So after putting a couple of magazines of ball ammo without problems through my Glock 42, I wanted to try some hollow point ammo. After an internet search, I found a video that showed good results with anything loaded with the Hornady XTP bullet. I ordered two boxes of HPR which is loaded with the XTP.

Today I took the 42 to the range. Loaded the mag, chambered a round, and topped off the mag. Everytime I fired it, the first round in the mag would not chamber. The chambered round would fire, and than I'd get a click when I pulled the trigger as the first round in the mag didn't chamber. This happed all 4 times I tried it. For comparison, I had my LCP. It had no issues at all with this HPR ammo. Also, every round after the first in the mag chambered and fired. So basically if you don't top off the mag after chambering a round, the gun worked fine.

I had high hopes for the 42 to be a back-up gun, but it looks like it needs more testing with different ammo. For now I'll stick with my LCP.

And the lesson here is to always check your SD ammo in your gun before you carry it.

****************Update*****************

Shot without any problems using Precision One's XTP bullet loaded ammo. This was Hickok45's top recommended .380 ammo on his .380 ammo Quest video using FBI's standards.

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Watch & Pray

Sorry to hear that, I took my 42 out for the 1st time today to break it in.

2x (50) boxes Blazer aluminum FMJ - 95gr
1x (50) boxes Remington UMC FMJ - 95gr
2x (20) boxes of Federal Hydra-Shok HP (plus few extra that were in a previously opened box) - 90gr

0 FTF, 0 malfunctions. Pretty happy with it, it is very soft shooting, easy to aim and control and quite enjoyable to shoot. I will be running more through it before I'm comfortable with it as a carry alternative but I'm pretty optimistic so far and may get a 2nd as the wife has expressed an interest which is a surprise as she really likes to shoot and carry her model 60-14 2-1/8".

I decided to load-up the mags and let them sit for awhile (I assume the loaded mag pressure on the slide is causing it to slow down while cycling).

I'm also going to put a few boxes through it to loosen-up the dull recoil spring.

And I ordered two more different manufacture XTP loaded ammo. One being +P.

I'll get this sucker working.

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Watch & Pray

I had nothing but problems w/my Glock 42 (see Glock 42 Jamomatic post) and your experience is one of the many failures I experienced. Glock says there is nothing wrong w/my gun so I'm not sure where I go from here.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

The Glock 42, like all Glocks, has a polymer frame with steel insert for the slide race, steel slide/barrel/action parts/magazine release/trigger group, etc. Several different steel alloys, mostly mounted to and functioning on or within a polymer housing. The magazines are polymer-bodied, held within a polymer frame with a metal latch device. I suspect that some wear is expected, even anticipated by the design engineers, so proper functioning of the magazine is likely to require some use and wear before absolute reliability may even be reasonably expected.

Any new handgun that I acquire goes to the range several times before I will consider it for defensive use. Around 200 to 300 rounds is about right for an initial break-in. Then I can start trying different ammunition types, thoroughly test each magazine with each type, etc. I will usually be pretty confident with a particular combination of pistol, magazines, and ammunition type by the time I reach around 500 rounds. Very seldom have I experienced a brand new handgun that will be completely reliable and functional right out of the box. Very seldom have I experienced really serious function problems after a thorough break-in and testing.

Modern computer-controlled machining processes are more accurate than anything seen in the past, but manufacturing tolerances will always be a fact of life. There will be some amount of tool wear from one part made to the next, and no two can ever be absolutely identical or perfect. Every new machine (including firearms) assembled with newly manufactured parts will require some break-in use, allowing everything to "settle in" and start working together.

I suspect that a few rounds of factory ball or reloads, followed by a thorough cleaning and proper lubrication, will get things running reasonably smoothly. Then you can try several different ammunition types to find out which ones your new Glock functions best with.

Best regards.

I read your issues. Sound like you and I have the same large hands and are both lefties.

