Glock 42 First Range Trip Thoughts

Today I took the Glock 42 out to the range for a quick session, although I wasn't able to get video due to the wind being strong enough to blow the tripod over I was able to get some decent trigger time. 

One of the biggest things I have been hearing from people is how Glock screwed up by making it a .380 and also making it the size it is (too big) for a .380, while I personally would have prefered it in a 9mm single stack the .380 is still a decent round.

Let me start off with this, for those who complain that it is too large for a .380 handgun there is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to the size of a handgun. When you get so small like the Ruger LCP or the Kahr .380, you get to a point that the gun is no longer comfortable to shoot, and when a gun becomes uncomfortable to shoot you don't train with it. 

In my opinion the Glock 42 is the exact size that it needs to be, it disappears when I carry it appendix IWB and I myself hardly realize it's there. Sure it is a little big to be a pocket pistol, but I have to wonder if it would be practical to draw from your pocket anyways. 

I think the fact that Glock made it the size they did is great, as I said before it is very comfortable to both carry and shoot. I am confident I would have no issue taking a class with it (as long as I could find enough mags). 

This range trip I ran 107 rounds of ammo through it, 7 were PDX1 Self Defense rounds, 50 were PPU 95gr FMJ, and 50 were Remington 95gr FMJ. There were no issues with feeding or firing, the only issue I ran into was the slide not locking back on empty. While it wouldn't lock back on empty with both hands it would lock back with one hand, so I'm thinking it's an issue with hand placement and I will need to work on that.

The 42 was an absolute pleasure to shoot and I was fairly accurate with it also. With the gun being the size it is, it will take me another trip to get it zeroed in. I am looking forward to running quite a few hundred rounds through this gun, and hopefully this next trip out I can actually get some video. 

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Pre Range Thoughts: Glock 42

As many of you know I was like many others when Glock announced they would be releasing a new sub compact handgun, there had been hopes that they would release it in 9mm at first and then over time add .40 and .45 to the mix. Instead Glock released the 42 in .380ACP, and at first everyone was against the idea that it should be released in this caliber. I didn't totally agree with the fact that it was going to be a .380ACP, partly because it is a harder round to find as of late and when I had seen it in stock it was priced higher than the 9mm.

When we headed to the Media Day at the Range during SHOT Show I was still very skeptical of the 42. I knew that it being a Glock it would function like a Glock and there should be no issue there, but there was just that question of why make it in .380? Once at the Glock booth I took a few moments to take a good look at the 41 and 42, they both looked good but I was still on the fence. I watched a few other people head up to the table to shoot them, and each time the person shooting would look a bit surprised with a few of them looking unimpressed. It seemed like for the most part everyone enjoyed both of the new Glocks.

When it was finally our turn to head up and shoot them I was looking forward to handling both of the guns. The first one I picked up to fire was the 42, and my first impression was "this thing is tiny" but it was also surprisingly comfortable in my hand for a .380ACP. There have been a few other pocket pistols that I have owned and every single one of them that was a .380 ended up being sold about 2 range trips in due to various reasons (crappy trigger, uncomfortable, too small, etc..) but the Glock 42 was different. Shooting with the 42 was completely different than what I was used to with any of the other sub compact .380ACP's but it was only for 5 rounds since that was all they gave us, and while I was very happy with the way it shot...it was only 5 rounds.....but they were enough to convince me that I wanted to pick one up for more range time with it.

So I went ahead and asked my FFL to set one aside for me so I could pick it up and run as much ammo through it as I possibly can and see just how much I really do like this new baby Glock. When I picked it up this past weekend I had forgotten just how small it is, but even though it is small it is still very easy to hold. The biggest surprise (which isn't really a surprise) was the fact that when I tossed it into the Tuff Products adjustable holster and carried it, it disappeared in concealment. It was almost impossible to tell that I was carrying it, and it was very comfortable to wear the rest of the day.

When I got it home I set it next to my 19 that I carry all the time (except at work) and did some size comparison so I could put the pictures up here. It is surprising how small the gun, while at the same time being comfortable to hold (and in my limited experience, shoot). I am looking forward to running hundreds of rounds through the gun and seeing just how Glock it actually is.

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