The only thing you need to make it a left hand model (like I need) is the ambi safety. You can pay a little more and get a 1911 that comes that way or buy a cheaper version and spend about $200 installing one (so it just about works out the same).
Very helpful. My wife is left-handed. We are looking at .45acp handguns for HD. The fact that her grandfather carried one of the original 1911s in WWII has led me to this venerable gun. Ambidextrous operation is key, so the fact that it is possible and somewhat comfortable to operate 1911 left handed is just one more reason for us to get one. Your informative video was on point. Thank you for posting it.
> ...her grandfather carried one of the original 1911s in WWII... I am not currently a "1911 Guy"; so I almost skipped the chance to "go all nerdy" here; nevertheless, solely for clarification purposes, are you saying that "her Grandfather" carried a pre-1924 Colt 1911 while in WWII? If his was the "Standard Government Issue" in the 1940s, it would have been the "A1" version, not the "original." ;-)
I'm a lefty, but had nothing but problems with my 1911. I had an RIA fs tactical. with an ambi thumb safety. Turns out the ambi safety isn't quite as positive or "stiff" during recoil, I would slightly bump the thumb safety with the first knuckle of my index finger causing the slide to short stroke. However, I've had much success with the Springfield mil-spec model. 90 rounds down rage with a rented gun. no malfunctions. to all you lefties out there, make sure you get a 1911 with an extremely positive thumb safety.. the 1911 wasn't designed with lefties in mind. Yet it can be an awesome firearm for lefties even given its limitations.
Need a high quality ambi-safety, such as EGW... As well as maintaining a "thumbs forward" grip with your strong hand thumb resting atop the thumb safety when in engagement.
I'm right handed but my M9 is a little too large to reach the magazine release with my thumb so I swapped it to the other side of the handgun and press it with my trigger finger exactly as shown in this video. Works great so I don't have to change my firing grip.
1:20 I suppose the other option for us poor lefties, when operating a non-ambidextrous model, would be to simply hit the safety with the offhand upon drawing the pistol. As opposed to breaking proper grip, I'd probably go with doing this instead.
If you have time to try, you can use your left thumb to come across the rear of the slide and push it down in a tiny fraction of time, however don’t do that with the old models because the lever is too small and too far forward.
Great video; I'm left handed and I have my eye on a Springfield 1911 with a thumb safety only on the left hand side. This will present a new dynamic, as the only 2 handguns I own right now are a Glock 17 and Ruger Security-Six, both of which are very lefty-friendly. Your video is very instructional. Thanks!
+Mister Blue Hey dude, let me know how you reconciled on your purchase of a righty-only 1911. I'm in the same boat and am seriously debating between sacrificing the 1911 I really want (Colt) in favor of a more lefty friendly model (Kimber).
+Joshua Tunis I was in the same boat, but now I've been considering a Para 1911 with ambi safety. But I also did find an actual left-hand 1911 that I'd really love to have made by Cabot. Problem is its about 4 grand. -_-
@@joshuatunis6732 Depending upon eye-dominance and other considerations, you could always just learn to shoot it right-handed. It really isn't that hard -- and, I find, the extra dexterity ("sinistrality"?) that comes with handling my mags with my dominant hand makes for better reloads...
With today’s custom high end high dollar 1911’s / 2011’s someone just needs to build an ambidextrous 1911 / 2011. End of the day just talking about adding an ambidextrous mag release. Most come with a manual safety release. Lefties love 1911s too we just don’t want to train a different way to run it.
My magazine release is super stiff on my 1911 so its hard to release the magazine like in this video? Any tips besides doing 100 finger push ups a day?
I just purchased an SA 1911 Loaded. It has an ambi safety (I am a lefty). Activating the safety on the left side of the gun works fine; when activating on the right side, it hangs up. Not sure if this is a break-in issue or part issue so I will have to see if it gets better with a few rounds through it.
Im a right hand shootet. My thumbs are too shirt for me to reach the mag releae on my norinco np58 so i did just that. Niw i release the mag with my index. It clears my finger of the trigger and i dont need to offset my grio while reloading. Needs some getting used to tho.
I started carrying a 1911 in the army in 1977. My platoon sergeant a vietnam veteran was also left handed. He taught me to carry my weapon with a round in the chamber and the hammer down. He told me that it wasn't the best way but for lefties it's what you could do. When the pistol was brought up to a two hand grip the off hand would rake the hammer back to full cock. Perfect? Not even close but it was the best you could do.
That safety button is the worst for me as a lefty. I don’t feel comfortable carrying cocked and locked because the way that I’d have to unholster my gun if I needed to do it completely one handed. I’d have to release the safety in the holster with my thumb, full hand on the left side of the gun, then switch my thumb to the right side of the grip as I come up with the gun.
Why do you not ever demonstrate releasing the slide release (much more common), but rather only show the act of engaging it? I've noticed this in multiple videos of yours that I have watched.
It is not recommended, though possible. The risk is that you will not get the hammer cocked all the way back in the heat of the moment. However, if you train that action well, you might be able to get it done in a timely fashion. A larger risk also exists and that is in preparing condition 2 as it’s known: round in the chamber, hammer down, safety off. You have to chamber a round, then slowly let the hammer come forward. If it slips or you release it too early, you have an ND and someone could get hurt.
