The Glock 42 - The most anticipated gun at Shot Show 2014 and perhaps all year is the Glock 42 .380 Auto. Of course that's not the number 1 impression of the pistol - a single stack 9mm pistol. Glock claims "Demand across market groups for a highly visible, reliable single-stack .380 GLOCK pistol fueled extensive research and development to bring the G42 to the GLOCK customer." I would question if most of these customer requests are actually for a .380 chamber. Despite the status controversy, the handgun itself is a new generation in the Glock family tree. The frame was shortened, simplified, and slightly altered, making the G42 Glock's answer to the pocket pistol market, which has grown over the past 5-6 years as other manufacturers have released single-stack offerings. A slender frame. Best pistols for concealed carry.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on a G42 from a friend at High Mountain Hunting Supply, a local gun shop. The Lender came with limited ammunition, and .380 autos were sold in all but the most expensive self-defense stores in town. Although my range time was a bit short due to the availability of ammo, I was able to adapt to the size and shape of the gun. Not only is the frame much slimmer than all my other Glocks, but I find the contours on the back and front columns to be more comfortable. The G42's trigger doesn't have ridges like other Glocks, and the blade is narrower. As with everything else about the G42 that I found unsatisfactory, that's where the positives stop me.
The Glock 42
The trigger was a beast, feeling closer to 8-10lbs than the advertised 5.5lbs. It was stubborn and required more pressure to break. I can't say if this is for all G42s or just one of these, but it was very annoying and made setting up a proper image difficult. 90 grams felt like going back with the round nose. I had some feed issues, but with a few rounds for the session I couldn't tell if it was a magazine issue, ammo issue, or gun issue. Reading another internet review, it seems that feeding problems are not uncommon. Most armchair Glock experts say "you're only a handgun" or "your thumb touches the slide, preventing recoil." It's either dual recoil springs (sound familiar, Gen 4 owners?) or cartridges, or a combination of the two.
Glock G42 Vs Glock G43x Size Comparison
I brought the G26 Gen3 to compare to Glock's previous famous subcompact. The 42 is more compact in the 24 mm / 0.94 inch width department, but still slightly wider than the Keltech P3AT or Ruger LCP. The grip on the 42 is the same length as the grip on the 26, which means other midrange shooters can still have their pinky finger dangling in the wind. The barrel is 3.25 inches and the capacity is only 6 rounds with standard factory magazines, which is very common among pocket pistols in its class. The smaller frame makes sense and I still felt like I got a good buy every time.
With the trigger and feed issues with the G42, I was still able to shoot better with the G26. But that can be reduced to time spent behind the trigger.
Overall, I think the Glock 42 is a good idea that needs to be tested and developed further to fix some of the problems that many others have claimed. The 2014 SHOT show launch may have had high pressure from the sales/marketing departments, which may have led to the questionable "perfection" of this model. Even so, the G42 fits into a niche that seems to grow every year as CCW license holders rise and the market shifts to more comfortable single stack models. The buzz has introduced a shortage of the .380auto, which in my area has become as scarce as the .22lr at this point, and I still personally prefer to keep a single stack of 9mm. But for now, the G42 is hard to pass up and I encourage everyone to try it on for size. Be aware of its shortcomings and lower your expectations for the first performance, and maybe the one you take home will work just fine.
Claim to fame: Made in the USA, the G42 is the smallest pistol GLOCK has ever introduced, making it ideal for pocket carries and shooters with small hands.\While not your standard CCW pistol, the .380 ACP Glock 42 is very slim. Subcompact carry option. While some may argue that the .380 ACP isn't a good carry caliber, that doesn't mean it can't be effective. Many will opt out of this option because the status is "false", and that's okay. It's not for everyone, but it certainly has its place. There are unique environments and situations where a very compact "pocket" pistol like the G42 shines. I hope this Glock 42 review helps you decide whether or not to pick one up.
The 4 Best Glock 42 Lasers
Made in the USA and released in 2014, the G42 is Glock's smallest pistol to date. This sub-compact, striker-fired pistol is the "baby" of all Glocks. With an empty weight of less than 14 ounces and an ultra-compact frame size, the G42 is truly a unique carry choice. The small frame comes at a cost - the standard capacity of the pistol is only 6 + 1. In such environments, or when complete concealment is essential, the G42 plate is raised.
I recently spent an afternoon at the range with the Glock 42 and put several hundred rounds through it. I brought self defense ammo like Hornady Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dot 90 GR rounds. As expected, the Toyota Camry of Guns (Glock) handled everything I threw at it without a problem.
Overall, I was pleased with the G42's performance - especially when compared to similar options on the market. Shooting the G42 was a relatively "smooth" experience. One-handed shooting of the G42 was very simple, especially for someone carrying a 9mm. The framework is complex but not too strict and I believe it really plays a role in recall. Some of the "pocket" pistols on the market (looking at you Ruger LCP) aren't that easy to shoot, even with relatively tame .380 ACP cartridges.
People usually worry that pistols are too big when looking at CCW options. This is certainly not the case with the G42. The smallest Glock ever made, I'm sure anyone out there can carry it concealed with no problems.
Glock 42 Tiffany Blue / Satin Aluminum
It seems that most people considering this pistol are concerned that it is too small to shoot effectively.
The G42 is much smaller with a smaller frame size than the standard "compact" pistol. That being said, shooting the G42 wasn't all that difficult. I believe this aspect was helped by the modest .380 ACP cartridge. This pistol was controllable and fired accurately at a standard self-defense range of 7 yards.
Compared to other 380 ACP subcompact pistols I've shot, it was much easier in the hands. Continuous shots seemed easier than I expected with the G42. After hundreds of rounds through it, maybe the hands aren't crying out for mercy. In other words, the G42 was still very comfortable to shoot.
Even though it's only 4.13 inches with the largest magazine, I was able to get enough grip that I felt confident.
Lg 443g Laserguard® For Glock® G42, G43, G43x, G48
At 14 ounces, the G42 is a fairly light pistol. This may be the case for some, and if so, you'll be happy.
Today, most of us would not be excited by the prospect of 6+1. Actually, it's not that impressive. Especially when you consider newer pistols like the Sig P365 or Glock 43X that offer 10+1 in 9mm.
If you want the Glock 42 to be a little more concealable, you can get some help to make up for that lack of capacity. Aftermarket magazine extensions such as the HYVE Technologies conversion are available for those wanting the extra capacity of 2 extra rounds.
Taking this pistol to the range and firing hundreds of rounds allowed me to get a feel for the trigger. For a stock Glock trigger, it was decent. I wouldn't say it's good, but decent. The pistol I tested had a very flexible break and a crisp reset. I did 10 pull tests and they averaged less than 5 pounds. For the pistol I tested.
Titanium Slide Backplates For Glock 42 (.380)
Other critics of the G42 expressed displeasure with the G42's trigger. Compared to options like the Ruger LCP and LCP 2, I can say that this trigger is superior. I noticed a small catch
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