Glock 42 vs. J Frame for pocket carry

[EMP3]

The Model 60 is an extremely easy gun to conceal; however, I've never carried it in pants pockets. I have carried it just about every way possible.

Were I going to buy a new self-defense handgun, I'd give a very, very long look at Performance Center 1911 3" 9MM.

I own an EMP 3 9MM that has replaced my Model 60 as my primary carry weapon that I don't carry ;-) I know. I'm complacent. Anyway, the EMP 3 is actually smaller albeit heavier than my Model 60. It holds twice as many rounds.

I'm very satisfied with my EMP. However, I ain't yet experienced a single problem with ANY S&W semi I've fired.

This is my opinion & only my opinion: I like vertical too much to trust that angle to a .380. I'm good with others who do. Self-defense is personal with individualistic parameters. What's right for me might be all wrong for another. Anyway, it's one reason I'd look long & hard at the PC 1911 3" 9MM.

 

[TomkinsSP]

I had several Glocks over the years. Got rid of them all. I would never pocket carry one. As we saw a few months back with the drunken, dancing, FBI agent. Too easy to touch off IMO.

I don't like Glocks, personal preferance, but, ALL guns are designed to FIRE WHEN THE TRIGGER IS PULLED.

 

[alwslate]

OP I weigh less than your 140 lbs and I carried a dehorned S&W mod 37
in the front pocket of my 31" waist Levis for several years. I never got
used to the bulk of the cyl and it always felt uncomfortable against my
thigh. I have a G42, G43 and a Ruger LCP and any of them are more
comfortable in my pocket than the 37 but the 43 does seem a bit
heavy sometimes. Most of the time these days I carry the LCP because
I don't really expect trouble where I go. But between the G42 or the 37
the G42 is an easy choice. The 37 is light and handy to have with me
at home but I doubt I will ever use it for CC in public again. I use a
cheap thin pocket holster and have zero fear about pocket carrying a
Glock.

 

[DonGlock26]

I prefer my G42 to my 442. I get two extra rounds in the pistol (6+1). The sights and trigger are better. The recoil is lower and I'm more accurate with it- especially in strong hand only rapid fire. The G42 is about an oz heavier but also thinner. Reloading is faster and the spare magazine is easy to carry.

I use Hornady XTP JHPs and a Uncle Mike's #4 pocket holster.

YouTube

Ammo Quest: Hornady Custom .380 ACP test in Taurus TCP 738 and ClearBallistics gelatin

 

[diyj98]

I sold my 42 because it was a big larger than I wanted. I find a Ruger LCP much easier to pocket carry for me than a j frame. In jeans, a J frame stands out like a big lump, but the flat LCP pretty much blends in.

 

[kthom]

It may be that this is so obvious that it's not worth mentioning, but I'll do it anyway! There are a lot of folks who say they pocket carry, but seldom do we who read that have a clue about the size and shape of those pockets or the same for that person! And that does make a big difference! As does the type of britches that are worn! Some jeans, for example, have a fairly large sized pocket that is maybe deeper and wider than others. Some jeans are relaxed fit and some fit more like my Wrangler jeans (pretty snug). It also makes a big difference who is wearing any of this stuff and whether or not they are a husky shape or a slim size.

Most of my life, the legs of my Wranglers were snug enough around my thighs that if I had a quarter in the pocket, you could see from the outside whether or not that coin was heads or tails in my pocket. If I had a pocket knife in my pockets, there was no question about it, and in time, my pocket would have the shape of that knife in a sort of white outline and you could see it even if no knife was present ... like the ring of a snuff can. Even today, when my Wranglers are not so tight on my old body, I don't do much pocket carrying in them. On the other hand, I have some Duluth cargo pants made of stretchy Firehose material in which I can carry a J Frame in a pocket holster just fine. And those pockets are deep enough so that the grip of the revolver is well below the opening of the pocket. Yeah, there is a lump there, and that lump will be more or less evident with any pocket carry at times.

Another issue is the shape of the bottom of the pocket, which will dictate what pocket holster fits the pocket best. On top of that, maybe you can carry in that pocket pretty well, but can you reach inside that pocket and get a grip on that gun to draw it in readiness to fire it without readjusting it in your hand?

None of these questions are normally addressed when we hear or read someone say they pocket carry regularly. I always wish I could see that person doing so in person! Some of my life involved a time when I had some excess flesh hanging out over my belt line, and that really complicated IWB holster carry ! Each of us has different requirements for anything that resembles comfortable carry of a firearm that also allows for anything like quick and safe acquisition of that firearm for serious social encounters! So what I can do or you can do does not mean that it's a good idea for others. We all have to try things to see if they work for us!

