Should a lefty shooter even consiider a Sig??

[urbantitanium]

I am a lefty shooter and for years have been intrigued with the Sig P229 or P226. Even though I have my heart set on a polymer striker fired 9mm for my next purchase, I would consider the Sig. Are there any lefties here who own Sigs and love
them and have no issues, or should I just move on from Sigs all together as a lefty?

Thanks

[RJ]

Intriqued.

What would preclude you buying a Sig as a lefty?

[urbantitanium]

Its completely non ambidextrous! Its seems to always been said that Sigs are "not left handed friendly."

[RJ]

Hmmmm...ok, don't own a Sig, but am a lefty.

This is for a P320C, which I looked at this spring before buying my VP9.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/01/daniel-zimmerman/gun-review-sig-sauer-p320-compact-carry-nitron-9mm/

The mag release is reversible. For me, it's a non-issue as I eject a mag with middle finger of my shooting hand on my M&P FS9 anyway. (My hands are small).

I also rack the slide overhand every time, as opposed to dropping the slide with the release/stop. I think most SMEs just use the release/stop. But I've always done it that way.

I'll be interested in more opinions, though, as I've only been shooting since 2013.

[jamautry]

As a lefty I have no issues with Sigs. I use my left index finger to operate the mag release. As for releasing the slide at slide lock there are multiple ways to do it: 1. Come over the top and rack the slide, 2. Roll the gun to the left as the mag is seated and pinch the front of the slide with your right index finger and thumb and release the slide, 3. My favorite, as you seat the magazine roll your right hand slightly to the left and your right index finger will be right next to the slide release and you can simply depress it with your right index finger, this method needs to be worked in dry fire a little to get it down but once you do you will not give up anything to the righties. I use either my left index finger or right thumb to operate the decocker.

Keep in mind there is one big advantage, you can grip the gun as high and as hard as you want and there is 0 chance to prematurely either lock the slide or drop the slide. This is a common complaint I hear from right handed shooters.

[urbantitanium]

Is the mag release bottom reversible on the p226 and 229?

[jamautry]

I believe they are but I have never tried it.

[SJC3081]

Consider this I am a lefty but I decided to shoot handguns righty when I was 23 years old. One week of formal training completed the transition. I shoot equally well either way, long arms or handguns.

[muddychi]

I'm a lefty, don't own one but have shot them enough to say that you should not have a problem. Think it is an advantage because so many righties ride the slide release.

[SteveK]

I'm right-minded and have shot Sig handguns for years. I recently transitioned our department to the Sig P226/200. I love the new SRT trigger and E2 grips. In my mind that made Sig a player again. The 320s seem to be awfully sweet and I will be purchasing one of them in the future.

I've found the best way to utilize the mag release is with the trigger finger or inside middle knuckle. The requires very little if any grip adjustment for most shooters.

Releasing the slide can be done by slingshoting or as stated previously rolling the support hand under the gun and releasing it with the fingers of the support hand. You just need to find what works for you.

In my mind the accuracy and srt trigger make the little inconvenience well worth the while. My guys and gals couldn't be happier with our new issue weapon.

[LSP972]

Nobody has mentioned the decock lever. This, too, is easily manipulated with the trigger finger for a southpaw.

The magazine catch is indeed reversible.

Using the overhand grasp technique on the slide works the best; just grab, retract fully, and release to chamber a fresh round from slide lock. To lock the slide back, use the same overhand grasp, retract fully, then use the middle finger to pull up on the slide stop lever.

Be VERY aware that reversing the magazine catch must be done with extreme attention to detail. The little nub on the retaining detent plunger only goes in one way, yet its possible to turn it one hundred eighty degrees during re-installation. Do that, and your mag catch is hors de combat. I'm told that Sig has developed a way to remove that without ruining the frame, but you'll have to send it back to them. They (Sig) told us, in 1989, that if you did that might as well write off the frame, because the only way to un-screw it was to punch out the catch; and that nub would take a piece of the frame with it.

All that said... it isn't a terrible deal to do; quite easy, in fact. Just be DAMN sure that the detent plunger is oriented the right way.

Anyway... the P-series DA/SA pistols are very easy for a southpaw to "run". IMO, far too much attention is placed on ambidextrous controls on a handgun; just below "second strike capability" and the dreaded high bore axis...:rolleyes:

.

