P238 vs G42
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Vodoun da Vinci
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I wholeheartedly agree...the G42, even with *HOT* .380 ammunition is extremely accurate and reliable - soft shooting as well. I don't see a similar size gun in 9mm being all that desirable unless recoil can be contained and keep the gun soft shooting. Folks have speculated (and I was one of them) that Glock would just expand the G42 to be a single stack 9mm but the magazine and handle simply will not allow that.
A single stack 9mm from Glock might build on what they have learned from the G42 but it will be a different gun, not just a rechambering of the existent G42. I'm a 9mm aficionado and it's my "go to" caliber for SD in the G26 and Beretta Px4 SC....I never wanted a .380 in the house. The G42 is pretty cool and serves/fills an exact niche' that my Wife could not fill after shooting dozens of other pistols. We bought it for her and I'm a convert after hand loading for it.
The G42 seems to be in a very strange class of .380 pistols that can handle really hot .380 ammunition and remain soft shooting and accurate. My Wife says every time we go to the range "Jeez, I love this gun!" She liked the P238 because of her earlier familiarity with the 1911 platform but she's a Glock 42 one pistol lover now. If Glock releases a 9mm single stack I'll have to try it simply because I'm so impressed with the G42.
VooDoo
A single stack 9mm from Glock might build on what they have learned from the G42 but it will be a different gun, not just a rechambering of the existent G42. I'm a 9mm aficionado and it's my "go to" caliber for SD in the G26 and Beretta Px4 SC....I never wanted a .380 in the house. The G42 is pretty cool and serves/fills an exact niche' that my Wife could not fill after shooting dozens of other pistols. We bought it for her and I'm a convert after hand loading for it.
The G42 seems to be in a very strange class of .380 pistols that can handle really hot .380 ammunition and remain soft shooting and accurate. My Wife says every time we go to the range "Jeez, I love this gun!" She liked the P238 because of her earlier familiarity with the 1911 platform but she's a Glock 42 one pistol lover now. If Glock releases a 9mm single stack I'll have to try it simply because I'm so impressed with the G42.
VooDoo
linkscoach
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Honestly the G42 and 238 aren't that much different size wise in a front pocket. And the 42 is significantly smaller than my Shield. They don't look that different in pictures or on paper but they are.
Snowdog
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My P238HC feeds Winchester white box wonderfully. It feeds everything I've used wonderfully, including Winchester RA380T (95gr Ranger Talon).
However, it does have ejection issue with my favorite .380acp load, Underwood's +P 102gr Golden Saber.
It's a very accurate load from my P238 but also loaded hot and the cases will stick in the chamber once every other magazine, barring it from carry use. If only they would offer it with nickel plated cases.
My P238 is usually loaded with 90gr Zmax that I got an excellent deal on and proves accurate and reliable from my P238.
I haven't handled a G42 yet, but the P238 points wonderfully for me and my eyes take to the (trijicon tritium standard) sights very well. I'll keep it.
However, it does have ejection issue with my favorite .380acp load, Underwood's +P 102gr Golden Saber.
It's a very accurate load from my P238 but also loaded hot and the cases will stick in the chamber once every other magazine, barring it from carry use. If only they would offer it with nickel plated cases.
My P238 is usually loaded with 90gr Zmax that I got an excellent deal on and proves accurate and reliable from my P238.
I haven't handled a G42 yet, but the P238 points wonderfully for me and my eyes take to the (trijicon tritium standard) sights very well. I'll keep it.
mstreddy
Member
OK, intrigued by the post. I also own a G42 and a P238, as well as an LCP and a Beretta 84 for good measure.
I've spent the last 4 weeks (3 range outings) working on shooting them to see which load will work ALL of them without the typical 380 factory ammo snap.
I started out with the LCP and was loading Win231 at 2.9grs under a Berry's 100gr RN. This was a mild load with no snap and it worked the LCP, a Bersa, and a couple of others just fine. I switched to Promo and was using 2.6grs with the same bullets. Again, no snap and cycled the guns well. I also tested this load in somebody's G42 at the range with no issues.
I picked up my own G42 and I had a few stove pipes and FTEjects in my first outing. Brand new gun, oiled it a little and it helped. I bumped up to 2.7gr of Promo and it ran a bit better. Still had a couple of stove pipes and FTEjects. I may bump up to 2.8 and try it there to see how it feeds the Glock and how it feels in the others.
I haven't shot any factory ammo in the Sig, Beretta or Glock.
As to accuracy, I really was impressed by the Sig. Maybe it's the sights as Snowdog mentions, maybe the trigger, maybe the ghost of JMB, but that little gun put the Beretta to shame, and even the Glock. My very first outing with it, at 7 yards I put 12 rounds from 3 mags into a ~1" ragged hole, with 3 rounds slightly below (about 1/2"). The Beretta gave me fits with the sight picture, I just can't get them lined up right. And the Glock was in a ~2" group.
As to carry, the Glock will fit fine in a pocket as will the Sig or LCP. I just need to find a decent holster for it.
I've spent the last 4 weeks (3 range outings) working on shooting them to see which load will work ALL of them without the typical 380 factory ammo snap.
