GUN TESTS GRADE: A- (BEST BUY)

$360

This pistol is part of Glock’s current catalog. We tested the Glock 42 in the November 2014 issue. At the time, it cost $480. So we saved $120 purchasing the Glock used for this test. In that November 2014 test, we said, “For a retail price at or below $440, we’d buy a Glock 42 Subcompact Slimline and add the Viridian R5-G42 Reactor Green Laser, $239. The G42 was big enough to shoot well and small enough to hide well. With the laser, it was very accurate. The controls, takedown, and maintenance are so easy an Austrian could do it.”

The G42 came with the original Glock box and a total of two magazines, a lock, and magazine loader. The Glock 42 was used and had been fired enough to notice it, but not enough to look abused. The pistol is a typical Glock with a polymer frame, DAO trigger, and striker-fired action, white-outline sights, and cocking serrations only at the rear. The recoil assembly rod features a dual wound spring. If you are a Glock shooter firing 9mm Glocks, every control is as expected with the smaller handgun, part of its appeal. If you own revolvers and 1911s, the pistol, like the Ruger and the Guardian, is simple enough to use well and makes a good backup. The front and rear gripstraps are straight compared to the high-capacity-magazine Glock pistols. Grip pebbling is a mix of Glock types, not quite the rough texture (RTF) but abrasive enough for a good, solid grip. The beavertail tang is more pronounced than on the larger Glocks, and it is deemed necessary to prevent the slide of such a small pistol from biting the handgun. The backstrap runs over the rear of the magazine, a good touch that aids in rapid reloads.

The Glock 42 is supplied with a spare magazine. The pistol isn’t difficult to rack and load. Takedown is typical Glock — unload the pistol, and with the magazine removed, hold the takedown levers down as you move the slide to the rear slightly. The trigger must be released for the pistol to be field stripped. Then run the slide forward off the frame rails, remove the recoil guide assembly, and lift the barrel out of the slide. Simple enough.

The trigger breaks cleanly at 5.9 pounds, average for new Glock production triggers. The sights are designed primarily for close-range use. This works well in the likely scenario where one would use a 380 ACP pistol. Just the same, the pistol might also be used for home defense by the one-gun person. The pistol fits most hands well and balances well. The magazines were not difficult to load.

The pistol was lubricated and then fired in combat shooting and from a solid braced firing position. The braced position was the hardest recoil wise, as with the smaller Guardian and LCP II pistols. During all drills, the Glock 42 was easily the lightest-recoiling pistol tested. Most raters felt it was even easier on the hand than the heavier Colt pistol, although the final vote was close. The Glock provided good combat accuracy. Recoil control is good and so is trigger reset. There were no failures to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. On a total of six occasions, the Glock failed to lock open on the last shot. These all occurred with the PMC ball load, which exhibited the lowest velocity and lightest recoil impulse, so this may have been the cause. These problems did not occur with the other loads. In absolute accuracy, the Glock was the most accurate pistol tested. Some five-shot groups were as small as 1.75 inches at 10 yards. This is good accuracy for a service pistol, much less a pocket gun.

Our Team Said: We rated it down a half grade for the failures to lock open on the last shot. Overall, its performance led to us say it is a Best Buy. The Glock 42 is smaller than the Colt Government Model 380, but only slightly less useful than the Colt on the combat course. The Glock is more accurate in slow fire accuracy than the Colt. The Glock 42 is the more versatile as well. In current production, magazines and holsters are plentiful for the Glock. Overall, we would be happy to fit the Glock into our concealed-carry program and pocket. But if we needed a truly small pistol that weighs but 10 ounces, the LCP II might come out ahead. However, the LCP II gives up some shootability to the Glock 42.

Range Data

VALUE GUIDE: 380 ACP SEMI-AUTO PISTOLS