[Little Creek]

I carried a P228 in 9, then a P229 in 9 and then a P229 in 357 Sig. I retired in 2001. I will let you guess which Federal Agency I worked for. As a LH shooter, I used my trigger finger to press the magazine release, just like 1 do with a 1911, and decock before holstering. I used the slingshot method to release the slide catch at that time, just like I learned on a 1911. No issues. I must not have like these Sig pistols as I have never owned one. For me at this time it is all Glocks. I use the overhand or taco method the release the slide lock now.

[SAWBONES]

Its completely non ambidextrous! Its seems to always been said that Sigs are "not left handed friendly."

Not so.

I'm left-handed and have had no trouble at all with the three (P225, P220 European, P220A) Sigs I've owned.

The left index finger is actually more adept at operating the decocking lever and the mag release button than is the right thumb!

The slide release lever is harder, but then it's not something you typically need in a hurry, since you can "slingshot" or "overhand" the slide from lockback.

(What bugged me about the Sigs I owned, and the reasons I didn't keep them, were the DA/SA trigger and the needlessly-high bore axis. I realize that many owners aren't bothered by those features, and certainly they were well made, quality guns, but I prefer "always the same" trigger actions and a lowest-possible bore axis in semiautos.)

[LostDuke]

It's not as bad as right handed scissors, but they do cater to the other 87% primarily.

As you can see from many of the previous replies, there are always ways around a gun. Turn it, go under it, use the other finger to do it. We adapt, find ways and make it work as a manner of life, so yes as a lefty you can enjoy a SIG. I own only one, a P225, and have enjoyed it for many years and will continue to do so. Do I use it as a competition gun? No way, the controls slow me down, but I still enjoy shooting it at the range for fun.

The Sig P226/200 is a wonderful gun , and I would totally go for it knowing that you will have to do what we usually do.

[45dotACP]

You might even get the slide to lock back on the last round.... :D

[MVS]

I didn't have any choice in the matter as we were issued 226's. Learned to operate them just fine although they never grew on me. Really don't care for them to this day but that has nothing to do with being left handed.

[Surf]

I am a lefty shooter and for years have been intrigued with the Sig P229 or P226. Even though I have my heart set on a polymer striker fired 9mm for my next purchase, I would consider the Sig. Are there any lefties here who own Sigs and love
them and have no issues, or should I just move on from Sigs all together as a lefty?

ThanksIMO, Sig now makes one of the best poly / striker pistols on the market with the P320. It is an ambi pistol. Magazine release button is reversible, ambi slide stop and no deckocker to manipulate. A standard classic line DA/SA Sig Sauer is not overly complex to run as a lefty either.

[eyemahm]

Not so.

I'm left-handed and have had no trouble at all with the three (P225, P220 European, P220A) Sigs I've owned.

The left index finger is actually more adept at operating the decocking lever and the mag release button than is the right thumb!

The slide release lever is harder, but then it's not something you typically need in a hurry, since you can "slingshot" or "overhand" the slide from lockback.


I am a lefty and keep a german P229 but carry and compete with a USP (also not considered ambi). This is very dependent on the individual, but I can manipulate all the controls on the USP with my left hand easily, including the slide release with my index finger. I cannot say the same thing for the magazine or slide release on the P229.. for my hands and grip, they are very challenging to manipulate (more so than any other pistol I've shot).

As others have mentioned, on a non-ambi gun, your grip will probably not interfere with the slide release, which is a huge plus IMO.


To me, there are two issues at play here:

1) What do you intend to use it for? Competition, occasional range toy, carry?

Is being unable to easily manipulate the slide release a major drawback for your intended use? IME, slingshotting instead of manipulating the slide release is approximately a .3-.6s penalty. Doing a reach-around with your right hand may be less time consuming, but it will still be slower. Does that matter to you? For me, having to use slower reloading techniques is a dealbreaker on a competition gun but not necessarily on a carry or range gun.

2) How well does the P-series (which I assume is the object of your question) fit your hand?

Can you manipulate the magazine release easily or reverse it?

I didn't find that I could comfortably manipulate it (on the left side) with any consistency or confidence, though others have posted that they had better luck with it. Again, is that a requirement based on your intended use?

Conclusion: If the P series fits your hand and you feel comfortable manipulating the controls, which seems to be very individual, it's a great choice. If you're so-so on it, and don't just want to have a P22X for the sake of having a SIG, there are probably better options, like the 320.

