Weak Hand ONLY........what gun is best?

I like my Springfield Armory XD9 4"; It is compact ,lightweight and very easy to use weak hand or not & it works great left or right handed.
 
J-Frame or Sp 101. Basically takes limp wristing issues out of the equation. If you are worried about recoil issues, I would get a steel version (sp101 only comes in steel) and or load with target wadcutters or Corbon DPX (a load I find very mild shooting.)
 
desmobob said:
I was originally ready to say "Glock" due to the simplicity of operation, but then I thought about the slide release being for right-handers. If someone made an ambidextrous slide release for Glocks (and I don't recall seeing one), that would be my pick... probably in 9mm for the advantage of low recoil for the "weak" hand. The model (size) would be based on your desired degree of concealment; same with the holster.

Otherwise, I'd probably pick a CZ-75 Combat model (it has ambi controls), also in 9mm. It offers single and double action operation, high capacity and cocked-and-locked carry.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
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Glocks have a slide lock, people use them as a release, but that wasn't teh designer's intent. Simply find a sharp corner and press on the slide which will release the slide lock, then the slide will go into battery chambering a round. Weak hand only I'll stick with a 9mm, G17 or G19.
 
Browning Hi-Power. Cocked and locked. I've done a fair amount of weak had shooting with this gun.
 
Interesting comments.

I intended this to be a "what gun for weak hand only for when you KNOW you'll only have your weak hand available," not if your strong hand gets hit in the middle of the fight.

For example, you broke your strong side arm/wrist, etc, last week and you have the option to plan accordingly with a gun that might better suit a weak hand only situation.

I still think that a revolver is a poor choice. Low capacity and the long, hard trigger pull knock it out of the running for me, before we even get to the reload issue.

I would want high capacity, as I just don't think there's any way I could be as accurate weak hand only as I am two-handed. This means a semi-auto.

A couple good choices:

1) Glock 9mm, either the 17 or 19. I have 16 or 18 shots on board to get me out of the situation. I can drop the mag using the trigger finger (when the left hand is the weak hand) and I can drop the slide by catching the rear sight on the edge of my belt and letting it go forward.

2) Springfield XD, 4" This has an ambi mag release and holds 17 total rounds of 9mm. Would use the "catch the rear sight" method of dropping the slide.

3) Smith & Wesson M&P. This one had ambi controls, including a slide stop. 18 rds of 9mm on board.

If you were able to handle the kick of the .40, then all 3 models have twins in that caliber.

4) 1911 in 9mm, .40, 10mm, or .45 as long as you have an ambi safety should get you home, altho capacity is not as great.

Obviously, make sure YOUR gun will function with your carry load of choice firing weak hand only BEFORE you carry it.

Some guns suggested have a long hard trigger pull, if only for the first shot (CZ, Taurus, Ruger) so I have a challenge:

What do you fine folks think a good "weak hand only" drill would be to test one's skill level ? I'm after something quick and easy, something we could ALL set up and do at our local range. For example, from a signal, draw and fire 6 shots on a sheet of typing paper at 5 yds, weak hand only. How fast can you do that ?

Other suggestions? (please, no 50 rd courses of fire that require running, empty guns or shoot/no-shoot decision making. Those are other dynamics not in the scope of this quest)

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I do draw, 2 rounds, mag change, holster, repeat quite a bit. Work my way through five or six mags.

Also I like draw, 2 rounds on each of three targets while moving laterally (tactical talk for taking a step sideways) drop to knee, mag change, 2 rounds going back the other way, holster.

At least with the SA pistols there is a nice light trigger. Most of my autos have been 1911s, which have a fairly one hand-left only compatible mag release. In my vague and faulty memory lot of the euro guns have that sketchy trigger guard release that I hate, but I think that would work okay lefty too. I vaguely remember that this mag release is less common on guns exported to the US? The butt-heel relases I think would work less well.

Personally I am a big believer in the .357 revolvers - I can shoot very tight weak hand groups with all of mine, very quickly - but I understand wanting the extra mag cap. Reloading revolvers is fairly hard with one hand, not that reloading with detachable mags is all that easy one-handed either. At any rate it's less of an issue in Canada where you can't legally go past ten rounds anyway (let alone carry, unless you are an ex-PM etc.)
 
First of all, 1whitefoot, what knife is that in the top photo. It calls out to me....(and says dirty things in my ear) :)
I'm fairly ambidextrous, with a slight left hand advantage. I only carry an old WWII Remington Rand 1911, stock everything. (I did polish it up and add some ivory grips, sue me) I practice often shooting with both hands, and I'm able to shoot rapid fire into 5" at 25 feet, unaimed. I'm a big believer in reflex memory, and my groups hit center mass or head from my hip or otherwise.
I have to admit, I fondled a PT45 the other day and it felt good. Seemed to point naturally, and very easy to use. I may consider trying one out for the capacity advantage and the concealability.
 
David E said:
...I still think that a revolver is a poor choice. Low capacity and the long, hard trigger pull knock it out of the running for me, before we even get to the reload issue.

