In the 1960s and 1970s, Rodney Dangerfield was a popular standup comedian and a frequent guest on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. His self-effacing humor, goofy expressions, and one-liners made him a cultural icon. Lines like, "My fan club broke up, the guy died," and “I went to the fights last night, and a hockey game broke out” brought crowds to tears. Yet, the line he is most remembered for is “I get no respect!” The GLOCK 42 pistol is the Rodney Dangerfield of the GLOCK catalog.
Editor's Note: Unfortunately, since this review was written, GLOCK has transitioned its catalog to the V Series pistols, which does not currently include the GLOCK 42. However, previously produced GLOCK 42s are still available from retailers.
The GLOCK 42 Is Born
In 2014, GLOCK introduced a "baby GLOCK", the G42. Chambered in .380 APC, it is the smallest pistol in the GLOCK lineup. When it was launched, the Luddites were up in arms! Screams like "who wants a .380" and "why didn't Glock make it in 9" abounded.
Then, in April of 2015, GLOCK launched the G43, in 9mm, and the G42 became, for many, an unwanted stepchild. Well, at least for some. Rodney’s line, "I get no respect," seemed to apply to the 42!
The G42 was GLOCK’s first product that was aimed at the U.S. concealed carry commercial market. It was small, thin, and the caliber made it easy to shoot, especially for those who are sensitive to recoil.
The .380 ACP caliber has long been a favorite for many, and its history dates back to the Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless. It would seem that the GLOCK 42 should have been a hit!
The new little gun stayed true to the proven GLOCK design. The external appearance, manual of operations, and disassembly mirrored the larger models. Internally, it looked exactly like its big brothers. The little gun had an overall length of just under 6", was less than 1" in width, and a weight of 12.7 oz., without a magazine.
A dual recoil spring system ensured reliability while dampening the recoil impulse. The trigger features a smooth face, and the pistol comes with the standard, polymer GLOCK sights. The frame is textured on all four surfaces, and the front strap is undercut at the base of the trigger guard. Unlike its German rivals, it has a traditional magazine release with an oversized release button.
Finally, the little .380 only has 35 parts and can be maintained with just a punch! To many, the GLOCK 42 represented the best in class with ergonomics and reliability that rivaled all comers.
Disassembly follows the same procedures as any other GLOCK pistol. After removing the magazine, the user should lock the slide to the rear and ensure there are no rounds in the chamber.
The next step is to lower the slide and, pointing the pistol in a safe direction, pull the trigger. Following this, the user should pull the slide slightly to the rear and depress the takedown slide lock. This should allow the slide to ride forward and separate from the frame.
The recoil spring assembly is then removed, allowing the user to remove the barrel from the slide. Reassembly is simple. Once the barrel and recoil spring have been reinstalled in the slide, the user simply aligns the slide with the frame rails and manipulates the slide to the rear of the frame.
Confessions and Conversions
I have to admit that I dismissed the G42 for many years. As a retired law enforcement officer, I tended to carry a full-sized 9mm, normally a G19. My backup was always a Smith & Wesson J-frame. It has only been in the last few years that I have come to appreciate the GLOCK 42!
Sometime back, I developed a renewed interest in the .380 ACP caliber. This was driven, in part, by new .380 loads, introduced by the major manufacturers, that were designed for personal defense. This led me to purchase a used, but not abused, G42.
After having shot over 500 rounds through the G42 and done a significant amount of ballistic testing, I have more respect for both the pistol and the caliber.
GLOCK 42: Range Time and Ammo
Hitting the range, it was time to put the GLOCK 42 through the wringer. There are several keys to effectively shoot micro semi-autos. I would refer readers to fellow lawman and writer, Chuck Haggard.
Chuck teaches a class on "Pocket Rockets" and highlights the differences between running full-size and micro pistols. The shape of the frame allows the pistol to be easily seated in the web of the shooter's hand. The trigger, on my G42, broke just over 7 pounds with minimal overtravel.