Im a left handed too, but i will practice my right hand, just like when I was a little boy practicing to write w/ a right hand..."constant practice makes a man perfect" do it everyday as an exercise.
I am left handed. I do things almost exactly like this. My muscle memory is like Zen Handgunnery after so many years of daily carry. I own over 50 1911’s and in my youth shot enough to wear 2 barrels out. The reason I have over 50 is because I’m not afraid to buy used, I have been gunsmithing almost 28 years, and worked closely with FFL’s. Anyhow, I like Wilson combat’s extended slide release, and always install an ambidextrous safety, however I don’t need those mods, I left my WW1 and WW2 1911’s stock of course. ---> Since I’m getting older, I would be willing to share my unique recipie on how to build the “Scott’s Perfect Lefty 1911”. Just ask. I’m not going to type out all that shit unless you ask.
Eric Ok, I don’t have time now but after I get home from work tomorrow I will list every part I use in my own personal recipie for a complete custom “G.I.” Build. Basically, you could turn a used Rock Island G.I. Model into something more like a series 50 Colt Gold Cup, better in fact. As I get older I find myself shying away from the modern style 1911. Having a 1911 that has the G.I. Grip safety and spur hammer these days is getting harder to come by. I could do a follow up with a “modern” build as well I suppose.
That is bull shit releasing the mag sucks for a lefty need to put release on the other side or what happens it releases when you fire because you tend to hit it.
The Gunny that taught me to operate the 1911 made everyone right handed. I am pretty much ambidextrous and do not have a dominate eye, I know, very weird. I fired right handed. Later, another Gunny corrected all of that quickly. Decades later, it makes me laugh. It is more natural to shoot left handed, but results usually are similar with either hand.
Is it so much to ask for an affordable , left handed 1911?
wolfiethebumpireslyr Exactly!
Would be neet to have. Did you know the controls on a high standard .22 are reversed?
The only thing you need to make it a left hand model (like I need) is the ambi safety. You can pay a little more and get a 1911 that comes that way or buy a cheaper version and spend about $200 installing one (so it just about works out the same).
John Newcomer 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Nah I refuse to compromise on the function of a tool that may be used to defend my family.
Unless you $6,500 laying around for a Cabot Southpaw 1911.
Very helpful. My wife is left-handed. We are looking at .45acp handguns for HD. The fact that her grandfather carried one of the original 1911s in WWII has led me to this venerable gun. Ambidextrous operation is key, so the fact that it is possible and somewhat comfortable to operate 1911 left handed is just one more reason for us to get one.
Your informative video was on point. Thank you for posting it.
> ...her grandfather carried one of the original 1911s in WWII...
I am not currently a "1911 Guy"; so I almost skipped the chance to "go all nerdy" here; nevertheless, solely for clarification purposes, are you saying that "her Grandfather" carried a pre-1924 Colt 1911 while in WWII? If his was the "Standard Government Issue" in the 1940s, it would have been the "A1" version, not the "original." ;-)
I'm a lefty, but had nothing but problems with my 1911. I had an RIA fs tactical. with an ambi thumb safety. Turns out the ambi safety isn't quite as positive or "stiff" during recoil, I would slightly bump the thumb safety with the first knuckle of my index finger causing the slide to short stroke. However, I've had much success with the Springfield mil-spec model. 90 rounds down rage with a rented gun. no malfunctions. to all you lefties out there, make sure you get a 1911 with an extremely positive thumb safety.. the 1911 wasn't designed with lefties in mind. Yet it can be an awesome firearm for lefties even given its limitations.
Yes. I have a Taurus PT1911. Same issues. I will NEVER have another 1911 with an ambi safety. I use the right hand to take it off safe.
Need a high quality ambi-safety, such as EGW... As well as maintaining a "thumbs forward" grip with your strong hand thumb resting atop the thumb safety when in engagement.
That's pretty much the way I've been doing it for years. Time to get an ambi safety though. Good Video and quite informative.
I'm right handed but my M9 is a little too large to reach the magazine release with my thumb so I swapped it to the other side of the handgun and press it with my trigger finger exactly as shown in this video. Works great so I don't have to change my firing grip.
1:20 I suppose the other option for us poor lefties, when operating a non-ambidextrous model, would be to simply hit the safety with the offhand upon drawing the pistol. As opposed to breaking proper grip, I'd probably go with doing this instead.
If you have time to try, you can use your left thumb to come across the rear of the slide and push it down in a tiny fraction of time, however don’t do that with the old models because the lever is too small and too far forward.
as a lefty if i had to carry one id honestly carry it off safety and just hope the grip safety does its job lol
Great video; I'm left handed and I have my eye on a Springfield 1911 with a thumb safety only on the left hand side. This will present a new dynamic, as the only 2 handguns I own right now are a Glock 17 and Ruger Security-Six, both of which are very lefty-friendly. Your video is very instructional. Thanks!
