Glock 42 vs LCP

Overview
Today we will compare the Ruger LCP II and Glock 42.
Ruger introduced the Ruger 42 in 2008, while Glock introduced it several years later. The LCP is undoubtedly the most popular concealed-carry firearm on the market. The Glock 42 was popular at its introduction, but has become less popular since the introduction of the 9mm 43. This is disappointing as the Glock 42 has so much more to offer than the 43. We will be comparing the Ruger LCP series to the standalone Glock 42. There are many stark differences.
Size
MetricsGlock 42Ruger LCPRuger LCP 2Weight w/ no mag (Oz)12.48.89.5Weight w/ empty mag (Oz)13.99.910.7Weight w/ full mag (Oz)15.91212.8Height (top of the slide to the bottom of magazine baseplate) (Inches)3.993.63.6Length (Inches)5.965.195.15Width of grip (Inches)0.880.760.9Width of slide (Inches)0.830.760.82Width across controls (Inches)1.000.8370.86As you can see on our size chart above, the Glock 42 is definitely a lot larger than either the Ruger LCP or the Ruger LCP II. The Glock 42 is just 16 ounces when loaded with six rounds. This is the same capacity of the Ruger LCPs which weigh between three and four ounces less than 42.
The gun’s size is important for concealed carry. The Glock 42 is over three-eighths an inch longer than the LCP in the grip. The extra size of the gun has many advantages, but it can also be a disadvantage when it is used for shooting. Although the Glock 42 is longer than the Glock 42, it won’t affect pocket carry as much as its grip.
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They are almost identical in terms of the guns’ widths. The Ruger LCP II will have a significant advantage, but the LCP II isn’t much wider than the Glock. The width of the controls is not a significant data point in concealment, so the difference between Ruger LCP II and Glock 42 is not as large as it seems. The grip width is the most important aspect. The grip width on the Glock 42 actually is slightly wider than the Ruger LCP II. It is still considerably wider than the original LCP.
Glock 42 vs LCP Concealed Carry
There are two things you should be focusing on when you are looking for concealed carry guns: concealment size and shootability. These are the most important factors for most people. The rule of thumb is that the smaller the gun is, the easier it will be to conceal it; the bigger the gun, it will be easier to shoot.
There are always exceptions to the rule and that’s a gross oversimplification of reality. It is still pretty much true. The Glock 42 might be too big for you if you are looking for a gun to carry in your pocket. Some people can carry guns larger than the Glock 42 in their pockets without any problems. The Glock 42 will look much larger if you are 150 pounds and 6’6. It might not fit in your pocket as well as the Ruger LCP.
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The Ruger LCP might be more concealable if the Glock 42 is carried inside the waistband. There is a range within which firearms can be concealed. It doesn’t matter if the gun is at either the upper or lower end of this range, they will conceal just as well. The Glock 42 and LCP may be found in the same range for one person while they might belong in different categories for another. This will depend on the person’s body type and their choice of dress.
Niches
The Glock 42 is definitely one the most popular pocket or ankle-carry guns. Both guns can be used for ankle carry as they weigh less than 16 ounces. This is important because it will reduce the risk of injury to your ankle joint.
Because it’s easy to conceal and conceal, I will often carry my Glock 42 in a cowboy boots. If I don’t want the hassle of setting up a special holster for inside-the waistband carry, I’ll just carry my 42 there. Although it is not the fastest way to access the gun this allows me to still carry a gun in case of an emergency. It is not something I would do if there were no other options or low-risk situations.
The Ruger LCP II will be the easiest gun to conceal when you consider the size of the guns. The Ruger LCP II will be second and the Glock 42 third. The Glock 42’s shootability is going to be better. We’ll discuss this in the Shooting section.
Ergonomics overall
Ergonomics are essential for firearms. They will affect your ability to handle and shoot the gun. It’s not safe to carry a gun if you can’t effectively manipulate it. The key to successful manipulation is ergonomics.
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Frame
All of these guns have no modularity. What you see is what your get. Overall, however, they feel very different. The Ruger LCP will feel the slimmest and smallest of all the models, and all corners are well-rounded. The Ruger LCP II feels more square and blocky. It makes any Glock feel more ergonomic and well-rounded. A Glock is compared to an H&K and the Ruger LCP II.
The Glock 42, on the other side, feels great in the hand. Similar to the Ruger LCP’s corners, the Glock 42’s corners are very well-rounded. However, there’s more meat on the grip which allows me to fill my hands much better and makes it feel much more comfortable.
Grip Length
The grips are also different in length. Ruger LCP II and Ruger LCP II grips are only long enough to allow me to reach my middle finger and ring finger with the gun’s grip. They rely on the baseplates of firearms to provide that grip. The Glock 42 is similar, but I can still get half my pinky on the grip if my hand is really jammed up on the gun.