I started out with the LCP and was loading Win231 at 2.9grs under a Berry's 100gr RN. This was a mild load with no snap and it worked the LCP, a Bersa, and a couple of others just fine. I switched to Promo and was using 2.6grs with the same bullets. Again, no snap and cycled the guns well. I also tested this load in somebody's G42 at the range with no issues.
I picked up my own G42 and I had a few stove pipes and FTEjects in my first outing. Brand new gun, oiled it a little and it helped. I bumped up to 2.7gr of Promo and it ran a bit better. Still had a couple of stove pipes and FTEjects. I may bump up to 2.8 and try it there to see how it feeds the Glock and how it feels in the others.
I haven't shot any factory ammo in the Sig, Beretta or Glock.
As to accuracy, I really was impressed by the Sig. Maybe it's the sights as Snowdog mentions, maybe the trigger, maybe the ghost of JMB, but that little gun put the Beretta to shame, and even the Glock. My very first outing with it, at 7 yards I put 12 rounds from 3 mags into a ~1" ragged hole, with 3 rounds slightly below (about 1/2"). The Beretta gave me fits with the sight picture, I just can't get them lined up right. And the Glock was in a ~2" group.
As to carry, the Glock will fit fine in a pocket as will the Sig or LCP. I just need to find a decent holster for it.
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herkyguy
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I still haven't settled on a holster for the G42. I've not run enough ammo through it yet to trust it for CCW, but I am already pretty confident with the gun. like i posted, 2.9 grains of 700X reliably cycled it, but 2.7 grains didn't. I wish I could get my hands on some more powder to find a load that isn't pushing max pressures.
Potatohead
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My p238 chews up everything Ive tried.
Also, Ive had a few guns that dont like WWB, I wouldn't think much about a gun not being able to shoot that crap. And that's what it is C-R-A-P. I'd give a slingshot a go before I would a gun loaded with the white stuff.
Also, Ive had a few guns that dont like WWB, I wouldn't think much about a gun not being able to shoot that crap. And that's what it is C-R-A-P. I'd give a slingshot a go before I would a gun loaded with the white stuff.
Interesting! I have nine 380 pistols and WWbox with fmj/TC ammo works flawlessly in all of them.
OilyPablo
Member
The rub with WBB is the filthy vile powder. Not the dimensions of the round itself.
Vodoun da Vinci
Member
The G42 will never be released rechambered for 9mm. I as well hope for a single stack 9mm Glock pistol but it won't be a G42....the '42 simply cannot run a 9mm cartridge due to dimensioning of the magazine and grip.
VooDoo
Wel Glock could do what Sig did with the P238 when they came out with the P938 which is almost identicle to P238, but just a little larger.
Potatohead
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Glad you've had success with it, consider yourself lucky.
Yes and it has worked so well for me it,is the carry round of choice in all my 380 pistols.
verdun59
Member
Count me as a WWB fan, I run it thru all my 380 pistols and it does fine. It's also my carry round in my P380. Funny I never knew it was so bad.
Vodoun da Vinci
Member
I dunno..I always considered Winchester White Box to be the "standard" test ammunition in every auto pistol I ever tested and that's a lot of pistols. I have no issues with it - it's generic to me and I have shot many boxes of it in .32, .380, 9mm and .45
I don't find it any dirtier than anything else.
VooDoo
I don't find it any dirtier than anything else.
VooDoo
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herkyguy
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WWB isn't, for the most part, bad ammo at all. It gives a decent velocity and I have no complaints about it being dirty. My only gripe is that my particular P238 doesn't like it. I fully realize that many folks have positive results with their P238s and WWB .380 ammo.
toivo
Member
I have two P238s -- a Nitron and an HD. Neither one has a problem with Winchester White Box, but they both choke on Remington/UMC jacketed hollowpoints.
I have found out-of-spec rounds in the Remington -- rounds that are obviously too long -- but even the ones that appear to be the right size just won't chamber. The slide won't close -- it jams up solid about 1/8" out of battery. Has anybody else experienced this?
I have found out-of-spec rounds in the Remington -- rounds that are obviously too long -- but even the ones that appear to be the right size just won't chamber. The slide won't close -- it jams up solid about 1/8" out of battery. Has anybody else experienced this?
Yes the G42 is a really nice pistol. I shot mine yesterday with WWbox fmj/TC, PRVI jhp, Freedom 100gr FMJ/TC, Magtech fmj, Fiocchi fmj, PMC fmj and Remington fmj and did not have a single bobble. I shot two magazines of each brand.
AK103K
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I was thinking the same thing until I got the 42. Now, Im not so sure.
The difference between the 42 and the 26 is really not all that much, and I cant imagine that a 9mm version of the 42, will be much different than the 26 either.
Besides, youll loose the capacity and mag interchangeability that the 26 shares with its bigger brothers.
As of today, I have a little over 500 rounds through my 42, and it hasnt missed a beat yet. Accuracy wise, its as good as my other Glocks out to the 25 yards Ive shot it. Up close, and shooting fast, its the same as well, although its empty a lot quicker.
I did replace the front sight with a factory night sight, and Im still looking for a factory rear, but havent found one yet. I also stippled the grip, and its much better now.
i think you are right ak103k. the main difference would be the narrower grip of the single stack comparable to the difference in width between the glock 30 and glock 36. a single stack 9 would definitely be larger than the single stack 42
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