Saturday, January 25, 2014

Glock 42: what's shipping and a range report Part:1

As written by "Skintop1911" at Pistol-Forum

Manufacturer: Glock, Inc 
Model: G42 
Serial Number: AAPG### 
Production (Test Fire) Date: 12/20/2013




Source

This G42 was obtained from a Glock LE distributor at LE pricing of 
~$320.00.  All costs associated with this review were paid by me. 

Unboxing 

The Glock 42 ships in the same hard plastic Glock branded box other 
models ship in.  Included in the case are the gun itself, two 
magazines, promotional and safety literature, a trigger lock, and 
fired casing(s).  The overall appearance of the gun is like its other 
Glock siblings.  Its diminutive size is its greatest distinction from 
the rest of the line and there is little else noteworthy about it 
externally.  Unloaded, the G42 with empty magazine inserted weighs 
13.9oz on my postal scale.  Field stripping is accomplished in the same 
manner as other Glocks. 







Comparison to a Glock gen4 Glock 17 



Comparison to a S&W M&P Shield:



The upper is detail stripped in the same manner as other Glocks.  The 
serrations on the slide are shallower and have less bite when 
grasping.  The sights are a downsized version of the plastic 
ball-and-bucket type most Glocks ship with.  The rear sight is 6.1mm in 
height, and the front is the standard OEM front.  The firing pin safety 
and corresponding machining in the slide is unique to the G42.  The 
balance of the slide internals are mostly just miniaturizations of 
larger Glocks. 









Detail stripping the G42 lower shows some noteworthy differences from 
other Glocks.  There is only the single trigger pin (?first pin?) to 
remove above the trigger, along with the trigger mechanism housing pin 
at the rear.  The locking block must be removed to remove the slide 
stop lever.  The slide stop lever has a captured coil spring attached 
to it.  The slide lock lever receives its tension from a coil spring 
beneath it, rather than the leaf spring of the larger Glocks.  The 
trigger spring is a combination of a captured coil spring and leaf bar 
on top.  A small pin/rod runs through both, and then attaches to the 
interior of the trigger mechanism housing.  Disassembly of the trigger 
mechanism housing is unique to the G42.  The grip texture of the lower 
receiver is the same raised polygonal surface as found on other Gen4 
models, but less pronounced.  It's not particularly grabby, but there 
is palpable resistance to slip.  The magazine catch is the standard 
Gen4 size and type, and is reversible.  The trigger face is smooth. 





The barrel is marked for caliber, and has the Georgia and other Glock 
proof marks. The RSA is the same type of captive dual spring assembly 
found on other gen4 Glocks. 



The magazine is a single stack. It does appear that there is at least 
a slight stagger of the cartridges in the magazine. The capacity is 
six rounds, and seven can?t be inserted even with deliberate effort. 
The witness holes are correct to the number remaining. The spring has 
11 coils. 



Only .380 Auto cartridges can be loaded into the magazine. Each of 
more than two dozen 9mm Luger/Parabellum/NATO length cartridges extend 
beyond the front wall of the magazine. The 9mm cartridges that came 
closest to full insertion on the magazine were several Corbon loads, 
particularly the 95 and 115gr FMJ, 115gr JHP, and 100gr Pow?RBall. 
Further, the internal dimensions of the magazine well do not allow 
sufficient clearance for a typical 9mm cartridge to be placed within 
it, while allowing for a magazine body around it. Photos are of the 
115gr Corbon, Federal 147gr HST, and Black Hills Ammunition 115gr 
Barnes TAC-XP. 







Dry Fire

Initial take up of the trigger is very similar in weight and quality 
to Glocks equipped with NY1 trigger springs. The break is distinct but 
travel through it is smooth and improved with work through the 
session. Over-travel is typical of other Glocks. Trigger reset was 
distinct, palpable, and audible. The trigger reset felt like something 
between the reset of a NY1 and NY2 trigger spring. 

I conducted a number of different dry-fire handling drills to 
familiarize myself with the gun. The biggest hurdle in the process was 
finding an optimal hand placement that was not wholly divergent from 
my aggressive, high, thumbs-forward grip. I often found my middle 
finger over the magazine release, ejecting the magazine when squeezing 
with the support hand. My thumbs tended to rest against the slide, and 
blocked movement of the slide stop. While gripping the gun, it sat 
low, disappeared in the hand, and felt like I was holding a gun shaped 
cell phone instead of a handgun. Dry reloading drills were difficult. 
The bottom of my hand prevented the magazine from dropping free unless 
I completely broke my firing grip. Inserting a replacement magazine 
required the same repositioning. A failure to keep that reposition 
during insertion painfully pinched my hand between the magwell and 
magazine floor plate, failed to seat the magazine, and created 
significant time delays. 

When running the slide at speed I found that my hands sometimes 
slipped on the slide. The thin slide didn't have enough surface area 
for my hand, and the shallow serrations just didn't have the bite I 
needed. 

The balance of other dry exercises were quite satisfactory. Once I 
found a good firing grip I was able to press the trigger through 
without disrupting the sights, and work the reset. My existing 
familiarity and proficiency with Glocks and the NY1 trigger was 
undoubtedly helpful. 

