Advice for South-Paws(other than just not being left-handed)

Got another one for everybody. i'm looking to hear from any left-handers out there with input/pointers on operating an AR sinister-style. I'm a proponent of being comfortable as possible with my off-hand, but there's always quirks and weird ways you have to do anything designed for right-handers. Feedback on mag changes, charging handle manipulation, and general operations etc. are much appreciated. By the way, I don't mean to suggest that I don't want to hear from right handers. Anyone with some useful tips is encouraged to respond.

If you are going to be using a "stock" M16/M4 with no ambi stuff (bolt catches/mag releases/selectors/charging handles),
don't feel too disadvantaged.

Bolt catch and safety selector: use your trigger finger to manipulate both. Nothing is more
safe than using the trigger finger to manipulate the controls.

If the finger is working the controls, it is not on the trigger.

Magazine changes: you will be slightly handicapped, but it's not too bad. Most lefties punch the mag release with the
thumb of their right hand.

Working the charging handle: Again, slight handicap, but workable. You just have to reach over with the right hand and work the release
with your index finger. Now...if you can get away with it, go get a Badger Ordnance Left Hand
Tactical Charging Handle. It is an easy swap with the stock part and it works like a dream.

I am right handed but left eye dominant and started shooting long guns left handed when I built my first AR about 7 years ago. I want to be able to manipulate any AR I pick up the same way, so I don't use any ambi controls.

For mag changes, I just use my right hand thumb to hit the mag release button on the way to my mag pouch. Some shooters prefer to grab a new mag first then hit the button with their thumb.

There are two options for hitting the bolt release: left hand trigger finger, or reaching around the magwell with your right hand fingers. My trigger finger isn't quite long enough to reach the bolt release without completely breaking my firing grip, so I reach around the magwell with my right hand.

To rack the charging handle, keep your left hand on fire control, place the right hand index finger on the left side of the charging handle and middle finger on the right side, and pinch the charging handle with your right hand thumb on the rear side of the charging handle.

I ride the safety selector with my left hand thumb on the left side of the gun at all times. I also shoot with my left hand thumb on the left side of the gun. It feels weird at first, but you get used to it quickly. Moving your thumb to the right side of the gun after selecting fire takes up way too much time before your first shot. Some shooters prefer to manipulate the selector with their trigger finger, but I find it too awkward and uncomfortable.

Nice! Good suggestions fellas. I'm new to the AR so I appreciate the feedback. I might get a left handed charging handle for my AR eventually, but I will be working with a standard issue A2 when I enter the service, so I'm definitely going to become very comfortable with that setup. Glad to be here on this site. I've only been a member for a couple of days, but I've already received a great deal of good info from the people here. Thanks again for the help guys, stay on the trigger!

Molon Labe!

Unnecessary.

And counter-productive if you are in the military since you won't be using one there.

I use the muzzle up "workspace" positioning for all my manipulations so keep that in mind.

Reloads- Use the right thumb. It might help you learn the proper index if you grip the front of the magwell & plan to strip the mag out.

Charging Handle- Reach under the gun & slap it with the first finger joint (where the index finger meets the hand) or the first finger bone. I haven't used this with a standard CH so you'll probably have to test it out. If you can swing a BCM Gunfighter CH it makes this very easy. I tried an ambi CH & wasn't impressed. The forward assist kept getting in the way of manipulating the CH.

Safey- With a standard non-ambi safety I use the first finger joint (again) to push the safety off & then use the trigger finger to put it back on. Using the first joint does require breaking the firing grip, but it is still a very fast way to manipulate the safety & the hand just flows back into place as the gun comes up on target. I'm actually a little faster with this method than I am using an ambi safety. Be very careful using the trigger finger to put it back on though. It is not unheard of for very well trained people to get task loaded & end up doing Thing A (pull trigger) when they meant to do Thing B (safety on).

Bolt release- Trigger finger again. Have to break the firing grip a little here too but overall it's faster & more positive for me than using the right hand.

Sling- Using a single point or a 2 point with the back end attached to a single point plate will interfere with the CH manipulation if you roll the rifle ejection port down. I use a two point set up this way & train around that restriction since this setup allows me to quickly change shoulders ala a single point & provides better stability when slung ala a 2 point. 3 point slings are a no-go as they'll block the ejection port.

