PDA

View Full Version : Operating a 1911 left handed


nightchief
10-08-17, 20:21
For those who are left handed, when shooting left handed with one hand, how do you operate the safety on a 1911 if it does not have an ambidextrous safety?

NC
seb5
10-08-17, 20:55
Trigger finger
Arik
10-08-17, 21:08
Trigger finger. Some people can flip their thumb over. Seen it a few times although I would need 3 hands to do that.

Or rely on the grip safety.... just saying

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
tb417
10-08-17, 21:21
Trigger finger. In fact in the late 80's there was a reversible mag released that never took off, eventually they marketed it to right handers so they could use their trigger fingers too.

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk
militarymoron
10-09-17, 08:39
For those who replied 'trigger finger'; how on earth do you do that in a fumble-free manner? (The OP asked about the thumb safety, not the mag release.)

I'm a lefty and used to flip the thumb safety off with my RIGHT thumb before moving the right hand back around to the normal support position before ambi safeties were widely available. A bit slow and awkward, but I never figured out an easier way.
Beef15
10-09-17, 10:00
One handed, bring the thumb over, same way I do an AR lefty, just have to get it back before firing. I can do it smoothly but almost never have to.

Most of the time I just passed the pistol from my right so the safety is already off.

If I were a lefty I'd put an ambi on.
HackerF15E
10-09-17, 11:33
I also use the "thumb over the top" method.
nightchief
10-09-17, 13:00
I were a lefty I'd put an ambi on.

But what if you have to use one without an ambi safety...? ��

I'm considering a scenario where the right hand becomes unusable for whatever reason with no ambi safety on the 1911. Think "battlefield pick up"...

I've used my left thumb in the past and was looking for a better way if it exists...
bamashooter
10-09-17, 13:30
Thumb.
seb5
10-09-17, 17:25
For those who replied 'trigger finger'; how on earth do you do that in a fumble-free manner? (The OP asked about the thumb safety, not the mag release.)

I'm a lefty and used to flip the thumb safety off with my RIGHT thumb before moving the right hand back around to the normal support position before ambi safeties were widely available. A bit slow and awkward, but I never figured out an easier way.

I would draw with a very high grip, wiping off the safety on the upstroke as my grip settled in where it needed to be, not fast but it worked for me. To put it on I simply rolled the weapon somewhat inboard and up, breaking my shooting grip and wiping the safety on, sorta like using the knuckle of your left index finger to put the safety on an M4 back to safe.
Drifting Fate
10-09-17, 19:04
Back in the day when I carried a 1911, my left handed drills would incorporate an "over the slide" technique. Can't say I ever liked it because it really breaks the grip and made me worried about fumbling the gun in a real-world incident, but I never came up with anything better, barring an ambi-safety of course.
Wildcat
10-09-17, 20:20
Thumb over the top to disengage the safety. To re-engage the safety is a bit more awkward...which is why I have ambi safeties fitted to my 1911s. Trigger finger operates the rest of the (standard) controls.

FWIW I use a standard manual safety on the AR and operate it with the trigger finger when shooting left handed.
thegreyman
10-12-17, 15:28
I am thankful for Wilson and EGW Ambidextrous Safeties that have strong steel and incorporate a pin to support/hold right side of safety. (I recently discovered that
that the Kimber Ambidextrous Safety is a "drop in" for a Colt range gun) For serious business, I would only use the EGW (retention pin) or the Wilson Combat (retention pin).
Diamondback
10-12-17, 15:45
Left-hander here, no ambi--actually, I run an old-school GI stub-safety (it's what this gun was built with, no mods here). I usually go off-safe in holster when trouble starts showing itself, then loosen my grip just a little and nudge the rear with my right hand so the "web" between index finger and thumb pops it back up.