Live Fire

The G42 was fired through a series of drills and standards that I 
commonly use with other guns. As I had no holsters or support 
equipment, all were fired from a compressed high ready position. Most 
shooting was not quantified, but I did capture several scores and 
times. Those are listed here. 

10rds @ 25yds, B8 target, standing unsupported
77-0X, ~5 group, close for windage, low for elevation. Fired with a 
center-hold. 
A second group fired holding at the top of the 9-ring held all within 
the 8-ring, most within the 9-ring. 

One 12:00 ejection hit the slide on its way back down. 



F2 to 3x5 index card, 7yds 
Low clean, 1.54 
High clean, 1.80 
Average (all), 1.69 

F5 to A-zone
3yd, 2.27 C, 1.59 C 
5yd, 2.04 C 
7yd, 1.99 -1, 2.00 C 
10yd, 2.71 C 

After several more repetitions, times for this drill from the ready 
stayed at or below ~2sec regardless of distance (3-10). 

50rd LE POST qual course
50/50 
47/50 (run at 3sec par) 



Summary

Ammunition run-down
107rds PMC 90gr FMJ (380A) 
50rds Federal RTP 95gr FMJ (RT38095) 
30rds Winchester FMJ 
24rds misc u/k 
12rds CCI Blazer FMJ 
8rds Hornady JHP-XTP 
7rds Federal Hydra-Shok 
6rds Hornady Critical Defense 
6rds Winchester Silvertips 
6rds Remington Golden Sabre 
6rds Winchester Ranger 

This G42 had the best fighting potential of any compact or subcompact 
.380 I've fired. It demonstrated as much potential for accurate hits 
at speed or in slow fire as larger Glocks in the line, and much more 
flexibility than the .380 competitors of its type. The G42 shot flat, 
and stayed on target with little perceptible muzzle rise or recoil. I 
was able to maintain low-splits (~.25), consistent six to seven round 
cadences, and stay on -0 or A-zone sized targets after some 
familiarization. Farther above, I noted that the grip texturing on the 
G42 was less pronounced than on other gen4 guns. It was more than 
sufficient for the amount of recoil control needed for this gun. 

Reloading and stoppage clearance procedures may be more difficult for 
those with large hands or other unique grip issues. 

The bulk of shooting was done with Federal and PMC training 
ammunition. At least one magazine load of several commonly available 
carry loads were also fired. Most consumers will buy a quantity of 
ammunition to practice with, but only a single 20rd box or two of a 
carry load. Often content to shoot one magazine of that carry 
ammunition, the remaining rounds are loaded in to the gun and the gun 
is relied upon thereafter. The number of rounds fired prevents a real 
reliability measure, but is reflective of what will actually be found 
on the street. 

The G42 would not reliably feed several rounds of the aluminum cased 
Blazer. The first Blazer round inserted in the gun would not chamber 
from slide lock. There was one stovepipe. There were no other 
ammunition-related malfunctions, but several that were shooter 
induced. When my thumb was placed against the slide, intentionally or 
otherwise, stovepipes followed. There was also a single failure to 
unlock the gun after firing due to my thumb. This occurred only with 
the lighter impulsed rounds. 

Except for an early 12:00 ejection that struck the slide, ejection was 
brisk and consistent with a solid grip. When deliberately reducing 
grip pressure or shooting WHO, it was more erratic but still to the 
right 1-3 feet. 

I found the G42 ideally suited to roles in which deepest concealment 
is critical and/or as a secondary/back-up gun.  Its quirks in 
reloading and functioning make it a compromise solution for a 
primary gun.  Those carrying it as such must understood and practice 
for its limitations.  The G42 also appears to be another viable 
50-state CCW solution for those who travel. 

I would like to see an extended length magazine made available for the 
G42.  Not for the additional capacity, but for the added area to locate 
and index a reload, as well as reduce the amount of repositioning 
needed during a reload.  I would recommend that such an extended 
magazine not include a spacer sleeve of any kind. 

Total rounds this session: 262
Cumulative total: 262


3 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review. I am still on the fence. I have an LCP and G26 so the G42 would fit right in between these two.

    However, I am worried about the misfires. I can get that with any other gun but a Glock? Hmm.

    A local store got several in so I can buy now. But should I?

    I think it would be more fun to shoot than the LCP, but still I know 9mm,9mm is my friend, and the 42 sir, is no 9mm. Thusly it won't take any of my many 9mm Glock mags.

    But I just cannot get over how wonderful the little thing is. Anyone want to buy a lightly used LCP?

    ReplyDelete
  2. My second handgun was Glock 32 and I still carry along with my Glock 29. As much as I enjoyed shooting my H&K P2000 .40 S&W, I ended up selling it to help pay for my nephew's rent...
    Target Shooting Weapons

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glock 42 is a beautiful pistol. It is nice to do target shooting with Glock 42 because of its interesting features. It is sure nice and small compared to my Glock 21.
    _______________
    MA firearms license.

    ReplyDelete