Great video, as always! I am 70 years old and started shooting maybe four or so months ago. The first gun I tried in a class situation was a S&W 9mm. After the first couple of shots, I kind of got used to the recoil. Somehow I ended up with a Steyer .22 and shortly after bought a Ruger SR22. I love my Ruger!! The no/low recoil allows me to really concentrate on the basics of safety, trigger control, sight alignment, etc. It’s a great size for me and is shooting reliably. Some day I’ll probably get a 380, but right now I’m really happy to have my .22. 380 ammo is over $1.00 a bullet right now (I just paid about $.12 a bullet at a gun show). The most I’ve paid is in the $.30 range. My friend bought a S&W EZ 380 and she doesn’t shoot much because of the cost. I have been working with someone for training and go through at least 200 - usually about 300 - rounds each time I go to the range. People really disparage the .22, but I’m really happy with it for the reasons I’ve stated. I’d rather defend myself with my .22 with good skills than have a 380 or 9mm and poor skills because I didn’t practice enough. I don’t disagree with what you’re saying, I’m just saying that for new shooters I think a .22 is a great way to start.
I carried an SR9C for a number of years. Bought an SR22 for a daughter thinking she was going to get her license, and when she changed her mind I started carrying it myself. I have a soft sided HOUSTON holster so light and gentle that by the time I've got my hat on and reaching for the door it feels like I'm not carrying at all. With the 22's near zero recoil I figure I could get 2 or more rounds on target compared to 1 with having to re-align the sights after each shot with the 9. Also I only carry Stingers, which you do NOT want to get hit with! And so I feel well armed with my lowly SR22. Speaking of stingers, you know how big a yellow-jacket's stinger is? And do you know what people's reaction is when getting stung by just one? I rest my case!
Mac, a friend of mine did two tours as a sniper. His edc was a tiny Keltec 380. If people ragged him about the 380, he would smile and say caliber didn't matter, when you could make an eye shot.
I have the kel-tec 380. I started out a year ago and every time I passed a gun store i bought a box of 9's and a box of 380's. I now have, what i feel like, is adequate ammo
There's a LOT of difference between shooting someone by surprise from a prone supported firing position and shooting a crackhead who is SHOOTING BACK at you (guess how I know)
@@coyoteblue9733 That may be a common standard, but there are other schools of thought, also common, that unless you can be certain your opponent will remain immobile, you have left an ongoing threat to yourself. Snipers don't train against crackheads, true. But at that time a 380 could hide in pockets, and micro‐9's didn't exist.
I legitimately love listening to both Mac and stav, you both are so knowledgeable and so easy to listen to. I will be a lifetime supporter of this page
When I started daily carrying concealed a few years ago, I carried a Smith Bodyguard .380 in a front pocket, because I could not print at all at work. Now that I am retired, I don't care, and will not carry anything smaller than 9mm. A Glock 43 fits in a front pocket too, in a kydex pocket holster. One thing for new shooters, if you pocket-carry, the only thing in that pocket should be the gun in a holster that covers the trigger guard. And if you move on to a belly band or belt-carry, you can usually carry a much bigger gun, depending on clothing and body type.
My first purchase was the 380EZ and love it ... however, I have a very small frame with nothing to help conceal my carry gun, and this gun is just a bit too large. Just purchased the Glock 42 which will be much easier to conceal for me. The EZ will now be my bedside protection tool.
Mac made me consider the g42. After renting it at my local range and trying a few different guns, I just bought the 42 for myself. Thank for the great advice!
Mac, very good video as always but one thing that's an issue in March of 2021. .380 acp is an endangered species right now. I sell guns in a large shop/range and for months there has been none available in our allocations. Thats true of lots of calibers but none are harder to find right now than the .380acp. We're getting pallet quantities of 9mm again but not much else. Just an FYI.
My experience is similar to Marty’s. It’s July in Arizona, and of the two stores I visited yesterday, one had no .380 ACP ammo and the other had only the more expensive JHP. Kinda steep for practicing with, especially at today’s prices. BTW I did walk past a pallet of 9mm ammo in one of the stores.
