Rubber LCP vs Glock 42

[flux]

Hi guys, a lady friend has asked me for advice on these two guns for herself, she has strict clothing requirements at work and spends a fair amount of time jogging, I have only felt them in person and cannot offer meaningful advice.
Should read ruger not rubber, autocorrect

[JHC]

I've shot a couple pocket Rugers. Nothing like a G42. They can deliver some performance what with the trigger and low recoil. https://www.flickr.com/photos/78036189@N07/27312455541/in/dateposted-public/

[tanner]

I own a couple of LCPs and have shot the Glock 42 on a few occasions.

Glock 42 hands down is the better gun. Much more comfortable to shoot and I achieved much better accuracy with it. Not sure if it was just the fact that it had usable sights or not, but I shot that little gun very well (for me).

[Kennydale]

I own a couple of LCPs and have shot the Glock 42 on a few occasions.

Glock 42 hands down is the better gun. Much more comfortable to shoot and I achieved much better accuracy with it. Not sure if it was just the fact that it had usable sights or not, but I shot that little gun very well (for me).

I had a G42 (Raffle Win) that had multiple issues with Failure To Feed. Glock CS Corrected it but it still took 200-300 rounds to break it in right. I have a Ruger LCP and hate to shoot it at range. I take it out every few months and shoot no more than 2 magazines (For operating Check). The G42 got sold, and the LCP still gets carried. I could not pocket carry the G42 and that was the killer. I did not trust the G42 as a primary firearm.

[PNWTO]

If:

1) She would surrender it.
2) It was on my "policy" for CC at work.

I would readily take my wife's 42 over my 43. It's a grand little piece.

[BillSWPA]

Do you have access to a shooting range with rental guns that might have some that she could try? Her comfort with the gun will be critical.

I have a Kel-Tec P3AT, which is very similar to the LCP. Recoil will be a bit much for anyone who is recoil sensitive. It doesn't bother me, but I find that the gun shifts in my hand unless I am using a magazine extension. This does reduce the difference in size between the G42 and LCP to some extent.

I have seen some very nice shooting done by a female shooter with a Glock 42. She was starting to fatigue from recoil as the round count approached 50 but even those last few shots were good.

Given the extreme difficulties faced by ladies trying to hide guns while dressing like ladies, the difference in size between the G42 and LCP could potentially be the difference between the gun being carried verses left at home.

Overall, if I were helping my wife make this choice, I would lean towards a G42.

[olstyn]

Admittedly it's been 5+ years since I shot one, but I did NOT like the LCP at all, and neither did my wife. Tiny sights, hard to control and very snappy in recoil, all the usual complaints about tiny blowback .380 guns. IIRC when she shot a G42 at a later date, it wasn't like it was love at first trigger pull, but she liked it a lot better than the Ruger, and if it had existed when she was searching for a gun, I think there might be one in our safe. (She ended up with the Walther PK380, which has its own issues/compromises, but at least is accurate and comfortable to shoot.)

[VolGrad]

I've owned a few older gen LCPs. They were great pocket guns but horrid triggers and more difficult to get good hits at speed. Slow fire .... fine.

I have a G42 and it's not quite as great in the pocket but easy to shoot and get good hits at speed. It's all around a better gun hands down. Good sights. Good trigger. Easier to reload.

Now, I did just order another LCP but got a Custom model this time for better trigger and sights. It's still a very niche gun for me. It won't replace my G42 for everything but will do in a pinch.

She will be happier carrying the LCP but happier shooting the G42.

[Totem Polar]

Concealability vs shootability, IMHO. Echoing what others have said, the LCP is great for what it is: a tiny, 11-oz deep concealment piece. Not easy or fun to shoot. If I were to buy another one now, I'd also opt for the one with the upgraded trigger and sights. When the LCP came out, it basically removed most excuses for not carrying.

