@@kb3mpx 380 is also known as 9mm Short. It doesn't punch as hard as a 9mm but it has its benefits. In a larger pistol, recoil is smaller. Say a Bersa Thunder or something. But 380 also allows guns to be made even smaller than the most compact micro 9mm which is great for pocket carry in your shorts on a hot summer day. The goal of a gun isn't to kill, it's to stop the threat. You dump 7 rounds of 380 into somebody and there's a very strong chance they're going to stop and rethink their actions, or they will die. Carry quality defensive ammo and 380 easily hits the FBI minimum for penetration. It's a great choice and easily better than 22, 25, 32, etc.
I was shot with a 380 along with a friend. We both were shot in the head, he died instantly. I was also shot in the back which almost left me paralized and the bullet to my head almost left me blind, lost 70 percent of vision (cut optic nerve). So how is the 380 not a good man stopper when it was able to drop two grown men with only about 4-5 shots??. And yes he is in prison for shooting us. So everytime i read people saying 380 wont stop anyone it makes me want to puke. Unless we are getting attacked by robots, a 380 will serve you well. If you shoot better with a 380 then carry it, dont let people bash you for carrying a 380.
+tsdon1 Thanks you. Yep, its all macho bs. It really only took 2 well placed shots to take us down. The rest of the shots weren't that accurate (luckily lol). And btw this guy probably never shot a gun before this. So a person that practices can definitely be deadly and well protected with .380. I love the .380's and never feel like i wouldn't be able to protect myself with one.
Hey your comment was crucial to my decision today. Just want to say thank you for sharing and I'm sorry you lost a friend and a lot of vision through this. Take care and thanks again!!! .380 it is.
Royal V. You were shot in the head, in the head ( turning off the electricity ) . The CNS . Any round , even the 22 placed in the head could be a formidable round , but in other areas such as center mass or where lethal targets aren’t easily hit then your reasoning lacks merit. Unsound.
Royal V. Yes, a 380 could get the job done as just some other calibers can . Some rounds are better than others at doing the job . Where our lives are concerned some of us prefer rounds with more predilection to the job as evidenced by their history in the field . You never appreciate how much fun breathing is until something or someone interrupts the process. 😊
I carried my G19 for 5 years and switched immediately to G42 carry. I LOVE IT! Best of all, it comes apart like every other Glock; no dumb key or other crazy method of getting it apart to clean it. I now carry it with an ETS 9+1 round mag and an extra 9 round mag on me. I have complete confidence in it. Looking forward to shooting it in BUG gun matches.
Bought one of these when I retired from Law Enforcement in 2017. I have put a thousand or so rounds through it in practice. It's still my daily carry gun along with a Smith 642.
As a retired 27 yr police veteran I’ve transitioned to carrying a 380 due to size and convenience of carry. My favorite two 380s are the Glock 42 ($319.00-on sale blue labeled gun) and the Kahr P380. I’ve learned that all of these smaller 380s are ammo sensitive with the exception that FMJ roundnose and Hornady FTX seem to run flawlessly straight out of the box. The G42 is one of the most accurate Glocks and in my opinion is THE MOST ergonomic of the entire Glock line when paired with the Hogue Handall grip and the extended +2 Glock extension- for a total of 9 rounds in this pocket gun. My opinion...this is the most underrated Glock especially the newer ones with the modifications that Glock incorporated to fix the teething problems of the earlier models. I believe that if I were going to carry a 9mm I would go Glock 26 which is virtually the same size as the G43. The G42 is clearly smaller, slimmer and lighter than any other Glock especially when fully loaded. Great review as usual....
I love my 42. It is simply the best shooting 380 I have ever held. You will dump the entire mag on target if you are reasonably skilled at all, and with some underwood xtreme penetrators you will do plenty of damage to stop the threat. Plus it is a joy to shoot so you will practice with it.
And in addition I have never had an issue with any ammo. From the extreme penetrators and defenders to pdx1s to gold dots to flat nose fmj buffalo bore I have had Glock reliability. I purchased mine the week it was released for retail.
I'm using the Lehigh xtreme penetrator ammo as my carry ammo. It functions beautifully. Just found out about the Underwood variant. Will give it a try!
I absolutely love my G42, almost more than my G43. It's just so slim and small,yeah it's a 380 but it's still a gun so you're still ahead compared to most. With my G42 I am deadly accurate with it due to its low recoil.
Sense the release of the 42 you can now get plus 2 mag extensions with one in the chamber and plus 2 = 9rds sounds better than 6 . I think it's "Peirce" grip extensions. They are contoured adding to the grip feel .
I just bought one of these for my wife. She loves it and I love it. It doesn't like Herters fmj but does fine with Remington fmj. Outstanding accuracy and mild recoil. Great review.
I've carried a 42 as a back up for over a year, have around 2500 rounds through it and it eats everything! hollow point, FMJ, any brand... haven't had an issue. My wife's 42 is the same but has less rounds through it. I did do a .25 cent trigger job on it and it smoothed out the trigger slightly but I would like to get some connectors and see what difference that would make.
Absolutely! I'm 5'2 Woman and LOVE my G19 but like you said it is my Home Weapon of Preference & G42 My Preferred Concealed Carry! And the 42 is larger than The Bodyguard making it better with Recoil & also more comfortable for a Man's hands as well! :)
Glock 42 380 caliber is one of the best pocket pistols your money could buy I would recommend one if you could find it they are fantastic very simple and easy and well made a lot of police use them as a backup gun don't waste your time and money looking at any other 380 handguns out there especially the ones made another countries even some made here it's just no good Glock stands by their products 🇱🇻🇺🇲💯👍
I shot my buddies over 4 years ago. Fell in love with it immediately. We're both police officers and I will tell you that several officers in my area have this as their off-duty. A .380 is just as dangerous as any other round. Best place anywhere no issues firearm. I have another friend that asked why I didn't get a Walther ppk. Well the Glock 42 is approximately $500.00 less, more reliable, and it just works. Just make sure there is a number 3 on the mags. Fantastic little gun.
