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Best Guns for Left-Handed Shooters: Pistols & Rifles

It might feel the gun world is against lefties, but we've got some of our favorite pistols and rifles that are perfect for southpaw shooters.

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I’ve been left-handed since I made my appearance in this world, and I do most everything left-handed.

The world has conspired against lefties since antiquity. As a matter of fact, the Latin word for left is “sinister” – ‘nuff said. It seems gun manufacturers have gone along with that, as well.

Springfield Echelon left one hand

There are few guns out there that are truly lefty-friendly. But don’t worry, lefty models exist.

And that’s what we’re exploring today – left-handed rifles and pistols. So, follow along as I tell you my favorite models and why they make this list.

The Quick List

Table of Contents

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How We Chose the Best Guns for Left-Handed Shooters

This article is a meta-analysis based on our experience with hundreds of handguns and tens of thousands of rounds over the years at Pew Pew Tactical. We narrowed our search based on left-handed specific controls and ergonomics as well as reliability, accuracy, and value.

Mike Hardesty

On top of that, we polled our left-handed friends and shooters to get their opinions on what makes a gun good for lefties and which models were their favorites to shoot.

Best Guns for Left-Handed Shooters

1. Savage Arms Rascal - Best for Beginners

Best for Beginners
Savage Arms Rascal LH
Prices accurate at time of writing
$140at Palmetto State Armory
Kentucky Gun Co (See Price)
Guns.com (See Price)

Pros

  • Extremely affordable
  • Beginner-friendly and kid-sized
  • Quality trigger

Cons

  • Not great for adults

Specs

  • Caliber: .22LR
  • Action: Bolt-action
  • Barrel Length: 16.125"
  • Manual Safety: Yes
  • Capacity: 1
  • Optics-Ready: No

If you’re looking for an easy plinker or a trainer for the new shooter in your life, you can’t beat this single-shot .22 LR from Savage.

There aren’t too many teaching-type rifles for lefties, but the Rascal is one of the best.

Savage Arms Rascal
Savage Arms Rascal

It features the Savage AccuTrigger, scope bases, and a manual safety -- not to mention sling swivels, a lock, and a free set of earplugs round out the package.

If you have a pint-sized southpaw who is clamoring to shoot, the Rascal offers a perfect option for him or her.

2. Weatherby Mark V Backcountry 2.0 - Best for Hunters

Best for Hunters
Weatherby Mark V Backcountry
Prices accurate at time of writing
$2099at Palmetto State Armory
Kentucky Gun Co (See Price)
Guns.com (See Price)

Pros

  • Premium materials and build quality
  • Long list of available cartridges
  • Super light

Cons

  • Expensive

Specs

  • Caliber: .240 Wby Mag, .243 Win, .257 Wby Mag, .270 Wby Mag, .280 Ackley Improved, .300 Wby Mag, .308 Win, .338 Wby RPM, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Wby RPM, 6.5-300 Wby Mag, 7mm PRC
  • Action: Bolt-action
  • Barrel Length: 22" - 26"
  • Manual Safety: Yes
  • Capacity: 3+1 to 5+1
  • Optics-Ready: Yes

Weatherby has earned a reputation for building high-end rifles and lightning-fast cartridges since 1945.

Weatherby rifles were only available in proprietary calibers early on. Those are still available today, but the company now supports some mainstream cartridges, as well. They're even dropping new autoloading shotguns!

Weatherby Mark V Backcountry
Weatherby Mark V Backcountry

The Weatherby Mark V 2.0 uses either a 6- or 9-lug bolt and push-feed action that's proven to withstand the immense pressure of Weatherby's punishing magnum cartridges.

The Mark V offers a short, 54-degree bolt throw -- one of the lowest in the industry.

And there's a huge range of hunting cartridges to choose from so you'll be covered whether you're chasing Coues deer or Moose.

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3. Stag Arms Stag 15 Tactical - Best AR-15

Best AR-15
Stag Arms Stag 15 Tactical LH
Prices accurate at time of writing
$882at GrabAGun
Guns.com (See Price)
Stag Arms (See Price)

Pros

  • Balance of performance and reliability
  • Hiperfire single-stage trigger
  • Available in FDE

Cons

  • Not widely available

Specs

  • Caliber: 5.56 NATO
  • Action: Semi-auto, direct-impingement
  • Barrel Length: 16"
  • Manual Safety: Yes
  • Capacity: 30+1
  • Optics-Ready: Yes

Stag Arms makes beaucoup ARs, several of which are left-handed -- 38 left-hand ARs, in fact.