The 42, on the other hand, is a pussycat to shoot, and it performs well--even better with a set of the many decent aftermarket sights currently available for it installed. It's considerably bigger, but not any bigger overall than, say, a Walther PPK; a gun that was once the mutt's nuts for backup and hideout duty. It may be a porker by today's mini-me .380 standards, but it's, what, maybe 17 oz fully loaded?

I don't have an LCP or a Sig P238 anymore, but I'm about to buy another G42, now that my wife has (finally!) taken her own interest in such things and run off with my original G42. It's a hard gun not to like if one is down with .380s.

Once they switched to the second gen slide lock lever and trigger housing (and ostensibly, the newer rounded mags, though mine, er...my wife's, uses old mags just fine) they reportedly became more Glock-like in their reliability.

Tangentially, when I gave my wife her pick from the safe, preparing the range outing looked a bit like that scene from the first Matrix: "We'll need guns. Lots of guns." Sort of. I let her try a representative of everything I had that was remotely shooter-friendly (I admit to holding my breath when she tried my Denny Reichard-tuned NY-1 K-frame) so she could choose. The 42 was the clear winner. Fine by me.

[flux]

I guess a 6 round .380 is better than no gun, but it also wont help if she cant shoot the LCP in a situation where multiple rounds are needed ontarget. I found her a G42 to test, will look for a LCP.

[psalms144.1]

I don't like either option. I concur with the Ruger being suboptimal at best, due to a very difficult to work trigger. I also think the G42 is large enough that a petite person with fitted clothes might find it hard to conceal.

Having said all that, I think we should award the Internet to flux for his auto-correct on his computer/phone turning Ruger into "Rubber." Because a rubber pistol is always safest for AIWB or pocket carry...

[lwt16]

I own a G42 and the first 50 rounds I had three stovepipes. I locked the slide back overnight and then went back to the range and shot 100 more rounds trouble free.

The firearm has very little recoil with most .380 acp ammunition. I have found that it loves the 12.95 per box of 50 Perfecta 95 grain fmj loads the best. They are a little more peppy and work very well in my copy.

For hp rounds, the Speer Gold Dot runs flawlessly in my copy. I have fired close to 700 rounds of Perfecta and 150 of Gold Dots since that first range session without any type of malfunction whatsoever.

I carry mine at work in an ankle rig and forget it's there. I'm 6'2 230 for reference and I would imagine your lady friend is quite a bit smaller. When I go walking, I usually carry it in a belly band rig and again, forget it is there. Pocket carry is also a breeze for me but again, her garb is going to be totally different than a male's.

All of my Glocks get two things: aftermarket sights and Talon grips. For my G43 and G42, I installed Ameriglo Hackathorn orange front sights and Claw plain rears. I can run tight, fast groups at 15 yards and in and still make distance shots on steel at up to 50 yards.

She needs to find a range that rents both weapons and test them out to find out which one is right for her.

[Hambo]

I don't like either option.

This ^^ but I understand the deal here. I've never shot a mini-G so no help there. I did carry a LCP as a BUG. The positives are that it's small, light, and concealable. I don't find recoil all that bad, but I don't think my .30-06 Encore pistol recoils too badly (possible brain damage). At BUG distances I could do the job with it, but it's not for FAST drills. The biggest downside to me is that it's .380, but the LCP is all about compromise. Even though I replaced it as a BUG, I kept it because I just might need to hide a .380 derringer someday.

[greyghost]

The newer LCP-Custom from Ruger would be something to make sure you look at.

http://www.ruger.com/products/lcpCustom/specSheets/3740.html

It has actual sights and a different and much nicer trigger.

It will still not be the most fun to shoot for extended range sessions but it does solve some of the bigger complaints I had against the LCP.

[flux]

Update, she shot both at an indoor range, she found the LCP could disappear,but had a hard time shooting it. She found the 42 easier to shoot. But, she is new to guns so is not sure if the LCP will be easier to handle with more time with it and formal training.She really likes the size of the the LCP.

