Posted: 6/6/2017 11:58:15 AM EDT
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Hi all,
Recently picked up a G42. Via testing online (Mr Guns N Gear, STB410, Lucky Gunner), it appears as though some loads will actually expand to ~1.5x and penetrate to 12". What do you all think about carrying the G42 for CCW? If I can find a round that expands and pens, is .380 viable? I really want to love my G42, but the bad rap 380 has is kind of turning me off. It was an impulse buy at the LGS --- they had a used one for $399, couldn't pass. Thanks all. |
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The only time I carry a .380 as my only gun is when I'm on my bicycle and that gun is a Kahr CW380, which is a micro gun. It' significantly smaller than a G42.
I have a G42 and love to shoot it but I rarely carry it. In those few times I do it is in a Sticky holster in a front pocket. For myself, I find I can carry and conceal a G43 almost as well as the G42. But that's just me. I would never criticize anyone with a .380 primary, it's just not what I prefer. Enjoy your Glock 42. And now is a good time to buy ammo in general so stock up and shoot a lot. |
| I'm retired..I have a low perception of threat... and don't typically worry about winter clothing.... I pocket carry daily in nylon fishing shorts with a Recluse cargo holster for my G42...there are some pretty good loads available, my G42 is much more accurate and quick shooting than my other .380s... if it makes you feel better call it a 9x17.... regards |
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I pocket carry my 42 every day. Love that little pistol. I use a DeSantis super fly pocket holster. I like the rubberized outer shell better than the cloth on the regular nemesis. The superfly seems to stay in place better.
As to carry ammo. The Hornady xtp bullet gets the nod. It has shown good results in gel. Check youtube screen name - shooting the bull410 he tested a lot of different 380 ammo. . |
| I say carry whatever gun you can carry 100% of the time. Different people have different situations, dress requirements and body types. I own over 20 firearms of different types and caliber but what I have on my most the time is my lcp. 8rds of 380 in my pocket is better then my tricked fnx tactical left at home. Don't let anyone tell you 380 is wrong if thats is the package that works for you so you can carry 100% of the time. |
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I just watched a bunch of .380 gel tests last week cuz I'm thinking about getting a .380 for carry. I don't quite remember all that performed well. But I think the American Gunner .380 (xtp bullet) penetrated past 12" and expanded a little. FMJ definitely goes all the way plus more. Gold dots were right there. I think the test I saw showed it at like 11-3/4". I mean.... Close enough.
A lot didn't penetrate very far if they expanded though. So I see the concern. I've resigned to the fact that I like hornady's stuff. Even though they don't ever seem to be on the optimum list. Well, I should say Hornady's XTP, in the caibers I carry. Thing is they favor penetration and sometimes expand a little. Let me see if I can find that exact test..... here it is. out of a sig 238 I carry American Gunner in my Smith 442 because I don't handle Gold Dots +p's well at all. I start flinching right quick. So, standard pressure, there are a few seemingly good options. But none that seem to expand much, if at all. At least with the XTP you get the possibility of expansion. Over fmj or wadcutters (in .38). I would carry a .380 with FMJ though. But I would feel more comfy with a round that didn't keep going and going. Like the gold dots or hornady. Now the FTX, maybe not so much. How do you like shooting the 42 OP? |
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Quoted:
I just watched a bunch of .380 gel tests last week cuz I'm thinking about getting a .380 for carry. I don't quite remember all that performed well. But I think the American Gunner .380 (xtp bullet) penetrated past 12" and expanded a little. FMJ definitely goes all the way plus more. Gold dots were right there. I think the test I saw showed it at like 11-3/4". I mean.... Close enough. A lot didn't penetrate very far if they expanded though. So I see the concern. I've resigned to the fact that I like hornady's stuff. Even though they don't ever seem to be on the optimum list. Well, I should say Hornady's XTP, in the caibers I carry. Thing is they favor penetration and sometimes expand a little. Let me see if I can find that exact test..... here it is. out of a sig 238 I carry American Gunner in my Smith 442 because I don't handle Gold Dots +p's well at all. I start flinching right quick. So, standard pressure, there are a few seemingly good options. But none that seem to expand much, if at all. At least with the XTP you get the possibility of expansion. Over fmj or wadcutters (in .38). I would carry a .380 with FMJ though. But I would feel more comfy with a round that didn't keep going and going. Like the gold dots or hornady. Now the FTX, maybe not so much. How do you like shooting the 42 OP? |
| I have a Glock 42 and I carry Hornady American Handgunner 90 grain XTP. Hornady says the ammo in the blue box is exactly the same as ammo in brown box so I buy the blue box American Handgunner because of the better price. I normally carry my Glock 42 or 43 IWB but I have a pocket holster I occasionally use with my Glock 42. |
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I absolutely love my G42. I pocket carry mine when I can't get away with anything bigger. It works very well for that purpose.
