The Good, The Bad, The Remington R51

So I am sure by now many of you have seen the multitude of posts that have been floating around the web about the Remington R5, it almost seems like every one of the guns that was sent out had some sort of issue. Sadly for a gun that had so much hype both by Remington and the gun community it is sad to see just how poorly the adaptation of the R51 has done in 9mm.



In this post I wanted to write down some of my thoughts on the gun, while this is not a glowing review it is also not a "You should never buy a Remington R51" post, so please stick with me to the end to understand exactly what I mean by that.

I personally had been looking forward to getting my hands on one of these after seeing the display models they had at SHOT Show. The ergonomics and the way that the gun fit in my hand made it interesting to me. While it may look like some weird futuristic ray gun you would see in a sic-fi movie it does have a comfortable feel to it.

The review pistol that I received showed up to my FFL back in March and I was looking forward to picking it up despite the fact that a few other people had received some that were less than acceptable. When I opened up the box and picked the gun up I noticed that it felt a bit rough, albeit a little unrefined, nothing like the copies I had seen at SHOT.  When I first racked the slide back I cringed a bit at how gritty and rough the slide felt, but I blamed part of that on factory lubrication (or lack there of) and was wondering how much that would change once I had it stripped down and properly lubricated.  One of the other things that I noticed was how spongy the trigger pull was, and how the reset literally required me to move my finger all the way forward before it was ready for the next shot.

When I got the pistol home I took the directions out of the box (yes I use directions) to figure out how to take the gun down since I had never taken one down before and it does require a unique technique. The first thing I noticed was how hard the slide release pin was to get out, and when I say hard I mean I had to actually take a punch to it. Once the pin was out I started the hop on one foot, rolling my eyes, while sticking my tongue out, and pulling the barrel while keeping the slide pulled back take down process (it's really not that hard after you figure it out, but seriously?).  I broke the gun down as far as I figured it needed to go and stripped off all of the factory lubrication and applied FIREClean to everything. Once I had the gun put back together I tried racking the slide again, while it was not as gritty as it had been at the shop it was still very rough; almost like it was catching or rubbing on something it shouldn't be.

After messing with the gun a bit more I was comfortable enough to take it out to the range and give it a go, I loaded up the 2 magazines that come with it (115gr FMJ) and fired my first few shots out of it. To say it was a comfortable first few shots would be lying to you, the amount of snap that this little 9mm had was unbelievable, add on top that there was an issue with what felt like slide bite I was completely caught off guard by how uncomfortable it was to shoot. I ran quite a few more mags worth of ammo through the gun, including some hollow point rounds (which fed just fine), but I just couldn't understand why I felt like I was getting slide bite from the gun.

When I got back from the range and watched some of the video I had taken while shooting I noticed that at no time was my hand close enough to be hit by the slide, so that left the question as to what was causing the bite. After taking a little more time to figure out what the biting was caused by I noticed that the back "safety" was actually the cause of the pinch. Instead of being smooth the edges are on the rough side, it also moves back and forth quite a bit while firing; and since there are gaps along the sides and the top to allow for it to function the meat of your hand is pinched by it leaving you with the feeling of slide bite. This is something I would like to see fixed if they bring out a second generation of the R51, along with other modifications that need to be made.

I didn't clean the gun up between the first and second trip out to the range because I wanted to see how the gun would handle not being cleaned between trips and using dirty ammo. I used Tulammo during the second range trip because I know that it is typically some of the dirtiest ammo I can get my hands on. After running around 300 rounds of ammo (100 Tula, 175 federal, 25 HP) it was still functioning but was becoming harder to rack the slide and have it go into battery from slide lock. It was also becoming harder to rack the slide from the closed position. Again it was as if the slide was dragging across something in the process and making it very difficult to move.

Before taking it out for the last range trip and final video I took the gun apart again to look and see if I could figure out what the issue was with the slide being so hard to rack. What I found was the part that goes over the barrel and holds the spring in place had some deep scratches in it from the slide moving over it.

After giving it a closer look it seems like this is where the biggest issue was at as far as slide function went. It is almost as if the tolerances aren't right and the two parts are working against each other and creating friction rather than just allowing proper function. This is something that needs to be fixed, even if it requires going back to the drawing board for Remington.

Is this a design that Remington can salvage and make something much better in a second generation? Yes I believe it is, I think if they fix the slide grinding issue, safety biting issue, and the loose sights issue (not something I had a problem with but have seen others have this problem), they could have a somewhat solid seller. Sure the trigger is not that great but there are innovative people out there who would take advantage of the poor trigger and make something better.

