S&W J frame vs. Glock 42

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Markmontana

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First, I want to say I love J frame Smiths. I've got a no dash M60, a no dash M37, a M442 PC, and I just picked up the new M640 PC Black. I'm looking for a M649 and that will be my next purchase. But, I also have a Glock 42 in .380 which I like. When it comes time to select one of these for CC I'm conflicted. As far as effectiveness of .38 special and .380acp I personally think it's a toss up with appropriate loads. I like the feel of both guns in my hand and, to be honest, I shoot the G42 slightly better. Also, I find it easier to conceal the flat Glock than the Smiths. The Smith hold 5 rounds and with my flat plate magazine the Glock is 7+1. With all that said, the Smiths get equal time in my summer carry rotation. But, sometimes wonder if I'm
"undergunned". I tend to opt for the Smiths in suburban low threat environments and opt for Glock when I go into the city.

What do you guys think of this?
 
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the small increase from 5 rounds of .38 to 8 rounds of 380 aren't enough to make me switch from the revolver. Even though it's shooting from a reliable Glock, I have had a lot of trouble with 380 reliably cycling pistols (others may have other experience).

Going to Glock 26 or SIG P365 would be, to me, reasonable. Those 9mm guns are very reliable and give you even more capacity.
 
Carry whatever you shoot well and are comfortable with. Personally, I reserve J frames & .380's to back-up rolls. And the last thing I want to do in a gun fight is reload. But these are my choices that I live by, and I can't tell anyone what's right for them.
 
What can you use to make the fastest 1-3 hits, accurately, controllably and under difficult conditions? 1 and 2-handed? Strong and off-handed? Regardless of light conditions? Which one is the most easily grasped, securely (not having to shift your fingers between shots), when your hand is scrabbling for the grip to draw and present? Whether dry or damp?

If it's your life at stake, or that of a loved one, does either offer any advantage to you?
 
My situation is similar. Typically the 42 gets carried appendix style in a slim kydex, when it's hot or I'm otherwise in shorts. It's easier to carry the J frame in long pants, or even better in a jacket pocket. Sometimes I carry both in the winter. A J frame in a jacket pocket doesn't necessarily have to be drawn in order to fire...surprise, surprise to the offender.
 
Very interesting topic as I have both G42 and J frames from Smith/Taurus. While I like and shoot both well, I moved to a Sig P938 with the factory Hogue grip. Let me tell you, for such a small 9mm, it is extremely accurate and very manageable to shoot consistently! I've contemplated letting a couple of the J frames or the G42 go to purchase a second 938. :)

20250312_161626.jpg
 
I have a 442 and 42. Because of five decades of carrying Air Weights i feel more comfortable with a J frame. Less chance of an accident.

I've never been at peace with a striker fired weapon. However I trust the G42 to fire the ammo I carry and I'm competent with it.

But still, when it comes down to safety and reliability I think the J frame wins. I may replace the 442 for a 340 PD. In old age weight comes into play too.
 
Only you know what's best in your current environment and the way you dress.

Do to the crazy environment I live in, I sold off my J frames and 380 mouse guns.

I pocket carry a Glock 43 during warm weather and a Glock 48 in cooler weather. Always an extra mag.

In my opinion, I have gained a more effective caliber and lost nothing in return.
 
65-2x2 said:
I am exactly the opposite. I have been carrying the same gun in the same (or same replacement) holster for 30 years. I have tried to stray, but I keep coming back.
Click to expand...
Thanks. But as the late Paul Harvey would say…..here is the rest of the story.
Tell us about your gun and holster. Sounds like a long-term relationship some could learn something from
 
Markmontana said:
First, I want to say I love J frame Smiths. I've got a no dash M60, a no dash M37, a M442 PC, and I just picked up the new M640 PC Black. I'm looking for a M649 and that will be my next purchase. But, I also have a Glock 42 in .380 which I like. When it comes time to select one of these for CC I'm conflicted. As far as effectiveness of .38 special and .380acp I personally think it's a toss up with appropriate loads. I like the feel of both guns in my hand and, to be honest, I shoot the G42 slightly better. Also, I find it easier to conceal the flat Glock than the Smiths. The Smith hold 5 rounds and with my flat plate magazine the Glock is 7+1. With all that said, the Smiths get equal time in my summer carry rotation. But, sometimes wonder if I'm
"undergunned". I tend to opt for the Smiths in suburban low threat environments and opt for Glock when I go into the city.

