Glock 42 FDE -- Serial# ABSW5xx (bought two weeks ago).
AMMO:
I put exactly 201rds through the G42 today--all inside about 45 minutes.
18 -- Hornady Custom XTP (two 8rd mags + 1 in the chamber)
33 -- Underwood +P 65gr Lehigh (this stuff is fast--feels like 9mm)
150 -- Magtech 95gr FMJ (made the G42 feel like shooting minimags from a 22)
MAGS:
Two "03" marked with PEARCE +1 AND the MAGGUTS +2 (so they are 8rd mags).
- Mag #1 has a modified glock base-insert (since that box was missing the PEARCE base-insert), so the only thing holding the extension on is spring pressure AND the two notches at the base of the mag (I just shortened the base-insert to fill the hole: 8rds go in, and it has a tiny bit of extra room).
-- Mag #2 has the actual PEARCE base insert installed and unmodified: 8rds go in, but are VERY tight unless packed down.
REPORT:
I shot the Hornady Custom first, sitting at a picnic table about a yard past the 15Y marker just to see if the sights were dialed in...the "group" was all over about a 7x9" area (see pic). Next, I shot the Underwood +P (I figured this would be THE ammo to really break a gun in). It felt like a 9mm--it's advertised at 1400fps, and I bet that stuff was going 1350fps out of the G42. It grouped much better--I'd call it about a 2" group with 2 flyers next to each other another 1.5" to the left. I shot the rest of the fancy ammo and tried to limp-wrist the gun many times, but it didn't mind.
I had my first Fail-to-Feed on the SECOND ROUND of the 3rd or 4th mag of Magtech FMJs loaded with 8rds PLUS one in the chamber with mag #2. I later discovered IF I didn't pack the rounds down into the mag by slapping the base on my hand or the table after loading the 8th round this happened about 25%-33% (like every 3rd or 4th mag) of the time with mag #2; however, mag #1 worked fine without having to do this. I shot about 70% of the Magtech with mag#1 and had no issues with 8+1 loadings.
CONCLUSIONS:
I think (hope!) the springs just need to "settle" a bit. Others reported no problems--this COULD mean that the magtech is just really weak. BOTH mags were 100% with self-defense stuff (18 XTP and 32 Underwood).
I could just carry it with just 7+1, but I feel confident enough in mag#1 to carry it with an UNDERWOOD +P in the chamber AND to further ease 2nd round feeding, I'll put a Hornady XTP as round #2 (to mitigate the chance of a weak 9th round, I'll put a Hornady XTP there too...OR I'll just load the whole 8rd mag with XTPs).
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I think I'll buy some of the Underwood XTP +P...from what I've seen, the XTPs don't "open" as wide as HST/GD, but they penetrate more because the "petals" just fold almost all the way back. I'd think a +P XTP would definitely give consistent 14"-16" range (I prefer OVER to UNDER penetration--wait for it...that's what she said).
--
I was surprised at how accurate the UNDERWOOD was; it seems VERY consistent. I've had good luck with REALLY fast rounds (one of my best groups ever was with Pow-R-Ball in 9mm, from a Kahr P9...7rds with no flyer through a ragged 1.25"-1.5" hole right at 15Y...but cell-phones didn't have cameras in 1998). I always hear slow ammo is more accurate.
--
OBLIGATORY PLASTIC SIGHTS SUCK NOTE:
When I noticed the rounds were going left with the Underwood and the Magtech even at like 10Y, I tried to knock the sights to the right a bit using the wood table (my sight pusher can be rigged to push them, but I didn't have it with me). Well, they got knocked too far, hanging off the right side; when I tried to put them BACK, I knocked them handing off the left side. I remembered that I pushed the OEM sights off my G43 with my thumb, so I just pushed these back into the center by hand (strong grip thanks to Captains of Crush!).
--
First 16 shots out of the G42 from 16Y sitting hunched over with sweat dripping onto my glasses, using ammo boxes as a rest.
