Glock 380 Why now?

[mburmaster]

Vondoun da Vinci I agree and could not of said it better

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'm not disrespecting Ruger....there are a bunch of used LCP and LC380's at the LGS. They kick like a mule. We tried one...we rejected it. It kicks as bad (worse) as a G26 which we bought and love. My Wife loves our G26 but wants an identical pistol thinner with less recoil. That would be the G42....all her girlfriends who we have been helping along with our findings agree and want exactly the same. They shot the LCP and passed. They have shot our G26 and go "ooohhh...ahhh!!" when you show them the G42 pictures and specs.

The point is that the market for a controllable, concealable, low maintenance, polymer pistol is huge...even if it's in .380. The general public wants easy, accurate, and is not going to turn into a Gun Aficionado and join the sport of handgunning to learn and handle an LCP sized 9mm. Gun Aficionados know that/think that the .380 is substandard to the 9mm as a carry gun but that does not matter to the locals here who are regular people and not Gun Aficonados. They want controllable and concealable for a non shooting sports concealed carry enthusiast.

They'll buy G42's by the truckload and may even trade in/sell their 9mm's that are the same size to fund that purchase. Lot's of folks where I live have bought/shot a teeny tiny 9mm and not feeling the love. Lot's have bought a teeny tiny .380 LCP and are not feeling the love.

That's my point.

VooDoo

 

[The smiling swordsman]

You guys don't get it. The internet "gun guy" isn't the target market for this gun. This is going to be a huge success with women, new shooters buying their first self defense pistol and people that would normally have trouble handling a snappier pocket nine easily. It's going to be a huge improvement over guns like the LCP, with it's slightly larger size making it easier to hold and control, real sights and a trigger that allows more accurate shooting than the long, heavy trigger normally found on those little .380s.

This is what I was thinking too. I have a lot of friends who buy and love guns that I have absolutely no interest in due to their gun forum reputations.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I agree with the above. The market is not to the gun forum folks, it is to everyone else. I think the 42 will be very popular and I plan on getting one just for training purposes. It will be a good gun to teach on.

 

[Webmonkey]

The one thing that could make this 380 better is the following:

Glock gets in conjunction with an ammo company and they produce a 380 defense round with A) feeds reliably in the glock B) gets just one more inch of penetration C) expands semi-reliably.

TNoutdoors9 and other ammo testers show that most 380 sd ammo doesn't get past 10 inches. Make it 11 and people will like it.

 

[snooperman]

Vadoun da Vinci has tried to made the case for the Glock , but this is not something new for those who need a little less recoil. The Ruger LC380, Walther PK380, SIG P238, and Bersa are basically small ,less recoil 380 pistols that fit that niche for the buying public. It is NOT something really new in the market place. Yes, I think it will sell but not as well as the LCP size gun. Glock is a little late to the party, and should have listen to the shooters years ago, who were begging for a pocket 380 and a pocket nine.

 

[mgmorden]

I'm not disrespecting Ruger....there are a bunch of used LCP and LC380's at the LGS. They kick like a mule. We tried one...we rejected it. It kicks as bad (worse) as a G26 which we bought and love. My Wife loves our G26 but wants an identical pistol thinner with less recoil.

I don't think you're understanding how this is going to work. The G42 is the same size and similar weight the LC380 - actually just a tad smaller and a tad lighter. They both use the same action type. Recoil on it is going to be about the same or a little worse compared to the LC380.

The G26 weighs in at twice as heavy as the G42. Its not going to have the same recoil.

Look for less recoil than the LCP but about the same as an LC380.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I don't think you're understanding how this is going to work. The G42 is the same size and similar weight the LC380 - actually just a tad smaller and a tad lighter. They both use the same action type. Recoil on it is going to be about the same or a little worse compared to the LC380.

The G26 weighs in at twice as heavy as the G42. Its not going to have the same recoil.

Look for less recoil than the LCP but about the same as an LC380.

And hopefully the durability of a GLOCK 26!

Deaf

 

[F-111 John]

TNoutdoors9 and other ammo testers show that most 380 sd ammo doesn't get past 10 inches. Make it 11 and people will like it.

One ammo tester found several that penetrate an average of 13"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNtPHYwcDts

 

[Webmonkey]

One ammo tester found several that penetrate an average of 13"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNtPHYwcDts

10, 13, whatever, I've seen tests where it only penetrated 9 inches. The point being that if glock could reliably handle a load that was specifically built to be hotter, that would be a unique selling point. The other manufacturers would have to play catch-up to prove theirs could handle the same ammo.

 

[tarosean]

You guys don't get it. The internet "gun guy" isn't the target market for this gun. This is going to be a huge success with women, new shooters buying their first self defense pistol and people that would normally have trouble handling a snappier pocket nine easily. It's going to be a huge improvement over guns like the LCP, with it's slightly larger size making it easier to hold and control, real sights and a trigger that allows more accurate shooting than the long, heavy trigger normally found on those little .380s.

