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 gun review: Glock’s New Diminutive 42


 The Walther PPK is the closest in size to the G42 (clockwise from upper left). The S&W 2-inch Snubnose revolver, and S&W Bodyguard .380 compare in size to Glock’s new .380 pistol.


About Time!


Glocks are popular because they have a repu- tation for reliability, accuracy, simplicity, and value for your dollar. As other manufacturers have brought forth tiny, polymer-frame .380 pistols, it would seem natural for Glock to bring their own competition to the market. Present- ing a .380 with the same attributes of their larger guns would seem likely to be a winner. T e Walther PPK and S&W J-Frame are the standards by which other off -duty compact pistols are judged when it comes to size. T e Glock 42 compares very closely to the Walther PPK. Overall length is 5.94 to 6.1-inch G42 vs. PPK. Height is 4.13 to 3.8 inches. T e G42 is slightly smaller than the PPK in length and height and its .94-inch width is thinner than the PPK’s 1-inch-thick grip. T e sight radius on the Glock is 4.92 inches, slightly longer than the PPK pistol’s 4.2-inch radius. T e G42 is slightly smaller in all aspects than the classic PPK. T e real diff erence is in weight. T e polymer framed Glock weights just 13.76 ounces vs. the PPK’s 22.4 ounces. T at’s a big diff erence when it comes to pocket carry. T e G42’s magazine capacity is six rounds,


7 The Police Marksman Sep-Oct 2014


the same as the PPK. It’s also the same as the Ruger LCP and the S&W Bodyguard. Both of those pistols are smaller overall in every dimen- sion than the new Glock .380 pistol. However, they’re both double action only, hammer fi red guns. Glock retains their striker-fi red trigger with its relatively short pull in the G42. T e G42 functions just like previous larger iterations in bigger calibers. T is is advanta- geous for those who already carry a Glock pistol. It’s why police offi cers own several. T e training and manual of arms is consistent with the G42. T e rectangular magazine release button is reversible for left-handed shooters. It drops empty magazines free as long as you don’t have large hands that interfere with gravi- ty’s desire to pull the empty mag to the ground. My big hand prevented the magazine from fall- ing free every time, a common problem that exists when I handle smaller handguns. I have to shake the gun to rattle the magazine away from the meat of my palm. T e G42 thankfully did away with front-


strap fi nger grooves. Standard Glock pistol fi nger grooves don’t line up with my big mitts. Instead, they dig into the center of my


 The Model 42 fi eld strips just like its larger brethren.


fi ngers during recoil. My personal G23 had them removed by Cold Bore Custom. T e G42 felt just about perfect in my hands. T e Rough Textured Frame (RTF)’s square raised stippling is not overly aggressive.


Standard Glock Features A fellow competitive shooter purchased a G42 and loaned it for testing. He added a set of Tru-Glo TFO green sights. T ese steel sights combine Tritium with fi ber optic tubes for outstanding sight visibility in darkness, low light, or bright light. T e G42 comes with Glock’s standard polymer white outline rear and white-dot front sights. He also added a Pearce Grip polymer extension in place of the factory magazine bottom. T is piece adds a little more grip area to the length of the pistol, a greatly appreciated addition for those with large hands. T e trigger pull on the G42 measured 6 pounds, 3 ounces on a Lyman digital-trigger pull gauge. For an off -duty pocket pistol, this is an ac- ceptable weight and it felt identical to other full- size Glock pistols. T ere is considerable take-up as your index fi nger presses the trigger and dis- engages the Safe-Action tab in the middle. T is


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