For most gun owners, picking up and operating a handgun is natural. With a right-hand grip, the right thumb can easily push up to manipulate the slide stop and sweep down to press the magazine release. However, for left-handed shooters, performing the same manipulations can be more of a challenge due controls being on the same side as their grip hand – forcing lefties to use their trigger finger or support hand.
Making up only 10% of the U.S. population, it’s easy to understand why firearm and other manufacturers don’t cater to those who are left-handed. Generally, it doesn’t make financial sense to produce a niche product for a small segment of the market and ambidextrous products can be more complicated to design. But that doesn’t mean left-handed shooters are without options – albeit fewer.
Of the available ambidextrous handgun options, many are from European manufacturers. We’re not entirely sure why, but it probably has to do with fulfilling requirements of military/law enforcement firearm contracts. Other manufacturers – American and international – have specific models with full left and right controls, or a reversible magazine release at a minimum.
To assist left-handed shooters in selecting user-friendly, modern carry guns, we rounded up all the ambidextrous and optics-ready handguns we could find currently on the market.
Ambidextrous Handguns
To qualify for this list, handguns were limited to various characteristics. Firearms must have been (1) of reasonable concealed carry size, meaning having a compact frame or smaller, (2) chambered in 9mm, and (3) offered a factory-cut slide to accept a red dot of any optic footprint.
Handguns are then split into two categories. Full ambidextrous guns have left and right slide stop and magazine release controls, while semi-ambidextrous handguns have a left and right slide stop with a reversible magazine release that can be switched from one side to the other. Thumb/manual safeties were not considered for this article, though some are also fully ambidextrous.
Handguns are listed in alphabetical order with comparable specs.
Full Ambidextrous Optics-Ready
Fully ambidextrous guns have a left and right slide stop and magazine release.
AREX Delta Gen.2 M
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.0”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 20.6 oz
- View Full Specs
FN 509 CC Edge
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 12 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.2”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 25.5 oz
- View Full Specs
FN 509 Compact MRD
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 12 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.7”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 25.5 oz
- View Full Specs
FN 509 Compact MRD Comp
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 12 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.2”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 25.5 oz
- View Full Specs
FN 509 Compact Tactical
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 12 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.3”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 26.2 oz
- View Full Specs
FN 509 Midsize MRD
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.0”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 26.5 oz
- View Full Specs
FN 509 Midsize Tactical
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.5”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 27.9 oz
- View Full Specs
Heckler & Koch VP9SK OR
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 10 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.4”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 23.1 oz
- View Full Specs
Heckler & Koch VP9SK-B OR
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 10 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.4”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 23.1 oz
- View Full Specs
Kimber R7 MAKO (OR)
- Frame Size: Micro Compact
- Capacity: 11 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.4”
- Optic Footprint: RMSc
- Weight: 19.5 oz
- View Full Specs
Rost Martin RM1C
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.0”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 21.1 oz
- View Full Specs
SIG Sauer P320 RXP Compact
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.9”
- Optic Footprint: DeltaPoint Pro
- Weight: 26.3 oz
- View Full Specs
SIG Sauer P320 XCompact / RXP XCompact
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.6”
- Optic Footprint: DeltaPoint Pro
- Weight: 25.8 oz
- View Full Specs
Semi Ambidextrous Optics-Ready
Semi ambidextrous guns have a left and right slide stop and reversible magazine release.
Beretta APX A1 Compact
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.7”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 27.7 oz
- View Full Specs
Beretta APX A1 Compact Tactical
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.2”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 27.7 oz
- View Full Specs
Canik TP9 Elite SC
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 12 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.6”
- Optic Footprint: RMSc
- Weight: 24.8 oz
- View Full Specs
Canik Mete MC9
- Frame Size: Micro Compact
- Capacity: 12 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.2”
- Optic Footprint: RMSc
- Weight: 21.3 oz
- View Full Specs
Canik Mete SF
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.2”
- Optic Footprint: RMSc
- Weight: 28.0 oz
- View Full Specs
CZ P-10S OR
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 12 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.5”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 24.4 oz
- View Full Specs
CZ P-10C OR
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.0”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 26.3 oz
- View Full Specs
CZ P-10C OR SR
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.6”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 27.1 oz
- View Full Specs
Glock 19 Gen5 MOS
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.0”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 23.8 oz
- View Full Specs
Smith & Wesson M&P 9 2.0 Compact 3.6"
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.6”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 25.9 oz
- View Full Specs
Smith & Wesson M&P 9 2.0 Compact 4"
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.0”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 25.8 oz
- View Full Specs
Walther PDP Compact 4”
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 4.0”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 24.4 oz
- View Full Specs
Walther PDP F-Series 3.5”
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 15 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.5”
- Optic Footprint: Multi
- Weight: 23.3 oz
- View Full Specs
Ambidextrous Non-Optics Ready
Unfortunately, not every ambidextrous handgun is optics ready. The guns listed below are full or semi ambidextrous but do not accept slide-mounted optics from the factory. All, or most, can be made optics-ready with an aftermarket or milled slide or rear dovetail sight adapter plate.
Beretta PX4 Storm Compact
- Ambidextrous: Semi
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 12 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.3”
- Weight: 27.2 oz
- View Full Specs
Heckler & Koch P30SK
- Ambidextrous: Full
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 10 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.3”
- Weight: 24.0 oz
- View Full Specs
Ruger American Compact
- Ambidextrous: Full
- Frame Size: Compact
- Capacity: 17 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.6”
- Weight: 28.7 oz
- View Full Specs
Savage Stance
- Ambidextrous: Full
- Frame Size: Micro Compact
- Capacity: 7 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.2”
- Weight: 22.0 oz
- View Full Specs
Smith & Wesson CSX
- Ambidextrous: Semi
- Frame Size: Subcompact
- Capacity: 10 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.1”
- Weight: 19.5 oz
- View Full Specs
Handgun Comparison
Compare specs of ambidextrous carry handguns currently on the market.
Swampfox Optics
Swampfox manufacturers clear, precise, tough red dots fit for RMR and RMSc footprint handguns. From home defense to concealed carry, our pistol dot sights offer rapid target acquisition with superior glass clarity, manually adjusted red and green reticle illumination, Shake N’ Wake auto on/off functionality, and rugged durability for everyday use and abuse.
Pair your ambidextrous optics-ready carry gun with a Swampfox optic and take your self-defense to the next level.
Swampfox Sentinel II
Always on guard, Sentinel II stands ready with enhanced construction and patented features.
- Footprint: RMSc
- Window: 21mm (W) x 17mm (H) / 20mm (Angular)
- Reticle: 3 MOA
- Illumination: Red / Green
- Brightness: 10 Settings
Swampfox Liberty II
Offering the freedom of IWB or OWB carry, Liberty II is a compact all-purpose optic.
- Footprint: RMR
- Window: 24.5mm (W) x 19mm (H) / 27mm (Angular)
- Reticle: 3 MOA / Multi
- Illumination: Red / Green
- Brightness: 10 Settings
Swampfox Justice II
Optimized for competition, Justice II was engineered to win with our largest window yet.
- Footprint: RMR
- Window: 28mm (W) x 23mm (H) / 30mm (Angular)
- Reticle: 6 MOA / Multi
- Illumination: Red / Green
- Brightness: 10 Settings
Swampfox Kraken
Built like a tank, Kraken is an enclosed multi-footprint optic with legendary durability.
- Footprint: RMR / MOS
- Window: 16mm (W) x 16mm (H) / 16mm (Angular)
- Reticle: 3 MOA
- Illumination: Red / Green
- Brightness: 10 Settings
This article was last updated in March 2024.