Why not just Build the G25/28

[Life During Wartime]

So, when Glock teased the G42 I was excited because I was hoping for it to be a .380 which it turned out to be. Good news for me, because I always liked the "Law Enforcement Only" Non-importable .380 G25 and G28. But now, it's like....why would they do another designation for something theyve alreday had? Now that they have a factory on US soil, they dont have to import the G25 or G28 to sell it so.... what the heck glock

 

[RX-79G]

Because the new one is a single stack and much slimmer than either the 25 or 28?

 

[horsemen61]

Yep the 42 is something the 25/28 will never be SLIM

 

[Life During Wartime]

Ahh THat's right I forgot
Still, I imagine the double stack would sell better
I'm ecited for the g42 but the capacity to price ratio is terrible

 

[MagnumDweeb]

^^^ This. Plus it's probably a ramp up to the 9mm model that will come out next year. The market for a Glock 380 is substantial and I think Glock would be a fool to completely ignore it so this is there entrance into the market. I expect Springfield to join in on the fun with an XDs model in .380 eventually as well. Kahr, Taurus and Ruger have been owning the market for awhile on the .380 showing it can be a successful market to enter. Now Glock is getting their piece of the pie and I won't lie. In a couple of years I might get one for myself as well but I'd like to hold out for a 9mm version if it gets done.

 

[F-111 John]

I don't know about the G25, but I'm sure there's a market for the G28, which is the G26 sized subcompact (according to Glock's terminology.)

They would have to change the G28 to a locked-breach design instead of it's current blowback design if they want to make it softer shooting, however.

 

[Rinspeed]

Why anyone would want a .380 is beyond me. I have three of them and all were given to me.

 

[JDR]

I read the Guns & Ammo article on this new G-42; pretty slick marketing strategy to sit back & let Kahr, Taurus and Ruger develop the market for a pocket .380 semiauto, then jump in & potentially take over that market niche!

 

[USAF_Vet]

Why anyone would want a .380 is beyond me. I have three of them and all were given to me.

This. With the availability of well priced, reliable (for the most part), slim, single stack 9mm, .40S&W and .45ACP pistols on the market, why anyone would "downgrade" to the .380 is beyond me. Unless you are set up and well stocked to reload for .380, I just don't see the appeal.

 

[JRH6856]

This. With the availability of well priced, reliable (for the most part), slim, single stack 9mm, .40S&W and .45ACP pistols on the market, why anyone would "downgrade" to the .380 is beyond me. Unless you are set up and well stocked to reload for .380, I just don't see the appeal.

You aren't the target market. For every one with your criteria, thera are probably 10 who are afraid of having "too much gun" and their criteria is:

It's small, it's cute,
It's easy to shoot,
And now they can say,
"It's a Glock", to boot.

 

[el Godfather]

Whats next 10mm Gap?

 

[C0untZer0]

^

 

[C0untZer0]

They would have to change the G28 to a locked-breach design instead of it's current blowback design if they want to make it softer shooting, however.

All that is required is to make a regular barrel with the regular barrel hood. They're blowback now because the locking surface is milled off of the barrel hood.

I guess a high-cap double stack 380 the size of a 9mm might fill a need for some people... IMO though, the enthusiasm for a gun like that would mostly be coming from people who love to have all sorts of different Glocks.

 

[wally]

I read the Guns & Ammo article on this new G-42; pretty slick marketing strategy to sit back & let Kahr, Taurus and Ruger develop the market for a pocket .380 semiauto, then jump in & potentially take over that market niche!

I'd wager its a mighty small niche of folks who'd be all over a .380ACP in a package as large as many 9mm & .40S&W offerings!

Only way I'd be interested in one is if it was super easy to rack the slide so my wife wouldn't fret over breaking a nail when doing it -- now she has the Beretta 85 with the tip-up barrel, which is huge for a .380 pistol.

IMO though, the enthusiasm for a gun like that would mostly be coming from people who love to have all sorts of different Glocks.

^^ +1

 

[JRH6856]

I'd wager its a mighty small niche of folks who'd be all over a .380ACP in a package as large as many 9mm & .40S&W offerings!

Glock is apparently wagering the opposite...and actually has money on the table. There are probably a lot more people in the market for a .380 than there are on gun boards.

 

[dogtown tom]

JRH6856 You aren't the target market. For every one with your criteria, thera are probably 10 who are afraid of having "too much gun" and their criteria is:

It's small, it's cute, Same size as the 9mm Glock
It's easy to shoot, Blowback, meaning recoil is same or worse than the 9mm Glock.
And now they can say,
"It's a Glock", to boot. Meh

Add in the increased cost of .380 ammunition there are ZERO reasons for Glock to manufacture the G25 or G28 for the US market.

 

[JRH6856]

dogtown tom, I agree with all of your objections. But we are talking about a market which means marketing. And a little jingle like I wrote appeals to what a lot of folks that do not read these boards think they are looking for. Is it true? Not any more than "Glock Perfection", but it sells.

 

[Quiet]

The majority of initial reviews of the Glock 42 from the Shot Show media day is saying that it is accurate with mild felt-recoil (less recoil than expected).

We have had a lot of requests for it over the years, so we wanted to meet that demand. On the other side, Glock looks at product development on a global scale. Outside of the U.S. there are very few places you can actually own a 9mm because it’s … military and considered weapons-grade, so .380 is really a global pistol for multiple markets.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Outside the US, you can own the G25/28. That SHOT quote isn't exactly changing my mind, sounds like the folks at Glock almost don't consider .380 to be "weapons grade". LOL

 

[JRH6856]

That SHOT quote isn't exactly changing my mind, sounds like the folks at Glock almost don't consider .380 to be "weapons grade".

Probably not Glock so much as various governments outside of the US. When first released, the .38 Super became very popular in Mexico because civilians were not allowed to have military calibers like 9mm and .45ACP. That is also why the .380 has always been popular in Europe.

 

[guyfromohio]

I'll have a 42. If I had one gun, it wouldn't be a .380. But I don't have just one gun, and I love .380s. I can't explain the attraction, but it's there.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I was interested and supportive of Glock when it was announced but really didn't wanna add .380 to the list of calibers we currently have. I have had .380 in the past and find it to be what it is - 9mm short. In it's more potent loadings it is just a dialed down 9mm.

Then my Wife and I started trying to find our CCW Soul Mate pistols and guess what? She loves our Glock 26 but it's *just* that much too big and too snappy for her. Me? I love it and will carry it but she needs more options.

Bingo with the G42 - it's a Glock, it's the same size as a G26 but thinner/lighter and the performance of the .380 is about perfect. And in discussing it with her Girl Friends who have been handling our guns and looking for carry guns of their own (including some men/their husbands who are not accomplished handgunners) they are hot for the G42 as well. It fits in a perfect little niche' that I'm betting will appeal to thousands of less experienced/new potential CCW proponents.

I know it's not a single stack Glock 9mm but it's actaully probably better for the majority of new potential CCW folks who want Glock but can't handle 9mm...and there are an awful lot of those in my area alone.

VooDoo

 

[goon]

I've never shot a Glock smaller than a Glock 19 or 23, but I know that some small 9mm's have recoil ranging from kind of snappy to downright painful.
I wonder if those who don't like that kind of recoil wouldn't be better served with a concealable .380 that's soft shooting enough to practice a lot with.