Thanks for the video. I was stuck on the 9 Mil and need to be open, especially with a limitation on weapons. Thanks for always being honest and providing as much info as possible.
This is one of THE BEST videos I've come across for new shooters! Too many folks out there don't really take into consideration all the aspects of beginner carry as Mac does here. Really appreciate his experience, practical approach, and humility when it comes to firearms. Thanks, Mac! And thank you Stav for having Mac on!
I have been shooting a Glock 42 for years. I can hit a 9inch plate at 25 years 4 out of 5,times, every gun has a purpose. I use mine as a carry gun. Thanks and have fun shooting stay safe and have a Blessed Day..🙏🇺🇸
I really enjoy my G42. It tucks in nicely. It performs well! I haven’t had any troubles with it at all and I am very accurate with it at short and long distances. Not a lot of recoil either for people who don’t like that. Yes, it’s only a 6+1, but, the magazines are small so they aren’t annoying to carry one or two extra. Anyway, thought I’d share.
Hey Mac, thanks for the info backed by professional experience. My wife and I are huge fans of Stav and you, and we can't get enough of Stav's videos! Keep them coming!
Love it. I wonder if Mac really just sat down in front of Stav's camera, started a rant, then got her in on it 😂😉 It was great. I've never shot a Glock even though that's what my dad and brother carry. Maybe one day soon!
I had my eye on it for months, Finally got it with my Stimulus! My new favorite. Still love my M&P Shield, but P365 quickly became my weapon of choice!
I’d been thinking about cc for a couple years, and finally bit the bullet, so to speak. So glad to find this channel, it’s been so informative in a down to earth way. My first cc is a p365 due to the factory night sights, conceal-ability, trigger pull, and round capacity. Probably not great choice for big hands though as this grip is on the smaller size.
That's one of my favs, I'm 5'11" and a man and yet I like this weapon. There are larger round magazines which actually make the grip longer, not bad either way. ..
Yay! Mac did a video! I needed a "She Equips Herself" video! Wish I still lived in MA., I would take your classes. So informative and y'all don't talk to us like we're dumb. Thank you! Love your videos! I have a S&W M&P .40. But after this latest ammo issue, I'm buying a Glock 19. 9mm seems to be the easiest caliber to find. I can't find .380 acp or .40 anywhere!
I have a Glock 23 that I can switch from a 40 to 9 barrel, but I do find 40s easier to find right now, still pricey in some locations but more availability for sure
My mother has the ez 380. My wife has a 80% scale browning black label 380. The G42 was on the shopping list but my wife preferred the feel of the browning in her hand. My sister is eying a Walther PK380 and CCP m2 380. When out shooting there usually a lot taking turns on the black label. Seems to be a favorite to shoot. Still planning to get a G42 as an alternate carry option for her. And yes the ladies have a pool surplus of 380. Nothing wrong with 380 auto.
Mac, great advice on shooting what feels best to you. When my wife started out, everyone (including me) recommended she begin with the Glock 42. Took her to the range and rented a Clock 42. It did not feel right to her. After trying several pistols, the one she chose and still carries today - the Bersa Thunder Concealed Carry. Everyone is different.
Your wife chose a great gun. I love my glock 42 but the grip was so narrow even in my small hands that I had to put the fattest hoag grip available for the Glock 42 on it, and it made shooting it an absolute dream. Improved my accuracy as well because I could just hang on to it better.
I think I would have recommended for first time shooters the M&P .380 EZ 2.0 it’s easy rack slide, easy load magazines, easy takedown for cleaning, low recoil and the very good 2.0 trigger. I bought one and love taking it to the range.
I agree. I love the 380 ez. I don't own one yet but I've shot them a lot because my female students young and old keep showing up to basic pistol having already purchased that gun. It's terrific. I carry the Glock 42 more often than my Glock 19 these days.
Had the same issue, had shot guns all my life, but then I turned 21 and had to buy my first self-defense handgun. Range/Store I went to had rentals, but no ammo (2020). Bought a 9mm that just didn't fit well. Surprisingly it was a taurus g2c, and it was reliable for around 3k rounds of classes, slow fire league, and practicing weekly (once ammo started coming down). Gave it to my dad as a gift and ended up getting something slightly larger.
