Glock 42/43 for pocket carry

[otis24]

Does anyone use a Glock 42 or 43 for pocket carry? I have the Ruger LCP Max. It is a great little pistol but I like the ergonomics of the Glock 42/43 much better.

I would like a 9mm for pocket carry just so it is ammo compatible with my other pistols. Just concerned that the 4+ ounces difference of the Glock 43 might make it less enjoyable to carry.

If you pocket carry either of these, please share your thoughts.

 

[tt66]

I replaced a Kahr 380 with a 43. The difference is not noticeable to me. I carry it daily, whether wearing shorts in the summer or long pants in the winter.

 

[alwslate]

I have both the G42 and 43 and have carried both at times in my jeans pocket. The weight difference is noticeable in a pocket but I’m old, short and skinny. So it may depend on your size. These days I usually just carry my Ruger LCP because I don’t go much of anywhere except the grocery store because of COVID. If you really want the 43 get it because it is very pocketable.

 

[Shooter Mike]

The wife has a 43 that she carried for a few years and it is a very dependable pistol.
She now carries an Sig.365. She switched because the likes the smooth rounded trigger for extended shooting secessions that is less painful than the Glock.
Plus she enjoys the comfort of extra rounds in the mag, 12 + 1.

You may want to check one out. Regardless they are both great guns.

 

[Smoke]

My Glock 43 is my NPE gun. I pocket carried it at work for a year or so. It was hardly noticeable in my pocket.

 

[jimmyj]

I have a Glock Model 42 and a Glock Model 43X
The Glock Model 42 in a pocket holster is my CCW when I go places where a larger pistol would be a "No-No". (medical exams/appointments)

 

[otis24]

I stopped at a gun store and tried a 42 & a 43. While my preference would be for a 9mm (not a huge deal), the size and weight difference of a 43 just doesn’t seem to be as ideal as the 42. This pistol will fill the role of pocket carry on Sundays for church and small errands. My primary concealed carry weapon is a Kahr K9 carried in a Hidden Hybrid IWB holster.

 

[Baxter6551]

G42 pocket

I have a Kramer pocket holster for my G42. I pocket carry it front pocket of Cargo shorts. Comfy and not really noticeable. They put a layer of a plastic material on the front to break up outline and make it look like a wallet. Kramer is top shelf leather and worth the money in my opinion.

 

[djohns6]

I carry a G43 or a P365 in a pocket holster . Both are comfortable with jeans .

 

[Doug M.]

I have a G42. It required a lengthy break in period before it was reliable, but that's just a cost of defensive weaponry anyway. (A couple hundred rounds of ball, then it would start to feed the Fiocchi JPHs, then eventually it would feed the Black Hills Honey Badger. Probably 700 rounds total.) I am pretty sure I did a description of the experience here a couple years ago. I replaced the sights with XS Big Dots - it is not a precision pistol and my eyes are pretty poor.

I carried it in a pocket of sweat/track pants after my surgery last fall, and it was as good as I could do. It is in a Mike pocket holster in a zipped pocket. Worked pretty well for the need. A Kramer pocket holster is also a good choice; I have one for a G33 and it works like a champ.

 

[Baxter6551]

Unlike Doug M I had no reliability problems with mine 42 at all. Shoots great. Carry the federal premium personal protection JHP I think 99 grain. And I second on the Mika pocket holster as being very good. I carry my G43 in one that was originally ordered for a model 37 three inch.

 

[cometpx4]

G42

Buy one (a G42) with confidence. After some initial bugs, Glock made some design modifications and the later versions are rock solid reliable. The changes (slide stop tab, mag mods etc.. ) are the subject of many internet threads.
Mine have literally thousands of rounds thru them with zero issues. There is no better pocket auto on the market IMO. I love the G43 as well, but there is a noticeable weight difference in the pocket.
And yes, I do think 7 rounds of Underwood .380 into a bad guy would be a significant deterrent.

 

[gmiller0737]

I carry the 42 in A Desantis Pocket Holster it gets carrried almost daily,I also have A UBG IWB Holster for the 42 that gets occasional use.

 

[alwslate]

Buy one (a G42) with confidence. After some initial bugs, Glock made some design modifications and the later versions are rock solid reliable. The changes (slide stop tab, mag mods etc.. ) are the subject of many internet threads.
Mine have literally thousands of rounds thru them with zero issues. There is no better pocket auto on the market IMO. I love the G43 as well, but there is a noticeable weight difference in the pocket.
And yes, I do think 7 rounds of Underwood .380 into a bad guy would be a significant deterrent.

I have a 42 and it is easy to engage the slide lock when firing due to the snappy recoil. Maybe I’m missing something. Has there been some modification to the slide lock tab that I need to check out?

 

[cometpx4]

G42 Mods

Slate yes there was but it was a while ago. The mags were modified as well and marked with numbers. These mods occurred years ago, after the initial release.
Just Google the issue and there are some good posts with before/after pics that make it real easy to tell which gen you have.
Just to state the obvious though, if your thumb is hitting the release lever none of these mods will help you. The change on the mag\slide release tab was a change in the shape of the little tab that is pushed up by the mag follower. If my terminology is off I apologize for any confusion. If you take the slide off and look down into your frame from the top you will clearly see the reshaped tab on the after gen 1 releases

 

[Octagun]

I’ve been carrying a G42 in a Milt Sparks pocket holster for the last several years now. It’s about as large of a pocket gun as I’d like to go. Although I feel adequate with 380 ACP, I would much prefer a 9mm in this same size platform. Ammo versatility, availability, and affordability are the drivers. I will say however that the G42 is a very comfortable shooting pistol.

 

[walkin' trails]

Since I retired, I've carried my 43 in my strong side front pocket on occasion but find myself liking a J-frame for that method much better. Currently, the only pocket holster is an Uncle Mike's. I'm casually looking for something a little better. Currently I only pocket carry around the house when doing yard work or walking to the mail box. When I leave the house I have something else. Pocket carry lends itself best to small, light handguns, so a 42, LCP, or alloy J-frame, for example probably work best for this method. My 43 seems to be closer to large end of that scale at least for my pockets. The 365 somewhat intrigues me, but for some reason I don't want to spend the money on one, especially considering that Sig mags tend to run twice the price of Glock mags. And I just bought four 8-round Tuff strips for the price of a Glock mag...

 

[Old cop]

I’ve found the small Glocks too heavy. My no-lock 340PD is pocket carried w/the LCP filling in when I’m in dress slacks.

 

[demkofour]

I have heard of people that claim to carry (comfortably ?) a Glock 26 in the pocket… Frankly, I can’t really tolerate most anything in my front pants pocket.
But, I have successfully (comfortably?) carried S&W alloy/Ti/Scandium framed J Frames, Sig 365, Glock 43/42 and a Taurus PT738.
My choice now, FOR POCKET CARRY, is the Glock 42 in an AHOLSTER pocket holster. I find that combination, appropriately loaded with adequate defensive ammunition and the proper mindset/tactics, works for me. The 365 and the 43 are just too big and heavy and the PT738 is just too small. My J Frames work admirably, but the G42 sees more use due to shoot-ability and ease of reload. YMMV.

 

[LCC]

365 a bit shorter than the 43, weight about the same. Seeing good reviews on the 365 .380, which is considerably lighter than either.
Have pocket carried a G42, G42, and a 365....being long and lean, just too much gun for my pockets...so it's an LCP these days in an Alabama holster.

Here's some dims on the Glock43 vs 365

Glock G43 vs Sig Sauer P365 size comparison | Handgun Hero