Glock 42
The smallest and lightest pistol Glock makes, in the weaker .380 caliber. Low recoil is the whole story: anyone with limited hand strength, or who is put off by 9mm recoil, will find a pistol here they can actually shoot.
What's good about it
- Exceptionally low recoil — the easiest-shooting gun in the line
- The easiest slide to rack, a real advantage for limited hand strength
- Tiny, and disappears completely when carried
What's less good
- .380 caliber — less stopping power than 9mm
- 6 rounds
- .380 ammunition is more expensive and less available in Israel
Common user reviews
The remarks that come up most often among owners in Israel and abroad, good and bad. These are user opinions, not our test.
Common praise
- Most common praise: the solution for anyone who can't rack a 9mm pistol
- Pleasant to shoot, you can train with it a lot without suffering
- Remarkably small
Common complaints
- Most common complaint: almost the same size as the 43, which is 9mm — why compromise on caliber
- .380 ammo costs more and isn't always in stock
- 6 rounds
Generations and versions
How to mount an optic on it
The Glock 42 has no factory optic cut, which is true of most pistols in Israel. There are two routes: milling the slide at a gunsmith, which costs more and is irreversible but sits the optic low; or an adapter that replaces the rear sight, which is cheap and reversible but sits it higher. These are the optics that mount without milling.
You choose a pistol by hand, not by table
Have a licence? Professional training with us gives you control and confidence with any gun you choose. No licence yet? An experience shoot with a dedicated instructor: no licence, no commitment.
You can also just shoot them
No spec sheet replaces how the pistol sits in your hand. If you're torn between two or three, book a range session, shoot them, and decide after — not before.