For your issue, I would try to add to the grip size. I put the hogue Jr. wrap on mine. Maybe even add to the back strap to increase your reach. You may also want to try decal grip or grip tape so the gun doesn't flip in your hand as much.

Also try +P ammo. Buffalo bore and Grizzly make some. I would think hotter load, faster slide movement to counter act limp wristing or mag drag.

I'm also a fan of polishing the freed ramp and maybe under the slide wear it contacts the round loaded in the magazine.

The issue I see is the dual recoil spring. The light recoil is great, but if the gun isn't held right ( slight limp wristed), it's causing the short stroke issues. I would try some hot ammo to break in the recoil spring (or replace it altogether. Yours could be bad). And keep the mags loaded for awhile to help depress the springs for less drag.

These are all things I'm doing to get mine to carry condition. Although the only issue I've had is the 2nd round not chambering.

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Watch & Pray

You Glock guys might want to watch this video my Jerry Miculek (yes S&W Jerry!) It's long 50 minutes but interesting.

[Video] Jerry Miculek Does REALLY In Depth Review of Glock 42

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Still Running Against the Wind

I've had to give both of my poly .380 autos a complete fluff and buff with some 600 grit waterproof emery paper. The grooves in the steel slide were smoothed. The spots where the barrel rubs on the slide up front and around the top of the chamber were smoothed. The part of the slide where the firing pin exits when it hits the primer was smoothed (as the cartridge comes out of the follower, it's base rides up on this vertical section of the slide). The follower was removed from the magazine and smoothed along the sides so it wouldn't bind when pushing up the cartridges. The recoil spring guide was smoothed. The feed ramp and entrance into the chamber was smoothed with a piece paper held down by a NEW eraser on the end of a wooden pencil.

All of these areas will show wear after a few hundred rounds are run through the gun during normal break in . Doing it yourself speeds up the process so you don't trade in a potentially smooth working pistol. After you spend an hour or two fluffing and buffing, pick the ammo you want to use in the pistol and take it out again and while watching for limp wristing give it another go. If it begins to work, break it down after 50 rounds and look for wear areas. Go over these with the emery paper until they smooth out to the touch.

"FLUFF AND BUFF" Is a patented trademark of Kel Tecs.

Glocks are Perfect so therefore do not need this treatment.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I feel that any company that has the word "Perfection" in their advertizing better be able to live up to it. (IMO they haven't)

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Minimize the variables

My Keltec and Diamondback fire? They didn't when I purchased them. I also have "fluffed and buffed" my Springfield Armory .45 acp and my Para-Ordinance P12, not to mention my M1A and GSG 1911A1 .22. It really has helped with the break in period. After all, breaking a weapon in does the same thing. It just takes a lot longer to accomplish.

I'm sorry but I feel the same as Larry Seecamp. Maker of small but not cheap pocket autos. "If it doesn't work right straight out of the box, it's defective."

I almost forgot the second part of what he said. "send it back, if we can't make it work right we'll replace it, or your money."

Owned a .32 acp Seecamp. An excellent pistol and always worked when I wanted it to with those Winchester silvertips. One of my problems is that at 68, I continue to look for new things to keep my mind from getting stale. I've steered clear of these polymer pistols until early last year when I bought a S&W Bodyguard .38 Special. It in turn peaked my interest in other poly pistols so I picked up a KelTec .380 and then a DB .380. Both are cheap, have a lot of problems out of the box, but are fixable more times than not. Glock really makes fine pistols, but this new .380 auto seems to have some of the same problems, FTF being one of them. Would I take the Keltec or DB into the jungle...no way, but they are small and when "buffed" out, fit into the pocket of a pair of shorts very easily without a problem. It will be interesting to see what else develops with Glock's .380. I remember a quote from an old test pilot..."Never fly the A model".

