Glock 42 Upgrades: Sights, Triggers, Mags & Holsters Ranked

The best first upgrade for a Glock 42 is the Pearce Grip +1 extension, not a sight set or trigger. The factory G42 grip is short enough that most shooters cannot get a full-finger hold, and the pinky-tuck stance compounds recoil management on a subcompact .380. The +1 fixes the grip, adds a round of capacity, and costs ten dollars. Sights come second because the factory polymer is brittle and the G42 has no optic cut.

The best magazine extension for a Glock 42 is the Pearce Grip +1 ($10) for carry and the Taran Tactical +2 ($27) for range and competition. The G42 ships with two flush 6-round magazines, and base-pad extensions are the only capacity-expansion path because no aftermarket double-stack or extended-body G42 mag exists. Pearce does NOT make a +2 for the G42 (the +2 in their lineup is the G43 part), so TTI is the only mainstream way to reach 8+1 .380 from a stock G42 magazine.

The Pearce +1 is a tool-less floorplate replacement that installs in under a minute and converts the pinky-tuck grip into a full three-finger hold. It is the single highest-impact G42 upgrade, more important than sights or a trigger swap. The TTI +2 trades concealment length for two extra rounds and a hard-anodized aluminum bumper that speeds reloads, making it the obvious range and belt-pouch pick. Most G42 owners run a Pearce +1 on the carry mag and a TTI +2 on spares.

The best night sights for a Glock 42 are the Trijicon HD XR ($160) for defensive use, the XS R3D ($102) at mid-tier, and the AmeriGlo I-Dot ($89) for value shoppers. All three replace the brittle factory polymer with steel and add tritium inserts for low-light acquisition. Slim-frame Glock sight SKUs vary across the lineup: some are cut for G42/43 only (Trijicon 600845, AmeriGlo AMGGL-105), some for G43X/48 only, and some fit all four (XS R3D GL-R014P-6G). Suppressor-height sets cut for the G43X MOS / G48 MOS optic-cut slides are taller and not interchangeable with standard-height G42/G43 sets. Verify the SKU and height before ordering.

Pick based on rear-sight preference. A blacked rear (Trijicon HD XR) forces front-sight focus under stress and is the defensive-shooting standard. An I-Dot rear (AmeriGlo I-Dot) puts a single tritium dot below the front for a fast vertical-line index. A standard three-dot rear (XS R3D) is more familiar but slower in dim light. For a deeper breakdown of defensive sight configurations across the Glock lineup, see our Glock 43 upgrades guide or the best .380 pistols guide for cross-platform sight comparisons.

The G42 trigger market is the thinnest of any current Glock. The reason is a different trigger bar geometry from both the full-size Glocks and the G43X/G48: most aftermarket trigger parts marketed as “fits all Glocks” or “fits slim frame Glocks” actually exclude the G42. Specifically, the Apex Action Enhancement Kit for slim-frame Glocks is G43/43X/48 only, and the Ghost Rocket connector explicitly does not fit either the G42 or G43. Two paths actually fit the G42.

The Overwatch Precision DAT drop-in kit ($95) is the only mainstream flat-face trigger built for the G42. It includes the trigger shoe, a connector, and a competition spring, and reduces pre-travel by roughly 20%. The Ghost Edge connector ($24) is the cheaper option: a drop-in connector swap that lightens the pull by about a pound and removes the factory pre-travel bump while keeping the curved factory shoe. For full-size Glock trigger options, see our best Glock triggers guide.

The Glock 42 lives or dies as a pocket gun. At 13.76 oz empty and 0.94 inches wide it is the only Glock that genuinely disappears in a front jeans pocket, and the holster choice is what makes pocket carry actually safe. The Vedder Pocket Locker ($60) is the kydex pocket pick: full trigger coverage, audible re-holster click, hook on the corner of the pocket so the holster stays put on draw. The DeSantis Nemesis ($35) is the soft-shell value alternative: cheaper, ships immediately, ambidextrous out of the box. The Sticky Holsters SM-5 ($28) is the beltless friction option for athletic wear or pocket-less outfits.