The Glock 42 is a SWEET pistol. It shoots like a dream and is accurate. I got the 7 round ETS mags and added Stryke Industries +2 extension with pinky rest which gives it 9+1 capacity! I also added trijicon fiber optic sights and a tungsten guide rod for reduced recoil. Shots on target are of utmost importance! I’ve put many rounds through it and never had a malfunction including shooting it in IDPA Bug competition. I did let a new shooter try it and it did have a failure because she limp wristed it. GREAT gun and my EDC of choice for reliability, comfort and ease of concealment. Loaded with Underwood Extreme Defender it is a wicked self defense gun. Even invisible front pocket carry with a Sticky holster. Get one!
I have 2 G42s. Lots of issues up front. Ammo sensitive, but aluminum wheel polish to feed ramp, underside of ejector and 4-600 rounds break-in does the trick. Both work flawlessly. Also after the above, they now cycle JHP HPR and others well. I have over 1k rounds through both with no further MFs. Hope this helps.
I bought mine January 21st, 2014, the day it was released to the public. I have over 3,500 flawless rounds through mine (except the Barnes all copper bullets-won't cycle the action). For me and my small hands, it's the perfect size and weight. Obviously, not too big. But not too small like the mouse guns. Very accurate. The gen 4 recoil springs make it a very soft shooter, unlike the snappy mouse guns like the LCP and the bodyguard. I installed tritium night sights and "mag guts" on 3 of my mags. Now I have 7+1. 2 thumbs way up.
After shaving some material off the tab that contacts the magazine follower on the slide stop lever, i've run 1000 flawless rounds through my 42, great gun, way more fun to shoot than a micro 380, glad glock made it a little bigger
I concealed carry a Glock 19 on my hip and I was thinking about one of these little buggers as a boot/ankle gun for a secondary sidearm. Still haven't picked one up or even seriously wanted to but in the future I might look into it a bit farther. I'm hoping that they do end up making a micro 9mm but I'm not holding my breath for it. They do look and feel good though, I was rather impressed when I handled one in the shop. I always liked the Glock trigger over the very long pull and reset of most of the tiny nines.
What you say about the LCP is so true. The Glock 42 is smooth and has almost no recoil--pretty amazing. The Ruger LCP nearly jumps out of your hand. However, the LCP II--which I own--is much improved: less recoil, better fit in the hand. It is still snappy and primitive (relative terms) when compared to the Glock 42.
Just as a counterpoint, I have a 42 and it has functioned perfectly with a (limited) variety of ammo, and I found the trigger OK (but yes, a bit stiffer than a typical Glock). I don't really have occasion to carry it, though. It would probably be a nice ankle pistol, though.
Very in depth review, SoothOO. Probably one of the better reviews on the Glock 42 (if not the best) on UA-cam. I'd like to point out one positive fact regarding a lot of viewers negative comments about the so called under powered .380 round. Today's .380 ammunition has vastly improved over the last several years. Take for instance Underwood Arms unique Extreme Perpetrator/ Defender solid copper fluted head bullet in 65 and 90 grain. Neither an fmj nor a jhp, but a hell of a devastating bullet all to itself. One round alone will instantly take down a threat. If you used two rounds, you just wasted the second bullet. The same goes for Lehigh Arms producing an almost identical round. I own a Walther PPK/s, and a Glock 42. You needn't have to ask what defense ammunition they're loaded with. So all of you nay sayers take heed.
I still like my Glock 42 because of the size and shootability, but I have had a LOT of mechanical issues with it; namely the slide doesn't consistently lock back, and it's finicky about ammo. I'm probably going to send it in to the factory and then re-evaluate keeping it once I get it back.
I shot s friends G42 just after they came out & I was impressed with its lack of recoil & accuracy. I held back because where I live they’re priced in the mid $400’s. I just came across a new G42 for $360 out the door!
I really like this pistol myself. I bought a Pierce Grip Extension for it that gives my little finger a place to lend grip support, and a 7 round Mag Guts replacement for the magazine innards allowing me to have 7 rounds in the magazine and 1 in the chamber. I also put a set of Ameriglo Night Sights on it and that is the only company that I found making night sights for this particular weapon. Nice review Sootch00
Underwood Xtreme Defender with the Lehigh round, fires from a .380 just fine, and does MORE damage than a hollow point because .380 hollow points don't expand very well. The Lehighs work on a completely different principle, and are devastating.
+mattr918 I did too. wanted to get the smallest glock made that I could fight with, and I truly feel that it was an excellent choice. 380 isn't so great but with 6 to 8 shots.... well I couldn't wanna get shot by it.
1:02 you can see the powder grains falling out the barrel. As a hand loader that means the powder used is not fast burning and not utilizing the max velocity from the cartridge. Something to keep in mind when using guns with shorter barrels.
A lot of great after market parts for this little pocket pistol; from the 3-5 lb triggers,to the mag guts magazine internals that add an additional round. This changes the capacity from 7 to 8 rounds.Sights are pretty good to
The G42 is Made in the USA and is chambered in the all American 9mm Browning (R.i.P) aka .380 acp! That's why I love my Glock 42, It's the all American Glock! >:)
I bought one not long ago and yes, I too love mine. It is very accurate and shootable. My only complaint is how hard it is to load the mags. The fifth round is hard to get in and number six is nearly impossible. I'm leaving them loaded in hopes that the springs will soften up and break in a little. I have a Colt Mustang and that was also the biggest gripe I had with it too. I'm a big strong man although getting old so I don't understand why this point is not raised more in reviews but all in all, it is a fine gun.
I have owned a 42 since the first week or so they were available to the public. I have experienced some ammo finicky issues as many are aware the 42 has. I would recommend staying away from hornady critical defense, the bullet geometry doesn't work well for whatever reason. Also I would recommend the slingshot method of chambering a round. I say this because upon using the slide stop to chamber a round (with all types of ammo) I would experience a FTF. I think the worst ammo I have ever seen is that Barnes round (black projectile)...don't use it! Other than those annoying ammo sensitivity issues...100% reliable if you follow those guidelines. I would use the gold dots for carry, slingshot the first round and also the magazine allows for an easy plus one round capacity.
Good overview of the Glock 42! Sootch, I can't help but notice something is up with you, You seem depressed or something...Am I off the mark there? Anyway take care brother.
I got rid of my S&W Bodyguard .380 because I hated shooting it. Loved the size of it though. I'm thinking about getting one of these. Hearing that it's a little heavier might make it better to shoot than the Bodyguard.