It will depend 100% on its price point. keep in mind this is Walmart America, where every one wants it cheaper than the next option. Id also bet that a vast majority of gun sales are bought untested/untried..

 

[horsemen61]

Like others have said right now the 380 market is hot and they want a piece of that market

 

[Zaven]

Anyone think that maybe they just haven't perfected the compact 9mm single stack design yet...??

 

[Zaven]

It's not near as hot as the slim, compact 9mm market. Not even close IMO.

 

[dsk]

For the average, non gun-savvy buyer a compact .380 that's easy to control will trump an equally-small 9mm or micro-sized .380 that's a b**** to hold onto during recoil. I only wish that Glock would have been able to fit more than a measly six rounds into the magazine, which is the same number that all the micros hold.

 

[helitack32f1]

Here is my answer as to "Why now?" Glock could not make sell it's other .380's in the US due to lack of import points. (ie, gov't stupidity).
They finally started manufacturing in the US which would allow them to now build and sell .380 handguns but they realized no one would be interested in buying a .380 identical to their subcompact 9mm, it would be pointless. So they developed a completely new .380 that is excellent for conceal-ability yet just big enough to be comfortable to shoot. Developing this gun took time. And it is now ready for public consumption. (or beta testing)

I for one will buy one simply because I am intrigued by the idea of mini Glock and wouldn't mind having another gun to play with.

 

[IdahoHk416]

Glock missed the small, single stack .380 boat by about 6 years . I have no idea why they chose to release a single stack .380 that is dimensionally similar or larger than some of the 9mm pocket guns out there.
But I know one thing, it says Glock on the slide, so it will sell like crazy.

 

[herkyguy]

Glock makes money because they are reliable and easy to shoot...both of which are factors that almost all other .380s have come up short on. LCP and its counterparts suck to shoot. P238 shoots great but is picky about ammo. I'd agree with other posts that Glock is late to the party, but they couldn't risk introducing a pistol that had reliability problems or kicked like other .380 pocket pistols. Look at the backlash over the XDs..... Glock doesn't want to go down that road. So they were patient and took their time, at least i hope.

without having my hands on one, i can only speculate. but if the G42 maintains the same reliability as other glocks and shoots well, i won't rule it out as a CCW companion in the future. my test would be to fill a magazine with every conceivable .380 load from ball to HP and +p+ loads, each round being a different shape/weight. if the little G42 sends them downrange without hiccups, i'll probably drink the Glock Kool-Aid and drop some money on one.

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

Because it was too soon to bring out Gen V...

 

[Potatohead]

Because there's not enough palm sized 380s in the universe dont ya know?

I have read from several gun writers that there is a surge in "pocket pistol" sales across the country

Uhhh, thanks for that news flash, I would have never suspected it.

 

[rodinal220]

I think Glock did some homework.The CCW market is huge and the gold rush is on.In States like Illinois,the newest market,there will be many many new gun owners. Many are getting some form of training and realize that carrying a full sized duty type pistol is a PITA and often not practical.

The pocket gun/smaller gun has made a huge comeback.

Guns like the Ruger LCP are very small,hard to shoot well for a lot of folks,they need something that is ergonomic/comfortable as well as concealable. Many folks cannot handle the recoil of more potent rounds,even 38spl. Modern .380 loads are better than nothing. Better to have a gun you will shoot well and can carry,than one you hate shooting and is too big and heavy.

Many people(women,those with special needs) find it difficult to retract the slide on pistols chambered for 9mm,40, 45. Even .380s like the Walther PP series are too difficult to pull back the slide and manipulate. Heavy trigger pulls lead to unhappy gun owners.

I see a lot of PPk(s) and LCPs come back from new owners that listened to the LGS sales associate.

If Glock engineers their pistol so it is easy to operate and have high shoot ability and good concealment,they should have a winner.

The Glock will probably cost less than the Kahr Arms,SIG and Colt .380 offerings.

 

[CCS3]

SALES !!! They make 300% on each and every one.

This. Everyone else is doing it so why shouldn't they get their piece of the market?

 

[lauderdale]

BUMP on the "GLOCK AID"! 1-380 Please Keep the change!

 

[dsk]

My "mid-sized" .380 is a Colt Pocket Hammerless. I always felt it was the ideal size and shape for a pocket gun, if maybe a bit heavy. The new G42 is going to be about the same size but quite a bit lighter.

 

[B!ngo]

I suspect they did it so they would not prematurely cannibalize G19 and G26 sales. I'll bet that by expanding in to the .380 market, they will get more incremental sales than they would by selling in to the 9x19 market where they are already strong.
B