Recently I read an article on Gunmann.com titled, โBest Left-Handed Pistols of 2023โ. I thought to myself, if there is such a thing?
I mean, a left-handed pistol?????
Then I thought, why?
If there is such an animal, why did someone choose to design it, and what makes a left-handed pistol an LHP?
Before I start talking about it, here’s a little background first.
I am a retired law enforcement firearms instructor and Iโve owned my own firearms training company for 23 years.
Between teaching at the academy and running my company, D.S.A., Iโve trained more than 8000 students over the years and, being a left-handed person myself, I realized long ago, that we live in a right-handed world!
First, let me say, there are plenty of great instructors in this industry, and I donโt want you to think that Iโm some kind of expert, cause Iโm not. I am a student of the trade, probably just like you.
I have all kinds of certificates that qualify me as an instructor, but what really sets me and my team apart is our ability to relate to good ole, regular folks like you.
We attend classes just like everybody else and enjoy learning, so please donโt tune me out just because I have a law enforcement background.
Iโm not your typical asshole firearms instructor who thinks his shit doesnโt stink. I have no pride and no ego when it comes to helping others. I do what I can to share what I know and if it helps someone stay alive, we both win!!!!
I also donโt consider myself an instructor, I like to think of myself as a teacher. A teacher of the art of staying alive.
Back to this notion of left-handed pistols. Letโs face it, only a fool would design a pistol solely to be used by a left-handed shooter.
Now, donโt get your panties in a wad, thereโs an exception to everything I say and write so bear with me.
The fact is, we live in a right-handed world. Itโs just that simple. And, as a left-handed shooter and teacher, Iโve had to learn to adapt and overcome obstacles just like anyone else.
Hell, I taught a guy with no thumbs to shoot a 1911. If I can help him, surely I can help you? Maybe???? Iโll try.
The only difference between me and most firearms instructors is, that I actually care and I can relate to the left-handed shooters out there AND I can teach them how to make adjustments to their game without having to modify their pistols to be left-handed.
Why do I feel the way I do about this?
Cause back in the day, “ambi” wasnโt a thing. Take Glock pistols for example. It wasnโt until recently that you were able to take the magazine release button and put it on the right side.
Add to that an ambi slide lock/release lever and bingo, youโve got a โleft-handed pistolโ.
Hereโs the deal though! Even though you might be able to move the mag release around to the other side so you can hit it with your left thumb, why would you????
Yes, a right-handed shooter should, 99% of the time, utilize their right thumb to release the magazine, but a left-handed shooter doesnโt need to alter their gun at all.
Still with me? Donโt tune me out yet, okay?
I learned 30 years ago that I donโt need to hit the mag release with my left thumb. In fact, it wasnโt even possible to do that back then.
You had a pistol that was made the way it was made, and if you were a lefty, you better figure it out. Well, I did. I use my middle finger on my left hand to release the mag and I teach the same thing to my students.
Call me crazy, call me stupid, call me whatever you want, but I donโt think itโs a good idea to modify a gun to make it left-handed.
If you train for any length of time with a gun set up for a lefty, when you pick up a different make or model that hasnโt been modified for a left-handed shooter, you feel like you’re holding a football bat wearing basketball cleats. In other words, you canโt run the gun for shit.
My thought is to leave the gun set up the way it came from the factory and make adjustments to your technique. Adapt or die? Right? Using my left, middle finger keeps my trigger finger out of the trigger guard and completely away from the bang switch. By using my middle finger (something that gets used a lot!!!) I can re-grip the gun quickly and be ready to seat the magazine into the well, thus making for a faster, cleaner reload.
But how do you put the gun back into the battery during a slide-lock or emergency reload??
Iโm so glad you asked.
There are several techniques out there for left-handed dorks like me.
Weโve got the โfool-proofโ over-the-top technique, where you simply take your support hand over the top of the slide and โgrip it and rip it.โ
Iโve seen people modify this technique, thinking their way was going to be faster, and it ended up being a weaker movement. Thus, it led to a few bobbles on their reloads.
Itโs foolproof if you do it correctly. While executing the over-the-top technique, keep in mind, that your support hand is coming over the top of the slide with your thumb to the rear of the gun.
Your thumb should be pointing at your chest if you wanna do that technique correctly. This allows all four fingers to firmly grasp the slide between your fingers and the palm of your hand.
HINT: Think small circles when you do this. That way, youโre not chasing the gun trying to re-establish your two-handed, crush grip on the pistol. If you donโt know what Iโm talking about, come take a class with us and Iโll explain it in great detail.
Donโt like the โOver the topโ technique? Okay, fine, me neither.
In fact, I rarely use that technique myself. If I have a gun with an ambidextrous slide release, Iโm not sure Iโd use it even if it were there.
Truth be told, with over 1.7-1.8 million reloads (I totally made that number up) without the ability to have an ambi release, Iโve developed a skill that allows me to reload the gun easily and quickly.
Heck, if I wanted to use the ambi slide release, I would have to unlearn a complex motor skill, and then learn to use my thumb in a way that itโs never been used before.
I think Iโm okay doing it the way I have been for 3 decades now and that is to roll the gun to my centre (keep it in my work-space), pinch the slide between my right thumb and index finger, pull the slide slightly rearward, and then immediately re-grip the gun.
Mind you, the gun stays in your workspace (as always). But, thatโs an extra motion you say??? Hmmmmm. You are right, but Iโd rather have a technique that works for me nearly 100% of the time than have one that works half the time.
Agree or disagree?
Anyway, you slice it, if youโre a true teacher, all that matters is your students figure out a way that works best for them.
All you can do is give them options. Tell them everything you know. Show them the several different techniques that are out there to accomplish the goal. In the end, if you can share with them a better, or safer, or faster technique, thatโs your job!!!!
Do it!!!!!
If you need help teaching left-handed people, who better to offer you suggestions than a left-handed shooter and instructor? Those are my thoughts.
Take ’em or leave ’em. Iโm not trying to convince anyone of anything.
My job is to share what I know and since I donโt know everything, I welcome any comments to help me continue my learning process.
Final Takeaway
If youโre a left-handed shooter, you donโt need to modify a gun to have it set up for a lefty. I think thatโs a bad idea. Weโll do just fine with it the way it came in the box. If youโve got a new, left-handed shooter out there that chooses to use a gun like the Gen 5 Glock 19X with the ambi slide release, give them options. After all, being a teacher is a privilege and a huge responsibility.
Stay informed, Stay up to date, and by all means, stay deadly!!!
