NRA Gun of the Week: Glock G42 Pistol

by
posted on September 16, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

The G42 weighs in just under 14 ozs. and boxes 5.94”x4.13”, making it the smallest pistol brought to market by Glock, and quite a departure from its original G17, among others. This particular Glock iteration combines the company’s recoil-operated, safe-action system with enhanced night sights (base model ships with standard Glock sights) to make for a positive addition to the EDC kit. We found the G42 to live up to company’s reputation for reliability and found time on the range with the small, pocket pistol to be quite enjoyable.

To learn more about other features included on the Glock G42, check out our video hosted by Associate Editor Kelly Young, and be sure to visit us.glock.com

Specifications:
Model: G42
Manufacturer: Glock, Inc.
Chambering: .380 ACP
Action Type: recoil-operated, double-action only, striker-fire, center-fire semi-automatic pistol
Frame: polymer
Slide: steel, nitrate finish
Barrel: 3.25”
Sights: three-dot tritium night sights
Magazine: six-round-capacity detachable box
Trigger6-lb., 10-oz. pull
Weight: 13.8 ozs.
MSRP: $480

Additional Reading:

Glock G42 .380 ACP Pocket Pistol

Latest

AR on table with target
AR on table with target

Skills Check: Rifle Standard Delta 2

Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.

Gun Sales Up for the 7th Month in a Row in 2026

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) estimate of last month’s gun sales was up 2.2 percent compared to August 2025.

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Lighter & Better: Savage’s Updated Ultralite Series of Rifles

Savage Arms kicked off 2026 by announcing a new generation of Model 110 bolt-action rifles, and now, the company has also introduced an updated series of Ultralite rifles.

Gun of the Week: Franchi Momentum Elite MULE

One of the latest entrants into the general-utility rifle market is Franchi with its Momentum Utility Lite Elite bolt-action rifle, also known as the MULE.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 11, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.