On the range, I reach over with my right thumb and pop it down, then take a breath and start my drill as normal.
titsonritz
10-12-17, 16:36
I'm left-handed and just learned to shoot 1911's right handed.
nightchief
10-12-17, 16:39
I was at the range Tuesday and ran my 1911 w/o ambi safety quite a bit left handed, moving and shooting. I disengaged the safety with my left thumb, and reengaged the safety with my left index finger. Disengaging the safety feels awkward and I'm concerned about dropping it with my thumb wrapped around. Definety need more practice. Thanks for all the comments and ideas.
nightchief
10-12-17, 16:45
I'm left-handed and just learned to shoot 1911's right handed.

I'm a righty and have no ambi safety. This is more of a "what if" I can't use my right hand to operate a non ambi controlled 1911. How do you do it? I want to practice shooting it in this manner for that "what if" scenario.

NC
The_War_Wagon
10-12-17, 17:25
For those who are left handed, when shooting left handed with one hand, how do you operate the safety on a 1911 if it does not have an ambidextrous safety?

FUNNY you should mention that...

Because I started shooting pistols with 3rd generation Smiths in 1990, I got USED to ambidextrous safeties. When I bought my first KEEPER 1911 (Springfield) in 1995, I added an ambi-safety, and have either purchased 1911's with them, or added them, ever since.

In FACT... I just picked up a new RIA full-size, as a truck gun for my second truck, last Tuesday. Turned right around, and gave it back to their 'smitty, and told him - "Install an ambi-safety on that for me, if you would please." :cool:

Hope to pick it up next week.
Wildcat
10-12-17, 17:28
I am thankful for Wilson and EGW Ambidextrous Safeties that have strong steel and incorporate a pin to support/hold right side of safety. (I recently discovered that
that the Kimber Ambidextrous Safety is a "drop in" for a Colt range gun) For serious business, I would only use the EGW (retention pin) or the Wilson Combat (retention pin).
EGW does use a longer hammer pin.
I use a Kings ambi-safety that works the same way.

I don't think the Wilson Combat safety uses that same structure. The right side of the ambi safety has an extension that slides behind right grip panel; Ed Brown uses the same idea and so does STI.

Kimber, I think has has offered a couple different style safeties over the years; earlier ones as you described. The one they show now is captured by a pin (ala EGW or Kings).

In any case the thumb safety on a 1911 is really unlikely to be a drop-in. Come to think of it, probably shouldn't trust one that doesn't need fitting to properly engage the sear.
misfit47
10-13-17, 20:32
Like so.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171014/cb7c5853cd04bef61b4e57aefdce9e29.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171014/f093d49cdf742b58157052d881b34960.jpg

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
militarymoron
10-13-17, 21:27
Like so.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171014/f093d49cdf742b58157052d881b34960.jpg

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Ah - thanks for posting that - that's something I've done as well. I'd call it the 'base' of the index finger. For some reason I was thinking the tip of the finger itself. I found it a bit harder with older USGI safeties (not extended ones), so used my support hand thumb more frequently.
misfit47
10-13-17, 21:32
Much easier with extended safety.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
nightchief
10-13-17, 21:38
Ah - thanks for posting that - that's something I've done as well. I'd call it the 'base' of the index finger. For some reason I was thinking the tip of the finger itself. I found it a bit harder with older USGI safeties (not extended ones), so used my support hand thumb more frequently.

These are the two methods I've been using. Both ways feel like I'm gonna drop it, especially when stressed. Practice and reps I suppose.
misfit47
10-13-17, 21:43
Yup it feels unnatural but doable.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
shep854
12-08-17, 20:05
Thanks everyone, I learned a new trick today. My Commander has an ambi safety, but the AO 1911A1 just has the GI button safety. When shooting the AO left-handed, I would just bring the thumb around to the safety. After reading this thread, I tried operating the safety with the 'base' of my left trigger finger, and found it works! Even though it requires moving the finger away from the trigger, it is very quick and avoids weakening my grip on the pistol as I use my thumb.
Arik
12-08-17, 21:48
Why not just get an ambi safety? Faster and more natural

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
shep854
12-08-17, 21:57
I do have an ambi safety on my Combat Commander, but in keeping my M1911A1 clone as 'GI' as possible, I left it with the standard 'button' safety.
ALSO, in the past there were reports that ambi safeties were relatively fragile, but that may have been corrected.