Seems like a viable and reliable option for sports enthusiasts (Mountain Biking / Trail running). Light enough to not hinder movement and sufficient to deter a one on one scenario with a combatant with a knife etc. when in a remote area?
Good video.The market is already flooded with single stack 9's,,Glock isn't losing anything by not putting one out.I can understand them putting out an American made 380 for people here in the states that do like them.
# 1 night sights! then trigger bar then, vickers over sized slide stop. and now I and you will hove a amazing little. 380. l have had 4 .380 little pistols , the 42 by far is the finest! ! !
***** we have a glock 42 that is very finicky with ammo.. However the only round we found that it cycled reliably was the 380 Auto 90gr CORBON Self-Defense JHP. It's apparently spitting out at around 1050FPS and that's what the gun needs. High velocity ammo seems to work fine in ours.
42 vs 43 I own the 42. Just shot the 43 at the range. If you are less than 5'10" and weight less than 180lbs, you want to go for the 42. It is smaller and lighter and easy to conceal. If you are taller and bigger, the 43 is better choice.
I have put nearly 3000 rounds through my G42 and not a single malfunction yet. I find my G21 with a 20 pound recoil spring to be my most finicky as regards to what ammo it likes. I hear all the arguments about caliber but for conciel carry I love my 42. 4 round extended clip, night sight replacement, heavy tungsten recoil spring at factory weight. Talon rubberized grips. I can lay excellent groupings at 25 feet all day long. Easy to conceal, shot, and maintain. A true Glock in every sense!
You are going to have alot of hater and just plain negative people... But honestly I feel you give honest reviews. This is very insightful to someone like me that is looking to purchase a pistol for EDC & home defense on a budget. As I can only afford one fire arm at the time right now. Thanks for the honest indepth review of this Glock it was very helpful... Also what is in your opinion the best sub 300 EDC/home defense pistol on the market??
I had this, a Ruger LCP II, the S&W Shield and Bersa Thunder (all four in .380) and I chose the Ruger. Using the knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade voice, I chose... poorly. No matter what ammo I tried, I even bought new magazines, I could not get through a box of ammo without at least one malfunction. And it wasn't just a malfunction I could clear by cycling the action. No. It required a fucking screwdriver. The issue was not feeding, it was ejecting spent brass. When it's jammed up so tight that you cannot clear it without tools, somethings wrong. I thought perhaps I was limp wristing it...nope. Clearing a firearm that has a live round in the chamber with a tool is a nerve wracking event. I tried everything. I finally sold it and got a .38 Special revolver (the Ruger LCR to be exact) and yes, I gave up two rounds. But I now have five that I fucking *KNOW* will fire when called upon. The Glock was just too much money (it had a laser site grip) and with my experience with the Ruger, I am not chancing it again.
Don, if you look on the port side of your magazine under the Glock logo does it say "02" under the 33249? If not you have the non updated magazine that attributes to cycle problems in HP ammunition of a more conical design. Glock did a few upgrades and the newer updated versions seem to run much better with any ammunition. My g42 eats XTP's as well as FMJ's and it is a newer updated version. If your mags don't have the "02" you can send it back with the mags to Georgia and Glock will replace your mags (even aftermarket ones) as well as update some of the internals.
I just cant wait to get my g42.. I hear that it has very good ballistics with precision one ammo with good penetration that can meet fbi standards of 12 inches which is good for a .380.. Carrying a shield now but when I get my hands on a g42 that will be my carry gun...
American Gunner 380 Auto 90 gr XTP works well for me in my Glock. Very accurate and have been rated as the best for penetration and expansion for a 380 round. This is my EDC in the summer and back-up for my CZ 75 SP-01. Annoyingly accurate for a plastic piece of crap. I like all metal handguns and this was a complete surprise to me. The only Glock I will own. I run a CZ, 1911, and 2 wheelguns. The crappy little 380 is as accurate as my CZ! Out to 50 feet. After that, I rely on my other pistols.
I failed to mention the new Polycase Inceptor ARX 56 grain light weight round in .380 ACP (reviewed on Ammo Quest's Shooting the Bull 410). But the amazing difference is that the bullet is manufactured with a combination copper polemar fluted head with the same devastating effect as the Underwood, and Lehigh's .380 ammunition. Just another example of the rapid growing popularity of the .380's one shot, one kill.
I needed a .380 to round out my collection and for very occasional carry in summertime. I wish they'd had the G42 back then, it would have been what I was looking for. I ended up with a Bersa and it has not been reliable feeding rounds. Thanks for the video.
Learn something new everyday. It makes life so much easier. Thankyou for sharing it makes my husbands life easier when he is trying to teach me how to.
i love my lcp but the 42 shoots real good this one will be my first glock ,I'm a Beretta guy .planing to buy a glock 45 acp and probably a 9 mm after i sell my xds45
It seems that the G42 is Glock's under-appreciated stepchild. Think about it. So many are saying "Why can't you be more like your brother in 9mm?" lol I've not actually fired one yet, but I like the G42 just fine based on what I've seen so far.
I bought this particular pistol as just a pocket gun. I own and carry Glock and Smith and Wesson and a fan of both. But I found my model 42 very accurate at 7 to 15 yards , I bought magazine extensions (so my pinky would have something to hang on to) and it became my primary EDC. Love your videos. Very informative. Keep up the good work.
I love mine! It is very accurate, and an extremely easy shooting pistol. It, for me, is the perfect ultra-deep cover pistol. I have the extensions on my mags, and I really like the way it gives a little extra leverage. For ammo, I use Precision One JHP. I have put 100 rounds through it without a single malfunction. It has excellent reviews. Great penetration, without over penetration. It is a 90 gr round that uses the Hornady XTP bullet. Great round for this pistol.
Thumbs way up with hollow point malfunctions? Not sure I'd agree with that. I don't get why some people give a pass to guns that can't fire hollow points reliably.
Precision One is offering two loads and one is a +P tailored toward the 42's heavier spring. That may help your malfunction problem. Or perhaps you could try a lighter spring.
Scratch that, I was just informed by Shootingthebull that there are improvements that have been made that can be solved by sending it in under warranty. Then he said to use lehigh extreme penetratior. I like the tests so I'll vouch for that last part.
