A smaller gun for carry

[Glock Girl in CA]

Girls,

I need your input. And guys, if you are nice about it, yours too.

I got my first pistol when I lived in CA. A G19 seemed a good gun, after all, I couldn't carry there. I love Glock for its simplicity and its reliability. It's a no-fuss workhorse guardian and I adore it for that.

I now live in NV, and I carry. I love my G19, but let's face it, it ain't light or skinny and that makes carry challenging. I inherited a G26, and most often I take that. But even that gun is thick, and many times it has to go in the gun purse for concealment.

I'd just like a thinner pistol. Also, I feel the short, fat grip on the G26 is difficult to hang onto when shooting, and if this is a carry gun, one cannot put a high enough premium on accuracy.

My question for you is: Should I purchase a G42, chambered in .380, or should I wait to see if the rumors are true of Glock producing a single stack in 9 mm?

I like that I have everything in one caliber, and I like the "stopping power" 9 supposedly has over the .380. But maybe the single stack 9 will be larger than I want. The .380 gets good reviews; maybe it's the perfect little carry gun. OR, maybe I'll be sorry if I miss out on the long-awaited single stack 9 that Glock fanboys and fangirls alike have begged Glock for all these years.

Who has an opinion they'd be willing to share?
Thanks,
GG

[NiteQwill]

A G42 is a good size gun to consider. The question is: do you carry on your person or in a bag/purse?

[Glock Girl in CA]

A G42 is a good size gun to consider. The question is: do you carry on your person or in a bag/purse?

I carry on my person when outfits allow. I carry appendix. If I'm in a dress or exercise clothing, it goes in a designated gun purse. Does that help?
Thanks!

[Asphodel]

Just as a personal opinion.........the Walther PP, PPK, or PPKS, in 9MM Kurz (.380), is the optimal 'carry' pistol, given its mechanically reliable 'safe and also ready' characteristics of its double-action mechanism.

One of those, particularly the desirable 'PPK' version, is a seriously expensive investment, to be sure, but what price your life, should you ever need it?

(yes, the late-model plastic-framed pistols are far more 'cost-effective', in theory, but paying the high price for a best quality, surely reliable pistol is like paying the price for life insurance.......its just that, in this instance, you get to 'collect on the policy', rather than your heirs.)

If the weight/bulk of the Walther is too much for convenient carry, then consider one of the modern re-makes of the old Remington double derringer, in 38spl. Having two shots is 'better than nothing', and 38spl '+P', whilst service loads will bruise the h*ll out of your hand with the derringer, is a seriously effective short-range self-defence loading.

Practice, practice, practice with light loads first, of course, for the 'muscle memory' of drawing and firing it. If you ever 'won the lottery' of having to actually use the derringer for self-defence, a well-bruised hand is 'cheap at the price'.

(there is a firm making a Remington pattern derringer in 44 mag, believe it or don't, and I've fired one of those at the range, with full-charge service loads........and, oh, my, I thought I had the level of experience with handguns to handle recoil.......well, that was quite a 'learning experience'......I was seriously 'humbled', I must admit.....yes, I said 'ouch', and rather dramatically expressively so.)

cheers

Carla

[movie zombie]

have you looked into trying to find a smith and Wesson 3900 series 9mm?
there were also Lady Smiths in 3913 and some other numbers as well.

just an idea.....

[Glock Girl in CA]

have you looked into trying to find a smith and Wesson 3900 series 9mm?
there were also Lady Smiths in 3913 and some other numbers as well.

just an idea.....

Nope, but I'm putting kids to bed and then guess what I'll be doing? You hooked me at "Lady Smiths." Because girly. Thanks!

[ahern25]

3913 is not girly. I carry one. Awesome gun. However don't think you will see much of a difference in the glock 19 vs S&W 3913.

[RustyIron]

Hey, GG. I understand your desire for something "light and skinny," while still having reasonable knock down power. I live in SoCal, where we don't wear heavy clothes, and I'm old enough that all my clothes fit properly. That makes it difficult to carry mid-size guns that others might consider quite concealable. I need small pistols for everyday use.

Are you dead set on Glock? I like Glocks, but they don't offer a tiny 9mm. There are other manufacturers that might meet your size/firepower criteria. The S&W Shield is a striker fired, single stack 9mm that I can't say anything bad about. The Sig P938 is a tiny, alloy framed 1911 style that I like a lot and recommend. The last one I won't recommend without caveat because mine needed to be sent back to the factory to ensure perfect reliability. But the Kimber Solo is the sexiest little pistol I've ever owned. It's my favorite of these three, but it was the most troublesome right out of the box.

Keep in mind that a subcompact 9mm is going to give you more lively recoil than the your G19, much more lively.

Let us know what you get.

[Glock Girl in CA]

Thanks, that was super-helpful, Rusty, and yes, I'll definitely look outside of Glock. I know about the Shield, and it's on my list of consideration. Now, let me go check out the sexy Kimber you speak of...

[Nolo Contendere]

I have a S&W 3913 LS. Had it 20 years now and love it. However, it is not a small gun. I just bought a Sig P238 .380 - very concealable, the slide is "girl friendly" you don't have to bully it like the other .380s I tried. Just my 2 cents.

[border.bandito]

i have a Glock 27 and it makes a HUGE difference (grip retention wise) if i run my mags with Pearce grip extensions. so i guess my question is; are you running straight mag floor plates or grip extensions on your G26?
however, i will agree that Glocks by nature are very 'fat' around the grip. taking into consideration a female's smaller hands they arent the best for carry.

have you looked into an XD9 sub compact? i like the XD's since they are very similar to the Glock (mechanically speaking and durability as well) but have a much smaller grip circumference. my girl can handle a XD9 sub much easier than she can handle the G27 (grip wise, not talking about recoil difference).

[digdug74]

I'd probably steer you towards one of what I currently consider to be the "big three" slim, single stack 9mms out there right now: S&W Shield, XDs, and the Walther PPS. All are slimmer than the G26 and I believe (though not positive) all come with at least one "extended" magazine if that whole "pinky dangling" thing doesn't appeal to you.

At the very least, try handling one or all of them at your LGS. Chances are one or more will appeal to you.

[Gem1950]

I got my daughter (30) a Ruger LCR snubby, 5 shot, in .38sp - Light, reliable, functional and ease of use. We practice with wadcutters for the lightest recoil and use semi-wadcutters or HP semi-wadcutters for carry/HD.

The Charter Arms Undercover is also a very well made, economical snubby and the grip is larger for a better purchase but is slightly less concealable than the LCR if that is important.

Edit: And one can always use +P ammo if it is felt that more umph is required.

[Glock Girl in CA]

Well, the Shield is out. I'm a left-handed shooter, so I want an ambidextrous mag release.

One question not yet addressed: If I decide to go with Glock again, is it better to have the littler, more-concealable G42 in .380, or should I wait to see if Glock releases the single stack 9 this year? I only worry that the new 9 will still be large and not much better for concealment than my G26.

[movie zombie]

given the year is almost over.....sure, why not wait?

also, call Glock USA: http://us.glock.com/customer-service/customer-support

they might have more info re the 9mm release date.