Sold my LCP and bought a G42!

J

JonathanZ

New member
For anyone thinking about the switch, I don't miss my LCP at all. I wondered how pocketable the G42 would be, but it is fine. I can wear gym shorts, and they don't sag down at all. I added one of my G26 mags to my pocket to simulate the weight of the G43 just to see, and it would be too heavy unless I was wearing a belt, in which case I would carry my G26. I didn't buy the G42 to be my EDC, just for when my dress does not allow me to carry my G26.

Just wanted to share my experience in case this helps anyone else. Now that the G43 is out, the G42's are becoming pretty easy to find. I bought a used one that was test fired in December, 2014 for $380.

Compared to the LCP, I wanted to make the switch for a few reasons: 1) Shootability. The trigger and sights provide the main difference, but the slight increase in size helps this gun to feel better in my hand. I liked the convenience of being able to pocket carry my LCP, but never felt comfortable in my ability to shoot it at anything but point blank range. As I said, pocket carrying the G42 is fine. Probably wouldn't want to go any bigger or much heavier, though. 2) Durability. A Glock requires way less maintenance than a blued gun. I don't have to worry about a little bit of sweat getting on my gun and it rusting. 3) I carry a G26 as my main carry gun, and would rather stick to the same platform. This was not an option when I acquired my LCP. Wasn't sure about the size of the G42 when they came out, and they were overpriced and hard to find, but this is a great little gun. The specs don't do justice to how much smaller this thing feels than a G26.

This post was not meant to be a knock on Ruger or the LCP. Some people love their LCP's and shoot them well, but it was not meant for me. This is mainly to help anyone who is considering making a switch to the G42 from the LCP or similar gun.

Last reason I forgot to mention is, my wife likes the feel of this gun, and hopefully she will enjoy shooting it. If it was for myself only, I know there are pocket 9 options, but she would not enjoy those. I also preferred to stick with the Glock platform. Only the Kahr PM9 seems to compare in weight even though some of the others are the same size.
 
LOL..I have had a 26 for however never really carried it. It is an outstanding pistol...My COP 357 meets all my threat requirements. Congratulations I am not the police.
 
Last edited:
The 42's are pretty amazing little guns. They shoot and handle and shoot like their bigger brothers, and are very soft shooting compared to most other .380's. Accuracy wise, with their "real" sights, the 42's shoot ragged little holes with boring regularity.

My LCP has just been sitting in the safe for awhile now, and will most likely be the next to go.

I have 26's as well, and dont really see that big a difference between the 42 and the 26, and still use my 26's as back ups. The 4 extra rounds of 9mm in the mag, and the mag commonality thing with the bigger guns, just make the 42's more of a novelty for me.

I keep swearing I wont buy a 43 either, but I know how thats going to go. :rolleyes:

I dont pocket carry, but I do use a Smart Carry or ankle holster with the 26's. The Smart Carry works great, and allows you to wear whatever you want, even shirtless with a pair of shorts or sweatpants.

Your comment about the LCP's rusting and it not being an issue with the Glocks, is spot on. I carried my LCP for a couple of months in the summer in my Seecamps Smart Carry, which left the top part of the gun exposed, and within a week, the slide was rusting. It been quite awhile since I had to worry about rust issues with a gun I carried, and that just annoyed me to no end.
 
Well, I've thought about selling my LCP but it is so much smaller and lighter than most .380s that I can't bring myself to do it. I only carry it once or twice a week, though. I have a G26 that is going to be put up for sale this week as I am switching to a P938 for pocket carry instead of the 642 I usually carry and the G26 doesn't really fill a niche of any sort. I have handled the G43 and liked it but will wait until prices come down before I try and pick one up.
 
Last edited:
With an additional length of less than 1/2 inch, a height and width a tiny bit less, and a weight nearly identical if I carry something other than my Elsie Pea in a pocket it will be my Kahr CM 9 chambered in 9MM Luger, and rated for +P ammunition. It's not in the least difficult to shoot accurately, comfortably, and has been 100% reliable.
But it more often gets carried IWB while my Elsie Pea gets pocket duty daily.
A friend bought a G42 right after they came out. Nice gun, shoots well, but I still don't get carrying something the size of a 9MM chambered in a weaker round. The 380 is an OK round for pocket mouse guns, but I prefer to keep it in that roll in a LCP. If I carry bigger, I carry a more powerful bigger.:D
 
Cheapshooter,

Yes, Kahr has options, and they are probably the only option that keeps the weight close to the G42. Same size does not equal same weight, and that is important for pocket carry. Even a G43 weighs about 22 ounces compared to a G42's 17 ounces when loaded. However, the Kahr is not an option if I want my wife to shoot it, and I would rather stay on the same platform as my main carry gun. I still plan to mostly carry my G26. Never shot a Kahr and not sure I would like the DA trigger. Different guns work for different needs and different people. For me, an LCP didn't offer any advantage over a G42. Mostly pocket carry while walking my dog, and don't need the slightly smaller profile.
 
Jonathan, see Cheapshooter's sig!! It would have saved me a lot of money if I had seen it sooner.:p Honestly, it has much truth to it.

I have sold an LCP in the past and regretted it so much that I bought another. The second time, I got a stainless slide version. I won't be getting rid of this one. The LCP is the gun you carry when you "can't carry". I have had no issues with mine after a few hundred rounds.
 
Congrats!

Life's too short to own guns you don't really like.

Sell 'em when you need to, they'll make more. :D
 
If I was gonna ditch my LCP for a Glock it'd be for the G40. But then I'd have to go buy another LCP, it's been such a great pistol all these years it still goes with me 300 days a year. I've never shot it much beyond 10 yards, maybe 15 here and there.
 
I kept reading about how the G42 was the size of a 9mm, and the LCP was just so much smaller (and so much more pocketable), and so I had no plans of buying a G42. Then a friend bought one, and I was able to compare the G42 side by side with an LCP, and I was shocked at how little real difference there was between the two. The G42 is very pocketable, and handles and shoots so much nicer than an LCP. Congrats on your purchase.
 
Jonathon, since you brought up weight in reference to cheapshooters comment, the Kahr CM9 weighs 14oz w/o and 15.9oz with magazine. Shoot 9mm 124gr Ranger T + P or Underwood 124gr gold dot +P out of that little fellah. Just as a point of reference.

Edit: I see where this is probably more for your wife. While I cannot fathom why anyone would choose a G42 over a CM\PM9 in most cases, I definitely understand for those with weaker grips. While my wife enjoyed shooting both the CW9 and subsequently the CM9, she struggles greatly trying to cycle the slide. (She eventually just stayed with her SP101) Good luck with the little G42, hope she enjoys it!
 
Last edited:
Agree almost completely with OP,but for me a couple of exceptions.Often it's either the LCP(size)or go unarmed.My G42's role however continues to expand.I truly feel as one with the G42 which has proven 100% reliable thru many,many rounds.If needed,my lc9s is ready to go. :D
 
If I was a Glock guy and/or was recoil sensitive I could see the appeal, but since Glocks don't fit me well and recoil is still not a problem, I'm with cheapshooter if I wanted to carry any bigger than my LCP it's gonna be more powerful too.
 
I just did the same thing. I carried a LCP for several years, and just sold it after purchasing a G42. Two days later, I found a G43 as well and now own both. I am heading to the range later today to shoot both for the first time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top