Sootch you are right about testing .380's with multiple ammo types. I have a sig p238 that would jam a lot with PMC fmj's but with aguila JHP's it runs fine. Weird huh ?
I respect your concern for safe gun-handling, but really - will an accidental discharge over there hurt me over here? You over-do the safety checks a bit. Still, I enjoy your presentations. Keep up the good work, and thanks for your videos.
Like it or not Glock did it right by releasing .380 first. How many of us that really wanted a single stack, thin 9mm Glock now actually own a 42? I own one and even carry it from time to time. However I would have never bought a 42 if I had the option for a 9mm in the same size. Now when Glock does release a small 9mm I'll buy that one as well. Like it or not Glock sells guns to make money and the plan of putting out a .380 first was a great business decision.
I've actually got the smallest Glock. A DB380! Looks just like a Glock, breaks down the same way, and has the same persnickety for only liking specific ammo. I got away from HPs because of feed issues. Since it's my 2nd backup, I just load ball. I figure if I'm reaching for it, I'm so bad off the only other option is to spit at them. "Last great act of defiance"!
Guess I better put more HPs through mine. I had only seen Hickok have issues with that one weird load til you mentioned your troubles. I love my little 42 when I am unable to carry the 19 or 26. Mine fed Rem Golden Sabers perfect but I only ran a limited number through it. Thanks Sootch
Awesome review, great looking pistol. I love the small pistols and am thinking of getting one. Your review however has piqued my interest in the G26. I hadn't noticed how small they are till you held one up next to the G42. I carry a G19 and I love it as much as anyone. I will be looking for a G26 now thanks to your review. More rounds, 9mm, and in the size range with the G42. Thank you for your hard work, I find you interesting and informative.
Any time someone tells me the 380 does not have enough stopping power, I ask them “ how would they know? Have they ever been shot with a 380?” Their answer always comes back -no. This is perfect for EDC , easily concealed.
Great video SOOTCH00, have you tried underwood's 380 acp load of the Lehigh extreme penetrator. I think good balance between fmj and wound cavity enlargement / expansion.
I would recommend Lehigh Extreme Defense which I carry in my G42. One reason, I'm a veteran and attorney so if (God forbid )ever had to use it in self defense and the round over penetrated and ht an innocent bystander who sued me... the plaintiff's attorney would have a field day in front of the jury with the "EXTREME PENETRATOR". The same reason I would never buy the JUDGE or R.I.P. ammo.
@@fletchschubert5044 Yes, they would! So I"m not being critical at all. I do a lot of trial work and know that labels matter. It was just an observation that consumers often buy into marketing labels that could end up biting them in the butt at trial. When I teach people interested in a conceal carry class how to shoot , I always steer them toward weapons that are dependable, effective but vanilla. Can't you just see some plaintiff's attorney in front of the jury... "So, Mr. Smith decided to whip out THE JUDGE, and become the Judge, Jury and executioner!!!". Lol rambling... have a great day.
Sootch, I noticed at the 2:53 close up when you're firing that your trigger finger is in (at least it looks that way) up to the knuckle joint. I know this is not the typical index position. I don't have giant hands but I've found its easier to control and fire straight with the same position. I'm curious to know why you hold it thus way. Was an accident, intended, better overall grip, straighter shot? I've only had mine a few weeks & a couple hundred rounds thru it. Also, I've found it better to lower my grip hand thumb to just over the mag release button & place my left thumb over the right. Again, I know this is not the typical grip on a pistol. I just want to know if there is a better grip or is it just preference. Thanks in advance.
Glock is like the Honda civic of the gun world. Not out for looks but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in a long reliable track record. I have not owned glock yet but I am buying one. I am not a fan boy but I have to at least try and own one before I can start talking bad about it.
I've been in Law Enforcement for over 26 years. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the .380 and the 42 Rocks..
Is a .380 caliber pistol great for self defense or concealed carry ?
@@kb3mpx better than a slingshot
380 is basically 9mm with a little less velocity so hell ya
@@kb3mpx 380 is also known as 9mm Short. It doesn't punch as hard as a 9mm but it has its benefits. In a larger pistol, recoil is smaller. Say a Bersa Thunder or something. But 380 also allows guns to be made even smaller than the most compact micro 9mm which is great for pocket carry in your shorts on a hot summer day.
The goal of a gun isn't to kill, it's to stop the threat. You dump 7 rounds of 380 into somebody and there's a very strong chance they're going to stop and rethink their actions, or they will die. Carry quality defensive ammo and 380 easily hits the FBI minimum for penetration. It's a great choice and easily better than 22, 25, 32, etc.
I was shot with a 380 along with a friend. We both were shot in the head, he died instantly. I was also shot in the back which almost left me paralized and the bullet to my head almost left me blind, lost 70 percent of vision (cut optic nerve). So how is the 380 not a good man stopper when it was able to drop two grown men with only about 4-5 shots??. And yes he is in prison for shooting us. So everytime i read people saying 380 wont stop anyone it makes me want to puke. Unless we are getting attacked by robots, a 380 will serve you well. If you shoot better with a 380 then carry it, dont let people bash you for carrying a 380.
+tsdon1 Thanks you. Yep, its all macho bs. It really only took 2 well placed shots to take us down. The rest of the shots weren't that accurate (luckily lol). And btw this guy probably never shot a gun before this. So a person that practices can definitely be deadly and well protected with .380. I love the .380's and never feel like i wouldn't be able to protect myself with one.
Hey your comment was crucial to my decision today. Just want to say thank you for sharing and I'm sorry you lost a friend and a lot of vision through this. Take care and thanks again!!! .380 it is.
Glad you are still here to tell the story. Be blessed stay safe
Royal V. You were shot in the head, in the head ( turning off the electricity ) . The CNS . Any round , even the 22 placed in the head could be a formidable round , but in other areas such as center mass or where lethal targets aren’t easily hit then your reasoning lacks merit. Unsound.
Royal V. Yes, a 380 could get the job done as just some other calibers can . Some rounds are better than others at doing the job . Where our lives are concerned some of us prefer rounds with more predilection to the job as evidenced by their history in the field . You never appreciate how much fun breathing is until something or someone interrupts the process. 😊
I carried my G19 for 5 years and switched immediately to G42 carry. I LOVE IT! Best of all, it comes apart like every other Glock; no dumb key or other crazy method of getting it apart to clean it. I now carry it with an ETS 9+1 round mag and an extra 9 round mag on me. I have complete confidence in it. Looking forward to shooting it in BUG gun matches.