As for ammo, as was said above, check out Shootingthebull410 on Youtube. VERY extensive and detailed testing of just about every .380 JHP load made. Top performers were a few loads using Hornady's 90gr XTP bullet. They expand very modestly and penetrate well (for .380 anyway). Speer's 90gr Gold Dot also performed fairly well but not as well as the XTP load. When I carry, I have to qualify through the PD I work for and carry issued ammo. The good thing is that I am the head firearms instructor and make the decisions about what ammo we are carrying. Currently, we carry Gold Dots in .380 but, when we run out, we are switching to Hornady's American Gunner using the XTP bullet. Myself, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE GOOD AMMO, I don't have a problem with .380. IMHO, FMJ doesn't qualify as "good ammo". It consistently overpenetrates and, aside from punching a little, teeny tiny hole, doesn't do much at all. JHP in .380 isn't a quantum leap above FMJ but the good loads do consistently expand (modestly, but they do expand) and conform to the FBI standards for penetration (minimum 12", max 18" through bare and clothed ballistic gel) compared to FMJ. If you want to carry FMJ, at least you are carrying a gun, but I certainly wouldn't do it. In the end, the choice is yours. I suggest a good JHP load, like any of those using the XTP bullet or Gold Dots, but ultimately the choice is yours. Religiously carry and train with a gun you like and you are FAR ahead of the rest of the world. Good luck with your choice. Bub75 |
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Thanks all, for the input.
I guess I watch too much "24" with Jack Bauer. Realistically, I'm not ever going to (or be able to) use a pistol to fight off 4-5 terrorists with rifles. Really the only situations in which I could see using it would be a carjacking, a home invasion (I carry 24/7 at home) to buy time to get to my rifle, a "flash mob" attack, or something like that. So. I went and bought a box of Gold Dots. Lucky Gunner, Shooting the Bull, and Mr Guns N Gear have all shown this to be a good, consistent performer. Thanks for the input. |
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Quoted:
I'd just ask anyone who had not made the purchase why not try the Glock 43? About the same size, and it is 9mm. If I were carrying a Glock 42 in .380 I would probably carry Underwood XTreme Penetrator. |
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Quoted:
I'd just ask anyone who had not made the purchase why not try the Glock 43? About the same size, and it is 9mm. If I were carrying a Glock 42 in .380 I would probably carry Underwood XTreme Penetrator. Do you own both a 42 and a 43? I do and to me, the 43 is too big for Pocket cary. For me, the 42 fills that role better. Heck, even the 42 feels a lot bigger than say an lcp. But the 42 is a more comfortable shooter than the lcp. For me, the 43 needs to be carried in a belt holster and if I need to carry on the belt, I might as well carry the G19. I really think Glock missed the boat with the 43. It's too big for Pocket carry and it's too small to be a worth while belt gun. Especially with its limited capacity. So, your suggestion to try the 43 is very valid. It may work great for some people. Just not me. Just this guy's opinion. . |
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I to have a Glock 42 and a Glock 43. After retiring I wanted a smaller lighter pistol than my Glock 27. When the Glock 42 was released I got on a blue label waiting list. I got an early model 42 and it has been gtg.