[Buckshot]

The quality of manufacture & component strength of the G42 is a good magnitude superior to that of the LCP. I'm not a Ruger hater (I own bunches of them), but IMO, the LCP is a product built with a fairly low round count lifetime (by PF standards certainly). It usually works fine & won't wear out for the average buyer, but the Glock is a much more solid platform.
The LCP won't get any easier to handle with time - but she MIGHT get better at dealing with its shortcomings with experience. A gun that size is a huge compromise weighted towards concealment. I've never heard anyone complain about the G42 & all of my customers have abandoned LCPs & BG380s for the G42 have been delighted. The whole "is the 380 enough" issue aside, the G42 is a better platform.

[Greg]

When I saw Rubber LCP I knew you had a crappy Apple device.....

Like this iPad I'm using :cool:

[flux]

When I saw Rubber LCP I knew you had a crappy Apple device.....

Like this iPad I'm using :cool:

Haha yes ipad as well.
Any one has the actual weight of the G42 Loaded?

[Chuck Haggard]

For people that have tried the LCP early on, and haven't tried them since then, the sights are a bit improved in later models, and the trigger is MUCH better, even on the stock models.


The Kel Tec/Taurus TCP/Ruger LCPs (they are all the same gun really...) conceal very well, I know several ladies that use them for when they can't hide a real gun, but they don't tolerate a lot of sweat well. I know of two cases where rust got to the mainspring and caused it to break. That spring works differently than hammer springs on most guns that have a hammer.

In the long run she may think about "both" as an option. The G42 is more shootable, more accurate, can be run like a "real" pistol, and would tolerate sweat vastly better if she is a jogger/runner, while the LCP would work better for when she has to have the gun absolutely concealed.

[TheNewbie]

I pocket carried a LCP and Glock 43. Even in a holster I never felt at peace about the 43. It may just be OCD.

The LCP I had always worked, even when covered in pocket lint, and could be shot pretty decently during slow fire.

For me, the LCP can't be beat for safety/reliability/ability to conceal when you absolutely can't carry anything else.

[Kennydale]

Jan 01 2015 I won a G42 in a raffle. The firearm was an early production of that model and suffered from severe FAILURE TO FEED. Glock took the gun back (Their Shipping Cost) and made 3 upgrades. Slide Stop, Magazines (They came back with 02 stamped on them, I think they've changed the magazine design again and they now have an 03 stamped on them). The Third upgrade i forget. I still had numerous FAILURE TO FEED and called them thinking it was either me or the ammo. They advised me to use American Eagle, Blazer Brass and Hornady Critical Duty. I ran about 300 rounds of American Eagle and the G42 started to break in 100%. I also had a Ruger LCP that I pocket carry as a BUG. I sold the G42 (Which was now working 100%) to a young lady, that wanted to compete with it in GIRL AND A GUN LEAGUE competitions. (I sold it at a fair price of $360) With the Ruger LCP I could pocket carry it. and really did not need a second .380 Semi. My LCP has been 100% reliable from day 1. If I was going to use it as a Primary EDC then i would have sold the LCP.

[ST911]

I see the G42 vs LCP (and others) comparison at a number of ladies events. The LCP is more likely to have been bought by a significant other than the G42. When choosing, the ladies preferred the G42. Good grip is important. XTPs and Critical Defense feed well.

[Kennydale]

Concealability vs shootability, IMHO. Echoing what others have said, the LCP is great for what it is: a tiny, 11-oz deep concealment piece. Not easy or fun to shoot. If I were to buy another one now, I'd also opt for the one with the upgraded trigger and sights. When the LCP came out, it basically removed most excuses for not carrying.

The 42, on the other hand, is a pussycat to shoot, and it performs well--even better with a set of the many decent aftermarket sights currently available for it installed. It's considerably bigger, but not any bigger overall than, say, a Walther PPK; a gun that was once the mutt's nuts for backup and hideout duty. It may be a porker by today's mini-me .380 standards, but it's, what, maybe 17 oz fully loaded?

I don't have an LCP or a Sig P238 anymore, but I'm about to buy another G42, now that my wife has (finally!) taken her own interest in such things and run off with my original G42. It's a hard gun not to like if one is down with .380s.

