Who has one and what do you think about it? I've contemplated getting one for a few months so figured I would ask everyone who has one what they think.
Thoughts on Glock 42?
- Thread starter NYGuns
- Start date
Bought one a few months ago for my wife as a CCW. She likes the slim single stack vs a revolver as the cylinder is wider and makes it more difficult to conceal. She's also a bit recoil sensitive and she has no problem with the 42.
As expected for a Glock it has operated flawlessly with target/ball ammo and self defense/hollow points. Quite accurate for a small pistol. Standard capacity is 6+1 so I picked up a couple Ghost Inc mag extenders from Brownell's bringing it to 8+1 for the range. Also added a slide spider to make it easier to grip and rack.
Brought it to a range day (Fun Shoot with NICYS) and it was effective against steel targets including a Texas Star, tree and plate rack. A couple people tried it out and were impressed. The only reason I don't carry it is I'm trying to get her to carry regularly.
As expected for a Glock it has operated flawlessly with target/ball ammo and self defense/hollow points. Quite accurate for a small pistol. Standard capacity is 6+1 so I picked up a couple Ghost Inc mag extenders from Brownell's bringing it to 8+1 for the range. Also added a slide spider to make it easier to grip and rack.
Brought it to a range day (Fun Shoot with NICYS) and it was effective against steel targets including a Texas Star, tree and plate rack. A couple people tried it out and were impressed. The only reason I don't carry it is I'm trying to get her to carry regularly.
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
I shot my buddies. He bought it for his wife. It is the softest shooter I've ever fired. It had very minimal recoil.
With that said however, I think that caliber sucks with defensive ammo. Very few rounds will actually penetrate 12 inches.
The Kahr CM9 or PM9 is the same size if not smaller and chambered in 9mm.
In my opinion, if it is for you, I'd go Kahr. If it is for your lady, I'd go 42.
With that said however, I think that caliber sucks with defensive ammo. Very few rounds will actually penetrate 12 inches.
The Kahr CM9 or PM9 is the same size if not smaller and chambered in 9mm.
In my opinion, if it is for you, I'd go Kahr. If it is for your lady, I'd go 42.
C3D
.308 Win
42 is great if you are a Glock shooter. It keeps your training and practice to the same family of firearms. The kahr is a bit smaller but I prefer the 42 for pocket carry and reliability.
Celt
.338 Win Mag
I have 43, not the 42, and I personally prefer to stick with the 9 millimeter over the 380. It's one less type of ammo I have to worry about keeping stock of, and the 9 millimeter has more power.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
We originally bought the 42 for my wife. I upgraded the sights to Tru-Glo TFO night sights. She liked the pistol....until she saw a purple metallic Sig P238 (she likes 1911-style controls). The Sig is smaller and fits well into a Flashbang holster.
Now, the 42 is mine. It could be a pocket carry pistol (if I could carry out in a Disantis holster). With the Mag-guts modification, the flush mag holds 7 rounds.
It's fun to shoot. But, I'd prefer to carry my 43.
BTW, the 43 was also supposed to be the wife's. But....she found a purple metallic Sig P938 to suit her 9mm needs. Notice a pattern? I'm glad the Sig TacOps 1911 doesn't come in purple (mine is black).
Now, the 42 is mine. It could be a pocket carry pistol (if I could carry out in a Disantis holster). With the Mag-guts modification, the flush mag holds 7 rounds.
It's fun to shoot. But, I'd prefer to carry my 43.
BTW, the 43 was also supposed to be the wife's. But....she found a purple metallic Sig P938 to suit her 9mm needs. Notice a pattern? I'm glad the Sig TacOps 1911 doesn't come in purple (mine is black).
ManrisFrack
6.5 Creedmoor
My wife bought one. She had some issues with failure to eject in the beginning (stove pipe). I believe it was limp wristing because I could never duplicate it. In any case, I switched to Frog Lube and that seemed to do the trick. She ran it through one of MDTS's classes a year ago and didn't have any issues.
Shooting the Bull (youtube) has a great evaluation of .380 ammo. I've chosen Hornady Critical Duty for that gun because of his videos.
Shooting the Bull (youtube) has a great evaluation of .380 ammo. I've chosen Hornady Critical Duty for that gun because of his videos.
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
That XTP bullet seems to be the only one no matter who loads it that'll reach the 12 inches. It doesn't expand large buts does expand through clothing and will reach the minimum 12 while others barely hit 10 inches or plugs up and don't expand at all.
I think everyone should be watching his videos before they select a carry round in .380 or 9mm from a 3 inch barrel.
Search .380 or 9mm Ammo Quest on YouTube.
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speedkills27
6.5 Creedmoor
following this. My wife is due for her pistol permit soon and im intrested in both guns for her
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I think you are correct. My wife had the same issues that I couldn't reproduce. With more trigger time, the issue resolved for her.
BTW - I noticed that your avatar image appears to be Sig 1911 TacOps in the "Scorpion" color scheme. If I didn't already have the black version, I'd have to get that one to create a matched set with my P238 "scorpion."
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
OP - If you're interested in a pocket carry .380acp, have you looked at the Sig P238? It is based on the Colt Mustang (which, I believe, Sig bought the rights and tooling for lock, stock, and barrel). It shoots well (with practice if you're used to larger pistols), has minimal recoil compared to some polymer frame .380s, and comes with Sig night sights.
Here is a manufacturer's image of my P238 in the "Scorpion" color scheme:
Here is a manufacturer's image of my P238 in the "Scorpion" color scheme:
ManrisFrack
6.5 Creedmoor
My avatar is actually the M45A1, the jewel of my current collection.
My niece has one. She bought it because it is a little bigger than many other 380s and it fit her better. She has sinse moved to an SP101 357 because she loved mine so much.