For traditional belt IWB the G42's slim profile fits most G43-cut kydex holsters, but verify with the manufacturer because the G42 outline is shorter and a G43 shell can let the slide rattle in a sloppy fit. For a broader holster comparison across pistol platforms, see our concealed carry holster guide.

The Glock 42 has no accessory rail, so a standard rail-mounted pistol light cannot mount. The Streamlight TLR-6 is the only mainstream weapon-light option, and it clamps directly to the trigger guard with a G42/G43-specific shell. Output is 100 lumens, well below duty-light tier (the X300U is 1,000 lumens), but adequate for room-clearing distances on a deep-concealment pistol. The 69280 SKU is light-only at $105; the 69270 SKU adds a red laser for $137.

If a real rail-mounted weapon light is non-negotiable for your use case, the answer is a different pistol. The Glock 43X MOS and 48 MOS both have factory rails and accept the 500-lumen Streamlight TLR-7 Sub at half the lumen-per-dollar cost of the TLR-6. The G42 is built for deep concealment where a rail-mounted light is overkill anyway. For pistol light comparisons across platforms, see our best pistol lights guide.

The best grip enhancement for the Glock 42 is Talon Grips ($28), a pre-cut adhesive overlay that adds granulate or rubber texture to the factory frame. It is the default G42 grip fix because it preserves frame dimensions and holster compatibility, installs reversibly in ten minutes, and costs under thirty dollars. The factory G42 grip texture is mediocre, which matters more on a subcompact with a short grip and a snappy locked-breech .380 recoil impulse.

Pick granulate (108G) for range, training, or shooters with dry hands who want maximum purchase. Pick rubber (108R) for concealed carry where the texture contacts skin through a thin cover shirt, since granulate can wear cover garments over time. Both variants preserve factory frame dimensions, so existing holsters continue to fit without modification.

The Glock 42 has no factory optic cut and the slide is too narrow for the full-size RMR or 509T cuts, so any milling must be done for the Shield RMSc footprint. Primary Machine, Agency Arms, and L2D Combat all run roughly $200-$300 for an RMSc cut, plus another $290-$400 for a Shield-footprint optic like the Holosun 507K X2 ($290), EPS Carry ($389), or SCS Carry ($360). Total cost: $490-$700 on top of the $499 pistol.

Run that math: you are at $1,000-$1,200 for an optic-ready .380 with 6+1 capacity and no rail. For $599 a Glock 43X MOS gives you a factory Shield RMSc cut, a factory rail (accepts the 500-lumen TLR-7 Sub), 10+1 capacity, and 9mm terminal performance. For another $50 a Glock 48 MOS gives you the same package with a longer 4.17-inch barrel. Milling the G42 only makes sense if you are emotionally attached to the gun and refuse to trade it; in every other scenario the 43X MOS or 48 MOS is the straightforward answer. For 9mm slim-frame Glock options, see our Glock 43X upgrades guide and Glock 48 upgrades guide.

If you are shopping G42 upgrades and finding the trigger and optic markets too thin, it is worth pricing the alternatives before committing another $500 in parts. The Ruger LCP MAX is 10+1 in .380 in a smaller envelope at roughly $379; the SIG P365-380 packages factory optic-ready slides in .380; the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 is the newest competitor at $449. For 9mm in the same single-stack envelope, the Glock 43 ($499) shares almost every accessory with the G42 (sights, holsters, light, grips) but adds meaningful terminal performance. Our best .380 pistols guide ranks the G42 against the LCP MAX, P238, P365-380, and Bodyguard 2.0. For ammo selection, see the best .380 ACP ammo guide for defensive load recommendations from the G42's 3.25-inch barrel. Compare specs side by side on the build comparison tool before spending.