Just prior to SHOT Show 2014 Glock announced the new Glock 42, which is a single stack .380 pistol. Although pretty much the entire world wanted a 9mm single stack gun, Glock managed to put together a focus group that said .380 was the ticket.
Photo courtesy of ammoland.com.
Still, many folks thought that maybe Glock was smart enough to design the frame and magazines to accommodate multiple calibers, much like they did with the G17/22, 19/23, 26/27, 34/35, 20/21, etc. Maybe, they thought, the .380 will get released first, and in the near future we will see the same gun in 9mm.
I’m here to tell you it ain’t gonna happen. I personally looked at .380 rounds loaded in the magazine (clip) for the Glock 42, and there was not enough room to fit the longer 9mm cartridge. To make 9mm work they would have to make the magazine longer front to back (rim to bullet tip), and that would mean it won’t fit in the G42 frame.
When I noticed this I confirmed with the Glock rep that there would never be a G42-sized 9mm, and he lifted his shirt and asked if I could see any 9mms on him. It was weird, but I think he meant that he agreed that they didn’t have plans for a 9mm version.
To add insult to injury, the product folks I spoke to at Glock seemed totally unaware that anyone would want a small, single stack 9mm.
I think what it comes down to is this: Glock doesn’t listen to shooters. With as much as people like their guns, and as much success as they have had selling to police departments and other agencies, maybe they don’t need to listen to them. But the lesson is, if you’re a Glock guy and you’re expecting Glock to make some of the simple, seemingly-obvious changes when it comes to their product line you’re going to be waiting a long time.