Sir I must say you deliver some serious quality in your video presentation, its concise, informative &, retainable, damn well done!
Bought one of these when I retired from Law Enforcement in 2017. I have put a thousand or so rounds through it in practice. It's still my daily carry gun along with a Smith 642.
As a retired 27 yr police veteran I’ve transitioned to carrying a 380 due to size and convenience of carry. My favorite two 380s are the Glock 42 ($319.00-on sale blue labeled gun) and the Kahr P380. I’ve learned that all of these smaller 380s are ammo sensitive with the exception that FMJ roundnose and Hornady FTX seem to run flawlessly straight out of the box. The G42 is one of the most accurate Glocks and in my opinion is THE MOST ergonomic of the entire Glock line when paired with the Hogue Handall grip and the extended +2 Glock extension- for a total of 9 rounds in this pocket gun.
My opinion...this is the most underrated Glock especially the newer ones with the modifications that Glock incorporated to fix the teething problems of the earlier models.
I believe that if I were going to carry a 9mm I would go Glock 26 which is virtually the same size as the G43.
The G42 is clearly smaller, slimmer and lighter than any other Glock especially when fully loaded.
Great review as usual....
I love my 42. It is simply the best shooting 380 I have ever held. You will dump the entire mag on target if you are reasonably skilled at all, and with some underwood xtreme penetrators you will do plenty of damage to stop the threat. Plus it is a joy to shoot so you will practice with it.
And in addition I have never had an issue with any ammo. From the extreme penetrators and defenders to pdx1s to gold dots to flat nose fmj buffalo bore I have had Glock reliability. I purchased mine the week it was released for retail.
Yes sir! G42 + Underwood P+=best combo. This is what I have also. Awesome
I'm using the Lehigh xtreme penetrator ammo as my carry ammo. It functions beautifully. Just found out about the Underwood variant. Will give it a try!
hows the recoil?
johnson minimal
I absolutely love my G42, almost more than my G43. It's just so slim and small,yeah it's a 380 but it's still a gun so you're still ahead compared to most.
With my G42 I am deadly accurate with it due to its low recoil.
Sense the release of the 42 you can now get plus 2 mag extensions with one in the chamber and plus 2 = 9rds sounds better than 6 . I think it's "Peirce" grip extensions. They are contoured adding to the grip feel .
I just bought one of these for my wife. She loves it and I love it. It doesn't like Herters fmj but does fine with Remington fmj. Outstanding accuracy and mild recoil. Great review.
I've carried a 42 as a back up for over a year, have around 2500 rounds through it and it eats everything! hollow point, FMJ, any brand... haven't had an issue. My wife's 42 is the same but has less rounds through it. I did do a .25 cent trigger job on it and it smoothed out the trigger slightly but I would like to get some connectors and see what difference that would make.
I'm 5'0 female and I love this gun for my edc, I'll never part with it. 💕🔫
great gun for a male too for carry the 9 mm stays at home.
Absolutely! I'm 5'2 Woman and LOVE my G19 but like you said it is my Home Weapon of Preference & G42 My Preferred Concealed Carry! And the 42 is larger than The Bodyguard making it better with Recoil & also more comfortable for a Man's hands as well! :)
Seriously. Consider the Ruger LCP2. I prefer the Ruger over the Glock. I think you will too.
I'm 6'3" and love the 42. Shoots like the Glock 17.
haha your short
Glock 42 380 caliber is one of the best pocket pistols your money could buy I would recommend one if you could find it they are fantastic very simple and easy and well made a lot of police use them as a backup gun don't waste your time and money looking at any other 380 handguns out there especially the ones made another countries even some made here it's just no good Glock stands by their products
🇱🇻🇺🇲💯👍
Best round for .380 is the Lehigh Defense Extreme Penetrator round.
I shot my buddies over 4 years ago. Fell in love with it immediately. We're both police officers and I will tell you that several officers in my area have this as their off-duty. A .380 is just as dangerous as any other round. Best place anywhere no issues firearm. I have another friend that asked why I didn't get a Walther ppk. Well the Glock 42 is approximately $500.00 less, more reliable, and it just works. Just make sure there is a number 3 on the mags. Fantastic little gun.
The Glock 42 is a SWEET pistol. It shoots like a dream and is accurate. I got the 7 round ETS mags and added Stryke Industries +2 extension with pinky rest which gives it 9+1 capacity! I also added trijicon fiber optic sights and a tungsten guide rod for reduced recoil. Shots on target are of utmost importance! I’ve put many rounds through it and never had a malfunction including shooting it in IDPA Bug competition. I did let a new shooter try it and it did have a failure because she limp wristed it. GREAT gun and my EDC of choice for reliability, comfort and ease of concealment. Loaded with Underwood Extreme Defender it is a wicked self defense gun. Even invisible front pocket carry with a Sticky holster. Get one!
Yeah man!
I have 2 G42s. Lots of issues up front. Ammo sensitive, but aluminum wheel polish to feed ramp, underside of ejector and 4-600 rounds break-in does the trick. Both work flawlessly. Also after the above, they now cycle JHP HPR and others well. I have over 1k rounds through both with no further MFs. Hope this helps.
I bought mine January 21st, 2014, the day it was released to the public. I have over 3,500 flawless rounds through mine (except the Barnes all copper bullets-won't cycle the action). For me and my small hands, it's the perfect size and weight. Obviously, not too big. But not too small like the mouse guns. Very accurate. The gen 4 recoil springs make it a very soft shooter, unlike the snappy mouse guns like the LCP and the bodyguard. I installed tritium night sights and "mag guts" on 3 of my mags. Now I have 7+1. 2 thumbs way up.
After shaving some material off the tab that contacts the magazine follower on the slide stop lever, i've run 1000 flawless rounds through my 42, great gun, way more fun to shoot than a micro 380, glad glock made it a little bigger
I concealed carry a Glock 19 on my hip and I was thinking about one of these little buggers as a boot/ankle gun for a secondary sidearm. Still haven't picked one up or even seriously wanted to but in the future I might look into it a bit farther. I'm hoping that they do end up making a micro 9mm but I'm not holding my breath for it.