I would want high capacity, as I just don't think there's any way I could be as accurate weak hand only as I am two-handed. This means a semi-auto...
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Sorry about that, I did not realize that you were only going after semi-auto's.
 
David E said:
Interesting comments.

I intended this to be a "what gun for weak hand only for when you KNOW you'll only have your weak hand available," not if your strong hand gets hit in the middle of the fight.

For example, you broke your strong side arm/wrist, etc, last week and you have the option to plan accordingly with a gun that might better suit a weak hand only situation.

.
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Thanks for clarifying.

In such a case, I'd still have to go with a small revolver in DA.

An FTE with a semi-auto due to limp-wristing with the weak hand will be no less detrimental to an SD situation than a limited round count in a revolver.

just my 02¢
 
Rupestris said:
Thanks for clarifying.

In such a case, I'd still have to go with a small revolver in DA.

An FTE with a semi-auto due to limp-wristing with the weak hand will be no less detrimental to an SD situation than a limited round count in a revolver.

just my 02¢
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Certainly that's a point to consider. Which is why one should practice a LOT weak hand only with either a revolver with a hard, long trigger pull or a semi-auto.

Obviously, if your weak hand only shooting invoked multitudinous failures to eject, then it's time to truly master that DA trigger weak hand only.

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David E said:
I'm really not........but they DO make more sense (to me, anyway) than a revolver for weak hand only.

Do you disagree ?

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I disagree, for sure. I have no trouble at all with even my heavy gp100, which is not a light trigger.

I don't find reloading much slower with a revolver and speed loaders than with mags.

You do give up some in capacity, but you pack more punch...to me this is a fair trade.

Finally, if something goes wrong, you are not trying to clear FTEs, sort out FTFs, or anything like that with one hand. You pull the trigger again, that's it. About the only all-out problem that will shut down a revolver is a squib load, which will also shut down an auto.

Practise weak hand revolver shooting; you will find that you can develop the finger strength necessary pretty easily. I checked with my rather dainty girlfriend, and she has no trouble with her 686 weak hand. Granted that trigger is pretty light...but then you can make any trigger lighter if you want. No reason you couldn't do the trigger pull lefty, I think.
 
misanthropist said:
I disagree, for sure. I have no trouble at all with even my heavy gp100, which is not a light trigger.
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Slowfire, anything can be done. How about rapid fire? How fast could you draw and fire six shots and hit that sheet of typing paper at 5 yds?

I don't find reloading much slower with a revolver and speed loaders than with mags.
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I guess I'd have to see that. I think a shot timer would show a significant difference. Evenso, your reload would result in 6 more shots, mine would result in 17 more shots.
 
J33psru1e said:
Our weak (secondary is the term I use) hand drills consist of a discussion on gear. we begin by discussing the advantages of using gear that allows you to access your tools with either hand.

We then run through how to transfer the firearms from the primary hand to the secondary hand safely. Lay secondary palm flat, set gun in hand etc...

I believe the secondary hand stuff is good for several reasons, it gets people to question their gear, starts to develop some additional dexterity, gets people thinking about dealing with adversity.
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Sounds like a valuable part of your course. But taking a hit just as the firefight begins is a different dynamic than knowing your strong hand is incapacitated before you leave the house. This allows you to choose your gun/holster in advance.

Still, the points you raise here are important ones to consider.

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Something to think about. Hmmm. I'm seriously left handed and would more than likely shoot myself with any gun pulled with my right hand. I guess I need to work on that. I typically carry my Kahr k9 in the small of my back, always have a knife, sometimes a nice fixed blade in a cross draw on my right hip. I suppose I could draw it right handed if I need to. I seldom carry two pistols but when I do, my second is a .45/410 Bond Arms derringer that I carry on my ankle usually loaded with one 410 shell (first to fire) and one .45 round. I figure if it gets close, I ain't gonna miss with the 410 round and I'll still have a .45 to finish up my business if need be.
 
Texas Slim said:
I'm seriously left handed and would more than likely shoot myself with any gun pulled with my right hand. my second (gun) is a .45/410 Bond Arms derringer that I carry on my ankle....
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How good are you pulling that and firing it weak/secondary/right hand only ?

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I've recently gone through the sort of scenarion you describe. I had multiple fractures in my right hand and had to do everything left handed. I prefer the 1911 and I found that it works fine for weak hand only use.

I do think it depends though on the amount of facility one has in there 'injured' dominant arm. Can they use it at all? For example, I shoot lefthanded with right handed support much better than lefthanded alone. When I couldn't use my right arm at all I downgraded from .45 to 9MM, but still in a 1911. If one knew they were going to be lefthanded long term it would even be a good idea to get a barrel with reversed rifling so the gun would recall back into the palm instead of out, as it does for righthanders.

One additional sidepoint: the Springfield XD isn't a bad choice, but reloading the magazine itself (not the gun, but the magazine) is a major PITA. I'd be impressed if someone can feed cartridges into the magazine with their weak hand only. In that regard a single stack mag is much easier
 
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