Originally Posted by
Doc_Glock
I like the G42, but I am on again, off again with it. Currently on again.
Pros:
Lightweight, 16.3oz loaded with 7. Lighter than a 642 with 5. Much lighter than a G43 at 21.8oz loaded.
Extremely reliable. I have had two come through 2k tests with zero stoppages not attributable to ammo defects.
Small enough to hide.
Absolutely delightful and non punishing to shoot. Almost .22 level fun.
Cons: 4oz heavier and significantly bigger than the LCP which shoots as well, but is not nearly as fun or reliable. I think the G42 is kind of big for the pocket. But it is probably the smallest thing that is stone cold reliable. Certainly the smallest semi auto pistol.
.380 ballistics are marginal.
I personally am at a quandary. I want a reliable, lightweight pocket gun and am caliber agnostic about it. I have tried many over the years and am currently trialing a G42 versus a LCR in .38. They both feel quite large, heavy and obvious versus an LCP in the pocket which absolutely disappears. The LCP just doesn’t meet my reliability standard though.
Both the G42 and .38 LCR hover at 16.2-3 oz loaded so they are similar in weight. The G42 shoots much better, and seems much less bulky in pocket. The LCR draws amazing and has a heavier and perhaps safer trigger, but is shootability hampered next to the G42.
Other guns I have tried:
Unreliable: P3AT, Beretta Bobcat, Boberg R9.
Too heavy: G43, Rohrbaugh R9
Pretty decent, on the heavy side and sometimes unreliable (mine wasn’t). Sold because it felt unbalanced compared to the G42: Kahr PM9.
The G42 might be the best of all the bad choices.
If you just want a gun with you that will almost certainly bang once, with the least bother: Ruger LCP.