Help with pistol selection.

[techmike]

Starting to shop for youngest daughter's first hangun. She is a lefty, any recomendations?
Thanks!

[Chuck]

Rent before you buy is my recommendation

[TSiWRX]

^ This. +infinity.

[Javelin Man]

I'd look for a pistol with no safety so no worries about ambidextrous features. My Springfield XD Mod 2 doesn't have a regular safety, just a grip safety, but also has ambidextrous mag release. The grip is a little smaller then most double stack 9mm's so I found it easier and more comfortable to hold. YMMV.

[Dave Shooter]

Is she an adult?

Does she have experience/training with handguns?

Generally I reccommend full size .22s as 1st pistol to gain skill and confidence. 2nd pistol to be centerfire.

Maybe something smaller/lighter if she is petite.
Maybe straight to centerfire if she's already competant.

Good Luck!

[JustaShooter]

Lots of good advice already, and I absolutely have to agree with the "rent it and try it first" and "start with a .22 if it is a new/novice handgun shooter". I'd be looking carefully at the Ruger SR22 (has an ambidextrous manual thumb safety/decocking lever and ambidextrous magazine release) or S&W M&P 22 (ambidextrous safety, reversible magazine release) if I were in the market today.

For a center-fire, it also depends on the intended purpose - will this just be a range gun, home defense gun, or is it going to be (or will eventually become) a carry gun?

[carmen fovozzo]

Ruger SR22.

[techmike]

Thanks for all of the replies! She is conversant with firearms. I did start her older sister with a 22, and she graduated to a .357/.38spl. Started to do the same here, but totally forgot the southpaw issue. Because of current events we will probably bypass the .22 and start with centerfire. It will be a combination range gun/home defense and most likely a future carry gun. In keeping it simple, I will definitely check out the XD Mod 2. Must confess I have never had any experience with left handed firearms. Have seen pistols with ambi controls, but never paid much attention.
Thanks again!
Mike

[carmen fovozzo]

Never seen a left handed Glock..My Son is left handed and has carried a Glock for 18 years ...he's a police officer...Qualified Top Gun in his class....with a Glock..

[JustaShooter]

Carmen brings up a good point - many lefties learn to manipulate right-handed controls rather than having to rely on having a firearm with ambi- or left-handed controls. Something to consider.

[TSiWRX]

I will definitely check out the XD Mod 2. Must confess I have never had any experience with left handed firearms. Have seen pistols with ambi controls, but never paid much attention.

With the double-stack XD, XDm, and XD Mod.2 lines, the combination of the grip safety - which when enabled prevents the slide from being able to travel fully to the rear - and the left-of-frame only slide-stop/release can make single-handed manipulations awkward for left-handed shooters, particularly single-handed manipulations.

If this handgun is to be a defensive weapon, I would recommend that its intended owner attempt such single-handed manipulations prior to purchase, to be sure that he/she can execute the techniques properly.

[jeep45238]

I'd recommend getting a traditional double action with a decocker only if you can find one, decocker/saftey after that (make sure taking safety off after holstering is a habit).

It allows familitarity with the double action revolver shots, and if that becomes mastered the single action shots afterwards are cake walk. It allows thumbing over the hammer to prevent discharges while holstering. It requires a more deliberate motion for the first shot, which inherintly reduces negligent discharge possibilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP8F_cwotM8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I fully agree with this video.

[Javelin Man]

Of course, there's always the Charter Arms Southpaw .38 revolver. It opens on the opposite side, thumb latch is on the right side, and even the rifling is opposite. Just another option to consider.

[concreteguy]

A 9mm.

[Mr. Glock]

I'd recommend getting a traditional double action with a decocker only if you can find one, decocker/saftey after that (make sure taking safety off after holstering is a habit).

It allows familitarity with the double action revolver shots, and if that becomes mastered the single action shots afterwards are cake walk. It allows thumbing over the hammer to prevent discharges while holstering. It requires a more deliberate motion for the first shot, which inherintly reduces negligent discharge possibilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP8F_cwotM8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I fully agree with this video.

I know this is becoming popular right now, but there is a reason why the pure double-action striker-fired guns became popular. Extra steps / different first to second shot / mucking with the decocker / long first trigger pull adds up to complexity. And complexity is the enemy of fluency.

If you can't holster a pistol properly, work on holstering. You want to carry a gun pointed at your junk, go ahead. But realize that, for most people, the time gained by appendix carry is negated by taking longer on that first shot trigger pull.

Not the right thing for a new shooter. I so totally disagree, in a polite fashion, having been through the Sig / Beretta / CZ DA/SA guns. A DA/SA gun is more of an experienced shooter's weapon.