Just another reason to carry a revolver IMO

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an actual conservative

Re: OP. And so it goes. Many will be very pleased w/ the 42 as it will well suit their needs. Not being particularly OC, they will not exhaustively test their pistol w/ any and all possible varieties of ammo available. If something doesn't work, they'll try another brand until they find what they want. They'll load up a magazine and drop the pistol into their purse... or pocket and go merrily on their way. They will not train, test, practice with the pistol. They will not worry about if the pistol can w/ one shot stop a charging lion or prove effective against multiple assailants as in a video game tactical scenario. They will be pleased with the pistol. It is not unlike those who for many of the same reasons buy Ruger, KelTec or S&W pocket type pistols.

Problems? Yep. The idea that a single pistol will satisfy every thin/thick, weak/strong, male/female, cognizant/plebian shooter is at best a pipe dream. The idea that a pistol will satisfactoryly function infaillably with any possible type of ammunition available from any producer either common or boutique is as well a pipe dream. At some price point such pipe dreams might possibly be made reality. But at the price most buyers are willing to pay, such pipe dreams will be ... dreams.

Reality is that the G-42 is what a lot of folks are looking for, i.e., a small, light weight, managable, shootabe, affordable pistol that will meet the need which those folks have for a SD/CC pistol. The majority of purchasers will be very pleased with the G-42. There will be some who for one reason or another are not pleased. Some of them will complain loud and long. It's not unlike when the M-16 was first introduced. The difference is that Glock has a very long record of outstanding design, production and product support. They will quickly resolve any issues with this pistol. Cool.

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<><

This seems to be what Jerry was saying at the end of his video.

I like the idea of the two extra rounds and (for me anyway), the shootability of the 42 over the J frame (I'm not very good with the small J frame). This will be a back-up gun to my G23, not a primary carry.

All I need now is to get it to work with quality SD ammo.

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Watch & Pray

He also said in regard to "BREAK IN" "that continuing to fire a pistol that is not functioning correctly will NOT fix it"

Many of the guys at my LGS that have purchased the new Glock are in no way 380 pocket gun guys. They simply bought it because it's a Glock. I doubt they will fire it more than once and never carry it.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Well, I hate to say I told you so, but...

Over a month ago I posted reviews by Hickok45 as well as American Rifleman. In both cases, hot Hollow Point ammunition caused the chamber to lock open.

"Pefectionists" got all over me, but there it is. Post #40 on January 8.

Glock 42 : hang onto your shield

If you can find a stiffer return spring, this may relieve the issues. Otherwise, forget about using the boutique ammo and run ball only.

Why would you say I told you so, HP ammo ran perfectly through mine this weekend, ~50 rnds of Fed Hydra-Shok after 150 rnds of FMJ with no FTEs or malfunctions. But then I don't limp wrist my guns. Like I said in my previous post, obviously I'll be running more of my carry ammo through it before it's designated as available for carry but its gtg so far and quite a nice little gun.

According to the fanboiz on another site I go to you just described any Glock ever made...

Glock's forte is autoloader reliability with a wide array of ammo. If the 42 struggles to live up to that reputation then the already short list of practical reasons to buy one just got even shorter.

I am a 380 collector back when they were all the rage. I like them. I have nothing against Glocks they are actually very good guns. They have to be for the amount of them being used.

I have one, A 19, it;s the only one that fits my hand. The rest are too big.

The 42 is very nice, but again it's big, Its not a pocket gun A Kahr PM9 is smaller.

If it turns into a 9mm it will be a better gun. I am sure Glock will work out this minor problem of ammo specifc stuff.

Guys at the LGS just bury their heads in the sand, they don't want to hear there may be some issues. "It's Glock" it can't be. So and so bought one and he has no problems, well so and so probably fired on or two mags.

I like the feel of it and it's accurate but I do not see the niche for it. If I have to holster it then I will go with a 9mm Shield or similar.

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Still Running Against the Wind

The Gen 4s have been problematic from the gitgo but Kalifornistanians continue to fork over extra $$$ to get them through SSE instead of Gen 3s.

Your right. I did forget the part about "break in".

Updated in first post.

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Watch & Pray