I picked up a Glock 42 and I knew when I bought it that as a carry gun it would spark some debate. Some people call the 380 a “mouse gun” and claim that as a carry weapon its is just not enough gun. I disagree with that generalization. I carry larger weapons sometimes but with the wide range of available self-defense rounds, I feel that the 380 is a viable option for a carry weapon. It is small enough to pack even with summer weight clothing and very concealable in winter clothing. That said, I don’t use this as a carry gun when hiking – I prefer a full size or compact gun with a bigger bullet due to the threat of animals.
Here are some of the basic specs on the gun.
Weight 13.76oz empty
Barrel 3.25
Height 4.13
Length 5.94
Width .94
Trigger 5.5 lb
For a size comparison, here is the 42 next to a Glock 20 magazine. You can see that it’s only slightly longer and is about the same width.
The trigger is rated at 5.5 pounds and I believe that to be correct. It is heavier than my 1911s but the Glock, as you know, has no safety other than the trigger safety. For a carry gun, I think this is right where it needs to be. Soft enough to not throw your first round but firm enough to not have a negligent discharge. The take up is smooth and about a quarter inch before hitting the true release point, from there it is a crisp break to firing. As always some people will like it softer and some more firm but I think stock, in this case, is perfect.
Accuracy is very good. I have shot both premium and bottom of the barrel ammo through it and it eats everything I feed it. Obviously the premium ammo groups better but it’s not a huge difference. Everything I shot was on target and within a 4-inch group, depending on ammo – well within a stopping group. I will shoot cheap ammo through it all day and not worry about it. It’s good to practice with and this gun is not made for true target shooting. Its a defense gun, or a backup gun. In that regard it is perfect. It fires every time, feeds anything and is accurate – what more could you want?
Round capacity is a bit less than some other carry guns at 6+1. I am not worried about that for a few reasons. I use this as an urban carry weapon so in the very slight chance, I had to unholster it the fight would be very short. Most would-be muggers and thieves will run at the sight of a weapon and if they don’t the hollow points will do a good job to persuade them to leave me alone. Below is a G42 mag next to the G20 mag so you can see how small it is.
The grip on the Glock 42 is semi-small for me, I have a larger hand and I can not get my pinky on the grip. With a magazine in, I get most of my third finger on the grip. I have not bought the grip extensions that are being sold by a few companies yet but I think I may eventually get every finger on the grip once I find one I like. So far the small grip not allowing my pinky to grip has not been an issue though. The gun is very controllable and for some reason seems to point more naturally than my full-size Glocks. I find I can draw and shoot on target very easily with this weapon.
However, the lack of any real texture on the grip is a con for me. In a carry weapon if it’s a hot day sometimes sweat can condense in the holster, or bleed through the leather, or your hands can be slick. Any variable that causes your hands or the grip to be wet can cause slippage and the lack of any real grip makes me feel that traction can be an issue. I would like to see some more texture on the grips and may send it out to have some added.
As you can see there is very little texture and very little positive grip. It looks like more of a decorative afterthought than an actually usable grip.
The sights are the normal Glock sights the back is the squared off “U” and the front is the white dot. I am not a fan of the back sight, on any Glock, and I usually swap them out immediately. This time I am waiting until I find a set of night sights I like. I am more comfortable with 3 dot sights and that’s what I will eventually go with.
That is not saying that the Glock sights are bad – it’s just not what I personally like. I find that my eye can acquire the sights and target faster with the three dot sights and in a self-defense gun that’s important. Again that’s my preference, many many people are happy with Glock stock sights and the stock sights are good – just not for me.
Reloading for the 380 is easy enough, its a straight wall case and there is plenty of data out there. Most major bullet manufacturers make some kind of projectile for this round. There are also numerous powders and primers available. When I have been looking for once fired brass I have been able to find some good deals, usually when I find good deals like this it is because not many people load for it so it is plentiful and not in high demand. I do not shoot the Glock 42 enough to currently warrant reloading for it. In the future, I may, but the amount of good ammo that is out there makes it hard to justify the time and effort.
Some final thoughts –
As a reliable carry gun, you don’t get much better than Glock. They fire every time and are basically bulletproof if you take care of them. I like the small size of this weapon. It makes summer carry in hotter areas easier and its slim profile makes inside the waistband a little more comfortable. Match it up with a good holster and an extra mag or two and you have a winning combination.
Even though the 380 is not considered in some circles to have enough knockdown power for a carry weapon, I still disagree with that. Is it going to be as good as a 40 or 45 performance wise? No, it is not. But you also have to work harder to carry a 40 or 45 concealed. I can carry the Glock 42 wearing board shorts and a tank top if I wanted to and I would not print.
Its down to preference again, I am confident in my abilities and in the gun and ammo choices I have made so I have no problem carrying the 42, its accurate and the trigger is good. With a few modifications, mainly the mag/grip extensions and sights and I will continue to use this as a go-to CCW weapon during the warmer months.
I leave it up to each person to decide on the merits of the smaller round and ease of concealment vs the larger guns with a bigger round. For some its a nonissue but for others, they want that bigger round – to each their own. Carry what makes you feel safe and with a weapon, you have trained with and are confident in.