What do you guys think of this?
Click to expand...
I think most of this persuasion will employ the carry rotation practice.
I have a Bodyguard Airweight Model 38, which conceals and shoots very well, although I never tried to practice with it at 25 yards like Rock Quarry does, whoa.
I also have a Glock 42 which I really like.
Add to that a Colt Mustang 1st Gen from 1986 still in beautiful condition.
I like 'em all. No way to decide.
Let me know what you finally decide, but I like your urban/suburban idea. Makes sense to me.
Kind and Best to You!
BrianD
 
I've carried both (although a model 42 rather than a 640) and both have advantages and disadvantages. If you have a holster for the G42 that works for you, then go ahead and carry it. One disadvantage I find with the G42 is the mag release can be inadvertantly depressed just enough the mag is not seated. The others are all well known and I dont think I need to type here.

As far as city vs. suburb, I don't think it makes much difference. There could be multiple attackers anywhere. One could argue in the city - depending on where you are - you could be in very crowded space with no room. Then revolver has the advantage. It all comes down to the scenarios you think are possible and more probable weighed against the risk inhernt with each type of carry.
 
I'm a great fan of the .380 for certain applications but this is one of the first times I've encountered someone calling the standard .380 a 'toss up' next to the .38 Special - without even going into the extremes the .38 Special can be pushed to with little effort and total safety in a plus-P rated revolver.

This is an apples to oranges comparison - a .380 is for one thing, a .38 Special another, and their overlap is for my view - at least given what I load/carry - very slight at best. The older argument of a 9mm Luger being an approx equal of the .38 Special I feel much more comfortable with after decades spent with both. A .380 is...simply a different class of cartridge.
 
This is an interesting dialog. I like my revolvers, but with the current socio-economic climate and the reality that I am disabled and unable to run, any conflict that I may find myself in will require that I make a stand. My comments are influenced by my experience in the Sig Academy's shoot house last year.

I can shoot all of my handguns relatively proficiently either strong hand or weak hand. I do have a damaged weak arm, so I don't want to have to do a reload in close proximity to a threat, so that pretty much negates a revolver. At this point in time, I'd rather have 10 rounds immediately available with a reload. As much as I enjoy my G42 and G43, they would be my last semi-auto resort. My priority would be a:
P365 loaded with Hornady Critical Defense,
P365-380 loaded with the Lehigh Defense 68gr Extreme Defense bullet,
G26, again loaded with Hornady Critical Defense,
Glock 30 if I have to enter an active hot zone in order to rescue my children.

I find that if I have to do a one-handed reload, I can do it faster and easier with a semi-auto than a revolver.
 
I avoided your quandary by buying the G43 instead of the 42. With a +1 magazine extension, I have 8 9mm's onboard vs. 5 .38's, in a pretty-much-the-same-size package, and never feel compromised...
 
I've carried the same 442 IWB for 33 years! I would over the years carry a few different 640's iwb and when the 42 came out and was approved for carry that was in the rotation. You can't go wrong with either. Better to have and not need , Then to need and not have.
 
Markmontana said:
First, I want to say I love J frame Smiths. I've got a no dash M60, a no dash M37, a M442 PC, and I just picked up the new M640 PC Black. I'm looking for a M649 and that will be my next purchase. But, I also have a Glock 42 in .380 which I like. When it comes time to select one of these for CC I'm conflicted. As far as effectiveness of .38 special and .380acp I personally think it's a toss up with appropriate loads. I like the feel of both guns in my hand and, to be honest, I shoot the G42 slightly better. Also, I find it easier to conceal the flat Glock than the Smiths. The Smith hold 5 rounds and with my flat plate magazine the Glock is 7+1. With all that said, the Smiths get equal time in my summer carry rotation. But, sometimes wonder if I'm
"undergunned". I tend to opt for the Smiths in suburban low threat environments and opt for Glock when I go into the city.