Once they switched to the second gen slide lock lever and trigger housing (and ostensibly, the newer rounded mags, though mine, er...my wife's, uses old mags just fine) they reportedly became more Glock-like in their reliability.

Tangentially, when I gave my wife her pick from the safe, preparing the range outing looked a bit like that scene from the first Matrix: "We'll need guns. Lots of guns." Sort of. I let her try a representative of everything I had that was remotely shooter-friendly (I admit to holding my breath when she tried my Denny Reichard-tuned NY-1 K-frame) so she could choose. The 42 was the clear winner. Fine by me.

I agree. The G42 was a very iffy firearm for some (Early Production). I wouldn't mind a Ruger UPDATE to the Newer LCP Custom, or to look to a G42 again or G43 sometime in the future.

[41magfan]

I think she'll find the standard model LCP to be easier and more comfortable to carry deeply concealed, but a tad harder to shoot. The flipside is that the Glock shoots and handles better, but doesn't conceal or carry close to the body as well. The longer trigger on the LCP offers a modicum of additional safety should that be an issue based on the way she intends to carry the gun, as well.

Personally, the Glock might get the nod for waistband carry in a traditional holster and the LCP for pocket carry and deeper concealment applications. Handling and test-firing will determine whether those two subjective issues are relevant to her and her method of carry.

Regarding reliability, I've shot 2,300+ rounds through a handful of LCP's without a single malfunction. Feed them good ammo, stay with factory magazines, and the little gun just works. As noted, the Glock 42 has a little bit of history regarding reliability so I'd vet it well before carrying it. If money is a consideration, the LCP is about half the price of the Glock so the two gun option ("shoot one - carry one") is there for the very same expenditure.

As you have already noted, the important thing is that she be armed, able and willing. People usually become victims because they have NO gun, not the WRONG gun.

[LSP552]

I've been very pleased with my little G42. I've put just North of 1,000 rounds through it without a single issue. The little pistol has no recoil, is accurate and very easy to carry. Having said that, it's a speciality lounge around gun for me, not something I carry much in public.

[Drew78]

I have an early, post recall, Gen 1 LCP with CT laser on it. If guess about 1300 rounds through it with out any breakage. I've had maybe 3 ftf's with jhp ammo during ammo vetting, but 100% with fmj. I have a stainless guide Rod and 13lb recoil sorting in it. I can "mag dump" 6-7 round com very quickly out to air 20' or so with excellent groups and accuracy. I just bought a second lcp, a gen 2 and the trigger is much better. This is the only gun where I use a laser on it, but it's very effective for me. Use our as a deep deep cover or a laid back around the house gun if I'm feeling torched from aiwb my primary glock from the day. Never run a 42 so I can't compare much.

[fatdog]

Hitting an old post here to pose a question. I am not a .380 fan at all. It would never become my primary under any circumstance that I can imagine, but I have become a fan of the bug bite holsters since they work very well to hold a bug gun in my 11" boots at the right height and location because of the calf placement.

Those boots have become integral to all my after work and day off, weekend standard garb due to the ankle support they provide and comfort. My airweight J frames have simply proven to be too wide (cylinder) and put too much pressure on my calf all day long in this configuration with the boots, so I am going to try out a gun adjustment for something flatter, but not radically heavier in this bug location.

Today I run a 2.5" NAA in .22 Magnum with gold dots in this location, but in spite of my comfort level with shooting a SA revolver, this little gun is not a decent performer (accuracy) at 5-7 yards and I am confident a .380 is a better bug choice than this.

The compact tiny 9's like Shield, PPS, P290, P938 (all of which I have tried) are also just too large and just too heavy for my taste in this location, so I am thinking I might accept a .380 bug in this location. I don't even own a .380 today (but have owned a dozen variants over the last 35 years...)