They do look and feel good though, I was rather impressed when I handled one in the shop. I always liked the Glock trigger over the very long pull and reset of most of the tiny nines.
That's one of the best gun reviews I've ever seen on UA-cam. Kudos to you, sir.
What you say about the LCP is so true. The Glock 42 is smooth and has almost no recoil--pretty amazing. The Ruger LCP nearly jumps out of your hand. However, the LCP II--which I own--is much improved: less recoil, better fit in the hand. It is still snappy and primitive (relative terms) when compared to the Glock 42.
Just as a counterpoint, I have a 42 and it has functioned perfectly with a (limited) variety of ammo, and I found the trigger OK (but yes, a bit stiffer than a typical Glock). I don't really have occasion to carry it, though. It would probably be a nice ankle pistol, though.
Very in depth review, SoothOO. Probably one of the better reviews on the Glock 42 (if not the best) on UA-cam. I'd like to point out one positive fact regarding a lot of viewers negative comments about the so called under powered .380 round. Today's .380 ammunition has vastly improved over the last several years. Take for instance Underwood Arms unique Extreme Perpetrator/ Defender solid copper fluted head bullet in 65 and 90 grain. Neither an fmj nor a jhp, but a hell of a devastating bullet all to itself. One round alone will instantly take down a threat. If you used two rounds, you just wasted the second bullet. The same goes for Lehigh Arms producing an almost identical round. I own a Walther PPK/s, and a Glock 42. You needn't have to ask what defense ammunition they're loaded with. So all of you nay sayers take heed.
Great video.
I still like my Glock 42 because of the size and shootability, but I have had a LOT of mechanical issues with it; namely the slide doesn't consistently lock back, and it's finicky about ammo. I'm probably going to send it in to the factory and then re-evaluate keeping it once I get it back.
Any update on what you decided?
I shot s friends G42 just after they came out & I was impressed with its lack of recoil & accuracy. I held back because where I live they’re priced in the mid $400’s. I just came across a new G42 for $360 out the door!
I really like this pistol myself. I bought a Pierce Grip Extension for it that gives my little finger a place to lend grip support, and a 7 round Mag Guts replacement for the magazine innards allowing me to have 7 rounds in the magazine and 1 in the chamber. I also put a set of Ameriglo Night Sights on it and that is the only company that I found making night sights for this particular weapon. Nice review Sootch00
I put magguts in all of my g42 mags. I did a review on them. They add 1 extra round without changing the dimensions of the gun.
Underwood Xtreme Defender with the Lehigh round, fires from a .380 just fine, and does MORE damage than a hollow point because .380 hollow points don't expand very well. The Lehighs work on a completely different principle, and are devastating.
Great review Don. As always, love the outtakes...we can't always take ourselves too seriously can we!
I picked this over the 43. and what a great pistol it is. very impressed with mine.
+mattr918 I did too. wanted to get the smallest glock made that I could fight with, and I truly feel that it was an excellent choice. 380 isn't so great but with 6 to 8 shots.... well I couldn't wanna get shot by it.
I just bought a Glock 42 I like it I tried the bronze ammo and the blazer the gun worked perfectly
1:02 you can see the powder grains falling out the barrel. As a hand loader that means the powder used is not fast burning and not utilizing the max velocity from the cartridge. Something to keep in mind when using guns with shorter barrels.
A lot of great after market parts for this little pocket pistol; from the 3-5 lb triggers,to the mag guts magazine internals that add an additional round. This changes the capacity from 7 to 8 rounds.Sights are pretty good to
mine has gone back to Glock service 3 times. Not happy at all with this Glock offering
The G42 is Made in the USA and is chambered in the all American 9mm Browning (R.i.P) aka .380 acp! That's why I love my Glock 42, It's the all American Glock! >:)
I bought one not long ago and yes, I too love mine. It is very accurate and shootable. My only complaint is how hard it is to load the mags. The fifth round is hard to get in and number six is nearly impossible. I'm leaving them loaded in hopes that the springs will soften up and break in a little. I have a Colt Mustang and that was also the biggest gripe I had with it too. I'm a big strong man although getting old so I don't understand why this point is not raised more in reviews but all in all, it is a fine gun.
A guy at the range last week had one of these and it shot well. This looks like a good 380 concealed carry gun.
I have owned a 42 since the first week or so they were available to the public. I have experienced some ammo finicky issues as many are aware the 42 has. I would recommend staying away from hornady critical defense, the bullet geometry doesn't work well for whatever reason. Also I would recommend the slingshot method of chambering a round. I say this because upon using the slide stop to chamber a round (with all types of ammo) I would experience a FTF. I think the worst ammo I have ever seen is that Barnes round (black projectile)...don't use it! Other than those annoying ammo sensitivity issues...100% reliable if you follow those guidelines. I would use the gold dots for carry, slingshot the first round and also the magazine allows for an easy plus one round capacity.
Excellent, thorough review as always. And I love that you throw in some bloopers at the end haha
Good overview of the Glock 42! Sootch, I can't help but notice something is up with you, You seem depressed or something...Am I off the mark there?
Anyway take care brother.
I've just been super busy but I'm good. Thanks for asking.
***** Sorry to hear you're depressed man. I hope things get better for you.
I use the Sig Sauer elite performance JHP
I got boxes of the Sig elite when I got my wife the LCP 2 but it wouldn't feed AT ALL regularly, but it works fine in my 42 at the range
Nice review Sootch. And nice production. The more others videos I watch the more I appreciate yours. Keep it up!
I got rid of my S&W Bodyguard .380 because I hated shooting it. Loved the size of it though. I'm thinking about getting one of these. Hearing that it's a little heavier might make it better to shoot than the Bodyguard.
How was the trigger pull on the S & W BG?
I have a BG and a 42.. I carry both, the BG is smaller but the 42 shoots absurdly light. The g19 recoils harder, imo.
i went from the bodygaurd to the sig sauer p238.....much better.
Seems like a viable and reliable option for sports enthusiasts (Mountain Biking / Trail running). Light enough to not hinder movement and sufficient to deter a one on one scenario with a combatant with a knife etc. when in a remote area?