At age 64 I always carried a 9mm in a gun purse, but now carry a 380 appendix style...I feel way more confident with the minimal to no recoil, and can conceal it with just about anything I wear. Great vid. BTW, and wonderful for new shooters.
I wait for the info every week from you two. I then go to the range and practice. Your trigger control/flinching video was brilliant! Has already helped me to get better. Your explanation Mac was so spot on. Very easy to comprehend. Thank you so much.
I've had Glocks since 1992-G17, 34, 19, 26 and 43. This week my G42 arrives 🙂I thought hard about the Sig 365-380 and Ruger Security .380, but I am well invested in Glocks. I choose the 42 for all the reasons you mentioned. I live in Florida and my uniform is tee shirts, shorts and sandals so small is a "big" factor. Additionally I will be able to shoot fast flatter. Actually with the development of good .380 ammo like the Underwood Extreme Defender I am comfortable this is a good SD round as it doesn't depend on expansion for effectiveness. I anticipate I will carry the 42 more than the 43. I have an original LCP Custom for carrying a gun when I'm not carrying. I shoot the LCP well but getting a good combat grip quickly is "iffy".
I got extremely lucky with the difficulty in finding handguns right now. I found both of the specific guns I wanted in the last month the same day I went looking.
Went to a gun range in STL a couple months ago to figure out what gun I loved, they had all they options I wanted to try and made suggestions for others. The only downside was I had to use their ammo, however it was worth the cost. Guns I thought I’d like, I didn’t. Now I’m trying to find Stav’s ear protection because all the headsets give me a headache! 😁
Hi there Mac. I started with a 7.65 CZ Browny (Single, Double Action Pistol). I appreciated that we were on an open range with a range commander. An hour into shooting, I looked at my brother's then way too big for my hands, Beretta Star 9mm full full sized pistol. The Beretta might give the year away that I went to shoot for the first time. Requested that they hand it to me unloaded, as I wanted to load the 15 round magazine on my own and load the firearm to see if it is easier then the CZ, that was a sub compact size with only an 8 round capacity. Low and behold, the recoil was easier to manage, the slide was easier, it only took a hand grip modification to hold and shoot the full size pistol. I only shot those two pistol for the next 6 years, as I thought the revolver with 357 Magnum round were too large of a caliber to shoot with my 65Lbs body. Once I weighed around 90Lbs, I decided to ask to shoot the Taurus 4" 357 Magnum. With the 357 rounds in it, I didn't enjoy it as much, because I couldn't grip and shoot double action with it, and the kick wasn't all that enjoyable one handed. Made me decide that up to 9mm is what I should stick to, till one day when I weigh over 120Lbs. At 150Lbs, I still haven't shot a 357 Magnum again. Mainly because the weapon isn't in the family anymore. And I mainly focus on the 9mm weapons I have to shoot for work. So glad the RAP401 was retired from service, just because no amount of correct gripping, no amount of correct rounds used, and no amount of training with the pistol, or cleaning of this pistol made it not store at least 3 times on an 8 round magazine. The bugbear of this weapon was the springs in the slide, which I know isn't a problem on Glocks. If a person is recoil sensitive, I'd say if possible go to a range and test all the calibers. Might just be that the .380 is too harsh. I don't know of any person that wants to be shot with a .22. As Mac says, try to shoot all the firearms you can afford or made a shortlist of, even put on a few bogies. Shoot them, and find what works for you. I think Mac will agree, take the smaller caliber if it is more comfortable to shoot, and if your accuracy (hitting your target) is superior. I'm not talking 10-20% better, even 25% better, this can be overcome by practice. Okay , any amount of difference can be made up with enough practice. Go on the worst case scenario. How often are you planning on practicing, what is the purpose of the handgun. Note I didn't say, take the smallest handgun, some of them are like one of your siblings that you constantly fighting and snaps at you. Initially I loved all steel firearms, as the weight just gave me a sense of security. First polymer pistol I shot with, I kept to single double action, just because that is my background.