So my question to the folks who have owned and run the LCP and the Glock, which 380 would you choose and why? I am going to run the Black Hills Honey Badger Lehigh ammo in this little thing. I accept it is a "10 yards gun or less" as a bug and not my primary. I am quite comfortable with either gun, LCP or Glock, from a shooting/trigger management perspective.

It is interesting that multiple sources are selling the LCP for under $200 right now, and I am comfortable with a DAO hammer fired gun, believing this is not a huge issue because my primary is an HK LEM.

Interested to hear your opinions based on first hand ownership (those just speculating please spare me your opinion) and use of these two platforms for the .380 cartridge.

[TheNewbie]

I have had two Ruger LCPs. They are the only reliable .380s I've ever had.

My two P232s had issues, an EZ Shield had issues, and my grip induced malfunctions on the 42 because I pushed the slide out of battery during recoil.


For a deep concealment pocket gun, I personally find the LCP hard to beat for what it is. Plus the trigger would pair better with the LEM.

[LockedBreech]

I'm a diehard LCP guy and I think it occupies a unique niche that no other gun replaces, including the G42. I own three LCPs, my original was a gift from my dad and the frame was starting to wear (they're low round count guns) so now I have a pair (training and carry) because they're super cheap.

Almost every gun shoots better, but in my experience zero guns, zero aside from tiny .22 derringers, conceal as well. In strict NPE, which I encounter fairly frequently, the LCP is invaluable. Almost useless at any real distance, it is nonetheless quite a powerful point blank deter-and-flee gun, and in my experience has been 100% reliable with standard pressure loads of any make or weight.

[41magfan]

As some have previously noted, I don't think the G42 and LCP is a good apples to apples comparison if we're talking pocket carry or a BUG. The G42 is more comparable to the small 9mm sized guns we have now and the competition in that category is pretty stiff. But having just said that, I almost always recommend the G42 for those that are recoil sensitive but still have some need for a small auto .... it's a very pleasant gun to shoot for its size.

Personally, I don't view the LCP as a "face gun" by any stretch. Here's 50 rds fired on a typical LE qualification COF; standing, kneeling and prone from 3 to 25 yards. While I managed to yank one outside the scoring rings at the 25 yd line (standing/unsupported) the other 49 were reasonable hits.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/924/NR0nCa.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/poNR0nCaj)

[jandbj]

P3at & G42 owner here.

The G42 with real sights is head and shoulders above the P3at (LCP forerunner) from a shooting perspective, but I keep and carry the P3at occasionally as a back pocket NPE gun. They both perform fine but the glock is quite a bit easier to place precise hits with. Mine gets carried AIWB, whereas the other is strictly a wallet gun.

[Clusterfrack]

The LCP is not nearly as easy to shoot as the G42/43. But for a mouse gun, the LCP is pretty darn capable, and so much smaller than a 42/43. For me, the LCP's small size is what justifies carrying a .380 instead of 9mm. But for the recoil sensitive, the G42 is the way to go for sure.


Gun: Ruger LCP 1 (Gen2)
Holster: Fist #3 at 3:30
Concealment: polo shirt

Bill
3.39-.25: 3.14 Dark
3.41+.25-.25: 3.41 Dark
F2S
3.00+.25-.25: 3.00 Dark
2.93-.25: 2.68 Dark
2H
3.30-.25: 3.05
2.89 +2-.25: 4.73
4B2H
3.60 +.5-.25: 3.85 Dark
3.61-.25: 3.36 Light

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170814/4311bbac63dd04795d7b34fe561ddbfd.jpg

[OlongJohnson]

I picked up an LCP Custom when they went on sale in summer 2017. Did my usual going-through, deburring and smoothing things that needed it. Came out with a surprisingly decent trigger. It actually should have a good trigger, as the hammer spring floats freely and frictionlessly between the two shafts it hooks on; this theoretically gives it the same advantage in this area as a K or L frame.

I found that if I didn't hold it in a meat vise, it would jump around and the bullets would end up in relatively random places. I could make hits reasonably accurately, if not super quickly, if I clamped the heck out of the tiny grip. Like most shots in a 3-inch bull at 5-7 yards. But with my XXXL hands, the jumping around that it still did do under recoil caused injury to my trigger finger.