Depending on the size of the shooter's hand and length of the trigger finger, some may find it more effective to engage the trigger at the first joint than the middle of the pad.
Having previous experience with the G43 and its snappy recoil, I was pleasantly surprised at how soft the G42 shot. To no one’s surprise, the GLOCK 42 was 100% reliable with everything we fed it.
The next question was, what current loads were adequate for personal defense? During the tests, we shot nine defense loads and measured velocity and terminal ballistics in both bare gel and four layers of denim. We used two new blocks of Clear Ballistics FBI gelatin.
While results in Clear Ballistics do not always mirror ordinance gelatin, it does provide a consistent medium to compare multiple loads.
When it comes to terminal ballistics, the priority is penetration, followed by expansion. As a control, we used American Eagle 90-grain FMJ. Of the eight jacketed hollow-point loads tested, only three averaged 10” or more in bare gel. I did include the Federal HST that missed the 10” minimum by a fraction.
| Ammo | Bullet | Velocity | Extreme Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Eagle | 90 gr. FMJ | 951 fps | 32.3 |
| Federal HST | 99 gr. JHP | 889 fps | 39.3 |
| Federal Hydra-Shok Deep | 99 gr. JHP | 839 fps | 27.8 |
| Federal Punch | 85 gr. JHP | 914 fps | 45.0 |
| Load | Bare Gel | 4 Layers Denim | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Penetration | Avg. Expansion | Avg. Penetration | Avg. Expansion | |
| American Eagle | 27.50” | 0.35” | 31.00” | 0.35” |
| Federal HST | 9.85” | 0.57” | 17.4” | 0.37” |
| Federal Hydra Shok Deep | 15.90” | 0.50” | 17.40” | 0.35” |
| Federal Punch | 12.60” | 0.46” | 24.00” | 0.35” |
In clear gelatin, all three Federal loads displayed excellent expansion. However, it came as no surprise that none of our loads expanded when shot through the denim. This is due, in part, to the barrier’s effect on the velocity.
The clear winner is the new Federal Hydra Shok Deep. In bare gelatin, it averaged almost 16" of penetration and expanded to .50". This is really exceptional, given the moderate average velocity of 839 fps. In fact, this load actually outperforms several of the popular 9mm defensive rounds.
GLOCK 42 Potential Improvements
There isn't much to say when it comes to improvements. I do wish that GLOCK would ship it with an extended baseplate like they include with the G43. The other option I would like to see is front cocking serrations.
This would make slide manipulation easier. While I agree that the factory polymer sights are not appropriate for duty use, I found that they are perfectly adequate for the mission set of the G42.
As a personal preference, I took a marker and blacked out the white outline on the rear sight blade.
The Takeaway
I have to say that the little GLOCK 42 fills a niche that is left vacant by other contenders. Being striker-fired, it has a significantly better and more consistent trigger than the legacy double-action/single-action pistols. It is also extremely reliable with a wide variety of ammunition.
From a carry standpoint, it is extremely light and thin, allowing for a multitude of options. It disappears in a Sparks Summer Special II and, for pocket carry, it fits perfectly in an Uncle Mike's #3.
For those who prefer a minimalist system, I would recommend the Raven Concealment Vanguard.
So, let the naysayers scream and the haters hate! The G42 is a fine little pistol and has earned by respect. I would even ask, is it the pistol Bond should carry?
| Specifications Comparison | |||
| GLOCK 42 | GLOCK 43 | ||
| Caliber | .380 ACP | 9mm | |
| Overall Length | 5.94 inches | 6.26 inches | |
| Width Overall | 0.98 inches | 1.06 inches | |
| Weight (w/o magazine) | 12.7 ounces | 16.23 ounces | |
| Barrel Length | 3.25 inches | 3.41 inches | |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds | 6 rounds | |
| Trigger Distance | 2.40 inches | 2.56 inches | |
| MSRP | $479 | $538 | |
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