I'm not a beginner and I love the 42. It is just easy to shoot. And I prefer. 380 in many cases compared to a 9mm. The trigger is actually very good for a glock trigger.
Just saw this video, Very good. You might add that you can buy 380 ammo that Underwood makes that is a speer gold dot type that has good ballistics for a defense round.
Thank you. I'm a first time shooter and I bought a G42 and I am constantly being joked on for buying a "girl's gun". I'm not a large-sized guy and a 9-mm just didn't seem right for me. The G42 is everything you described in your video. With a +2 clip it fits my hand perfectly, hides well under my shirt, and I have a decent target cluster at 15-yards. No complaints here on the purchase. Honestly I hope all I ever use it for is target practice. Thanks for validating the G42. Very nice presentation.
@@Nunya0101 I actually traded it for a Shield Plus 9mm. It's just as easy to rack, shoot, etc as the EZ. The only difference is in loading it. It's way harder but using a loader makes it simple. Easier to conceal, better holsters and options.
a cop pulled over a elderly women driver. She said "officer I have something to tell you". yes mam. I have a j frame in my purse and I am legal to carry. he thanked her. she then said officer I have a glock 17 in the glove box. He said oo-h k. she then said , officer. he said yes man. she said I have a remington 870 in the trunk. he said mam, what exactly are you afraid of? She replied, not a g d thing!
Always good videos. I have carried the Glock 42 with a plus one Pierce pinkie extension. 8 shots with a better grip. Put great Tru-Glo sights on it. Excellent, flat and light.
I totally agree I got my GF the 42 and she loves it. She can shoot other guns but she is confident with the 42 and it’s small and light. I also added TLR6.
The 42 is a pretty easy shooter for sure, it’s a Glock so you can expect quality. My concerns are with getting ammo and the 380 is (in my opinion) is right on the edge for Self Defense but with the right load I think your ok. That ASP guy is ok if you ask me! :)
I’ve had my G42 for many years. It’s been a trusted companion. It’s lightweight and easy to carry. Mine has night sights and PG+1 mag extensions. The gun disappears under a t-shirt and an extra mag fits easily in the coin pocket of my jeans. Your opinion is spot on
Good information about trying as many pistols as you can. There are some great .380's out there and if you are a new owner you may want to think about pistols with manual safeties. There are more than Glocks out there to chose from.
We have another brand .380, however we can't get the ammo very easily here in Ohio. That's the reason why I decided on a Glock 48 9mm. Thank you for your great advice
I think a manual safety is just one more thing to train with for a new shooter. As a new shooter, I'm more comfortable with automatic safety or no safety + immediately training trigger discipline and a proper holster.
Thanks, Mac, for speaking from your experience. Regarding aftermarket magazines, I ordered two Glock brand 8 round mag extensions for my Glock 42. I had our range manager put the extensions on my original 6 round magazines. After trying to go through 50 rounds with the extensions, I finally gave up and had the extensions removed. Even the range manager fired my 42 with the extensions and had the same stovepipes, misfires and issues I had. Our conclusion was that the 6 round springs in a now-8 round magazine simply lacked the force needed to rechamber the next round. I have had not one problem since reverting back to the original 6 round magazine. If the extensions work for other folks, great, but just a cautionary tale for those who don't like wasting money.
Loved all your knowledge, Mac. I'm a newbie at 69 years old and trying to decide on a gun. I'm traveling in a motor home with my dog and want security. Oscillating back and forth with the Ruger LC9 or the Smith & Wesson Shield. Now, will definitely look into the G42 380. Wow, you are a plethora of information. All yummy stuff to consider. Thank you very much.
Excellent differentiation between the utility of a .380 and a 9mm. The .380 is a good round. Excellent exposition on eventually going to a 9mm. When I worked out of an American Embassy in a foreign country years ago we were issued .380's because anything of a higher caliber was illegal in that country. I've never used a .380 in a fight but had the opportunity to twice brandish and avoid the fight. Sorry you have to live in a ten round state.
