Small Ambi/Lefty .45
I'm in the market for my next hand gun. Looking for a small, very compact .45 for a CCW(with both single and double action). The catch is that I'm a lefty and want a left handed or ambidextrous magazine relase, which seems to rule out most 1911's that I know of. I would like, but don't absolutely need, a left handed decocker.
I'm fond of my HK Full Size USP and looked at the HK Compact, but it's a tad big for a CCW.
I looked at the Taurus Millenium, and liked it except for it's trigger pull which was comparable to starting an old lawn mower after it has sat in storage for the winter.
I've tried a several Glocks, and for whatever reason, can't seem to hit the back side of a barn with them, even though I'm a pretty good shot with most other Semi-autos.
I just saw a Sig 245 and I really liked the feel of it and Sig says the mag release can be reversed. Thus, for now it is at the top of my list.
Do any of you know much about them or have suggestions for other guns that might work for me?
Thanks.
http://ynot4free.com
I'm fond of my HK Full Size USP and looked at the HK Compact, but it's a tad big for a CCW.
I looked at the Taurus Millenium, and liked it except for it's trigger pull which was comparable to starting an old lawn mower after it has sat in storage for the winter.
I've tried a several Glocks, and for whatever reason, can't seem to hit the back side of a barn with them, even though I'm a pretty good shot with most other Semi-autos.
I just saw a Sig 245 and I really liked the feel of it and Sig says the mag release can be reversed. Thus, for now it is at the top of my list.
Do any of you know much about them or have suggestions for other guns that might work for me?
Thanks.
http://ynot4free.com
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Try a Walther P-5 or P-5 compact. It uses a European mag release at the bottom of the grip and empties eject to the left. 0 -
I sure would be interested in a Walther P-5 or P-5 Compact in .45ACP! I thought they only came in 9x19. ( I assume rs missed the .45ACP portion of the post!)
The Taurus does not have the ambidextrous magazine release as far as I know, but it is about the smallest .45 semi-auto available. (I am waiting for the titanium slide model.) If small size is the major requirement, the Taurus is it. I do not find the trigger as bad as you say, but DAO is not my favorite operation system either. Perhaps Wolfe has a spring kit that will help, but I have not checked.
I agree that the baby Glocks are hard to shoot, at least for me, and they lack an active safety.
A SIG (all upper case - it is an acronym) 245 is far from compact in my opinion, being about the size of a Heckler-Koch USP Compact, but holding fewer rounds. I do not like the fact that the SIG has no active safety. I agree the H-K is not very small either, but it is the only pistol available that can be had with a left-handed decocker as far as I can recall.
My suggestion is to buy a Para-Ordnance in the smallest size, either single stack or double stack and single-action or double-action as you like (I like the 6.45 LDA, but wish they would make it with an alloy frame) and operate the magazine release with your index finger, which requires less grip shifting than using one's thumb if a right-handed shooter. As a forced left-hand shooter (polio), I have been using my left index finger on M1911-style magazine releases all my life and find it very satisfactory. However, if you do not like that, just buy an ambidextrous magazine release kit for the pistol from Brownells and you will have what you seek.
Let us know what you decide, and why.0 -
Olympic Arms makes a left handed 1911 type 45. 0 -
I am left handed and have faced the same frustration. I have a Colt Officer's model that I had an Amb. safety fitted to it. Great little gun.
There are aftermarket safeties out there that can be fitted to about any 1911 out there. Another option is to step up to the higher end kimber models. Most of them Amb. safeties on them.
Another good option is the HK USP .45 Compact. I have the same model in .40. It can be purchased with an amb. safety or you can do as I did and send it back to the factory and have one installed.
Good Luck with choice.
Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....0 -
If you can find one Randall manufactured a left hand model. In seeking one you want a model with a 'B' prefix which indicates left-hand configuration.
B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze0 -
I too am a lefty, I really like the Sigs but the slide release is impossible to get left handed. I too would recommed the Para LDA compact. It has a very nice trigger pull. I immagine an ambi-safety could be added, but you may want to talk to a gunsmith 1st. I also found the Smith & Wesson M99 to be very lefty friendly, it has the ambi-mag release which copies the HK. However it's only available in 9 & 40. 0 -
Your requirement of SA/DA really narrows the accecptable choices. The proper variant of the USP Compact would be my choice if I had to choose a traditional DA design. My first choice would be the PO LDA with an ambi safety but it is DAO.
JudgeColt brought up a very good point (and excellent advise as usual) on the use of your trigger finger for mag release. Sometime back I bought a Berreta 96D department trade-in that was set up for a lefty (I'm a righty) and found out that I really liked the mag release with my trigger finger. I have rather short fat fingers and I didn't have to change my grip to hit the mag release.
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY0 -
Most 1911s can be fitted with an ambi safety if they do not have one and this includes officer/commander size models. The better .45s usually have an ambi, but you usually have to buy "more" gun to do so(typically over $700); this is why you might find it easier/less expensive to have the ambi safety installed. On my 1911, I also had an ambi mag release installed. While I am a southpaw, I consider ambidextrous controls necessary more for facilitating weak hand shooting and speeding operation in general.
I have a number of SIGs, but haven't switched the controls;never felt it necessary.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
You were right, I missed the 45 notation. I am left handed and managed to snag left handed Randalls before they departed. In spite of my respect for the 45ACP and 40S&W, I just gravitated to the P5 as my personal choice for carry in spite of the 9X19 chambering.
Sorry.0 -
Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll keep all of this in mind while making my selection and will post what I end up buying and why. My county's pro-gun pro-CCW sheriff is up for relection so I'm looking to find one soon so I can add it to the permit when I apply and test.
Thanks again.
http://ynot4free.com0
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