The Stag Arms STAG-15 comes with a few nifty features, including a nitride-coated 16-inch barrel with a mid-length gas system, an A2 flash hider, Stag 13.5-inch M-LOK handguard, and Magpul furniture.

Stag 15 Tactical LH QPQ 7” and RH QPQ (Tactical Life)
Stag 15 Tactical LH QPQ 7” and RH QPQ (Photo: Tactical Life)

A full-length Picatinny rail on top allows you to put almost any sighting gizmo on it, while a multi-position buttstock lets you bring it in close if desired.

The mag release, bolt release, and safety are on the correct sides of the gun for lefties. Empties will zip off to the left (away from your face) so no hot brass two-step dance moves need be performed.

4. Heckler & Koch VP9 - Best Semi-Auto Pistol

Pros

  • Famously reliable
  • Ambidextrous paddle-style magazine release
  • Three backstraps and two grip sizes

Cons

  • Parts and accessories aren’t super common

Specs

  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Action: Semi-auto, striker-fired
  • Barrel Length: 4"
  • Manual Safety: No
  • Capacity: 17+1
  • Optics-Ready: Model-specific

I really like the H&K VP9. This is one truly ambidextrous pistol.

Given its lineage and H&K’s many years of proven manufacturing prowess, the VP9 is the answer to many questions asked about what constitutes a top-quality carry pistol.

HK VP9
HK VP9

The paddle mag release works equally well from both sides. And you have a long, right-side lever to drop the slide.

Switch out the back strap and change the palm swell side panels for a custom fit. -- three backstraps and two grip panels accompany the VP9. With 16 configurations, there’s something for everyone.

Check out our full review of the HK VP9 or peep the video review below.

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5. Charter Arms Southpaw - Best Revolver

Best Revolver
Charter Arms Southpaw
Prices accurate at time of writing
$385at Kentucky Gun Co
Guns.com (See Price)
Palmetto State Armory (See Price)

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Easy to carry concealed
  • Reliable

Cons

  • Limited capacity

Specs

  • Caliber: .38 Special
  • Action: Double-action/single-action
  • Barrel Length: 2"
  • Manual Safety: No
  • Capacity: 5
  • Optics-Ready: No

Want old-school simplicity? The Charter Arms Southpaw will have you feeling like a prohibition-era detective in no time.

The cylinder swings out to the right, with its release on the same side, which just makes sense.

Charter Arms Southpaw
Charter Arms Southpaw

This 12-ounce, 2-inch-barreled .38 Special is based on Charter Arm’s Undercover Lite -- only in mirror image.

For $435, you could do worse. I’ve owned two different Charter Arms revolvers, and they work as advertised.

What Makes a Gun Left-Handed?

The way I see it, there are two families of left-handed firearms.

The first (and most obvious) would be those guns manufactured from the get-go to be left-handed.

Charter Arms Southpaw Cylinder
Charter Arms Southpaw cylinder is set up for lefties out of the box.

Those would include rifles with the bolt handle or ejection ports on the left side. There are even 1911 pistols set up in mirror images of traditional ones.

The second family of guns is those that can be made left-friendly. I’m talking about semi-auto pistols with reversible magazine releases and similar features.

Crimson Trace RAD Pro Gunsite Glock G19
A Glock 19 isn't marketed as a lefty gun, but lefties can use it.

These guns are not marketed as left-handed but they can be made that way by the end user with a few swappable parts.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

As a left-handed shooter, I have adapted to a right-handed world of guns. So, it’s nice that more and more guns can now be enjoyed by everyone – not just righties.

Cyclops Gen 2 medium left

Whether you need a hunting rifle or home defense gun, any of the above models would make a great addition to your gun safe.

Are you a Southpaw? What are your favorite gun models? Let us know in the comments below. Want more lefty-friendly models? Check out our round-up of the Best Left-Handed AR-15s.

Latest Updates

  • July 18, 2024: Removed the Beretta APX Centurion, Browning X-Bolt, Glock 19, Walther PDP, and Ruger Gunsite Scout LH. Added information on how we chose the best left-handed guns.
  • May 31, 2024: Added more details to product selections, updated supporting content, and removed the CZ P-07.

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Written By

Mike Hardesty

Mike Hardesty

Author

Mike has been shooting, reloading, and bullet casting for over 40 years. He lives in rural Indiana where he has a backyard target range. Married for almost 40 years, Mike and his wife teach adult education in their home county and have four sons with their families, totaling 10 grandkids.

