Question on Glock 42

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Saddlebag Preacher

Saddlebag Preacher

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My wife just turned 56 and uses a walker and has some arthritis in her hands. I've carried and shot firearms all my life both professionally and for enjoyment like hunting or competition. For the last couple of months I have been training her to shoot so she can get her CCDW permit, which she passed. I bought her a Taurus TCP (pink of course) for Valentines day a couple of years ago to keep beside her in her recliner when I'm gone. She can shoot it fine for living room distance, but of course there are no sights to speak of, I just taught her to point and shoot with it. I have to load it for her also because the slide is small and a little stiff.

I trained her for her permit on my S&W .22 compact. Even with her arthritis she can break it down, clean it, reassemble it and reload the mags. She is really pretty good with it and she wants to shoot with me now. She qualified with it.

Now that I want her to have a handgun with her as often as possible, I want her to have something she can articulate better than the Taurus when out of the house. My Shield's recoil hurts her hands, so 9mm is out, but it's funny, she can shoot the Taurus .380, just not pull the slide back to load very well or clear a jam.

I really don't want her use a .22 or .22 magnum unless that is all my options, so I'm looking at the Glock 42. If you have one, is the slide fairly easy to manipulate? No gun stores around here has one and I'd have to order one, so it's almost a buy before I try situation. I have a glock 23 that she can pull the trigger on easily, but she struggles a with manipulating the slide, and of course the .40 is too painful. Any info will help, Thanks.
 
I bought a G42 for my wife. She's 68 yrs old and weighs about as much as a paper clip. She really has very little strength in her hands. She has a tough time with the slide. She shoots it ok, the trigger is about 10lbs, but it's a clean break. I've shot it at 50'. Shoots really well and the sights are like full size Glock sights which is great for both of us.
I'm sure you know, most small guns have pretty tight recoil springs. It seems hard to get away from that fact.
I had her shooting some cheap Tula ammo. That stuff seems pretty hot for target ammo, but she {my wife} handled it ok. Bought some Remington which seems a little softer on recoil. Hell, I tested some Hornady XTP ammo and I swear it has less recoil than the Tula.

She likes the gun, but still is more comfortable with her S&W M60-8 J-frame..
 
My wife is much younger, but she had this problem too and we used Glock 42 for her. One thing that may help is Tango Down/Vickers "Tactical Racker". It makes a lot of difference for the ease of racking. Unlike universal rackers it stays attached to the gun, so she can't get in a situation where it's not available. I also bought her the standard UpLula. The small Lula that is supposed to be used with .380 only works with narrow magazines, such as SiG P328. Standard one works great on Glock 42 magazines.
 
My wife is 62. Quite proficient with a 38 revolver.
She has tried all my autos and the only one she liked and could rack was a Bersa thunder 380. She hated the trigger on the Glock.
 
Thanks, I have tried a couple of revolvers with her, but the DA pull was hard for her. I'm trying to find a dealer with a 42 in stock, but may try some other brands. She can use the .22 compact until then, but I'd prefer at least a .380.
 
Saddlebag Preacher said:
but I'd prefer at least a .380.
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Dont really matter what you prefer, unless your just wanting to buy yourself another gun.. If she don't care for it, it wont get carried nor used. you will just get yourself another gun for your collection

If 22 is all she can handle. Its a hell of a lot better than a stick.
 
As much as I like the G42, and as east to shoot as the gun is, I wouldn’t say the slide is easy to operate.

If racking the slide is a deal breaker, you might want to have her look at the Sig 238. Easy two finger slide rack for me.
 
The gun is loaded with your assistance at home and carried. If a reload is needed or a jam happens are the real problem. Perhaps the answer is a second gun.
 
The Glock 42 has a fairly stiff slide for a gun of its size. A gun of comparable (but slightly smaller) size that has a much easier slide to operate is the Sig P238. It has very little recoil as well. Other than that you may look at a revolver in .327 federal magnum. In the full size category the Beretta 92FS has one of the easiest slides to pull, especially the ones that are well broken in.
 