What do you guys think of this?
Click to expand...
I think you need one of these.

smith Wesson 38 Apr 18 2025 a.jpg
 
I can definitely relate to this thread, as I routinely pocket carry a Smith Airweight, but occasionally tote a G48 ( in a Fobus paddle holster).
I've hauled around various other pistols, but I can never seem to shake myself loose of my trusty Airweight for very long.
I can comfortably carry in everything from baggy gym shorts, to blue jeans, to dress pants, and even in a small handlebar pouch on my bicycle.
I realize I could find myself in a situation involving multiple assailants, and be wishing I had a Glock 17 and a spare 33rd mag, but given my habits and AO, it's pretty unlikely.
I belive a great many threats can be sidestepped by good situational awareness, and avoiding higher risk environments, and after that, I'm also a big believer in the deterent-factor. ( even the stupidest criminals don't WANT to get shot.....and i don't WANT to actually shoot anybody!)
When traveling, or in sketchier areas, I'll pack "more gun", but for 99.9% of REALISTIC scenarios, I'm comfortable and confident in the safety and reliability of a quality revolver, and the effectiveness of 5 Gold Dots.
Yes, you can put that on my headstone! ;)
 
There's the AIRWEIGHT .38SPL

FullSizeRender 186.jpeg
S&W Model 642, stainless steel barrel and cylinder with aluminum frame.


Then, there's the AirLight .38SPL:

IMG_4732.jpeg
S&W Model 342 (Discontinued), Titanium cylinder and Scandium aluminum frame. And yes, I did plug its silly lock hole, replace its thumb piece, and install an XS Big Dot Gen.2 Yellow Tritium front sight.

But, here's the lightweight, convenient carrying sized, outstanding 9mm pistol, which is only rarely mentioned:

IMG_2234.jpeg
Kahr P9, stainless steel barrel and slide (blackened) with polymer frame.

I have since installed XS Big Dot Gen.2 Yellow Tritium sights:

IMG_7103.jpeg

Kahr makes the even smaller PM9, which I found just too small for me to hold well enough to shoot with the precision I demand of myself. But, as a semi-auto GET OFF ME Gun, it would be hard to beat, though a 2" Centennial J-Frame would be more reliable in a hard contact wrestling defensive fight for your life.
 
Last edited:
Markmontana said:
First, I want to say I love J frame Smiths. I've got a no dash M60, a no dash M37, a M442 PC, and I just picked up the new M640 PC Black. I'm looking for a M649 and that will be my next purchase. But, I also have a Glock 42 in .380 which I like. When it comes time to select one of these for CC I'm conflicted. As far as effectiveness of .38 special and .380acp I personally think it's a toss up with appropriate loads. I like the feel of both guns in my hand and, to be honest, I shoot the G42 slightly better. Also, I find it easier to conceal the flat Glock than the Smiths. The Smith hold 5 rounds and with my flat plate magazine the Glock is 7+1. With all that said, the Smiths get equal time in my summer carry rotation. But, sometimes wonder if I'm
"undergunned". I tend to opt for the Smiths in suburban low threat environments and opt for Glock when I go into the city.

What do you guys think of this?
Click to expand...
Since you ask I think you should carry what you are most comfortable with comfort wise and mentally.
 
I've had a Glock 42 and I had a 642, I also have a Ruger LCP. For me the 42 is too big to be a pocket pistol at least for me personally, the 642 concealed much better. The LCP is truly a pocket pistol and I personally don't find it much harder to shoot than the 42.

As for caliber I trust the 38 over 380 any day. There are no 380 hollowpoints that I trust 100% and I want more than the 12 inch minimum of penetration. All of the 380 hollowpoints that hit 12 do it in clear gel, clear gel isn't the same as true 10% calibrated gelatin. I've seen some highly touted 38 special hollowpoints (looking at you Critical Defense) that hit 12-13 in clear gel only do 8-10 in the real stuff. For me 380 has to be in a tiny pocket pistol, only carried as a back up or when carrying something bigger just isn't possible and it has to be loaded with fmj or some type of solid. I haven't seen Erich around for a while but he coined the phrase, shot placement is king penetration is queen everything else is angels dancing on the head of a pin. Even with 38 special there are only a few hollowpoints I trust and all are +p loads. The Federal version of the FBI Load, and the Winchester and Remington 125 grain SJHP, all 3 prioritize penetration over expansion. If I can't find one of my preferred loads the 38 gets solids as well.

.38 Snubby Ammo – RevolverGuy.Com

revolverguy.com revolverguy.com
 
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