Glock 42 as primary EDC

[Lindy7443]

If the G42 feels and shoots better than my PM9...Then should I really worry about the 380 vs 9mm debate?

 

[JERRY]

the better you shoot it the more accurate you will be. in a 380 or lower i would recommend fmj. put a few of those in the thoracic triangle and it wont really matter what you use.

next, which will you most likely carry all the time, the g42 or pm9? it doesn't matter how good you are with a gun if you don't have it on you.

 

[C0untZer0]

in a 380 or lower i would recommend fmj

There is some 380 ammo now that penetrates 13" to 14" inches and expands somewhat:

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOwCXXpEP50

Here are the results for Precision One's loading of the Hornady XTP bullet. specifically from a Glock 42:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WMMr5ANHlw

 

[JERRY]

that ammo looks real promising.

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

I load my .380 with Federal Hydra-Shok JHP.

 

[biohazurd]

If the 42 feels and shoots better for you then the drop in caliber shouldn't be a factor. People seriously underestimate the .380 in my opinion. In a small handgun they are a very effective, soft shooting CCW weapon. I just wish the ammo was cheaper....

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'm a huge fan of the G42. It is ammo sensitive to some degree so test your choice of SD ammo very carefully for functionality and then carry with confidence.

VooDoo

 

[HexHead]

First of all, a .380 bullet is still 9mm. 9mm Kurtz. I've got a buddy that's a cop in a mid-size city, who works the 'Hood. He say he's seen more people killed with .380, or .32, than any other caliber.

 

[bannockburn]

Lindy7443

If the Glock 42 is a better fit for you overall, compared to a PM9, then by all means go with the gun that works best for you.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

The G42 will shoot better for most over the slim 9s out there due to the caliber and being the same or close to the same size. If you shoot it better and feel more confidant in making hits, then I'd say make it your primary.

I remember shooting my aunt's PK380 and it felt like shooting a .22. First mag I shot was one ragged hole. I still carry a 9 or 45 which shoots as well, it just took more than a mag to get that one ragged hole.

 

[Hometeached1]

If you can shoot better with it especially when moving vs the pm9 go with the G42.

 

[Lindy7443]

The recoil is considerably less...absolutely fun to shoot compared to the PM9.

 

[What Would You Say]

My first 9mm was a full size Sig, so it was a major surprise the first time I felt the recoil from Kel-tec's subcompact 9mm. I can manage it, but definitely snappy. My range partner that first day just said it's not something he wanted after a magazine spent down range.
It's small enough to fit in a cargo pocket, but it's heavy enough that it's just not the way I would carry it often. This G42 is a joy for me to shoot... Which maybe shouldn't be the absolute deciding factor with the considerations of less powerful round, but somehow it is for me. This G42 gun is big enough to enjoy to shoot, and light enough that I do carry it even as the "new" has had time to wear off of the purchase. Truth be told, offhand, I was challenged to put all rounds in a pie plate with the sub 9mm. The G42 is cup size targets, cans.. If ammo was more readily available, (and cheaper), it's almost a choice for plinking for the challenge.

 

[Strahley]

Buffalo Bore makes some .380 that looks pretty good. I try to carry my Glock 19 with me everywhere I can, but a mag or two of that BB .380 should do well enough for those times I can only pocket carry

If you shoot the 42 better, you should carry that (with good ammo)

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

My go to Glock is a G26...after shooting my Wife's G42 I'm wondering if we might need another one in the house for those days I need a pocket .380. I did *not* want a Glock last year, ever. Now I own two and possibly a third and fourth.

We have 300 rounds for our G42 this weekend including VooDoo Home Brew .380. Once I get out hand built ammo built I'd not worry carrying a G42. Soft shooting *very* fast and accurate follow ups in a slim and robust package.

I'm probably a fool but I do not feel under gunned with a G42. Not my first choice but not even close to a last ditch choice either.

VooDoo

 

[sappyg]

If the G42 feels and shoots better than my PM9...Then should I really worry about the 380 vs 9mm debate?

Probably not.... Unless you like to worry about such things.

 

[Lucky Derby]

With any reliable gun, you are better armed than 99%+ of the rest of the population.

 

[Hunter2011]

If it was any other pistol in 380 auto people would have said it has too little stopping power. But this is a Glock, so it will be good enough
That said, I carried a 13-shot 380 auto for years. I have traded it for a 7-shot 9mmP. Today I wonder if it was a wise choice. Are 13-shots of 380 auto not better than 7-shots of 9mmP?
I would not feel unarmed by this G42 really.

 

[gym]

I would have felt better if there were 10+1 rounds in that 42, instead of 6+1 . I can't push myself out the door with 7 rounds of 380, if it works for you by all means do what you feel comfortable with.
Even my PM9 gets 7+1 of 9mm in the primary mag.
As a BUG it would be perfect, especially if my primary was a Glock, but for me , it would fall short as an edc.

 

[jimbo555]

For a citizen defending himself caliber doesn't matter 99% of the time. If it is reliable and you can make hits with it I see no reason why a glock 42 wouldn't be fine for self defense.

 

[RustyShackelford]

.380acp vs the 9x19mm .....

Some CCW license holders & gun owners carry or shoot the .380acp.
I, for one, would opt for the larger 9x19mm(9mm Luger). It's not a huge change but the 9mm has many great CC rounds to choose now(2014).
The .380acp to me is best as a back-up or second gun. The Ruger LCP & Glock 42 .380acp are fine for general defense but for the $$$/size, you can tote a 9x19mm.
Good carry rounds in 9mm include; the Critical Duty +P 135gr, the Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P JHP, the Corbon DPX, the MagSafe SWAT, PowRball, the HST 124gr +P JHP, the Ranger T/T Series 124gr +P JHP, the Ranger T 127gr +P+ JHP.
Some cops & CCW license holders choose the heavy 147gr 9x19mm loads but Id buy the milspec 124gr types.
Military & factory surplus 124gr FMJs used to run a lot lower so it was a smart move to buy them for marksmanship/target use. But now, all factory rounds seem to be $.30 to $1.00/round.

Rusty
www.sgammo.com www.shopcorbon.com www.gunsamerica.com www.brownells.com www.natchezss.com

 

[kefefs]

So long as you get a load that reliably penetrates at least 12", and you can shoot the pistol well, it will kill an attacker just as dead as your PM9. For a defensive pistol to carry day to day you need only worry about shot placement and penetration. You are not engaging threats at long distances or through hard barriers, where larger calibers would excel.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Larger is nicer *but* eventually some shooters reach the point with small pistols where they are better with a little less smack. My Wife loves our G26 and my Beretta Px4 sc but the 9mm round is just enough too hot that she is uncomfortable and slow on follow up shots due to the recoil.

With her new Glock 42, she triple taps at 21' like a pro...she's confident, accurate, and fast in a way she cannot do with a 9mm. So, even though we can get 9mm in a similar size gun as the G42 it is not an apples to apples comparison for all shooters. Some folks can best manage a little less recoil.

VooDoo

 

[Hometeached1]

^^^^ This.
Glad she's doing so well with it!

 

[Teachu2]

Always carry the most gun that you can shoot well and still conceal. A .380 in hand that you shoot well is a much better choice than a 10mm you leave in the safe.