As a general rule the smaller the pistol the stiffer the recoil spring. You might try looking for a Beretta 86 which has a tip up barrel so you don't rack the slide.
 
I'm 81 and I have both the Glock 42 and the Sig P238. I also have some loss of hand strength so racking can be a problem for me. The Glock has about 400 rds. through it and the Sig about 200 rds. I have Pearce +1 extensions on the Glock magazines and the Sig has the extended 7 rd. magazines. I have added Talon rubber textured grip material on the grip of the Glock 42 and I also added a couple of small strips of the grip material to the rear of the slide of the Glock. My Glock 42 is as about easy to rack as the Sig P238. Actually, it may be a little easier for me with the grip material on the slide and the fact that it is a little larger.

My Glock has the 5.5 lb. O.E.M. trigger connector. The trigger pull for both the Glock and the Sig is about 5.5 lbs. I did polish the Glock trigger bar, etc. with just cue tips and metal polish. After a 200 rds. or so the Glock trigger smoothed out and I have no complaints with the Glock trigger.

In my opinion and for the $ 200-300 difference, I would recommend the Glock 42. It is also simple to operate, very safe, easy to maintain, etc. However, if possible have your wife hold several that you may be considering, rack them, etc. And shoot them if she can.

Final thought, I also have a Model 36 S & W .38 special which has been tuned by a gunsmith. It has a long hard trigger pull and I don't even like to shoot it, so I would avoid a revolver for your wife.
 
Well normally I pack a Glock 26, and for ultra concealment I have a 43. But yes I have a 42 also!

It is very accurate and I use it with 'Hot Jocks' to wear while walking in the parks. I look totally unarmed yet I can draw it quite fast.

Deaf
 
My wife is a small woman also with trouble racking a stiff slide. I've accumulated a few for her to try.

The easiest-to-rack slide is the Walther PK380. I'll need to run at least a couple hundred rounds through the one I just got to verify reliability. She hasn't tried this one yet, but her favorite range gun is the Walther P22.

Next easiest is the SIG P238. A much higher quality handgun. She has tried this one at the range and it's currently one of her favorite two .380's.

For both these first two, one can cock the external hammer before racking the slide, & that makes it easier. You'd have to be comfortable with either one's manual of arms, though.

And her other current favorite is the G42. It is more difficult to rack than the first two, but the ergonomics of it suit her better. It has less felt recoil for her.

An also ran was the Remington RM380. It's easier to eack than the Ruger LCP or Kel Tec P3AT, but it didn't fit her hand well.

One that I've never handled but that has some YouTube reviews that mention it being easy to rack is the EAA Tanfoglio Pavona in .380. It a larger gun with a double stack capacity (13 rounds I think); it'd be good for a house gun but would be tricky for on-the-body carry for a typically dressed smaller woman.

Some that didn't work at all: LCP, P3AT, Walther PPK/S, commercial Makarov in .380, CZ83.

Hope this helps. It's been one of my quests to help my wife find the "perfect" handgun, too.
 
Ruger makes a LC380 that has the easiest to rack slide I have ever handled. It is the same size as their LC9 just in 380 other than 9mm.
 
Manuplitating the slides of my G42 and three P 238 finds the Sig a much easier firearm to put into operation, The Sig demands a holster (as all CC pistols should be) due to cocked and locked design and should not rattle around in a purse without one. Of the two pistols the P 238 is easier on recoil, smaller and without weighing then i believe lighter, The Kimber Micro is even easier than the Sig and shoots as smooth.
I to have arthiritis in my hands and a general loss of strength in them, my Remington R51 has a rear sight designed to aid in working the slide os a hard surface like the edge of a table. Reassembly of that pistol is a real Challenge for those arthritic hands,
 
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Ruger makes a LC380 that has the easiest to rack slide I have ever handled. It is the same size as their LC9 just in 380 other than 9mm.
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Bingo. This is why Ruger made the LC380. It's an LC9, except chambered in .380 for easier slide manipulation and lower recoil.
 
