Finding the right gun for you is very important. We all have different wants and needs, sometimes we are looking for size and power. Other times we are looking for the smallest, most subtle, gun available.
We still want power and quality, but we are still looking for the smallest model possible Glock is perfect for this.
So, what is the smallest Glock available? That would be the Glock 42. The Glock 42 is a very effective compact pistol, it has all the stopping power and range that you could need, all fit inside a snug little frame. It’s a subcompact model using.380 Auto ammunition. It weighs just 345g unloaded (450g fully loaded) and carries 6 rounds. It has a 3.25-inch barrel length.
This article will cover the benefits of a smaller pistol and why you might want to use one, as well as a closer look at the Glock 42 itself and some other compact Glock models.
Just in case the 42 isn’t quite what you were looking for.
Why Do You Want A Small Pistol?
Thinking about why you want a small pistol can often be a good first step towards finding the right one for you. If you aren’t even sure why you might want a small pistol, here are a few good reasons for you to consider.
First of all, comfort. Some people just have smaller hands, usually women, but it could be men too. Or young adults. Having a smaller pistol means you can hold your gun comfortably, but more importantly it means that you can fire your gun accurately.
A gun that’s too big for your hand is at risk of being dropped, or at the very least simply missing your mark more times than you hit it. The wrong size gun is like having the wrong sized shoes. It’s painful and it makes you clumsy.
Someone who is looking to concealed carry will probably want the smallest pistol properly. Otherwise, it’s petty hard to conceal it. The point of a concealed carry is that people don’t know you have it. It’s no good strapping a huge Desert Eagle to your chest or hip and hoping no one notices it.
You want a small, compact, pistol like the Glock 42.
A pistol that gets the job done but is subtle, nonetheless. Most subtle gun belts simply won’t accommodate bigger pistols, as it defeats the whole purpose. Concealed carry guns are kind of a tricky topic because, on one hand, you want a powerful gun, but not a big gun.
If you are openly carrying the gun is a deterrent, you probably won’t have to use it. If you are concealed carrying there is no deterrent, no one knows you have a gun, so you better carry one that packs a punch when you do use it.
Who Uses A Small Pistol?
Since we have established that a lot of the people who tend to use a smaller pistol are concealed carrying, we can look at some particular jobs in particular that make use of smaller pistols.
Nowadays, very few people rely on concealed carry pistols. Private security is one example that you might expect, for clubs, for rich executives, politicians, etc. But it hasn’t always been this way, there was a time when a huge amount of people were concealed carrying.
Back in the 50s-60s the laws regarding concealed carrying, and open carrying, weapons became a lot stricter. People didn’t want to give up their guns so they relied upon what is referred to as a pocket pistol.
A pocket pistol is a compact semi-automatic pistol that can fit securely and discreetly into your pocket.
Pocket pistols remained popular for decades. Not just with criminals and crooks, but everyday citizens. It was important to protect yourself when everyone else is carrying a pocket pistol you don’t want to be the person who isn’t.
These pocket pistols came in a variety of calibers, the most popular were the .22, .25, .32, and the. 380. Since you often sacrifice capacity when you decrease the size, it also led to an increase in powerful pocket revolvers.
If you’re only going to have 5-6 rounds anyway, why not have a revolver? The Ruger LCR was one of the most popular models.
The Glock 42
The Glock 42 is an all-around great pistol. Glock has a reputation for quality and reliability, even with their smaller pistols like the 42. Just like older pocket pistols, the 42 uses .380 ACP ammunition.
The 42 makes use of the .380 because of just how small it is, it still has pretty decent stopping power but the bullets are tiny. The best thing about the 42 as your small pistol of choice is the accuracy.
Glocks have always been relatively easy to use, as easy as shooting goes anyway. The 42 is no different, in fact, it’s arguably even easier to use than its 9mm cousins.
You are going to have a very light and easy to use pistol, it will be very easy to acquire your target and hit it. This sounds obvious, but many people fail to consider than when you do need to pull a gun out and shoot it you just need to hit the target a few times.
There’s no use pulling out a huge magnum revolver if you’re going to miss every shot. The 42 is reliable for this reason, you will hit your target. Which leads me on to the next advantage, the 42 has a decent range, too.
Many compact pistols lose their range and power but the 42 doesn’t. Making it a solid choice.
What Are The Baby Glock Models?
There are other small models of Glock that you might be interested in. They aren’t quite as small as the 42, but they are still good choices.
Subcompact:
- Glock 26
- Glock 27
- Glock 29
- Glock 30
- Glock 36
- Glock 39
- Glock 42
- Glock 43
Compact:
- Glock 19
- Glock 23
- Glock 32
- Glock 38
- Glock 44
- Glock 45
- Glock 48
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a much better idea about whether a small pistol is indeed what you are looking for. If it is, you truly can’t go wrong with the Glock 42.
It’s a very safe choice, you can always rely on it, and it gets the job done. If it isn’t quite the right size, any of the other Glocks mentioned will serve you well.
I would especially recommend the Glock 17. Good luck with whichever model you decide to get, you can’t go wrong with Glock!