Good video.The market is already flooded with single stack 9's,,Glock isn't losing anything by not putting one out.I can understand them putting out an American made 380 for people here in the states that do like them.
Sootch00, I wish you would add the Taurus PT111 Millennium G2 9mm or .40 to your upcoming reviews. It is an awesome small pistol.
# 1 night sights! then trigger bar then, vickers over sized slide stop. and now I and you will hove a amazing little. 380. l have had 4 .380 little pistols , the 42 by far is the finest! ! !
Just got mine last week. Haven't put a round through it yet. Weather is just horribly cold right now, it can wait to avoid 10F wind chills
***** we have a glock 42 that is very finicky with ammo.. However the only round we found that it cycled reliably was the 380 Auto 90gr CORBON Self-Defense JHP. It's apparently spitting out at around 1050FPS and that's what the gun needs. High velocity ammo seems to work fine in ours.
Have you tested the Lehigh rounds in the 42? Not every pistol will shoot it. If it would, it would be a great FMJ with some JHP qualities
Glock has changed the mags due to the feeding issues. The will replace no charges if you have the early issued mags.
42 vs 43
I own the 42. Just shot the 43 at the range. If you are less than 5'10" and weight less than 180lbs, you want to go for the 42. It is smaller and lighter and easy to conceal. If you are taller and bigger, the 43 is better choice.
Troy Truong Lol don’t listen to this guys advice. Shoot whatever you feel comfortable with it doesn’t matter your weight or height.
I have put nearly 3000 rounds through my G42 and not a single malfunction yet. I find my G21 with a 20 pound recoil spring to be my most finicky as regards to what ammo it likes.
I hear all the arguments about caliber but for conciel carry I love my 42. 4 round extended clip, night sight replacement, heavy tungsten recoil spring at factory weight. Talon rubberized grips. I can lay excellent groupings at 25 feet all day long. Easy to conceal, shot, and maintain. A true Glock in every sense!
What kind of bullets did you use? I'm thinking of purchasing one
@@staceya9534 Federal hollow point for carry and mostly blazer brass for range shooting.
Jut bought one slightly used for 274.99. Works great.
A excellent video on the glock 42 a lot of police carry it for a backup gun 💯🇦🇹🇺🇸👍
You might try out the Xtreme Penetrator .380 ammo by Lehigh Defense... little pricey but shows some promise in the .380 caliber.
I've never been a Glock fanatic, but I have handled the 42 and quite honestly it's not too bad.
You are going to have alot of hater and just plain negative people... But honestly I feel you give honest reviews. This is very insightful to someone like me that is looking to purchase a pistol for EDC & home defense on a budget. As I can only afford one fire arm at the time right now. Thanks for the honest indepth review of this Glock it was very helpful... Also what is in your opinion the best sub 300 EDC/home defense pistol on the market??
Love my glock 42 !!!!!!! Over 1200 rnds now no problems
What ammo
Darnit. I'm watching this and now I want one.
It’s November 2019, did you get one? I did. I really like it.
I had this, a Ruger LCP II, the S&W Shield and Bersa Thunder (all four in .380) and I chose the Ruger. Using the knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade voice, I chose... poorly. No matter what ammo I tried, I even bought new magazines, I could not get through a box of ammo without at least one malfunction. And it wasn't just a malfunction I could clear by cycling the action. No. It required a fucking screwdriver. The issue was not feeding, it was ejecting spent brass. When it's jammed up so tight that you cannot clear it without tools, somethings wrong. I thought perhaps I was limp wristing it...nope. Clearing a firearm that has a live round in the chamber with a tool is a nerve wracking event. I tried everything. I finally sold it and got a .38 Special revolver (the Ruger LCR to be exact) and yes, I gave up two rounds. But I now have five that I fucking *KNOW* will fire when called upon. The Glock was just too much money (it had a laser site grip) and with my experience with the Ruger, I am not chancing it again.
Don, if you look on the port side of your magazine under the Glock logo does it say "02" under the 33249? If not you have the non updated magazine that attributes to cycle problems in HP ammunition of a more conical design. Glock did a few upgrades and the newer updated versions seem to run much better with any ammunition. My g42 eats XTP's as well as FMJ's and it is a newer updated version. If your mags don't have the "02" you can send it back with the mags to Georgia and Glock will replace your mags (even aftermarket ones) as well as update some of the internals.
Newest mags will have a "3" stamped on them.
I just cant wait to get my g42.. I hear that it has very good ballistics with precision one ammo with good penetration that can meet fbi standards of 12 inches which is good for a .380.. Carrying a shield now but when I get my hands on a g42 that will be my carry gun...
American Gunner 380 Auto 90 gr XTP works well for me in my Glock. Very accurate and have been rated as the best for penetration and expansion for a 380 round. This is my EDC in the summer and back-up for my CZ 75 SP-01.
Annoyingly accurate for a plastic piece of crap. I like all metal handguns and this was a complete surprise to me.
The only Glock I will own. I run a CZ, 1911, and 2 wheelguns.
The crappy little 380 is as accurate as my CZ!
Out to 50 feet.
After that, I rely on my other pistols.
I failed to mention the new Polycase Inceptor ARX 56 grain light weight round in .380 ACP (reviewed on Ammo Quest's Shooting the Bull 410). But the amazing difference is that the bullet is manufactured with a combination copper polemar fluted head with the same devastating effect as the Underwood, and Lehigh's .380 ammunition. Just another example of the rapid growing popularity of the .380's one shot, one kill.
Keep up the great work, I look forward to watching your videos each and every day.
Great review on this pistol. I have been thinking of purchasing this for my wife.
Base on MAC review of 380 ACPs it's not recommended to use hollow point due to low penetration, FMJ does better for effective power
dempoy use the Underwood ammo in the G42, it gets plenty of penetration but has a hollow point type wound channel! 👍🏻
This is a fantastic review. Very detailed and great camera work.
The small Glocks are great because they have a good trigger and actual sights.
I needed a .380 to round out my collection and for very occasional carry in summertime. I wish they'd had the G42 back then, it would have been what I was looking for. I ended up with a Bersa and it has not been reliable feeding rounds.
Thanks for the video.
Learn something new everyday. It makes life so much easier. Thankyou for sharing it makes my husbands life easier when he is trying to teach me how to.