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This gives you more control than your brain would suggest. The pinky is the strongest finger in your hand when it comes shooting. It’s the one that has the most leverage to the firearm. You’ve probably played the old joke with a friend in which you shake their hands and then collapse their hands using the strength of your pinky finger, you’ll know what I’m referring to. Try shaking someone’s hand using your trigger finger, middle and ring fingers, then your pinky. Now, reverse the order. Now, reverse the order. You’ll find that you have the most force in your hand when you use the strength of the pinky finger.
Texture
Glock 42 uses a Gen4-style solid texture that is very smooth. These little squares are found on the sides and front of the frame, as well as the backstraps. Ruger LCP features more traditional texturing that is slightly more aggressive than the 42.
The Ruger LCP II features a sandpaper-like texture all around the grip. Personally, I prefer the Ruger LCP II’s texture to any other guns. However, the overall ergonomics of this firearm mean that I still find the Glock 42 to be the most secure and comfortable grip.
Slide
Again, the slides on these guns are very different. The slide on the Glock 42 is slightly less smooth. It still has a heavy recoil spring. The serrations at its rear are not very aggressive and could be more. The Ruger LCP slide is very slippery and has a heavier recoil spring.
Although the rear serrations are identical to those on the Glock 42’s, the slide is narrower and therefore more difficult to rack. Surprisingly, the Ruger LCP II is the easiest slide to rack. It has very well-designed serrations at the front and back of the slide. The recoil spring weight isn’t too heavy, making it the easiest gun to rack. Comparing these side-by-side, it was clear that the Glock 42 would have the easiest rack ability.
Sights
Sights are not a contest. The Glock 42 features real sights that are fitted to the gun via dovetails. These sights can be easily replaced with a variety designed for the Glock 42. They will allow you to have the best focus possible and increase your chances of hitting your target precisely.
Ruger LCP and Ruger LCP2 have their sights incorporated into the gun’s slide. These sights are very low-profile and won’t snag on anything. However, they are difficult to see. Although the Ruger LCP 2 has serrations on the rear and front sight, they don’t reduce glare. It is very difficult to pick up the front sight with either gun. To make it easier to see the front sight, it is a common practice to paint it with a type of nail polish or luminescent spray.
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Ruger LCP vs Glock 42 Aftermarket
There are many aftermarket sights available for the Glock 42, as we have already mentioned. The Ruger LCP 2 and Ruger LCP 2 do not have aftermarket sight options, so the Glock 42 is going to win the battle for sights.
Red-Dot Optics
A red-dot optic can theoretically be mounted on a Glock 42. You will need a small, slim optic such as a Sig Romeo Zero and a Holosun 507k. These sights will be small enough to mount on the Glock 42. However, they may still require a custom mounting plate.
There are shops that can do this and it will add a lot of capacity to your firearm. I wouldn’t recommend adding a red dot to your pocket if you don’t plan on carrying it. However, if you carry IWB this could be a game-changer.
Ruger LCPs are not allowed to add a red dot at this time. There is no dot that is small enough. I don’t know how reliable they would be if they had a dot attached to their slides.
Controls Ruger LCP vs Glock 42
Although the controls are identical, their execution is very different.
Trigger
The grip is the most important component to ensure you shoot accurately. However, triggers can also be an important part of your shooting experience. We’ll be covering each trigger individually.
Glock 42
The Glock 42 trigger is a standard Glock striker trigger. Keep in mind that most Glock 42 triggers I have handled feel slightly different when they are handled in a gun shop. Tolerance stacking is the reason. If you take 10 Glock 42s and place them side-by side, brand new in the box each one will have a slightly different trigger. This should be taken into consideration when you listen to the description.
Glock 42 trigger shoes have a similar face to a Glock Gen5 trigger. Before you reach creep, the trigger will have some take-up. As soon as you reach creep, the trigger will begin to take more of a roll.
However, you can find a stiffer point than you think the wall is at on this trigger. Although it doesn’t have a hard wall, this trigger isn’t completely rollable. It’s a bit of a hybrid, which is quite common for Glock Gen4 triggers. This trigger’s reset is very short and it comes out right in front the wall creep point we were referring to. It’s very easy to use and I shoot it very well.
Ruger LCP
Ruger LCP features a hammer-fired trigger. The trigger is partially comped. You will feel the slightest bit more take-up, then you will immediately go into what feels like a double-action trigger. This trigger is quite long. Although I personally like the Ruger LCP trigger, many people complain about it.
The reset of the trigger will have to be complete. To reset the trigger, you will need to let it go completely. This is a very different situation from the Glock.
Ruger LCP 2
Ruger LCP 2 has a trigger that feels more like a striker-fired trigger. The trigger works similarly to the LCP trigger, in that the hammer has already been partially cocked. The hammer appears to be more cocked on the LCP standard than it is on LCP.
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You’ll feel a lot of light take-up when you pull the trigger. The trigger will then pull the hammer back for just a few seconds before it breaks. It is a rolling break but at times it can resemble a hard wall.
