Ambi/Lefty mag releases

[AZRedhawk44]

I own:

Colt 1991
Colt LW Commander XSE
CZ-75B
Springer XD9

I've been shooting Steel matches for awhile and I'm finally consistently knocking on the top of the D-league and middle of the C-league range.  Been practicing my magazine changes as that seems to be my weakest point right now.

As a southpaw, historically to change mags I remove my trigger finger from the trigger area, shift my grip backwards slightly, push the mag release with my trigger finger, insert the new magazine, re-shift my grip back and then put my finger back into the trigger area.

I need to eliminate those two grip-shifts.  They're costing me 10 seconds, easily, throughout the course of the night's match.

My XD9 has an ambi mag release and I notice that my mag changes are quite a bit faster with it than with the CZ or 1911's.

Things I don't like about the XD, however:
1.  It's striker fired.  Yuck.
2.  It has a trigger-dingus.
3.  The grip, to the left and right of the grip safety, is too wide and not correctly rounded like the CZ.  I notice a HUGE difference in grip comfort, shot recovery and endurance through a day of shooting between the CZ and the XD.  The XD is too wide in that section of the grip and results in bruising to the index finger's metacarpal area.  The XD frame's thumb shelves (left and right sides) are also incorrectly positioned for my large hands.
4.  The distance from backstrap to trigger face is too short for me.

Long story short, I need:

1.  Hammer driven.
2.  No trigger-dingus.
3.  Grip like a CZ, BHP, or 1911 with arched MSH.
4.  Ambi mag release.
5.  Low bore axis.
6.  Able to be carried C&L SA

I'm willing to possibly overlook the hammer-driven requirement for a striker gun if it doesn't have a dingus that rubs the finger raw, and the striker doesn't SPROING! like a cheap Nerf gun when you dry-fire it.  I have yet to find a striker/polymer gun that doesn't feel like a Nerf gun (XD, Glock included in that assessment).

Ideally, this would be a doublestack 9mm.  Mags should cost no more than $30 each, as I'll need at least 5 total.

Anyone got suggestions? 

[BobR]

Why don't you get an ambi mag release for your 1911 if that is the gun you want to use. Either that of find a Randall LH 1911. They are out there.

bob

[never_retreat]

I have a HK usp 9mm that has a ambi release. maybe look into some of there other offerings/calibers.

[Boomhauer]

The M&P might be what you are looking for with a couple of modifications (like the Apex trigger kit for a fine trigger). It has a switchable mag release but isn't truly ambi, if you can deal with that. It has a trigger safety, but the whole trigger is hinged instead of having a blade type device. Also, they come in manual safety versions (but you'll have to tweak it to get it "crisp" and positive). And I just hear a "click" when I pull the trigger during dryfire, no sproing like you describe.

S&W often has a rebate going on to where you can get the gun with two mags.

[AZRedhawk44]

Why don't you get an ambi mag release for your 1911 if that is the gun you want to use. Either that of find a Randall LH 1911. They are out there.

bob

Where?

I wasn't aware that 1911's could be converted to an ambi/lefty mag release.

[Boomhauer]

I have a HK usp 9mm that has a ambi release. maybe look into some of there other offerings/calibers.

I'm not sure if the HK P30 has ambi controls, but it is a fine handgun. And hammer fired.

[Ryan in Maine]

Sounds like you want to try out a Beretta 92.

[BobR]

Where?

I wasn't aware that 1911's could be converted to an ambi/lefty mag release.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=30897/pid=12749/sku/S_S_Ambi_Mag_Catch__fits_Colts___Clones_1911?source=CJ

If you have a C&R (or know someone)registered with Brownells you can get it for 78 dollars.

http://www.smithandalexander.com/guides.html

Midway sell a Cylinder and Slide ambi release. This website http://reasonablenut.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html shows how it looks and works.

bob

[AZRedhawk44]

That cylinder and slide one looks mickey-mouse.

The smith alexander one looks intriguing, but I cannot find any video anywhere of its use.  I'd like to see how it operates, mechanically, and how far the right-side mag button protrudes from the side of the frame (if that would be a problem for my holsters).

I'd much rather doctor my existing 1911's and CZ than take on yet another platform.

I'll give the XD another chance in the rotation, until I get and install and am happy with an ambi mag release as an aftermarket product for the other pistols.

[Ryan in Maine]

If you want to stick with your 1911 then reversing the mag release is your cheapest solution. I hardly see an ambi-mag release on a steel gun. The ones I've seen have almost always been straight up reversed.

The only guns I can think of that come with are the Beretta 92 and Px4 Storm, and the FNH FNX. HK must make one with an ambi-mag release, too.

[Hawkmoon]

Where?

I wasn't aware that 1911's could be converted to an ambi/lefty mag release.

Smith & Alexander makes it. It's available from Brownells. If you want to move to a hi-cap, they also have it for the para-Ordnance double stacks

1911 part # 849-008-101 (ss) or 849-008-001 (blue)

Para part # 849-008-102 (ss) or 849-008-002 (blue)

If you want to stick with your 1911 then reversing the mag release is your cheapest solution. I hardly see an ambi-mag release on a steel gun. The ones I've seen have almost always been straight up reversed.

How could you reverse the mag release on a 1911? Even if you could weld up and machine the frame in mirror image, the magazines will have the notch on the wrong side.

I haven't tried it -- I'm not a southpaw.

[Ryan in Maine]

I have no idea. I'm a righty, too. The folks I knew with the reversed mag releases had them on all the steel guns they own though. Sig, CZ, Hi-Powers, 92's, 1911's.

Would a mag mod be the only extra step needed though?

[Monkeyleg]

Smith and Alexander make an ambidextrous mag release button. It fits in the cutout on the right side of the grip frame, and has an additional button. You can view it here.

[lee n. field]

--delete--

[BReilley]

A CZ-85 fits all of your criteria except for SAO, and you can probably convert to SAO(it can be done with -75s, but I don't know if the other ambi stuff on an -85 would interfere).  The CZ-85's mag release is not truly ambidextrous, but reversible.

You could also go with a CZ-75 SA in 9mm, but you lose the ambi safety and slide release.