Anyways, her G42 shoots very well and has never failed in thousands of rounds. For my hands its a bit smsll but with the Pierce grip extenders its ok. ( not that ive ever fired it, that would be BAD.)
Anyways, her G42 shoots very well and has never failed in thousands of rounds. For my hands its a bit smsll but with the Pierce grip extenders its ok. ( not that ive ever fired it, that would be BAD.)
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I stand corrected. I apologize for grouping your pistol in with my cheaper knock-off.
One day, I hope to aspire to your level of 1911.
Thanks for all the input, everyone. I currently have a G43 which is my EDC and I do have a few pocket .380's but I'm not thrilled with them. I really like my G43 a lot and the 42 is just smaller enough to fit comfortably in the pocket during warmer months. My wife is in the middle of her application process so I would probably give her either the 42 or one of my other .380's (Bodyguard and LCP Custom). Both the Bodyguard and LCP are not fun to shoot, though, and I'm hesitant to give her one of those to carry.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I tried the LCP once...and hated it. I haven't tried the Bodyguard.
I will say, since I own the 42 and P238 (okay...I've got one and wife has one. She didn't like the "tan" color scheme on mine), they both shoot much more comfortably than the LCP. My wife will shoot 200 rounds of 380 through her P238 (or Glock 42) at a range session.
Snappo
6.5 Creedmoor
I have a few Glocks. I have the 9mm, the 357SIG with the compensated vents on the top, and the 45 GAP.
Upside: Hand hold is comfortable, gun is beyond reliable to shoot no matter how cheap the Russian ammo you feed it, sights are easy to see and sight picture recovers quickly. Easy to break down and clean. Beyond easy, in fact.
Downside: to put in Tru-Glo sites (which truly are the best) you have to use the Glock sight removal tool, which is a bit of a pain in the butt to get dialed in. Trigger is mushy / not crisp, and cannot be changed easily. Weapon is ABS plastic with a thin metal frame that was cast inside the plastic - as such it's fairly light which means recoil is higher than a 1911 due to the lack of weight.
Best fixes for a Glock: For each Glock I put in a Tru-Glo TFO sights, and I put in a MUCH better match barrel from Fire Dragon ($140).
Final thoughts: Way tighter groups than my S&W or Browning plastic guns, and the same groups as my XD's. These guys invented the market and are the leaders so you cannot go wrong. For the same price though, I prefer the Springfield Armory eXtreme Duty (XD) which is actually a company that bought in Croatia. The XD has a better trigger feel, same basic design as the Glock, and uses the same Glock tool for replacing the sight. You can get nice Glock 9mm at gun shows for about $300 down South as police departments are leaving 9mm and going to rounds with better 1-shot drops (like the 40 S&W). If you are lucky, some police departments had actually put the original owner's shield engraved on the upper; which is kind of cool.
Upside: Hand hold is comfortable, gun is beyond reliable to shoot no matter how cheap the Russian ammo you feed it, sights are easy to see and sight picture recovers quickly. Easy to break down and clean. Beyond easy, in fact.
Downside: to put in Tru-Glo sites (which truly are the best) you have to use the Glock sight removal tool, which is a bit of a pain in the butt to get dialed in. Trigger is mushy / not crisp, and cannot be changed easily. Weapon is ABS plastic with a thin metal frame that was cast inside the plastic - as such it's fairly light which means recoil is higher than a 1911 due to the lack of weight.
Best fixes for a Glock: For each Glock I put in a Tru-Glo TFO sights, and I put in a MUCH better match barrel from Fire Dragon ($140).
Final thoughts: Way tighter groups than my S&W or Browning plastic guns, and the same groups as my XD's. These guys invented the market and are the leaders so you cannot go wrong. For the same price though, I prefer the Springfield Armory eXtreme Duty (XD) which is actually a company that bought in Croatia. The XD has a better trigger feel, same basic design as the Glock, and uses the same Glock tool for replacing the sight. You can get nice Glock 9mm at gun shows for about $300 down South as police departments are leaving 9mm and going to rounds with better 1-shot drops (like the 40 S&W). If you are lucky, some police departments had actually put the original owner's shield engraved on the upper; which is kind of cool.
Just a comment on the 42 vs other 380s. The 42 feels like a "real" pistol. I know it's subjective but the ergonomics are better than an LCP or a BG IMO. I have an LCP (in fact it's in my pocket at the moment) which has taken me time to get used to and proficient with due to its small size plus it's very snappy. Have not had that problem with the 42 - it just feels nice to shoot. I've fired a BG380 quite a bit and its more like the LCP than the 42.
We can get into the debate on ballistics but modern self defense ammo is really good. Plus the gun you carry is better than the one you left at home because you weren't comfortable shooting it.
BTW - my wife had the same FTE issue on the first mag or 2. We adjusted her grip and now a non issue.
We can get into the debate on ballistics but modern self defense ammo is really good. Plus the gun you carry is better than the one you left at home because you weren't comfortable shooting it.
BTW - my wife had the same FTE issue on the first mag or 2. We adjusted her grip and now a non issue.
This is where I couldn't agree more. The LCP and BG380 are very small and feel weird in my hands. I have big hands so they never quite felt right while holding them, but I am able to draw them from my pocket quickly because of the size. The 43 is a little too big for the pocket, although it's doable. Do you ever pocket carry yours @Calculon ?
@NYGuns
I have yet to pocket carry the 42. It's slightly smaller than the 43 so should be ok. My EDC is normally a Ruger SR9c IWB Aliengear rig (or the LCP in summer for pocket carry in shorts). I haven't carried 42 as its wifey's gun and I want her to wear it everywhere. That's the concept anyway.
If I decide to give it a go I'll report back.