What Is the Difference in a Left Handed Gun & a Right Handed Gun?

Until recently, all guns were made for right-handed users. Most still are, but some firearms manufacturers have developed products that are usable by left-handed people, as well as right-handers. There are also many custom gun makers who are happy to provide a weapon for a left-handed person.

The main differences involve control location and the direction in which spent cases are ejected.

  1. Issues

    • A left-handed person can shoot a gun designed for a right-handed user. However, the left-hander may have difficulty operating the firearm's levers, buttons and controls because they are positioned ergonomically for a right-handed person.

      A left-hander operating a right-handed gun may also experience difficulty with spent cases that are ejected from the gun.

    Ejected Cases

    • Normally, for a right-handed person shooting a right-handed firearm, the ejection port for spent cases is located on the gun's right side. As the right-handed shooter fires the gun, his body is largely on the gun's left side. The shooter's head is also on the left side. As the gun fires, the spent case is ejected over the shooter's right shoulder, safely away from his body.

      If a left-handed shooter fires this same gun, her body is on the gun's right side. She is now in close proximity to the ejection port and ejected rounds will likely strike her in the upper body or in the face. Ejected cases are extremely hot and may cause injury to a left-hander shooting a right-handed gun.

    Controls

    • Normally, buttons, levers and controls such as the safety, a rifle bolt, or the magazine release button on a pistol are positioned for convenient operation by a right-handed shooter.

      For a left-handed shooter, these controls can be cumbersome and out of the way.

      A left-handed rifle will have the bolt handle on the left. A left-handed pistol's magazine release and slide will release on the right. Safeties are generally located on the left for right-handed guns, and vice-versa for left-handed guns.

    Reversible Controls

    • Many manufacturers have kept left-handed people in mind when designing firearms by giving them some conveniences without completely redesigning the firearms. These manufacturers have made their firearm controls reversible--they can be moved from one side of the gun to the other--without moving the ejection port. This is especially practical for handguns which are generally held in an isometric stance that is the same for left- and right-handed shooters.

      Glock and Berretta, for example, currently allow the magazine release button to be easily reversed for a left-handed shooter.

    Options

    • Until recently all guns were designed for right-handed shooters, but because manufacturers are interested in receiving police, government and military contracts, many of them are now manufacturing guns with reversible controls. Left-handed shooters should be careful shoppers and look for products with reversible options.

      In addition to the big gun manufacturers, there are many smaller gun makers who can custom build a gun--or modify an existing weapon--for a left-handed person.