I also have a Glock 43 which I carry a lot IWB. I carry whichever is most appropriate for my dress, activity and locale. I have a 19.4 and a Glock 27.3 I still carry if I choose. Variety is the spice of life. |
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Quoted:
I'd just ask anyone who had not made the purchase why not try the Glock 43? About the same size, and it is 9mm. If I were carrying a Glock 42 in .380 I would probably carry Underwood XTreme Penetrator. As for the Extreme Defender and Extreme Penetrator loads, I'd be very careful with them till they actually have some street use. Keep in mind that human tissues are very elastic. They tend to stretch out of the way of bullets at typical pistol velocities, then snap back into place after the bullet passes through, leaving a small hole. Myself, I would bet that the Extreme Penetrator and Extreme Defender loads won't do in tissue what they do in ballistic gel because the gel isn't as elastic as human tissues. I'd bet that they perform just like FMJ bullets. We won't know until there are some actual shootings with it, if we can even get results. I kinda hope I'm wrong because I like the idea of the bullets and think that new ideas are always a good thing. I'd just be very leery of them until they have some sort of track record. A track record in shooting animals would even work, but as far as I know, we don't even have that. If they actually work over the course of several shootings, I'll readily admit that I'm wrong and load up with them in a heartbeat, if they work. Bub75 |
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Quoted:
. Do you own both a 42 and a 43? I do and to me, the 43 is too big for Pocket cary. For me, the 42 fills that role better. Heck, even the 42 feels a lot bigger than say an lcp. But the 42 is a more comfortable shooter than the lcp. For me, the 43 needs to be carried in a belt holster and if I need to carry on the belt, I might as well carry the G19. I really think Glock missed the boat with the 43. It's too big for Pocket carry and it's too small to be a worth while belt gun. Especially with its limited capacity. So, your suggestion to try the 43 is very valid. It may work great for some people. Just not me. Just this guy's opinion. . I will have to carefully consider this in the future, due to the superior pocket carry capabilities. |
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Quoted:
...As for the Extreme Defender and Extreme Penetrator loads, I'd be very careful with them till they actually have some street use. Keep in mind that human tissues are very elastic. They tend to stretch out of the way of bullets at typical pistol velocities, then snap back into place after the bullet passes through, leaving a small hole. Myself, I would bet that the Extreme Penetrator and Extreme Defender loads won't do in tissue what they do in ballistic gel because the gel isn't as elastic as human tissues. I'd bet that they perform just like FMJ bullets. We won't know until there are some actual shootings with it, if we can even get results. I kinda hope I'm wrong because I like the idea of the bullets and think that new ideas are always a good thing. I'd just be very leery of them until they have some sort of track record. A track record in shooting animals would even work, but as far as I know, we don't even have that. If they actually work over the course of several shootings, I'll readily admit that I'm wrong and load up with them in a heartbeat, if they work. Bub75 I am going to harvest a small wild hor or Javelina with the defender bullet as soon as I get a chance. I will post results when I do. It may be around Nov-Dec I am mostly fishing in the summer months. |
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Quoted: When I carry, I have to qualify through the PD I work for and carry issued ammo. The good thing is that I am the head firearms instructor and make the decisions about what ammo we are carrying. Currently, we carry Gold Dots in .380 but, when we run out, we are switching to Hornady's American Gunner using the XTP bullet.
Myself, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE GOOD AMMO, I don't have a problem with .380. IMHO, FMJ doesn't qualify as "good ammo". It consistently overpenetrates and, aside from punching a little, teeny tiny hole, doesn't do much at all Keep abreast of the HP tests in .380". One will show 12" of penetration & perfect expansion - the next test will show the same bullet clogged through fabric and a failure to expand. There's very little spare energy to expand the hollowpoint, and very little public testing done in .380". OP, ETS has 12 round mags available for the 42 now, I believe. |
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"Overpenetration" is only a problem for police departments. FMJ .380" will make a complete hole through a circulatory system, allowing two exits for blood. It will also probably rattle around in a skull quite well. Keep abreast of the HP tests in .380". One will show 12" of penetration & perfect expansion - the next test will show the same bullet clogged through fabric and a failure to expand. There's very little spare energy to expand the hollowpoint, and very little public testing done in .380". OP, ETS has 12 round mags available for the 42 now, I believe. 
Really? So having the bullet exit, intact, and possibly hti someone unintended isn't a concern to you? |
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I think overpenetration is more of a concern than it should be even though it is a valid consideration. I believe failure to stop and misses are a greater concern. Often the Miami Dade shooting is brought up here regarding penetration ... it's a valid example but there are much more important lessons from that shooting (lack of realistic training, lack of prep such as losing glasses, bringing a handgun to an EXPECTED rifle fight with a skilled felon, etc...): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv8cByaVyNQ
When I look at comments here from officers who have experience with shootings, there are many more incidents when a .223 varmint bullet hit a wristwatch or #4 buck encountered a 'shirt' in a parking lot or leather coat and did not penetrate enough to stop the threat despite good shot placement, than issues of overpenetration that harmed bystanders. I'm not a professional, that's just what I can find searching for examples. I am aware of 9mm FMJ penetrating a bad guy and injuring another officer's leg however. There are also techniques you can use to minimize overpenetration concerns, changing point of aim, changing your position. I suppose this would be a disadvantage, it just seems to me that most of the time I'd want more penetration. One thought I have, in many conceal carry situations you have to shoot quick from a draw, and with great haste you may have to aim towards the groin/hips for your first shot. There are large bones there and a penetrating hit to the large bones there would be desirable to a round that penetrated less. Finally, to give context to my comments, I would feel okay carrying .380 ball but I would probably not carry ball ammo in 9mm. However I am fine with a bullet that will do 20in in gel. |
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Same. Precision 1 90gr +P JHP XTP. Excellent round. Only have the one .380, a Sig P232, which has been my warm weather CC piece. Decided to retire it and get something uglier that I cared about less. G42 was a natural candidate but I ended up getting a G43. Not that much larger. |