I wanted to follow up with questions for a post by Erick Gelhaus regarding left-handed manipulations.
Although born right-handed, an accident in my early 20s damaged a nerve in my right arm, leading to weak right wrist strength. I learned to shoot lefty and coincidentally found out that I was left-eye dominant, so I've been shooting handguns and long guns left-handed for most of my adult life.
Pistols:
Most manipulations I think I've figured out while some have changed with the more I learn or setups change (pistol red dots affecting where I grip the slide, etc). The biggest challenge I have is clearing Type 3 (?) malfunctions or generally having to lock the slide back with non-ambi slide lock levers, retain a mag and manipulate the slide. On some pistols, I can engage the slide lock with the knuckle of my trigger finger and on other pistols (Shield+), I end up looking like someone who's just started to learn juggling.
- Mag release using trigger/middle finger or swap it to right side.
- Slide lock reloads use trigger finger on slide release or rack slide by front slide serrations.
- On small pistols (P365), keep left thumb far onto support hand to avoid stovepipes.
AR15:
I think the AR15 platform is actually more lefty friendly than right, with the exception of gas to the face. The tac reload is one manipulation that still baffles me without an ambi mag release. I've settled on stripping and stowing the mag before loading a new one, but that doesn't look as cool as the "L"-shaped mag grab that the righties can do. But seriously, the mag side-by-side finger-spacer method is even worse and typically ends with mags on the ground as I try to push the mag release and hold two mags in one hand all at the same time.
- Safety with left knuckle
- Bolt catch/release with left trigger finger
- Mag release with right thumb
Anyone else have "tricks" for lefties? Especially clearing Type 3 malfunctions on a pistol or tac reloads on an AR?