Is the R51 something I would suggest right now? No, the issues I had with my review copy were enough to push me away from the first generation release. With that being said if those issues were fixed and they figured out a way to tame down the amount of flip from recoil I would be more than willing to get my hands on another one and run some rounds down range with it.

This is a gun I will be keeping an eye on as Remington works to make it better (let's hope that they continue to work and listen to the consumer), it still has a look that I have grown to like and it was comfortable in my hand (when I wasn't shooting it). I personally never like to see a product fail because a company decided to rush it out, and then not make improvements when it is shown that the rushed out version has many flaws; so I hope that this design will be turned around and improved instead of failing all together.

Lionheart Industries LH9C Expanded Initial Thoughts

So yesterday I posted a video with my initial thoughts on the Lionheart Industries LH9C and I figured that I would expand a little more with this post.

Fit and Finish

The LH9C is a very well made pistol, when you get one in your hands you can see how good the quality of the workmanship is. The slide moves easily on the frame with minimal play, and I can actually grip it with one hand and rack the slide back (not that I would ever really need to do that). There aren't any rough or sharp edges on the gun, and the Cerakote finish gives it an extremely clean look and very durable finish.

The serrations are deep and plentiful on the gun making it easy to rack the slide even when covered with dirt or your hands are slick. The serrations on the backstrap of the gun do offer a nice amount of grip to keep the gun from moving side to side, while remaining comfortable and not digging into your hand.

The grips are beastly, the diamond pattern is deep and gives a very positive hold to your hands. They aren't rubber like they would appear in pictures, but a more solid polymer/plastic which makes them a little less comfortable.

Ergonomics and Shooting

The ergonomics of the LH9C are pretty good, it does fit well in my hands and it is very easy to "point" without having to make adjustments. While the safety isn't really needed because of the DA+ feature it is easy to manipulate, even though it is opposite the 1911 safety direction which would take some getting used to.

One thing that I did notice was the trigger guard rubs my finger which would cause it to rub that finger raw during a class. This was actually an issue I ran into with my Glock 19 also, but I was able to fix that with an undercut whereas the LH9C cannot have that modification done to it.

Having the Novak sights is a very nice feature since they are stout and would stand up to a lot of abuse, but like I said in the video I am not a big fan of the fact that they ramp up and there isn't a way to use the rear sight to rack the slide if you need to.

Using the DA+ trigger is very different and takes some getting used to. One thing that I will say that I like about the DA+ is the fact that it's not a "de-cocker" like most other hammer fired guns, instead it makes getting into SA from DA easy. The problem I have is that it can throw you off target a bit when the hammer does drop back into SA mode. I am sure this is something you can train and adjust to if this gun would be a primary carry, but for me this is something I am just not a fan of.

The single action pull is actually one of the better ones I have felt on a stock hammer fired gun, and the reset is solid. It is very easy to get off quick successive rounds with this gun and remain on target. The double action pull is crazy heavy but I understand why, but is also the reason why if I carried this gun I would carry in the DA+ mode.

Thoughts So Far

The LH9C is an extremely well made gun, there is a lot of care put into the manufacturing of the gun itself and it does have some good upgrades on it when compared to some of the other hammer fired guns in it's price point. The fact that it comes with a soft carry case, Cerakote, novack sights, and 2 magazines is pretty cool because a lot of the other companies don't include things like that.

I am looking forward to getting a few hundred more rounds through the gun and seeing if it grows on me or not. I have been impressed by the fact that it was able to clear itself out enough to function despite being completely covered in the red Oklahoma dirt out at the range.

Like I said in the video, this isn't an ideal carry gun for me. However that is my opinion and preference and not a review of this gun.

The Biggest Lie You Will Tell Yourself

Every time I've seen someone (mainly a female) in the news that was attacked or taken advantage of, my initial response was..."I’d like to see so and so try that with me! That would NEVER happen to me! What an idiot!" I think a lot of us say something similar. It's human nature to think personally, we are equipped to handle a life or death situation with cat like reflexes and the grace of ballerina. Fact: YOU will probably never be fully prepared for an attack.

Let's go back in time 5 years. I was sitting in a CCW class. I thought I knew everything. I scored a 100% on my written exam and even made a perfectly tight grouping on the live fire test, with my shiny new Kimber Custom Shop firearm. I, of course, bought the $88 holster my instructor recommended, and away I went, with the certificate in tow. I was unstoppable. In my head, I was ready for anything. I pitied whoever would try to break into my home, or attempt to harm my kids or myself.