Sorry if there are a few jacked up words, this is coming from my phone.

Try an AK!

No doubt, understand that one completely. I know this is primarily an AR site, but I love the AK too and the benefits are throughly undeniable. I definitely have more trigger time on it as well. The reason for my post is that I'm entering the service soon, and really want to get as schooled as I can on every aspect of the AR system before I go to basic.

Not start an AK vs AR debate, but exactly what weapons handling benefits are so undeniable?

I believe the suggestion mcnielson made on using an AK came from the operational simplicity inherent to the platform. There are a few elements to it that are a little friendlier to the left-handed shooter, that's all. As for the undeniable benefits, that was more a reference to the overall qualities that make the AK great, all of which are quite evident. I'm not saying one is better than the other, everything has it's place. I feel the debate between the two is subjective and about personal preference. I enjoy both platforms very much for different reasons.

ha I was in the same boat. being left handed on the ar platform took a lil practice....only wish I could shoot ejected brass back at the righties when we are on the line...dicks lol.

safety- I like the joint of the trigger finger, cuz I could never get the thumb thing down never felt right to me.

charging handle- has always been my weak point I've tried a few ways and still to this day haven't found one that I feel completely comfortable with tho I haven't tried Yammymonkey's idea

mag release- i just hit the release on the way down to get the new mag. and from there i decide if im just dropping it or stashing it.

bolt release- even with smaller hands you can reach it with the trigger finger, tho sometimes i catch myself doing it with the right hand.

I've had a few AKs and really tried to like it as a tactical carbine, but it's a weapon manipulation nightmare (except of the charging handle IF you shoot left handed––as long as you don't try a magwell grip ).

Again, I'm not trying to start an AR vs AK thread, and I'm not saying the AK is without merit. I've just never heard of weapon handling as one of those merits.

That's fair enough. I wasn't per say trying to cite handling as a strong point to the AK, just that it is simple. Bolt handle, mag-release and safety is pretty much all there is too it. Not to say at all that the AR is abundantly complicated, just that the additional functions tend to increase the consequences of your strong hand preference. I certainly understand your stance on it as a tactical carbine. When it comes to handling, moving, and the comfort of shooting, I definitely enjoy me an AR. And for that gritty reliability etc, I enjoy the AK. But definitely different tools that excel at different jobs.

Charging Handle- I use my fire control hand. Goes against most training doctrine, but I've practiced it enough that it works for me
Mag Changes- I follow the make a hole, fill a hole. I use my thumb for the mag release
bolt Release- I reach around the mag well and use my index finger

The biggest advantage that AKs have in my opinion for left handed shooters is the mag release. Secondly, the Bolt handle/charging handle. Thirdly, you can see the chamber clearly when the action is open. The Safety only sucks slightly worse for Lefties than it does for Righties, but practice with that comes with familiarizing yourself with its manual of arms.

The best advice regardless of what system you use is practice practice practice. Even if you are right handed, practice left handed shooting-with ARs and AKs and whatever else you have.

Sorry I opened a can of worms and have been absent a while!

He has a point. Also I would practice shooting both right and left handed. Sometimes you just can't shoot the way you prefer to.
I'm right handed, shoot lefty. Feels odd at first but can be done.

I shoot long guns left handed. Run an AR the same way you described earlier, though I do use my trigger finger to release the bolt catch.

I actually prefer the handling/manipulation of the AK.

As a left-handed rifle shooter, the charging handle and magazine release manipulations are pretty intuitive. However, I have yet to figure out an efficient method of manipulating the AK's safety.

I run the safety pretty much like this: left-handed AK 2

I consider the suck factor of the AK safety about equal to the AR charging handle. Maybe I should get a Galil.

Cool. Reminds me of how people manipulate a de-cocker on a Sig handgun with their left hand when they hold it with their right. Why not?

I felt the same way about the AR charging handle until I figured out the claw/pinch method I described above.

I agree that it would probably be counter productive. Maybe I didn't word it quite right, but that was the point of the other half of the sentence TopGun highlighted(I was trying to acknowledge that I'd be using the standard A2 setup). The charging handle mod was a reference to something I might do to my non-service AR a long ways down the road. I agree 100% with the off-hand practice, and I've definitely been working on that.

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