I also had a variety of failures that could not be cleared without dropping the mag, and in some cases additional detail manipulation beyond that. At one point, I had the takedown pin start to walk out while shooting it. I inspected it to see if anything looked weird, and found that the locking lug on the bottom of the barrel didn't point straight downward. I sent it back to Ruger, and they replaced the slide assembly and barrel with components that at least look right to me. Due to the realization shooting it injures my hands, it is on consignment at a local shop.

Early in my shooting experience, I remember being at the local outdoor public square range, with people on either side of me both having LCPs, and both emptying magazines with only 2-3 new holes appearing in the paper they were shooting at 7 yards. Clearly, that's not the gun's fault. But it gives some indication of the focus and technique required to make it work, more so than with a larger gun.

No first-hand experience with a G42.

I could see some additional interest in the P365 if there was a .380 version. The P250 .380 is turning out to be a thoroughly decent little pistol, but it's in the compact service category by size.

[fatdog]

Thanks so much for your observations. I am getting the Glock is easier to shoot well, but the LCP is probably adequate considering my use case and accepting its constraints. Then as almost a sign I just need to try it, Palmetto puts the basic LCP on sale today with free shipping for $169.00

[Clusterfrack]

Here’s what I’ve added to my LCP1:

13# Wolff recoil springs
Tandemkross anti-walk takedown pin
Talon grips

I think the newer guns have an improved takedown pin, so that may not be needed.

[jandbj]

13# Wolff recoil springs
Talon grips

Did these to my P3at as well. Recoil spring made a big difference in handling and recoil management.

[Clusterfrack]

Better, cheaper alternative to the Talon grips:
http://a.co/d/fJOZDER

[SecondHandSmoke]

I will 3rd the recommendation for a 13 pound recoil spring set for both the LCP I and LCP II.

You should also leave the LCP I/II locked open over night with the new or replaced spring set before re-vetting the pistol. I've seen it twice with the the LCP I and once with the LCP II where swapping to fresh springs without a period of time to set the springs induced malfunctions.

[10mmfanboy]

You can't go wrong with a g 42. Very capable little gun that I have no problem pocket carrying. I have a lcp custom too for those rare times that for whatever reason the g 42 won't fit my pocket. The ruger lcp custom is an excellent gun too and I find it to be very accurate, but it took a lot more bullets down range to get right with it. I tried a hogue grip on the lcp and felt great in my hand but I found I was shooting way low with it for some reason. I'd take it off and proper hits all day long. I actually like the trigger better on the lcp custom too. My glock 42 feels like its a heavier trigger than the lcp, even though I know its not. You will definitely wear out springs faster on a lcp.

[pooty]

https://i.imgur.com/daeENx5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lE5ENN0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/il3rs20.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5KYe8Rq.jpg

[Bigghoss]

My experience mirrors everybody else's. The LCP is harder to shoot but really easy to conceal, pretty much don't even have to try. The G42 is super easy to shoot for a pocket gun but that's because it's almost the size of a 9mm. But my G43 is not as hard to shoot as my LCP but it's harder than my LCR. So maybe there's a niche for the G42 after all.

[Gun Mutt]

I've been thinking about an LCP for a gym pistol. I picked up my wife's G42 a couple nights ago and tried to remember just what the size difference was...thanks for those pics, Pooty!

[41magfan]

Some more contextual points regarding these two pistols in terms of size and weight;

If pocket carry is going to be the main mode of use, the LCP's smaller size works much better in allowing for a proper firing grip on the gun before the presentation is initiated. Having to adjust your grip (in the process of drawing) in large part negates the advantage of a smooth, quick and surreptitious draw from the pocket. In complete contrast however, the diminutive size of the LCP makes drawing from an IWB holster something of a challenge.