+Mister Blue Hey dude, let me know how you reconciled on your purchase of a righty-only 1911. I'm in the same boat and am seriously debating between sacrificing the 1911 I really want (Colt) in favor of a more lefty friendly model (Kimber).
+Joshua Tunis I was in the same boat, but now I've been considering a Para 1911 with ambi safety. But I also did find an actual left-hand 1911 that I'd really love to have made by Cabot. Problem is its about 4 grand. -_-
@@joshuatunis6732 Depending upon eye-dominance and other considerations, you could always just learn to shoot it right-handed. It really isn't that hard -- and, I find, the extra dexterity ("sinistrality"?) that comes with handling my mags with my dominant hand makes for better reloads...
With today’s custom high end high dollar 1911’s / 2011’s someone just needs to build an ambidextrous 1911 / 2011. End of the day just talking about adding an ambidextrous mag release. Most come with a manual safety release. Lefties love 1911s too we just don’t want to train a different way to run it.
Tom Barker disagree.
Wait a 1911 mag catch is reversible?
My magazine release is super stiff on my 1911 so its hard to release the magazine like in this video? Any tips besides doing 100 finger push ups a day?
I just purchased an SA 1911 Loaded. It has an ambi safety (I am a lefty). Activating the safety on the left side of the gun works fine; when activating on the right side, it hangs up. Not sure if this is a break-in issue or part issue so I will have to see if it gets better with a few rounds through it.
What Make and Model 1911 are you using in your video? Thank You.
Love love love love love. Thank you for this.
Im a right hand shootet. My thumbs are too shirt for me to reach the mag releae on my norinco np58 so i did just that. Niw i release the mag with my index. It clears my finger of the trigger and i dont need to offset my grio while reloading. Needs some getting used to tho.
I started carrying a 1911 in the army in 1977. My platoon sergeant a vietnam veteran was also left handed. He taught me to carry my weapon with a round in the chamber and the hammer down. He told me that it wasn't the best way but for lefties it's what you could do. When the pistol was brought up to a two hand grip the off hand would rake the hammer back to full cock. Perfect? Not even close but it was the best you could do.
That safety button is the worst for me as a lefty. I don’t feel comfortable carrying cocked and locked because the way that I’d have to unholster my gun if I needed to do it completely one handed. I’d have to release the safety in the holster with my thumb, full hand on the left side of the gun, then switch my thumb to the right side of the grip as I come up with the gun.
Notice how he doesn’t depress the slide lock and just throw the slide forward on an empty chamber; on a high end 1911 this is best practice
Why do you not ever demonstrate releasing the slide release (much more common), but rather only show the act of engaging it? I've noticed this in multiple videos of yours that I have watched.
Is it safe to carry with the safety off and then cock the hammer when ready to use?
Very unsafe IMO.
It is not recommended, though possible. The risk is that you will not get the hammer cocked all the way back in the heat of the moment. However, if you train that action well, you might be able to get it done in a timely fashion.
A larger risk also exists and that is in preparing condition 2 as it’s known: round in the chamber, hammer down, safety off. You have to chamber a round, then slowly let the hammer come forward. If it slips or you release it too early, you have an ND and someone could get hurt.
Actually it makes me more comfortable choosing a different platform mor appropriate for my handedness.
Im a left handed too, but i will practice my right hand, just like when I was a little boy practicing to write w/ a right hand..."constant practice makes a man perfect" do it everyday as an exercise.
What 1911 is this
in .45 ACP
thank you sir. that was very helpful
New to pistols, so this was helpful.
I am left handed. I do things almost exactly like this. My muscle memory is like Zen Handgunnery after so many years of daily carry. I own over 50 1911’s and in my youth shot enough to wear 2 barrels out. The reason I have over 50 is because I’m not afraid to buy used, I have been gunsmithing almost 28 years, and worked closely with FFL’s. Anyhow, I like Wilson combat’s extended slide release, and always install an ambidextrous safety, however I don’t need those mods, I left my WW1 and WW2 1911’s stock of course.
---> Since I’m getting older, I would be willing to share my unique recipie on how to build the “Scott’s Perfect Lefty 1911”. Just ask. I’m not going to type out all that shit unless you ask.
I would love to know!! Thanks
Eric Ok, I don’t have time now but after I get home from work tomorrow I will list every part I use in my own personal recipie for a complete custom “G.I.” Build. Basically, you could turn a used Rock Island G.I. Model into something more like a series 50 Colt Gold Cup, better in fact. As I get older I find myself shying away from the modern style 1911. Having a 1911 that has the G.I. Grip safety and spur hammer these days is getting harder to come by. I could do a follow up with a “modern” build as well I suppose.
It's the shell coming out at your face I have been hit several times
That is bull shit releasing the mag sucks for a lefty need to put release on the other side or what happens it releases when you fire because you tend to hit it.
I love you
The Gunny that taught me to operate the 1911 made everyone right handed. I am pretty much ambidextrous and do not have a dominate eye, I know, very weird. I fired right handed. Later, another Gunny corrected all of that quickly. Decades later, it makes me laugh. It is more natural to shoot left handed, but results usually are similar with either hand.