[Brian T]

I'm left handed and I learned to really shoot on the SIG. At one point I had close to 30 of them. Then I was down to two, as I moved on. It wasnt that the SIGs I had were bad, I just migrated from them. That said, if a certain friend decides to get rid of his never used P228, I would like to add it.

I do not reverse the mag release. I use the over hand method of grasping the slide and releasing. I do this on ALL guns, even the VP9 I carry every day. Why? So I have one method to release the magazine and one method to chamber a round that works for all of my semi autos. I dont want to train with one gun, say a VP9 in my case, learn it particulars and peculiarities (ambi slide stop/release and magazine release) only to have them not work on another gun (my Beretta 92s).

[tanner]

You might even get the slide to lock back on the last round.... :D

Right. My least favorite thing about classic Sigs as a right hander is that darn slide catch. Don't lose any sleep over it, but...

[Mr. Goodtimes]

I'm left handed and As a kid I learned to shoot a handgun with my fathers west German 226. It's funny the things we figure out as kids when no one tells us that "just make sense."

I quickly learned to drop the magazine with my strong side trigger finger and use my weak side middle finger to hit the mag release after seating the magazine.

When I worked in a gun shop for a few years (a few years id prefer to forget) it used to drive me nuts when customers would be adamant about NOT buying certain pistols because they weren't ambidextrous. Every pistol I've ever shot was ambidextrous, you just have to run it differently as a left handed shooter.

It especially drove me nuts because nobody ever told me how to do it and I never ruled out a gun because it didn't "fit my hand" or it "wasnt ambidextrous." That was the gun dad had, or that was the gun the military was issuing me... I just learned to shoot it and dealt with it.

I currently carry a Glock 19


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[Keys1970]

I am a right handed shooter who is experimenting with shooting left handed. I got a Sig P320C b/c it's almost fully ambi. It took a little effort to reverse the magazine catch. It's great!

[Wheeler]

I had a P239 and a P232 and had no issues operating either as a lefty. Most leftys figure out how to make things work rather than emulate a mirror image of righties.

[ReverendMeat]

I think SIGs work just fine for left handed use, but that depends on what you're looking for. If you want blazing fast speed reloads then maybe not. For me (right handed), as others have mentioned already, failures to go to slide lock on empty are commonplace. I'm not riding the slide stop either, during recoil my thumb will bump it sometimes (but not every time) and cause the failure. Additionally, on my 226 (though never on my 228, 229, or 239) I'll squeeze it in just the wrong way to pop the magazine out during recoil. If I were left handed I wouldn't have either issue. Index finger can easily operate mag release and decocker. Slide lock reloads, "slingshot" or "powerstroke" work just fine but won't help your FAST times at all.

[Rex G]

Classic SIGs often work better for lefties than righties. It is righties that struggle with SIGs, as the controls tend to get in the way when using the modern thumbs-forward gripping technique. In particular, the slide stop lever is often depressed, by many shooters, preventing the slide from locking open when the mag is empty. (I have never had this latter issue, as my thumbs ride lower than the side stop lever, and my thumbs are relatively short, anyway.)

I use my left index finger to release the mag when shooting lefty. This, too, is an advantage, at least for my hands, when shooting a SIG lefty.

I am left-handed, functionally ambidextrous with most handguns, and have carried "primary" on my right hip since 1984*. Seriously, a SIG works better lefty than righty.

*Why carry righty, as a lefty? Well, I tend to lead with my left side in a confrontation, which means my right hip is a longer reach for an opponent in a gun-grab. It is easier, when driving most vehicles, to reach the right hip. I had to carry a DA revolver as a rookie LEO, and right-hand reloading techniques flowed more smoothly. It made sense, in the beginning, to choose right-side carry, for my individual situation.

[Clipazine92]

I am a lefty shooter and for years have been intrigued with the Sig P229 or P226. Even though I have my heart set on a polymer striker fired 9mm for my next purchase, I would consider the Sig. Are there any lefties here who own Sigs and love
them and have no issues, or should I just move on from Sigs all together as a lefty?

Thanks

I made an account just to respond to this. Yes you should, you should get used to single action only (SAO) models and learn how toanipulate them as well as carry them with a round in the chamber and the hammer back. They come with manual ambidextrous safeties and reversible mag releases. The slide lock being not not left handed shouldn't matter for obvious reasons.