Go to the shooting range and tryout several guns before making a final decision. It is money well spent. When you make your decision shoot enough ammo until you are thoroughly familiar wirh all of the functions of thw gun. You should dedicate a minumum of 2 boxes, 100 rounds, ro this deed. I know that in today's world that this can be difficult but please do your best. The biggest mistake new shooters make with their new gun is to only shoot 1 magazine or cylinder load and falsely think that they are ready to take on the world in a gun fight. This kind of mindset will get YOU killed, period.... Be safe and train with your firearms as often as you can
Great video Mac, I prefer to carry my .45 1911 in the colder months and my Glock 43x the rest of the time, but for deep concealment the 42 has always been my favorite. Yes there are much smaller .380s on the market but I find the 42 to be so much more shootable and highly reliable. I carry 90gr +P Underwood Xtreme Penetrator rounds in it. You get wound channels similar if not better than JHP but don’t have to worry about it not expanding due to short barrel length because its a non expanding projectile. I’ve found it to be the perfect companion for the Glock 42. God bless you both and stay safe brother.
I enjoy my S&W M&P Shield 2.0 EZ 9mm. It’s a touch bigger than your ideal conceal carry but the safety measure taken by S&W applied to the gun are very good confidence builders for a new owner. I keep one in the chamber and safety off but still have the grip safety to rely on. The easy slide manipulation is great for new shooters as well.
I am not a great fan of Glocks but the Glock 42 and the Glock 43 are excellent pistols as long as you understand the "safety mechanism" and how it works. And I have several ProMag magazines that work flawlessly. I'm not saying some people haven't had problems but my mags have been fine. And it is the only option for some pistols.
There is no perfect gun for everyone. Everyone has different hands, budget, firearm availability (depending where you live), recoil limits....... My perfect carry gun for my lifestyle, dressing style, work environment, money situation.... is my Taurus 605 snub nose revolver in 357 magnum.
I'm an instructor and I teach that the fit in the hand is the first most important thing to consider. Go to a big box gun store and tell the clerk you want to grip as many pistols as possible. As you grip the pistol your shooting hand thumb ought to wrap around and connect with your middle finger at the tip or some place along the finger nail. The thumb going past the cuticle indicates the grip is too small. All different rounds cause recoil. A compact 9 mm will recoil more than a full duty size pistol. A 9 mm round loaded to "light recoil" specification will recoil less. My wife is 5'10 inches tall and 140 lbs (size 9) she prefers her S&W M&P Shield 380 EZ to any pistol she could own. I'm 5'9" 250 lbs (size 2 XL) and I prefer my Sig 365 XL for CCW over any other pistol in the safe.
Mac and stav I love your videos. I have the Ruger LCP Max and I love it. I love shooting in the range. I have small hands and the Ruger fits my hand perfectly.
Newbie here ... love this channel, both Stav and Mac. Great information always! My first purchase as a new gun owner was the S&W 380EZ, and love it. But, I have a very small frame and absolutely nothing to help conceal this gun ... it's just a bit too large. Watched this video and many others, then spoke to an instructor at a self-defense class, and he recommended the Glock 42 as well. It is his everyday carry gun as well. Just made my purchase and look forward to putting some rounds through the Glock 42!!! Thanks for the complete review Mac!
I carry the G3c. But my wife really enjoys her mini glock. EVERYTHING Mac said is correct. It works flawlessly, no recoil, reset, concealment, everything. It just works.
If I had to conceal carry a 380 in summer conditions, the Glock 42 would have been my first choice,...until recently. I've heard there is a Sig P365 in .380 coming out.
Hi Mac! Terrific video content as always. I bought my wife a Glock 42 a couple years ago. She found that the light weight made it snappy for her and she stovepipe nearly every other round. I love it and I use it when I pocket carry with a Sticky holster. We rented a Shield EZ 380 and a Shield EZ 9mm and she had great success with both. Extremely easy to load mags, the light springs for internal hammer make it easy to rack, and more weight helps lower recoil and no more stovepipes. Only problem was we both tripped the lever safety during recoil sometimes (very bad problem). Deb now has her Shield EZ 9mm safety delete and she loves it! I have a Glock 43 so we can really stock up on 9mm range and self-defense rounds. These are all wonderful single stack concealed carry guns.
