Finally! She likes the Glock 42

[Calculon]

Been on a mission to help my wife find the right carry gun for her. Been looking on and off for more than a year. Her main criteria were small/concealable, manageable recoil and ability to comfortably rack the slide. We've gone through many options of pistols and revolvers including S&W Model 36 Detective's special (38 Special), S&W 351PD (22 Mag), Beretta 84FS Cheetah (.380) with no love. Had the opportunity to check out the Sig P238 and Glock 42 at Hoffmans in CT yesterday which we felt met her requirements. After spending a few minutes with both she was more comfortable with the Glock as the Sig has an external safety - in a self defense scenario that was a potential point of failure. She put 50 rounds through the 42 on the indoor range and was very happy! Looks like an early bday present in the making.

[Cgrutt]

Nice! Curious if you considered the P938 which is basically the same size as the P238 and G42 but chambered in 9mm. I get what you're saying about the external safety and I have both (P938 and G42) but am much more likely to carry the P938 for Self defense due to the better round. How does she intend to carry it? In a holster or pocketbook etc.? I also like the idea of an external safety if its carried in anything but a holster. I did pocket carry the G42 a few weeks ago and it was fine.

[Calculon]

She is an occasional shooter so she is still recoil sensitive and doesn't like shooting 9mm. It was pretty much off the table. Guy at the range tried to get her to move up to an M&P Shield in 9 but I waved him off. She has tried one in the past and didn't like it.

I have been encouraging her to carry regularly for a long time but she wasn't comfortable carrying anything we have. Now that she picked something she likes she is more likely to begin carrying. Plus with some good self defense Ammo like Hornady Critical Defense the ballistics are in the ballpark with 9mm. I figure that getting some range time under her belt with the G42 will make her more comfortable and eventually moving to 9mm will be a non event.

The plan is to primarily carry on body in a holster but on the occasions where it needs to be in a bag/purse it will be in an appropriate holster providing safety and access.

[Cgrutt]

Understandable. I'm running Federal Hydra-Shok in the G42 because I had it in the safe but Federal apparently came out with HST which seems to be a better SD round. http://www.gunsandammo.com/news/fede...st-collection/. Believe Hornady has Critical Defense in 380, which is what I generally run in my other SD guns.

All things equal there is really no comparison between the 380 and 9mm round though. Using Federal HST as an example, the round in 9mm has over 10% more velocity and over 50% higher energy over the same round in 380 at the muzzle. Not saying 380 won't get the job done but it's really not in the same class as other common SD rounds (e.g., 9mm, 40 S&W or 45 ACP). Still, carrying a 380 is worlds better than not carrying a 9mm

[usmcveteran]

Congrats !!!

[Calculon]

UPDATE - the amendment took 2 weeks to the day here in Dutchess. Picked up the G42 today - wifey is looking forward to range this weekend!
G42.JPG

[Cgrutt]

Christmas in February? LOL, congrats!

[dwa12479]

Any day that the wife is looking forward to a range trip is a good day.