handed shooter, find a holster designed for a left-handed orientation. This way, you can attach it to the right side of your body while being able to cross draw using your dominant hand.
Don’t Worry About Learning How to Shoot Right-Handed
We might have said it once and we’ll say it again: don’t bother learning how to shoot with your right hand. If we advocated that, it would be pointless to review these left-handed pistols. Learning to shot with your non-dominant hand takes time, frustration, and step-by-step learning in order to get the hang of it. You’re better off getting one of these five pistols listed above.
Conclusion
The best left-handed pistol is out there. It’s important to consider purchasing one so you can easily use it in any application. Whether for target practice or self-defense, you deserve a pistol that will give you better control, better accuracy, and most importantly, more overall enjoyment. No left-handed shooter should ever be relegated to shooting right-handed (or having to use a right-handed pistol).
