Mark K
Active Member
I was posting about a year ago in the Reloading section about how picky my wife's new Glock 42 seemed to be with reload charges. With 100gn FMJ, I finally settled on 3.3gn of HP-38 powder. On the top end of what my Hornady Reloading Handbook recommends, and in fact a bit more than what Hodgdon recommends. But anything less, and I've found that the G42 doesn't cycle reliably. I've finally been able to chronograph this load, and it's averaging 820 fps from the G42's 3.3" barrel.
Those are reloads.
As unobtanium as factory .380 ammo has been in the last year (where are you guys finding it?), I also tried some factory ammo in the G42. With just a couple magazines' worth, Hornady XTP 90gn hollow-points were 100% reliable, chronographing at 1,013 fps. And Fiocchi 95gn FMJ were also 100% reliable, at 878 fps. Unfortunately neither type seems to be available online these days; I'll have to scour the local stores.
Since I was particularly interested in defense ammo, what I was really disappointed with was Inceptor ARX 56gn copper-polymer matrix ammo (attached). It's functioned perfectly in my Bersa Thunder 380CC, with impressive velocity (1,192 fps). I figure expansion with a .380 hollow point is dicey in any case; and at this velocity with an ARX bullet it won't matter much.
In 9mm Luger, I've had great reliable results with the similar NovX ARX ammunition.
But putting one extended 8-round magazine of Inceptor through the G42, not a single round functioned properly. All FTEs. Muzzle velocity was great (1,182 fps). But that doesn't help when the gun doesn't function.
Anyone have similar experience with the G42 and Inceptor ARX ammo?
Otherwise, what available defense ammo is reliable in the G42?
Those are reloads.
As unobtanium as factory .380 ammo has been in the last year (where are you guys finding it?), I also tried some factory ammo in the G42. With just a couple magazines' worth, Hornady XTP 90gn hollow-points were 100% reliable, chronographing at 1,013 fps. And Fiocchi 95gn FMJ were also 100% reliable, at 878 fps. Unfortunately neither type seems to be available online these days; I'll have to scour the local stores.
Since I was particularly interested in defense ammo, what I was really disappointed with was Inceptor ARX 56gn copper-polymer matrix ammo (attached). It's functioned perfectly in my Bersa Thunder 380CC, with impressive velocity (1,192 fps). I figure expansion with a .380 hollow point is dicey in any case; and at this velocity with an ARX bullet it won't matter much.
In 9mm Luger, I've had great reliable results with the similar NovX ARX ammunition.
But putting one extended 8-round magazine of Inceptor through the G42, not a single round functioned properly. All FTEs. Muzzle velocity was great (1,182 fps). But that doesn't help when the gun doesn't function.
Anyone have similar experience with the G42 and Inceptor ARX ammo?
Otherwise, what available defense ammo is reliable in the G42?