Great information sir! We have several Glocks, and my wife has adopted our G42 as her daily carry. We have a Pearce +1 on the mag, it’s 100% reliable. Wonderful little pistol.
A note for that if you are at the range maybe break gun down at range once clear to do basic cleaning. I did that at first til i was comfortable cleaning at home.
I’m not new to guns. I live in Mississippi we can carry concealed or open carry with limitations. We have castle doctrine. My first gun I bought is a Glock 21 then a G2C and then a smith and Wesson 686-6. I’ve been watching y’all for a little while now you both are very informative keep it up god bless.
On another channel people were bashing the 380ez because it was not as small as the Rugar LCP 380 Max.it amazes me that some people can't comprehend that people come in all shapes and sizes. That includes hand size, recoil sensitivity just to name a few. The longer barrel of both the ez and Mac's choice allows for more velocity. Bigger grip allows for a better grip and hopefully more control. It also amazes me that on most channels the 1st gun is always a light weight high capacity micro 9. What ever happened to cutting your teeth on a 22? Just my thoughts. Thank you for your video.
The Glock 42 is my truck and occasional pocket carry pistol. Using a cartridge with an XTP hollow point bullet makes it a very decent self defense option. It is small, light and the slide racks very easily compared to most other automatic pistols. Mine have the Vickers Tactical + 2 extensions. Obviously I agree with all the points you made, great review and advice!
I started shooting on a M & P 40 cal so anything after that was easier! I wanted a 380 but they were difficult to find, along with the ammo. Thanks for a very informative video!
Mac, agree on all points. I also hope you two look at the WALTHER P380 in her "carry series"... My wife carries S&W 380EZ and she loves it... Nice job Mac...
38spc. Best starter gun. I still carry one for off duty carry. Chances your going to run into ISIS in America is nonexistent. Whatever you carry, practice with it. Hard to find ammo I know. You have to work with what you have though.
Excellent video. The only point I will differ on is the use of after market mags or mag parts. OEM only in my book. If you are buying a Glock for its reliability, why compromise that inherent feature with aftermarket mags or mag parts. P.S. I think a Glock 48 sized .380acp would be a huge winner with a segment of shooters. Nice work.
Bought my wife a G42 for her first pistol. I liked the way it handled. We moved to a G43 for the simple reason of having to buy only one size ammo. It also works great. Always love the videos!
Good info Mac ,, after being around new gun owners and shooters and their choice is made to purchase a handgun ,, I have begun to encourage a fundamentals class on their particular weapon .(no ammo) Many nowadays have never fired a handgun before their purchase and all they think they know is learned from a RU-vid video.. every make and model has differences .. ..As for the .380 round ,, I'd not like to be on the receiving side of that conflict .. all the smaller rounds (mouse guns) were made for a purpose .. and work well in trained hands..
What is your opinion on the Browning 1911 380? It's 85% the full size 1911, pretty light, fantastic fit for a woman's hand and the smaller size helps with concealment.
The only problem I have with 380 is the price of the ammo. I have carried 380 in the past and never had a worry about it. I carried a Bersa Thunder 380. Good little pistol. Gave it to my daughter for protection. If you are having problems working the slide on a new gun make sure the gun is unloaded. Then just start working the slide. This strengthens the muscles you use to rack the slide and works the newness out of the slide spring. I get a new gun I will do this while watching TV.
Mac Great review! Great insights from someone in law enforcement and who conceal carries as a private citizen as well. Have had the G42 for a few years and LOVE it. So easy to carry and shoot.
May I commend the Sig P238. It was my first carry gun, pocket carry. Due to the trigger, as a novice shooter, it felt like Excalibur, I was quite accurate with it early on. I subsequently learned a lot more, got less accurate with it and more accurate with full sized, and eventually got more accurate and faster with everything. I've upgraded to a p938 since I do think the 380 is underpowered, but fine for general use. I have large hands, and certainly things work better with an extended mag, but it stopped mattering. (NB: Bond's classic gun, the PPK, was .32acp, not .380).