Three years later, and I had no training under my belt, other than some hours spent at the range, reinforcing bad habits. At the urging of my brothers, I decided to look into a defensive firearms course. After researching instructors for several months, I took the plunge and enrolled. I watched countless hours of videos, and read the syllabus. I will admit, I was reluctant to follow through. I finally hyped myself up enough to promise that I would finish the course, regardless how stupid I felt or how much I may embarrass myself. I felt like I owed that much to my 2 small kiddos. 

The 2 day course I took honestly changed my perspective on self-defense. What in the beginning was a humble and emotional roller coaster, turned into the biggest dose of self-confidence I've ever experienced. I was far from perfect while participating in the drills, but it showed me what I needed to work on. It challenged me to think outside the box (or indoor range), that I had mastered 3 years previously. Looking back on the experience it taught me that training and education is an ongoing process. Things and people change, so you constantly need to adapt. You will never be fully prepared for an attack, but you should be trained on things like what to look for, how to use different tools for self-defense, first aid, and most of all, be honest with yourself in everything you do. It’s easy to practice things you’re good at, because no one ever wants to fail. Sometimes, failing at something shows us our true weakness. By exposing our flaws, we learn opportunities on how to improve ourselves to be better than we thought we were.

If you do one thing for yourself or family in 2014, I would urge you to take a self-defense course from a reputable instructor. If you carry a firearm, or keep one in your home, then make sure you take a defensive firearms training class. Too many people read a magazine, or watch a YouTube video and consider themselves “prepared”. Take pride and ego out of the equation and realize that you are not perfect. Don’t be afraid to be “that guy/girl” in a class, everyone must start somewhere. Ask questions, do some research and take an active role in your future. You owe it to yourself, and your loved ones.

:: CFS Class ::
:: Kilgore, Texas ::
{ May 2013 }

The Evolution of my EDC

When I first started carrying concealed my EDC left a lot to be desired, it literally consisted of a gun and a holster. Sure I carried a pocket knife but it wasn't the best for EDC. I had never really taken the time to plan out what should be carried in my EDC, I just tossed a gun and knife on and thought I was good to go. 

However as time has gone by I have put more thought into what I should have on me at any given time. What I am allowed to carry at work is completely different than what I carry outside of work, and this is something everyone should take into consideration. 

On a typical day at work or outside of work there are 2 main things that you can find on my person. The first is a knife, something that is both useful for self defense as well as utility work. Which this recently has become the Boker Coye Ridgeback or the QTRMSTR B.A. Baracas, both are sturdy blades which are easy to quickly deploy. I have spent a decent amount of time with both of these knives figuring out which ways I can deploy them best and where on my body they conceal best while remaining easily accessible. 

The second item you will find is the Olight M10 Maverick flashlight that I recently purchased. For awhile I was carrying a flashlight that was given to me by my dad, and while it was a decent flashlight the size of it made it hard to carry in a pocket. The Olight M10 is small, lightweight, and has a pocket clip that keeps it readily accessible. 

At first I didn't carry a flashlight because my phone has one, however as I have read and studied more on self defense I realized that my phone would really only be useful to make an emergency call. Having a pocket flashlight that has a very bright light comes in handy in many different situations, from finding something I dropped outside, to clearing my house. It is important to have a light that you can trust and I have found the Olight to fit the bill for me.

Outside of work I carry my gun, lately I have switched between the Glock 19 and Glock 42 (which is in a very long review run). The 19 is being carried appendix in an Alpha Concealment Appendix IWB holster which is minimalistic and very comfortable. The 42 currently does not have a Kydex holster, instead it is being run in a DeSantis SofTuk holster while it waits on the PHLster holster that I recently ordered for it. 

When I first began carrying I didn't carry an extra magazine for the 19 because I figured since it holds 15 rounds that would be enough. However that mindset also changed as I studied more on self defense and also took the CFS class, what I have learned taught me that I should carry one or two spare magazines with me for the worst case scenario. Once spare magazines are available for the Glock 42 I will be picking up a few more to carry with me.

Some of the other items that have found their way into my EDC are the Bastion LLC battery back up, iPhone charging cable, and a small kit of bandages plus a few other small medical items. 

