What's up with the Glock 42 380 being so popular?

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freenokia

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I've noticed on my local facebook gun trading sites that they're everywhere. I understand that they're new, but what does a glock 380 have that a glock 9mm doesn't?
 
Yep! Smaller. Some people think they need to buy a tiny gun for concealed carry. Next fad will be a .32 or maybe .25 autos. Just like Afro and bell bottoms are back so is the small gun.
 
Like WildBill said, they're much smaller than a 9mm Glock.

Even so, I can only understand the popularity of the G42 because of the assured basic level of popularity of essentially any Glock product with Glock fans. If any other company had designed the gun, I think most people would label it an utterly pointless creation.

As I've said before, I just don't see it as excelling in any category. It certainly doesn't excel as a CCW. It's a .380 pistol that's taller and longer than a Kahr PM9/CM9 and wider than the Kahr and the Walther PPS, but with only the capacity of all the little pocket-sized .380s. If someone is looking for a range gun, a home defense gun (in .380, for whatever odd reason), or just a gun for the appreciation of craftsmanship, a Beretta 84/85 would be the clear (though admittedly much more expensive) way to go.

About the only need I can see it satisfying is that of women who find the recoil of a Walther PPS/S&W Shield/Kahr PM9 objectionable. So, being a larger locked-breech .380, I guess you can say it excels at recoil management for those who find the above 9mm pistols too fierce in that department. Hard to believe that was such an unexploited market as to explain the gun's popularity.
 
It's smaller and lighter and therefore easier and more comfortable to carry and conceal.
Some people think they need to buy a tiny gun for concealed carry.
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Some people actually do need to buy a tiny gun for concealed carry. Not everyone has the option to dress around their concealed firearm.
If any other company had designed the gun, I think most people would label it an utterly pointless creation.
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The LC380 is even bigger and heavier than the G42 and it's selling well.

I think that sometimes gun enthusiasts tend to get tunnel vision to the point that they think that their own views represent those of the average gun buyer. The average gun buyer is not a gun enthusiast and typically has very different views about what's pointless and what's not.
 
Some people actually do need to buy a tiny gun for concealed carry. Not everyone has the option to dress around their concealed firearm.
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Respectfully disagree, thats a common myth. Unless your the size of a 14yr 105 lb kid. The right gun holster combo can make it fairly easy to carry a full size auto. Gf is 5'7 125lbs and can carry a 1911 in jeans and a shirt. True it takes practice but so does shooting the gun, so spending a little time working on your carry shouldn't be something to skip on in your training. Nor should you take the easy road and buy a gun because of you want to stick it in your pocket like a set of keys.
 
...can carry a 1911 in jeans and a shirt.
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Yup, if you can dress in jeans and an untucked shirt, you can conceal nearly anything. I've done it and I've seen it done. If your dress code is more restricted, then those restrictions can directly affect what you can conceal.

It's also true that if you are willing and able to wear clothes that are several sizes too big, it gives you a lot of concealment leeway.

Not everyone gets to choose their mode of dress and not every mode of dress is acceptable in all circumstances. Because that is true, it is also true that some people must carry small guns if they wish to carry at all.
Nor should you take the easy road and buy a gun because of you want to stick it in your pocket like a set of keys.
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I agree with that. Pocket carry should always include a pocket holster, in my opinion.
 
The LC380 is even bigger and heavier than the G42 and it's selling well.

I think that sometimes gun enthusiasts tend to get tunnel vision to the point that they think that their own views represent those of the average gun buyer. The average gun buyer is not a gun enthusiast and typically has very different views about what's pointless and what's not.
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That's fair.

Do you happen to know sales figures for either gun? I'm not sure where this information is available, and my cursory Googling turned up nothing, but I read someone's comment recently that Glock had sold in the neighborhood of 300K G42s already. Do you know if that's accurate? Are LC380 sales anywhere close to that? I'd be shocked if they were, but as you say, my priorities are definitely not the same as those of the average gun buyer.

I still have a hunch that the high level of automatic loyalty among Glock fans has a great deal to do with the gun's sales success (I'm assuming that the above figure is accurate), but I'm open to being persuaded otherwise. If the LC380 is selling at a clip even remotely resembling G42 numbers, then I guess I'll have to be persuaded, or close to it.
 
I like the 42 but I also enjoyed my Bodygaurd .380. I didn't enjoy .380 rounds costing more than 9mm rounds so I got rid of it. I would go with a XDs in either .45 acp or 9mm or a J frame revolver for a small CCW before any of the .380's.
 
Wife loves the size, near lack of recoil, very light and points well. It seems to snap into place on the X ring better than many other firearms. She prefers it to the 26 and can't stand the recoil of the 738 and others.
 
they're much smaller than a 9mm Glock.
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Not really. They're the same basic size as the 26, just a tad thinner.

Even so, I can only understand the popularity of the G42 because of the assured basic level of popularity of essentially any Glock product with Glock fans. If any other company had designed the gun, I think most people would label it an utterly pointless creation.
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They are an easy sell to anyone who likes Glocks. Its another "baby" Glock, and everything works the same.

I was fighting the urge to by one, and was waiting for the 9mm version to show up, until I gave in, and bought a 42. Now that I have them, I really dont see Glock going the single stack 9mm route with them, as they dont do anything better than the 26, and in a couple of ways, they are lacking, that being, caliber, capacity, and not being able to use the larger guns mags as a reload, or change of capacity.

Still, they do offer another option in your depth of carry, and its basically the same gun as the others.



Ive shot my 42's quite a bit now, and while like them, I see them like the 19, and Im still trying to figure out their point and place in the scheme of things. I still carry my 26's, and the 42's arent likely to replace them. Probably just become the 26's back up, if I need to ditch the 17.

I suppose if you like the .380's, its an option, and it would be one better than most. I have, and have owned a number of smaller to mid size .380 pistols over the years, and the 42 is one of the few that was soft shooting, came with decent, usable sights, and can shoot at a distance, like a larger, or full sized gun. The only other that came close, was the SIG P238. Unfortunately, my P238 was not at all reliable, something the 42 has been since round one.

Personally, Id recommend the 26 over the 42 if its going to be your only gun, but the 42 will do you better than most of the other .380's, if thats your thing.
 
Do you have ONE GOLF CLUB???

I didn't think so!!!

Why does it bother so many that some folks want a small gun? IF you Don't like them, Don't buy them, this is America???

Isn't America cool??? CHOICE

I ALSO HAVE A 500 S&W ... HAPPY NOW?;)
 
Some L.E. agencies are buying the 42 for their troops as a BUG or off duty especially if their primary issue is a Glock. Same manual of arms and all that. Besides, it's a great date gun. Women seem to love the things.:D
 
As someone who never warmed up to Glocks, I have to admit, I like the 42 after shooting one. Might be a good choice for my wife.
 
Sad part is they're still a too large 380 compared to the LCP.
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Thats not really true.

I have both, and as you can see, there really isnt a whole lot of difference.....

ry%3D480


ry%3D400


ry%3D400
 
Sad part is they're still a too large 380 compared to the LCP.
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They may be a tiny speck larger, but I can shoot FBI targets at 100 yards all day long with a Glock 42, but an LCP may be more difficult, not impossible as I shoot my sweetie's Beretta Jetfire .25 acp at 100 as well, but still the 42 is easier to shoot across the course than both of those tiny ones...

The size of a pocket pistol depends on the shooter's pocket ... does it not?

Maybe Browning should should bring the baby back!
 
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