 

[Eagle1*]

I have had both and still have the j frames for all of my lite weather carry needs. I am very happy with the 38 round in the package of the j frame. I think the j frame lends itself very well for pocket carry, be it a coat or pants, cargo pocket. In the end it is going to be what fits your needs and it is hard for any of us to tell you how anything would work better or worse for you. I wish i could save you time and money but only way to see is try them out for yourself. Goodluck

 

[OLDSTER]

I wouldn't carry any Glock in my pocket ( unless with an empty chamber). I'm not ready to be a castrated soprano

I'll amend my post. I wouldn't carry any Glock in my pocket, with or without a holster. IMHO ( I own a 17 & 19), they are a wonderful tool for their intended purpose, but the Glock firing mechanism is not safe where it can be jiggled, joggled, bumped, or handled inside your pocket

 

[Chief Wiggums]

G42 vs J Frame
which gun provides the highest level of proficiency for you?
which gun provides the greatest amount of confidence for you?

there's your answer

 

[alwslate]

I'll amend my post. I wouldn't carry any Glock in my pocket, with or without a holster. IMHO ( I own a 17 & 19), they are a wonderful tool for their intended purpose, but the Glock firing mechanism is not safe where it can be jiggled, joggled, bumped, or handled inside your pocket

Are you sure about this? I remember when the G17 first was
offered for sale in the US and there was a lot of concern about
the safety of Glocks when bumped or dropped. One of the
things that Glock reps did to demonstrate the safety of the
firing mechanism if bumped or dropped was to toss loaded
Glocks onto concrete parking lots from helicopters to prove
they wouldn't fire accidentally. If you get"jiggled,joggled or
bumped" hard enough to fire your Glock in your pocket
you're hanging out in the wrong places.

 

[getoff]

i have personally owned both, and carried both in a pocket holster. my 442-1 wins for me. even though the 42 is slim, i found it more difficult to draw from the pocket. the rear of the slide would hang up inside my pokets. the rounded profile of any centennial j frame seems to work better for me. i have larger hands, and found the hogue g-10 grip is the best grip for me.

 

[hostler]

I can't imagine a scenario where a G!ock in a proper holster that completely covers the trigger guard, would fire by being bumped or jostled inside of a pocket.
Pocket carry has it's down sides but as far as safety goes, I consider it one of the safest forms of carry (if done following the basic safety rules, ie; holstered, no other items in that pocket).I
Drawing the handgun from the pocket is probably the least safe thing about pocket carry, but if you have to draw your gun in self defense you've got bigger issues going on. Other than that, the gun is holstered when you put it in the pocket, it's holstered while in the pocket and it's holstered when pulling it out of the pocket.

 

[Imissedagain]

Pockets are also available in jackets ..... and a Snub with an enclosed hammer is most likely to grant a second shot or more.
The HS D101 Derringer still has its use as a reliable double!
Try it.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I'll amend my post. I wouldn't carry any Glock in my pocket, with or without a holster. IMHO ( I own a 17 & 19), they are a wonderful tool for their intended purpose, but the Glock firing mechanism is not safe where it can be jiggled, joggled, bumped, or handled inside your pocket

You have a misunderstanding of the Glock firing mechanism . . .

 

[jimmyj]

I ccw a Glock M42 in a Desanta pocket holster (right front pocket) as a "Backup/Second gun". Takes up very little room or bulk. Sometimes depending on dress mode it is a "Primary". I practice facial and crotch shots up to 21 feet. At 50 feet all shots in the kill area of a B-27 target.
Flawless function if kept lub the first 100 rounds.
I use Perfecta .380 FMJ ammo

 

[swsig]

After shooting a friend's G19 accurately, I rented a Glock 42. I shot 50 rounds, and couldn't shoot it accurately, no matter what I tried, even at 10 yards. (And I never shoot at less than 15 yards.) I've rented lots of pistols, and the 42 was the only one that I couldn't improve with as I shot. Thus, my suggestion for you is to find a SIG P250 subcompact in .380. I own one of those, and it has many advantages over the 42. It is only slightly larger than the 42, but it carries 12+1 rounds. It is way more accurate, and it has a super-smooth double action only trigger. That should make for a much easier and safer transition from your J-frame. The only downside is that SIG has stopped making them, but I'm sure that there are a few new ones or some good used ones out there to be found. Good Luck!

 

[alwslate]

42 inaccurate? What is acceptable accuracy? A few groups at a bit more
than seven yards sitting in a lawn chair resting the gun on my knee.

 

[slabside2]

Been there done that went back to the J frame.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've pocket-carried J-frames for twenty years. I would never consider carrying one of them, much less any striker-fired autoloader, in a pocket without a holster.

Having said that, however, I use the holster to hold the DAO revolver positioned for the draw and to keep pocket lint and crud away from the trigger. It also helps break up the outline of the gun. I don't worry at all about an accidental or negligent discharge on the draw because of the heavier trigger pull. Firing a DAO J-frame requires a definite decision, which is how I like it.

As to concealability, I don't think anyone but cops and bad guys pays attention to what I have in my front pocket. I don't worry about the LEO's, and noticing it might have a salutary effect on a bad guy. I've never, thank God, had to draw my gun; but on three occasions, casually sliding my hand into the right front pocket has caused someone to make a decision to be elsewhere pretty soon.

I'll stick with my J-frame EDC in a good pocket holster, usually a DeSantis Nemesis.

 

[Frogwalking]

I have a J-frame airweight that I thought would be too bulky for pocket carry (as compared to a Colt pocketlite 380, and a Double Tap 9mm.deringer. The J-frame's rounded, "organic" shape make it less noticeable considering my skinny build.