One of the biggest reasons I have decided to add the battery back up to my EDC is because my phone tends to drain it's battery about as fast as it charges sometimes. I would have loved it if I had the backup during SHOT Show when I was using my phone to take pictures, post updates, and text/call the people I was trying to meet up with and around noon my fully charged battery was down to 30%. I could only imagine how much it would suck if I was somewhere without phone access and my phone died, leaving me unable to use it in an emergency.

While this is not a comprehensive list of items that should be in an EDC kit, it is a list of the items that I have found to work best for me, and as I explained I have added items as time goes on. The most important thing is to know which items you will personally need, and have trained with. Also never forget that an EDC kit does not replace important things like situational awareness and common sense. While the goal is to be prepared for something bad, it is best to remain aware and keep yourself out of bad situations.

One more very important thing that I have learned, and I know it is something that is stressed over and over. Train with what you carry, wether you are training with your knife, stun gun, pepper spray, or firearm. Your skill is perishable, muscle memory will fade, and familiarity with an item will too. 

I am sure that my EDC will evolve more as time goes on, and I receive more training; but at this point I am comfortable in knowing that the items that I currently carry are items that I could use in a bad situation to give me an advantage and a chance to live.

The Boker Coye Ridgeback

Recently I had the opportunity to pick up a Boker Ridgeback which is a Bill Coye design, this was a blade that has been on my short list for the past year but every time it would be in stock on one of the blade sites it sold out before I could get one. This time www.BladeHQ.com received a shipment in and I was fortunate enough to place an order before the dreaded sold out took the spot of "add to cart".

While this blade isn't a Coye custom it is still true to the Ridgback design and feels just as good in your hand as the real thing. The handle is very well made and while I have heard some people say they would prefer an extra 1/4" to 1/2" in handle length, I personally like the way it sits in my hand and also how well it conceals when in its sheath along my belt line. 

When you open the box from Boker you will find the blade, a Kydex sheath, and a belt "mount" for the sheath. The first thing I suggest to do is get a different Kydex sheath for it, or at the very least add soft loops to it instead of using the mount it comes with. 

The weight and the feel of the blade is awesome, it is very stout for its size while remaining just the right size for utility use and being used as a self defense weapon concealed on you. The G-10 scaled handle is smooth yet offers an awesome amount of gripyness that it won't easily slip out of your hand if it's sweaty. 

The blade is sharp, but it's factory sharp not custom sharp. Which is fine for everyday use but I personally like to have my blades as sharp as possible because they will continue cutting for a longer period before they wear down.

Overall my initial impression after carrying and using this blade for the past week is very positive, it is one that I will continue to keep as my EDC blade and I am looking forward to getting a lot more time with it and putting it to good use.

If you have the opportunity to pick one up when it is in stock I highly suggest you do so, you will not regret it. 

A New Year's Resolution Worth Keeping

A New Year's Resolution Worth Keeping

Coming into 2014, most people made a New Year’s Resolution to “better” themselves for the coming year.  Most of those resolutions are about fitness, clean eating, and healthier life styles. Having worked in the fitness industry for years, I know how many people ACTUALLY stick to those resolutions. Here’s a resolution that most people fail to think of, but should in the forefront of their “New Year/New Me” plans; self-defense.
One of the first things you learn as a woman is that to properly defend your fragile self, from a more able bodied male, you should stick your car keys in between your fingers and attempt to punch/slash at your assailant. This is a pretty flawed method, because it works on the premise that you either have the keys in position BEFORE an attack, or are able to accomplish this goal DURING the attack. Improvised methods of self-defense are great, but this is one that can lead to just as much pain and suffering placed on you, as your attacker.
The first thing you should do is get some type of training under your belt. There are plenty of people out there that are teaching proper techniques on how to defend yourself with guns, knives, pepper spray, and unarmed combatives. In this quick post, I’ll highlight a few items that can be found on my person on a daily basis. All of these items are available for purchase through the company’s websites, and each item I've been lucky enough to take some form of training with. The training aspect is something I can’t stress enough. While plenty of people defend themselves day in and day out without any formal training, I’d rather have some knowledge and practical idea of how to use each item rather than end up as a statistic.

(Phone included for 2 reasons: size comparison for all the other items and in the event of an assault or robbery, you want to be able to call 911 and offer the police and emergency medical services as much information as possible. Items listed clockwise from top right.)

Coye Knives Ridgeback

An amazing, fixed blade self-defense knife. Hand made in Oklahoma, this blade is meant to be carried along the belt line. It’s small enough to be discreet, but larger enough to get a full one handed grip, and is SUPER sharp.