It’s more like the Glock 42 trigger but not as smooth. Although the reset time on this trigger is shorter than that of the Glock 42, it’s still much faster than the reset time on the Ruger LCP.
Slide Lock Glock 42 vs LCP
The Glock 42’s slide lock is the most forward of all the models. It’s still accessible by anyone with a normal hand, however. All these guns have the slide lock on the left side (set up for a right handed shooter). It’s far enough back that no one will be able to release the slide lock with their trigger finger if they are a left-handed shooter.
My Ruger LCP slide lock doesn’t work with my gun. It doesn’t affect overall reliability of my handgun. It’s easy enough for me to reach it if it works and I can drop the slide quite easily. However, someone with slightly larger or smaller hands might find it more difficult than me. I use the bone in my thumb to drop the slide. This bone can be used to drop the slide. It may be more difficult if you have to drop the slide using the fat or skin in your hand.
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Ruger LCP II
The Ruger LCP2 slide lock is very well-designed. Even though it is slightly more back, it is much closer to the Glock. This slide release is made of rolled sheet metal and can be pressed up to lock the slide back. Or, you can use your thumb to drop it. Ruger’s slide lock design on the Ruger LCP 2 is amazing. It’s probably comparable to the release for Glock 42.
Ruger LCP vs Glock42 Magazine Release
All guns have the same magazine release system. However, if your hands are very small, you might have to break the grip to release the magazine from the Glock 42.
Because I don’t have as much grip on the Glock 42 to reload the gun, it is a little more difficult for me. It might be a bit more difficult to seat the magazine if I don’t completely break my grip on the Glock 42.
You must completely loosen your grip in order to get a new magazine in Ruger LCPs. This is a good thing, because you need to do it to get the magazine in.
Quality Glock 42 vs LCP
The Glock is undoubtedly a better-quality firearm than the Rugers. You could fire thousands of rounds with this Glock by simply replacing small consumables. The LCP II or LCP II will last less than a few thousand rounds, as the frame and slides seem cheaper than the 42.
Aftermarket
The Glock 42 will win the aftermarket. The Glock 42 is a clear winner if you compare it to the Ruger LCP. Aftermarket sight options, slide stop and magazine release are all available on the Glock 42. Frames and slides can also be added to the Glock 42. Glocks can do almost everything.
Aesthetics Glock 42 vs LCP
Personal preference is always important. Despite this, the Glock 42 is my favorite gun. The Glock 42 is quite attractive and I like how it looks. The Ruger LCP and LCP 2 are not as attractive. The standard LCP would be second, and the LCP 2 third. It really comes down to personal preference.
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Ruger LCP vs Glock 42 Shooting
There will be no contest. The Glock has a completely different recoil system, and is a much bigger gun with a larger grip. It’s also a much easier gun to shoot. The Glock 42 has a very soft recoil, while the Ruger LCP II and LCP II feel almost like hand cannons.
I know. You might be wondering what this guy is saying. They are just tiny.380s.
True. They are tiny at.380s and have a lot of recoil. These guns are not fun to shoot. I enjoy shooting.44 Magnum revolvers but not the tiny.380s. This exception is the Glock 42. This gun is a joy to use because of its extra size.
You’re probably not going to believe me, but one time I was able to shoot a three-and-a-half-inch group at 25 yards with the Glock 42. It was amazing. I don’t know if I would be able to do it again, but I can assure you that I cannot with the Ruger LCP II or LCP II. I feel flinchy quickly due to the recoil of those guns. I have not been able to fix it or find a solution.
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Price/Value Glock 42 Vs LCP
These guns have a huge price difference. The MSRPs for the LCP and LCP2 are $259 and $349, respectively, while the Glock42 is $479. The LCP will have a clear advantage over other guns if your budget is tight. If you have the financial resources to purchase the gun, its size and features will be more important. The Glock 42 is the best value gun in terms of shooting and quality. It shoots superbly and will last multiple times longer than the standard LCP despite its price tag of over $200.
Final Thoughts
The Glock 42 is the better gun if the Glock 42’s size isn’t an issue and you can conceal it. It is of a higher quality and is easier to shoot. The gun is certainly larger than most people might be able conceal. Although the 42 is too large for me to carry in my pocket, it works fine when I have it in my boot.
Ruger LCPs are the best choice if you need a smaller gun. If this is the case, then you will need to decide which one works best for you. I hope you find some of the information helpful in making your decision.
Glock 42 vs LCP Pros/Cons
Glock 42 Pros
Extremely shootableErgonomicGreat sightsAftermarketRuger LCP Pros
Size (extremely small)SlimErgonomicWeightRuger LCP 2 Pros
Trigger resetWeight Slide serrationsEasy-to-rack slideGlock 42 Cons
Size (too big)Ruger LCP Cons
Many recoilSightsCons Ruger LCP2
High Reoil SightsRelated Articles
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