Kahr also has a +1 version like Ruger's LC380, it's called CT380. Very nice if you prefer a pinkie grip, 7 rounds. But unlike Ruger, Kahr also made its barrel longer than on CW380. So it's more like Glock 42, although a bit shorter still. It is as slim as CW380, so it's almost like Pico, minus the stupid Kahr slide release lever sticking out like a sore thumb.
 
Thanks zaitcev, I'll look at that also. Everyone around here is out of the LC380, but it'll look at both. If I can find a shop with the Glock, Ruger and Kahr for her to try it would make it a lot easier. But we'll find her something.
 
Saddlebag Preacher said:
I trained her for her permit on my S&W .22 compact. Even with her arthritis she can break it down, clean it, reassemble it and reload the mags. She is really pretty good with it and she wants to shoot with me now. She qualified with it.



I really don't want her use a .22 or .22 magnum unless that is all my options...
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So in your mind, the one handgun you know she CAN use, isn't even an OPTION, for no other reason than because it's a .22?

You'd really rather she carry a handgun she might NOT be able to use, just because it's something OTHER than a .22?

Not logical at all. And not smart. Put your ego aside.
 
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jrmiddleton425- There is no ego involved and you're not taking the High Road here, being accusatory when you don't know our situation. I stated plainly, she is handicapped and has never really shot guns, contrary to me who was raised and used them for 40 years. I stated in my OP that she HAS a Taurus TCP380 for her recliner, but she cannot manipulate the slide because of her hands. She CAN manipulate the slide on the S&W .22 Compact because the recoil spring is lighter. I was asking for those who has 380's what their experience was in difficulty in slide manipulation of a G42 I wanted to look at one but wasn't available nearby.

She has become a good shot with the .22 and she CAN handle the recoil of her .380 only it is TOO small for her hand strength. She understands that if she can, she would prefer something a little larger than the .22 round, but .32 autos on the market are also so small for her fingers to grasp. So we are thinking of a .380.

Thank all of you who have given some good advice. We are going to take a trip to KY Gun Company and try some different handguns, they have a range there. Probably looking at the Riger LC380 if she does good with it because of the price, but if not, then we will try some others.
 
Another possibility is the Walther CCP which can be had for around 400.00 or less. It has a SoftCoil Technology gas port which allows for a lighter recoil spring. I was close to buying one but the lgs would not budge on the price which was well above what I could buy it for online. I did notice that the racking of the slide was noticeably easier than other 9mm guns of this size. On a side note my wife who has RA in her hands also was quite capable of racking the slide. I still have not bought one or fired one so I can not attest to the recoil.

You can read about it here....
http://www.waltherarms.com/handguns/ccp/#

and I found it online here....
http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperst...080300/walther-ccp-9mm-concealed-carry-pistol.

Good luck with the search.
 
I am 84 years old and have arthritis also.
I have a P238, (2) G42's, TCP, Bersa Thunder and I also have the Tanfoglio Panova.

I baught the Panova because I wanted a hi-cap 380. The magazine that came with the Panova holds 14 rounds, but the other mags l purchased for it hold13 rounds. The Panova is specifically designed for women which works out well for me because I have small hands and it fits me just fine. The Panova is a CZ clone with a low bore axis and can be carried cocked and locked or in single action mode with the safety on exactly like a CZ.

Tanfoglio says they have tuned the trigger for the ladies and yes it is probably the best trigger (in single action) of any of my 380 pistols and accuracy is outstanding at ten yards and it is vertually a tack driver at that distance.



Now the cons. The Panova has a very low slide because of the CZ style rails, though it is pretty easy rack if you can get a grip. Loading the magazine is not easy.

Also the Panova is a blowback action but felt recoil is not bad because of the bore axis and weight of the pistol.

With all that said my carry of choice is my G42 because of it's simple operation, reliability and size.
 
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