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Conversation

87 Comments

Join the discussion

  • I am right handed but left eye dominant and so I prefer shooting lefty. I am also a relatively new shooter, having taken up the hobby only the last couple of years. My first firearm purchase was the IWI Masada Tactical. It is just about perfect for me. Fully ambi out of the box, full size with 17rd mags, and significantly cheaper than a VP9 or 509 or most of the alternatives. For my AR, I decided to build my own using CMT Tactical left eject upper and ambi lower, Toolcraft lefty BCG, and Radian Raptor and Talon. The only control that isn't ambi is the bolt catch, but I can use my trigger finger for that anyways.
    ...
  • You forgot about the Smith and Wesson M&P series, minus their Shield sub-series!! Their full size and compact version sports a ambidextrous slide lock AND a reversible mag release, something Glock never dared to do at the time. Their compact version may not be like their righty only Shield (for some reason it's righty only...), but it's still a phenomenal conceal carry gun for the lefties. Best of all, there's no need to deal with the porcupine grip that Glock has! XD
    ...
  • As a lefty, my first pistol purchase was based on left handed ergos. I chose the Baretta PX - 4 storm because of the ability to change the mag release to the opposite side. The right side shell ejection obviously remains, but does not bother me too much. All in all it's a great full size pistol that performs well at the range with various different loads.
    ...
  • Love my S&W MP2, ambi safety, and mag release works well with my index finger. Same with my shield plus.

    have 2 rightly revolvers that shoot and load just fine left handed. Also love my mossberg 590, has the safety on top.
    ...

    • Theodore Reinert

      How were you able to switch the mag release? I have a S &W MP2 and could not get it situated correctly. Thanks in advance for your help.
      ...

      • Alan Lewis

        didnt do anything, operate it with my left index, instead of right thumb. easy for me. Glock was harder, would have to switch the mag release side to use a glock lefty
        ...
  • 1
    Remington BDL 30-06 left hand bolt is my go-to rifle.

    Any lefties out there have suggestions for a left-hand 9mm carbine? I've been looking for one.
    ...
  • Remington 700BDL in 30-06 and an old Randall M1911 lefthand 45
    ...
  • 1
    Why didn't the CZ 85 NOT make the list? I am left-handed and it works very well for my shooting needs at a very commendable price point.

    Thanks.
    ...
  • 1
    The BERETTA ARX100 is 100% ambidextrous, from the safety switch, bolt catch, and even shell ejection from the right or left side, I love shooting it being a lefty
    ...
  • 1
    1
    How did the H&K P30 variants not make the list? I saw someone caught the FN omission already.
    ...
  • 1
    3
    Being left-handed as well, I'm curious to learn what features you feel S&W's M&P 2.0 (Full/Compact) pistols are missing to not have been mentioned in this article along with other pistols that might be called "ambi" or "lefty-friendly"? I ask because I'm about to move on from the S&W 5906 I've stuck with for 20+ years to something that's smaller, weighs less, & is more "lefty-friendly".

    As I recall, the [American Made] M&Ps included at least some "ambi" features before others you mentioned, including (I believe) Glock.

    In any event, as a 50+ year shooter of Remington's* fully Left-Handed long arms (Model 700BDL .30-06; and Model 870 12ga. mag.) [both "toss left"], I feel pretty strongly that the biggest distinction between a firearm qualifying as "Ambi" or "Left-Handed" is whether it "tosses left" or "tosses right", so any firearm that ejects empties to the right can't be called "Left-Handed" & is, at best, "Ambi".

    I did see the Kel-Tec RDB reference in another post. Even that's what I'd call "Ambi" &, while "down" is better than "right", I'll be even more excited to learn about a 9mm pistol that "tosses left". Stag's 15L has a left side ejection port, so there's no question it CAN be done. I just haven't seen it yet in a 9mm pistol.

    *I'm a little disappointed you didn't mention -- for the benefit of some of the "younger crowd" -- just how far back Remington began its long support for Lefties by producing truly Left-Handed versions of the same long guns they made for "Righties". I've long felt a degree of loyalty to Remington for doing that.
    ...

    • Al Lewis

      This what I bought, very lefty friendly - S&W M&P2.0, ambi safety, slide release. And the mag release is on the L side.
      ...
  • 1
    KelTec RDB, a lefties dream.

    Ejects downward so it's good for all.

    compact, rugged and you can hang anything on it.

    Should be on the list big time
    ...