Secondly, while the loaded weight difference between the two guns is significant (5 oz), it becomes almost insignificant depending on how and where the gun is likely to be carried. I barely notice an additional 5 oz when carrying at the waist, but a 5 oz disparity in the pocket is immediately apparent. So, as it is with most things you can't usually have it all without compromise, and the advantages offered by carrying the LCP are best realized with pocket carry. If pocket carry ain't your thing, I'd pass on the LCP to be quite honest.

[Rex G]

Subscribed, for personal interest.

I am a relatively new G42 owner, and wondering whether to sample other small auto-loaders, before making a financial commitment to custom holsters, additional magazines, and eventual additional G42 pistols. Concealing a G42 is certainly easier than concealing any double-column-mag baby Glock. I like that the G42’s frame has enough real estate for a proper, modern thumbs-forward two-handed grip, at least for my modestly-sized male thumbs. (My Seecamp LWS-32 is, most certainly, a one-hand handgun.)

My son has a Ruger LCP, and, someday, we just might manage to arrange a shooting session.

My reason for .380 pistols is, quite simply, aging-out of shooting more-powerful cartridges from compact pistols.

[Totem Polar]

Rex G, I’ve owned and shot them all, seriously. The G42 is the easiest to shoot by a wide margin. Next would probably be the Sig P238–which I once took a local "advanced handgun" course with, including shooting at a robotic moving target. (I did as well as anyone). After that, things drop off a bit further; Kahr P380, and bigger blowbacks like the Sig P232 and then further still with the PPK... point being, you already have the gold standard for .380 shootability.

The 42 is my only non-historical .380 at this point. I’ve sold the rest, and I’ve sold my G43s, and my seecamp, etc. pocket carry aside (as well noted in the post above by 41mag), The G42 fills the "old man/notagun" niches well. JMO.

[Rex G]

Rex G, I’ve owned and shot them all, seriously. The G42 is the easiest to shoot by a wide margin. Next would probably be the Sig P238–which I once took a local "advanced handgun" course with, including shooting at a robotic moving target. (I did as well as anyone). After that, things drop off a bit further; Kahr P380, and bigger blowbacks like the Sig P232 and then further still with the PPK... point being, you already have the gold standard for .380 shootability.

The 42 is my only non-historical .380 at this point. I’ve sold the rest, and I’ve sold my G43s, and my seecamp, etc. pocket carry aside (as well noted in the post above by 41mag), The G42 fills the "old man/notagun" niches well. JMO.

Thanks.

If I am correct, in assuming that the P238 is an external equivalent of the Colt Mustang, I have had about three Mustangs, and did quite well with them, though one was not truly reliable, so was the designated trainer. My reason for getting rid of them was simply that the thumb safety did not fit the normal arc-of-movement of my thumb. My first pistol was a 1911, and I have never failed to properly work the thumb safety of a 1911, but I did not have absolute confidence in my unfailingly reflexive operation of the Mustang safety. Operating the Mustangs’ thumb safety had to be a conscious action, with a “just-so” positioning of my thumb.

To assuage my OCD-like worries, in this regard, I carried my reliable Mustang(s) in Condition Two, thumb safety off, and only used it in the occasional deep-hideout role. The weakness of that methodology is that something could, conceivably, bump the thumb safety to the “on” position. The Seecamp LWS-32 and my several J-Snubs conspired to kick the Mustangs from the nest. A Walther PPK/S or PPK may have been involved in that conspiracy, too, but I cannot recall the timeline of all of my so very many Eighties and Nineties pistols.

[Totem Polar]

P238 is very Mustang-similar; the sights are improved, but the trigger is not. At any rate, there are precious few more mellow ways to get behind a trigger than a G42. Anything more copacetic is either bigger (envelope) or smaller (chambering) or both.

[BillSWPA]

Pocket carry depends heavily on one’s pockets. In “relaxed fit” pleated dress slacks, I can pocket carry a G26 in an Aholster. In jeans, I am limited to my KeL-Tec P3AT. If one’s pants have already been selected based on pocket carry, a G42 in an Aholster should not be a problem.



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