Hurley's Gold

Left Handed Mag Release Strategy

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  • Wildcat Diva

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    Pinching, I think, is a for sure risk of that strategy. Already happened a bit when I was dry firing. The web between the fingers.

    When I get into a match will be the real test. And it will probably take a few to get that down. I’m not shooting them often either. I’ve only shot three in the last year (and ever) with a pistol.

    I have some other behavior habits to perfect as well. I was doing this weird thing where I guess I was not trusting that I could insert the mag properly in one stroke and found I was doing this weird extra tap/slam. Have to stop that too.

    I’m planning on practicing this strategy on Tuesday during some range time. Excited.

    Perhaps it’s an advantage to learn this strategy for now, anyways, in case I have to use a gun that is not set up for me somehow in a real life need?

    One thing that’s probably not great about it is that it’s not that easy to catch and retain the mag this way. Well, I guess he does show a strategy for that in the video, but I wasn’t so much focused on that part.

    Thanks for all the gun recommendations. I WILL take a look at that Walther.

    Honestly with all the other life expenses plus the cost of things like ammo and match fees to even DO matches (husband is competing, and now my 14 year old wants to get back to competing too) another match gun will probably come later in my life. That’s why I really want to find a way to solve this mag release problem within my current reality. Because other than that issue, I really LIKE our Glock 34.

    Probably the idea of just changing over the mag release button over to lefty and screw these guys I live with, is probably closer to what would happen in the next stages of solving this issue.

    Not sure how long husband will compete with our Glock 34. He already got frustrated with an entry level match to where he made some minor errors and didn’t take too awesomely well to being called on them, in the context of that this kid at the match was allowed to sweep us all with a rifle a couple of times and continue without much criticism. Maybe husband will get too pissed and quit.

    And, I consider that the 34 was purchased years ago for our eldest son to shoot Steel Challenge, and he still thinks of it as ‘for him.’ He mainly shoots it only for fun/ practice now, but it’s the main pistol he shoots when we go to the range. I would actually feel a little guilty over changing that on ‘his’ gun right now. Just need more time. Want to buy him his own alternative, a pistol for self defense and regular use as part of my cutting him loose as an adult. I want him soon to have his own self defense option as he ventures out as an adult (he just turned 18, and will probably be 19 as I want to get him a pistol as a ‘good job getting your associates degree’ present at the end of the year). It’s a Momma thing.

    We have also done steel matches with our little M&P 15-22 rifles, and that is fun, and cheaper. Pistol matches are new to me and the husband (but not to our 18 year old son). We will probably continue to try a rifle match once a month. I could also do a pistol there, with steel vs USPSA or IDPA. That was my son’s old gig, Steel Challenge.

    Forgot to say also... I want my own AR, probably, soon... among other guns, before I buy a new match gun. And I want to consider the benefits of setting THAT one up for me, just right (haha, just caught that, pun not intended!)
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    Wildcat Diva

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    Thank you. I’ll have to research becuase I don’t even know what a paddle release is. But I will find out.
     

    Kar98

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    Instead of a button that's only on one side, it's levers built into the trigger guard, on both sides:

    rfPwSLN.jpg
     

    Wildcat Diva

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    I’ll have to see how my lady hands will feel about these options. I’ll give them a try.

    As far as a purchase, it’s all for the future though, unless, ya know, powerball.

    Life timing is not great for $$ with two in college and at least one kid who wants to start driving something sometime soon.
     

    Wildcat Diva

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    So on that paddle release lever, what do you use to depress it? Strong hand thumb? Looks too far forward for that.
     

    Kar98

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    I'm using my right, i.e. strong hand index finger. Just tried with two different guns. Thumb won't reach that far and doesn't bend/rotate that way anyway.
     

    Wildcat Diva

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    I'm using my right, i.e. strong hand index finger. Just tried with two different guns. Thumb won't reach that far and doesn't bend/rotate that way anyway.
    Thank you for taking the time to check that out. So you use your trigger finger of your shooting hand? Someone gave me advice to try that with the mag release button and I didn’t like it. But this lever looks easier to reach than that button anyways.

    Kind of moot for me to debate it too much, as getting another pistol for competition is not gonna happen anytime soon anyways.
     

    GoPappy

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    Using the offhand index finger to activate the mag release works for me. But using the offhand middle finger (i.e., bird finger) works better for me.

    But I've grown accustomed to using my trigger finger to hit the mag release button on my pistols, so that's what I typically do.

    I'm a lefty and I had a PPQ and didn't really care for the paddle mag release. (It was just me. Not saying it's a bad system.)
     

    BRD@66

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    I read (on the internet so it must be true) that paddle releases can be too easy to use. I.e., release the mag unintentionally. Probably just takes practice.
     

    Kar98

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    I read (on the internet so it must be true) that paddle releases can be too easy to use. I.e., release the mag unintentionally.

    Utter nonsense. It takes conscious thought and movement to activate the paddle release.
    Now accidentally operating the elongated slide stop/release on the PPQ, that I believe. Or accidentally pushing the mag release button while using a proper thumbs forward grip, that I believe also. But unintentionally activating the paddle release? There's like literally no way. OK, maybe if you're a Southwest Cholo and are trying to flash your gang sign while shooting?

    WRpAcgS.jpg


    I somewhat doubt they'd be in the market for H&K's or Walthers though.
     

    Wildcat Diva

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    Using the offhand index finger to activate the mag release works for me. But using the offhand middle finger (i.e., bird finger) works better for me.

    But I've grown accustomed to using my trigger finger to hit the mag release button on my pistols, so that's what I typically do.

    I'm a lefty and I had a PPQ and didn't really care for the paddle mag release. (It was just me. Not saying it's a bad system.)

    Super helpful. Thanks for sharing your opinions. I’ll try both index and bird fingers of right hand to depress the mag release button from the left side of the pistol as per the tactic on the original post.
     
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