Hornady XTP (8 circled). Underwood Lehigh (8 dots next to holes).
AMMO:
I put exactly 201rds through the G42 today--all inside about 45 minutes.
18 -- Hornady Custom XTP (two 8rd mags + 1 in the chamber)
33 -- Underwood +P 65gr Lehigh (this stuff is fast--feels like 9mm)
150 -- Magtech 95gr FMJ (made the G42 feel like shooting minimags from a 22)
MAGS:
Two "03" marked with PEARCE +1 AND the MAGGUTS +2 (so they are 8rd mags).
- Mag #1 has a modified glock base-insert (since that box was missing the PEARCE base-insert), so the only thing holding the extension on is spring pressure AND the two notches at the base of the mag (I just shortened the base-insert to fill the hole: 8rds go in, and it has a tiny bit of extra room).
-- Mag #2 has the actual PEARCE base insert installed and unmodified: 8rds go in, but are VERY tight unless packed down.
REPORT:
I shot the Hornady Custom first, sitting at a picnic table about a yard past the 15Y marker just to see if the sights were dialed in...the "group" was all over about a 7x9" area (see pic). Next, I shot the Underwood +P (I figured this would be THE ammo to really break a gun in). It felt like a 9mm--it's advertised at 1400fps, and I bet that stuff was going 1350fps out of the G42. It grouped much better--I'd call it about a 2" group with 2 flyers next to each other another 1.5" to the left. I shot the rest of the fancy ammo and tried to limp-wrist the gun many times, but it didn't mind.
I had my first Fail-to-Feed on the SECOND ROUND of the 3rd or 4th mag of Magtech FMJs loaded with 8rds PLUS one in the chamber with mag #2. I later discovered IF I didn't pack the rounds down into the mag by slapping the base on my hand or the table after loading the 8th round this happened about 25%-33% (like every 3rd or 4th mag) of the time with mag #2; however, mag #1 worked fine without having to do this. I shot about 70% of the Magtech with mag#1 and had no issues with 8+1 loadings.
CONCLUSIONS:
I think (hope!) the springs just need to "settle" a bit. Others reported no problems--this COULD mean that the magtech is just really weak. BOTH mags were 100% with self-defense stuff (18 XTP and 32 Underwood).
I could just carry it with just 7+1, but I feel confident enough in mag#1 to carry it with an UNDERWOOD +P in the chamber AND to further ease 2nd round feeding, I'll put a Hornady XTP as round #2 (to mitigate the chance of a weak 9th round, I'll put a Hornady XTP there too...OR I'll just load the whole 8rd mag with XTPs).
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I think I'll buy some of the Underwood XTP +P...from what I've seen, the XTPs don't "open" as wide as HST/GD, but they penetrate more because the "petals" just fold almost all the way back. I'd think a +P XTP would definitely give consistent 14"-16" range (I prefer OVER to UNDER penetration--wait for it...that's what she said).
--
I was surprised at how accurate the UNDERWOOD was; it seems VERY consistent. I've had good luck with REALLY fast rounds (one of my best groups ever was with Pow-R-Ball in 9mm, from a Kahr P9...7rds with no flyer through a ragged 1.25"-1.5" hole right at 15Y...but cell-phones didn't have cameras in 1998). I always hear slow ammo is more accurate.
--
OBLIGATORY PLASTIC SIGHTS SUCK NOTE:
When I noticed the rounds were going left with the Underwood and the Magtech even at like 10Y, I tried to knock the sights to the right a bit using the wood table (my sight pusher can be rigged to push them, but I didn't have it with me). Well, they got knocked too far, hanging off the right side; when I tried to put them BACK, I knocked them handing off the left side. I remembered that I pushed the OEM sights off my G43 with my thumb, so I just pushed these back into the center by hand (strong grip thanks to Captains of Crush!).
--
First 16 shots out of the G42 from 16Y sitting hunched over with sweat dripping onto my glasses, using ammo boxes as a rest.
Hornady XTP (8 circled). Underwood Lehigh (8 dots next to holes).