Want to know what professionals recommend or think about various firearms? We’ve asked them to review some of our most commonly purchased or carried guns to help you decide.
Glock 43X 9mm-
“After carrying the Glock 43X for 30 days, I can honestly say it has given me some second thought to purchasing a Glock again. My first off-duty gun was a Glock 43 since it was so slim and compact. My only complaint was at the time I could only carry about 6 rounds with it, in addition to an extra magazine. Eventually, I switched to the Sig P365 and P365 XL.
The Glock 43X has 10 rounds now and still feels light like the original 43. I put about 250 rounds through it after two range sessions and I loved how accurate it was. The grip and trigger feel improved over the original 43 as well. Although its slightly bigger than the original 43, it feels more accurate and does not feel as snappy. Although I’m a devoted Sig owner, I would love to buy the Glock 43X, especially for that Glock dependability.” – O.C. police officer.
Smith & Wesson Shield 9-
“I was never a big fan of S&W autos. I love their revolvers, many being classics in their own right. But, I saw so many people using the new S&W M&P Shield for concealed carry guns, I figured there must be a reason they are so popular. I got one to try, and I was immediately convinced. This Shield is so flat and compact, it virtually disappears in an IWB holster.
It packs a nice punch in .40, maybe even a little too much, but the 9mm version is totally controllable, has ample power, and is accurate to the farthest practical distances. Trigger isn’t the best, but it’s not a target gun. This is for personal defense, at personal defense distances. At $429, not a bad price for what you get.” – DC
Glock 42 .380
The Glock 42 is a great sized pistol for concealment and off-duty carry. It is a great platform for a backup pistol as well. The pistol is easy to conceal whether you are wearing jeans or shorts, meaning it does not imprint. The Glock 42 which is chambered in .380 has minimal recoil felt to the shooter; much less than the Glock 43 which is chambered in 9mm. The grip is not too small for a sub-compact, but if you have giant hands, this grip might present a problem for you. Its magazine and slide releases are easily manipulated with very little practice. But you must practice with this pistol like you would have to with any pistol; proficiency will not happen overnight.
There are several drawbacks of the Glock 42. First, the magazine capacity is only six rounds. I see this as a missed opportunity by the manufacturer. I would really like to have at least ten rounds. Second, is that this pistol has a typical Glock trigger. Glock triggers have never really impressed and have left a lot to be desired. They have always been gritty and never smooth. With that being said, all Glock triggers are pretty much all the same.
Let’s be honest, Glocks are not going to win any beauty contests; Glocks are battle guns. They will always go bang. This pistol has a nice balance, the trigger is not overly heavy, and this gun is easily concealed. The bonus is that the .380 caliber makes the recoil easy to handle.
In my opinion, if you are thinking of the Glock 42, also consider the Glock 43 and the Sig P365.
Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Bodyguard
I recently was presented with the ability to shoot and evaluate a S&W M&P Bodyguard 380.
This Smith and Wesson is not a striker fired system which may please some and disappoint others. However, this platform showed no issues with reliability at all. The weapon never had an issue and digested all the differing ammunition that it was fed. So, with that being said let us get into some of the characteristics with the gun.
Small… if you’re looking for deep concealment, this may be your ticket. Keep in mind that small also presents its own issues as well. If you have large hands this may not be your new toy. And large handed shooters may not get all their fingers on the grip area. The gun did not have an issue with trying to escape or jump out of either a one or a two-handed hold. Some platforms like to try and rise out of the top of your hand, and this was not the case here. I was able to keep this gun fit in my hand with little issue but keep in mind that this is probably the smallest semi auto that I have ever tested, and all my hand did not fit into the grip area. The ammunition capacity is a 6+1 configuration. So, engaging multiple targets may be challenging. Also remember that small means more recoil. The .380 caliber certainly helps with this issue but doesn’t entirely erase this fact. In addition, a strong hand unsupported or weak hand unsupported cycling of the weapon and keeping good target acquisition is difficult.
Trigger… the trigger is smooth and not gritty or jumpy. This is until you hit the wall and then everything stops. I had to literally smash through this wall to fire the gun. This may smooth out some after the gun has been properly broken in. This fact will affect accuracy. Considerable practice is being preached here. Just keep in mind there is a substantial trigger pull to cycle the gun. Personally, I was not a fan of this wall, but I understand that this is a close quarter type of firearm. This has been referred to as a belly gun in some circles and the main reason for this gun is to get away and create distance from your attacker. Up to 10 yards and you’re ok. Anything beyond that distance and you may have issues. A strong handed supported shooting stance in almost mandatory with this platform.
While I would prefer another platform if this was a gun that I wanted to shoot frequently, I did enjoy shooting it. But remember what this gun was designed to do. This is a true pocket pistol with concealment being a primary concern along with being able to escape and evade if it becomes necessary to deploy your little friend. If going into this with that thought process, I feel that you have made an educated decision and as always please practice, practice, practice.
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