For 10 more ounces and just as thin in 9mm. I went with the XDs 3.3" Has been reliable and very accurate.
You sir have a new subscriber! Thank you for this. This video answered some questions I've had for a while. Blessings🙌🏽
i love my lcp but the 42 shoots real good this one will be my first glock ,I'm a Beretta guy .planing to buy a glock 45 acp and probably a 9 mm after i sell my xds45
Just bought one (only available to law enforcement in CA)
It seems that the G42 is Glock's under-appreciated stepchild. Think about it. So many are saying "Why can't you be more like your brother in 9mm?" lol I've not actually fired one yet, but I like the G42 just fine based on what I've seen so far.
Nice video. As always. Thanks for the honest review.
I bought this particular pistol as just a pocket gun. I own and carry Glock and Smith and Wesson and a fan of both. But I found my model 42 very accurate at 7 to 15 yards , I bought magazine extensions (so my pinky would have something to hang on to) and it became my primary EDC. Love your videos. Very informative. Keep up the good work.
I love mine! It is very accurate, and an extremely easy shooting pistol. It, for me, is the perfect ultra-deep cover pistol. I have the extensions on my mags, and I really like the way it gives a little extra leverage.
For ammo, I use Precision One JHP. I have put 100 rounds through it without a single malfunction. It has excellent reviews. Great penetration, without over penetration. It is a 90 gr round that uses the Hornady XTP bullet. Great round for this pistol.
Gene Cardwell hey where did you get ? And how many rounds
Thumbs way up with hollow point malfunctions? Not sure I'd agree with that. I don't get why some people give a pass to guns that can't fire hollow points reliably.
Precision One is offering two loads and one is a +P tailored toward the 42's heavier spring. That may help your malfunction problem. Or perhaps you could try a lighter spring.
Scratch that, I was just informed by Shootingthebull that there are improvements that have been made that can be solved by sending it in under warranty. Then he said to use lehigh extreme penetratior. I like the tests so I'll vouch for that last part.
Sootch you are right about testing .380's with multiple ammo types. I have a sig p238 that would jam a lot with PMC fmj's but with aguila JHP's it runs fine. Weird huh ?
I respect your concern for safe gun-handling, but really - will an accidental discharge over there hurt me over here? You over-do the safety checks a bit. Still, I enjoy your presentations. Keep up the good work, and thanks for your videos.
Shoot Lehigh Defense Xtreme penetrator...never had an issue and a great self defense round for the caliber.
Like it or not Glock did it right by releasing .380 first. How many of us that really wanted a single stack, thin 9mm Glock now actually own a 42? I own one and even carry it from time to time. However I would have never bought a 42 if I had the option for a 9mm in the same size. Now when Glock does release a small 9mm I'll buy that one as well. Like it or not Glock sells guns to make money and the plan of putting out a .380 first was a great business decision.
Another great review Sooch
scootch00 love your video's on glocks keep them coming take care brother !!!!!!
Great review!
I've actually got the smallest Glock. A DB380! Looks just like a Glock, breaks down the same way, and has the same persnickety for only liking specific ammo. I got away from HPs because of feed issues. Since it's my 2nd backup, I just load ball. I figure if I'm reaching for it, I'm so bad off the only other option is to spit at them. "Last great act of defiance"!
Guess I better put more HPs through mine. I had only seen Hickok have issues with that one weird load til you mentioned your troubles. I love my little 42 when I am unable to carry the 19 or 26. Mine fed Rem Golden Sabers perfect but I only ran a limited number through it. Thanks Sootch
Awesome review, great looking pistol. I love the small pistols and am thinking of getting one. Your review however has piqued my interest in the G26. I hadn't noticed how small they are till you held one up next to the G42. I carry a G19 and I love it as much as anyone. I will be looking for a G26 now thanks to your review. More rounds, 9mm, and in the size range with the G42. Thank you for your hard work, I find you interesting and informative.
Hey buddy your reviews are always great, Thinking about picking one up for the wife. Stay safe brother and keep up the good work.
Any time someone tells me the 380 does not have enough stopping power, I ask them “ how would they know? Have they ever been shot with a 380?” Their answer always comes back -no. This is perfect for EDC , easily concealed.
considering the G42, since the Kahr cw380 i bought was malfunctioning right out of the box smh!!
Glocks 25 and 28 weren’t available here in the USA I’m pretty sure unless they imported them
Great video SOOTCH00, have you tried underwood's 380 acp load of the Lehigh extreme penetrator. I think good balance between fmj and wound cavity enlargement / expansion.
I would recommend Lehigh Extreme Defense which I carry in my G42. One reason, I'm a veteran and attorney so if (God forbid )ever had to use it in self defense and the round over penetrated and ht an innocent bystander who sued me... the plaintiff's attorney would have a field day in front of the jury with the "EXTREME PENETRATOR". The same reason I would never buy the JUDGE or R.I.P. ammo.
Psyopwarriorguy one would want to know why you used your weapon anyway. Extreme defender is a better round these days anyway
@@fletchschubert5044 Yes, they would! So I"m not being critical at all. I do a lot of trial work and know that labels matter. It was just an observation that consumers often buy into marketing labels that could end up biting them in the butt at trial. When I teach people interested in a conceal carry class how to shoot , I always steer them toward weapons that are dependable, effective but vanilla. Can't you just see some plaintiff's attorney in front of the jury... "So, Mr. Smith decided to whip out THE JUDGE, and become the Judge, Jury and executioner!!!". Lol rambling... have a great day.
Sootch, I noticed at the 2:53 close up when you're firing that your trigger finger is in (at least it looks that way) up to the knuckle joint. I know this is not the typical index position. I don't have giant hands but I've found its easier to control and fire straight with the same position.
I'm curious to know why you hold it thus way. Was an accident, intended, better overall grip, straighter shot? I've only had mine a few weeks & a couple hundred rounds thru it.
Also, I've found it better to lower my grip hand thumb to just over the mag release button & place my left thumb over the right. Again, I know this is not the typical grip on a pistol. I just want to know if there is a better grip or is it just preference.
Thanks in advance.
Glock is like the Honda civic of the gun world. Not out for looks but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in a long reliable track record. I have not owned glock yet but I am buying one. I am not a fan boy but I have to at least try and own one before I can start talking bad about it.