SW 642 vs Glock 26

[defjon]

I did a search and came up with an old CCW thread about these two. Well, I live in IL, so CCW ain't legal. I have the 26, I shoot it well. It doesn't have any problems beyond the fact that I have a lead on a never-fired 642 for 385 out the door cash (seems like a good deal).

I'm thinking of parting with the 26, buying the 642, and hopefully pocketing a few bucks for ammo.

You know how we gun guys often agonize over choices like this Help me out!

[defjon]

I should add that I'm much more of a revolver guy vs an auto guy, and that the 31 round glock mag is eating me out of house and home. I know you should never sell off a gun that works and is accurate, but I'm really excited about the 642, and when I do move here in about 2 years after school is done, the 642 is a lot more likely to get carried as the 26 is just too heavy for stuffing in a coat pocket.

I hope I don't get flamed but I always liked the 26 as a SHTF TEOTWAWKI gun. In one little glock case you can have two 31 round factory stick mags, 3 ten round mags and 2 twelve round mags with pinky extensions, all in a case that packs easy and relatively light. You wouldn't really NEED anymore than that realistically. But, I like to get out of that line of thinking. I imagine a 642 and a pocketful of shells would see you through some unlikely senario just the same.

[dnoub-idras]

My bias has been semi-autos...but I admit the two words I have for the 642 is "nice and easy." Did I add lightweight and for the price you stated, I would take it.

[spacecoast]

Make sure you try the 642, I shot a friend's and had trouble controlling it vertically even with target ammo. I believe it had the standard grips, Hogue grips may have helped that situation as my 637 with Hogues is much much easier to shoot accurately DA.

385 for a 642 is a good deal, but not a steal.

[EdInk]

I think it would be a good idea.

[AK103K]

I have both, shoot both, like the 26 better, but wont give up the 642 either.

If it were me, I wouldnt sell the 26 to buy the 642. I think you should still figure a way to get the 642, just so you can have one to know and understand them.

I think you'll find the only plus to the 642 is, it weighs less and is slightly smaller. Other than that, pretty much everything else is a negative compared to the 26.

[jc650]

I have both, kind of. A SW MP 340 and a G26. The 26 is a great shooter but the lightweight of the 340 wins most of the time for carry reasons. I have no trouble with 38 ammo of any kind. If I couldnt carry though, I would keep the 26.

[kraigwy]

I carry a 642 and have no problem with it.

How ever I have never traded a gun that I later didnt regret getting rid of. No more, if I find another gun I want, I'm buying it, I wont sell or trade any more guns.

Don't you have any kids you can sell or hock so you can have both guns?

[Don P]

Keep the G26 and buy the 642. You can never have TOO MANY guns.
If all else fails put the gloves on the 2 guns, let them fight it out and see who wins.

[mnhntr]

I would rather have the 642

[natjohnb]

I have owned both the G26 and the 642, and while I regret selling both, the one I really miss is the 642.

I do plan on buying another J-frame in the future...another Glock? Meh, I shoot them well and they are reliable, so maybe if I found a deal, but I don't really care either way...

[Laker]

Being a revolver guy, and not fond of Glocks, I would prefer the 642. I've got a 442 and carry it a lot.

[TRaGiK]

I had a 442 (black version of the 642) and the Glock 27 (.40 version of the otherwise identical G26), and have shot the G26.

The 27 was MUCH easier for me to shoot well, compared to the 442. The G26 is a pussycat compared to either. Personally, I'd keep the G26. It's alot more fun to shoot than the 442/642.

[tjhands]

Well, if you're drooling over the J-frame then go ahead and get it but I think you'll come to regret seeling/trading your G26 to make the purchase. I really do.

[TailGator]

I carried a 642 for several years. Then I bought a G26 and within a couple of months I realized that I was not going to carry the 642 again and I sold it.

I am sure you have considered capacity and concealment issues. But the deciding factors for me were, first, that I was considerably more accurate with the Glock and, second, that my wife and daughters were all extremely more comfortable with the Glock. The 642 is not called "Airweight" for nothing - the same lack of mass that makes it easy to forget in your pocket also makes recoil a problem in those little guns for a lot of people.

I have to say I enjoy range time a lot more with the Glock than I ever did with the 642. And when my girls come home from college, one of the things they ask to do is to go shooting with Dad! No takers back when the 642 was the only option.

Just one more factor to consider, especially if there are women in your life.

[Hoss Fly]

I should add that I'm much more of a revolver guy vs an auto guy

That should answer the question

[skydiver3346]

Thats easy. I would keep the Glock 26 if I was you. Got a model 442 (similar to 642) and a Glock 26. No comparison in accuracy, recoil and fire power. The Glock carries 10+1 in the chamber and the 642 only packs 5 shots.
Now I will admit that the 642 is a little easier for carry as it is thinner, lighter, etc. But thats about it when comparing the two guns in my opinion.

[fustache44]

Borrow or rent the 642 and make sure it's for you before you buy it. If you're good with the Glock, why change it up?

* I carry a 638, so I'm biased towards the revolver, but shoot what suits you.. I also own a Glock 19, it just doesn't do for all situations.

[Deaf Smith]

defjon,

Don't sell the Glock but get the 642.

I have both and I pack both. They serve different purposes but complement each other well.

And think of it this way, your 26 might one day be confiscated for evidence if you have to defend yourself. That 642 will come in handy then as it will give you something to defend yourself with and not have any waiting period to purchase it.

Never hurts to have a spare gun around the house to!

[Shadi Khalil]

I'm partial to semi's, the 26.

[dawgfvr]

Both are "must have" weapons. Each for different occassions and separate situations.

The 642 in a Mika pocket holster is the quickest presenting weapon I own...and travels with me often.

Need more firepower when going out of the green zone? Fine...the G26 in a MTAC is just what the doctor ordered.

Me...I cannot do without both of these weapons...they are my go to defensive weapons.

[Mosin44az]

You can always get another Glock, they are everywhere. Price has crept up over the last 15 years or so, but not as much as Smith revolvers. They are a good bet used also, it's easy to tell if a Glock is in good condition, so you can pick up another G26 someday used. The 642 conceals more easily as well.

[Dave Chuppa]

I have both and would not be without either. I broght both to Florida on Vacation. The 442 is all ways in my off hand pocket and the G26 is in or on the waist. I somtimes switch my waist band gun to a 357 snub but, the 442 stays as backup.

[stargazer65]

I agree with dawgfvr...

It's not a choice or a simple matter of preference, it's a hard and fast requirement. You need both guns.

[fastbolt]

I have both and would not get rid of either.

However, I can shoot both well, and that may not be the case with someone else. That's important. If I couldn't shoot either of them well I wouldn't own or carry whichever one I couldn't shoot well.

In my case they serve similar roles, but are somewhat differently suited to different carry methods I use, which are influenced by my activities and manner of dress. Some of the jackets, jeans, slacks & shorts in which I can easily pocket (holster) carry my 642 don't allow me to do the same with my G26.