 (www.coyeknives.com)

Spyderco Delica 

Smaller, folding knife. Spyderco makes one of my favorite folding knives for self-defense. They’re relatively inexpensive, rugged, and fit nicely in your pocket. They can be deployed easily, and training blades are readily available.

 (www.spyderco.com)

ASP Key Defender

Multipurpose, discreet, handheld defense. Works as a kubotan, impact device, or with the flip of the lock, can deliver 2 Million Scoville Heat Units of police grade pepper spray. Hangs conveniently on your key ring. (www.asp-usa.com)

CRKT Minimalist

Another, small fixed blade knife. Much smaller than the aforementioned Ridgeback, but also more discreet due to it’s size. Can be adapted to hang from a lanyard around your neck, or also ride on your belt line. Small, and sharp, great for hot weather carry. 

(www.crkt.com)

Smith & Wesson Tactical Pen

Light weight and discreet. This pen can be used as a striking implement or as a writing tool. Convenient pocket clip and comes in a variety of colors.

 (www.smith-wesson.com)

De-Cap-A-Turtle
Small, discreet, hand held device. Works as an impact device with a semi sharpened face for striking anf cutting. Also works to open beer bottles in a pinch.


All of the items listed above take time and practice, both to learn how to use, and to carry. When you’re carrying something on your body every day that you’re not used to, it takes a while before you “forget it’s there”. I fidgeted with these items for some time before finding the sweet spot. Now I can’t imagine going out of the house without at least one on my person. One of the items I didn't list is the firearm I carry. Firearms take a lot more getting used to, and require more confidence to carry. I will cover that in a later article though. If you stay true to one resolution this year, it should be to take self-defense seriously. We are responsible for our own safety, as well as the safety of our loved ones.

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. 

Make sure to subscribe to the email list to receive the latest updates from the blog, there will be plenty going up over the next few weeks.

Thoughts on the R.I.P. Updated Version

There are updated sections to this post, I pulled the original to rewrite a few items and discuss the round with a few others who I respect in the community.

So yesterday I log into Facebook and I see this new snake oil round called the R.I.P. (seriously?) and then I log into Instagram and it is all over the place there too, and I just keep shaking my head and saying that the round is a really bad idea. I even went as far as to watch the videos and check out the website to see what the craze was all about. While I hold my opinion as to how the round will work, or wether it will be efficient or not I do have very mixed feelings about it.

While the round may have awesome penetration and act like a hole saw, it will also draw the attention of an overzealous prosecutor who will use it against you. Let that sink in for a second. In the event that you ever had to use this round in self defense there is always the chance that you can be taken to trial, and in that trial a prosecutor is going to use everything in their power to make you look like you are a killer, who for all intents and purposes was set out to kill. Never mind the fact that those of us who carry do so for self defense and the only time we would use our guns would be in a life or death situation, the prosecutor wants to win. 

Also with the marketing of "the last round you will ever need" and calling the round the "Radically Invasive Penetration" round are just over the top. Marketing is marketing, but as I have said many times before, you can market the crap out of something and if it is a poor performer it was all for not. There have been plenty of things I have bought because they don't do marketing gimmicks, instead they have proven results. This is my opinion, and while some will disagree I hold to this.

Updated:

While there are no previous cases that show a person involved in a self defense shoot being charged because of the bullet that they used, Tim from Military Arms Channel made a very good point when he posted "the manufacturers have marketed it in such a way that I believe it presents a potential legal liability in civil court should I ever be involved in a self defense shooting." He is referring to the fact that the injured or deceased attacker's family could possibly take you to court.

Some of the other things that I have noticed as I have watched the video a few more times are that there is no proof that the rounds they are reliably firing off in the full auto guns are the R.I.P. they never show you the magazine filled with the round, and one of the other issues is that the ballistics gel they are using in the video doesn't seem to be the same density as many of the other ballistic gel videos I have seen (however this is just an observation).

There are just too many questions, on top of what I feel is an extremely gimmicky release video. Will I get my hands on some to try out on ballistics gel? Of course. Will I ever carry it? Nope, no way, I just see too many problems with it legally in the event I ever have to use it. 

For now I will try and keep my bias set aside on this round, I do want to get my hands on a couple boxes just to take it out and use it in ballistics gel to see just how well it holds up to their claims. I also want to see if it truly does function flawlessly in different guns as has been claimed. 

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.

Make sure to join the emailing list so you can receive updates on the Glock 42, also follow me on Instagram for more pictures @Spartan_TC