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Glock 43
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- Design Features
- Build Quality
- Recoil
- Fun Factor
3.8/5Overall Score
Specs
- Weight: 17.99 oz
- Capacity: 6 Rounds
- Caliber: 9x19
- Barrel Length: 3.41"
Pros
- Concealability
- Reliability
- Price
Cons
- Magazine Capacity
I have long been a “Glock Fanboy” I take no effort in hiding my long love of Glock handguns. I have written so little on Glock pistols because I don’t know I will give them a fair assessment, but that ends today with the Glock 43.
I’ll run down the good, bad, and ugly of the Glock 43 and if it still holds up against the ever-improving Sig P365 and the likes of the Springfield Hellcat.
Features
Glock 43s aren’t known to pack many features compared to their older, larger, more established counterparts like the Glock 17. But they are known to be nearly bomb-proof and function when needed.
Time to dive into the features of the Glock 43.
Grip/Ergonomics
The Glock 43 feels good and is probably one of the best-feeling guns in your hand in the Glock lineup. The 43 series and the 48 series are both ergonomically fantastic guns.
The gun comes with a magazine with a pinky extension, my favorite mag, and a flat mag that maximizes concealability.
The Glock 43 might not be your gun if you have large hands. I’d recommend the 43X or the 48, both of which feature a longer frame length.
Sights
The Glock 43 has fixed sights, usually a white dot front sight and a white outline rear sight.
This is where I think Glock stock pistols are garbage. While their night sight options are okay, the stock sights don’t do the gun justice.
The sights are the first and sometimes only thing I change on a Glock. My go-to sights are the Trijicon HD nights sights. The blacked-out rear sights and the single orange eliminated front sight are great.
These sights can be upgraded or replaced with aftermarket options to suit individual preferences.
Magazine Capacity
Where the Glock 43 fails in comparison to its counterpart, the Sig P365, is it doesn’t have a high magazine capacity, even for a subcompact gun these days.
From the factory, the gun only holds six rounds in either included magazine, whereas its counterparts hold 10+1 even on a bad day.
This is one of the most significant drawbacks the Glock 43 has from a functionality standpoint, and with Glock’s other offerings, it has likely almost killed off a market for the started Glock 43.
Controls
One of the primary reasons I like Glocks is because their controls and function are nearly universal across their entire line of pistols.
Many people don’t like that Glocks look dull, but with boring comes comfort and consistency while training and shooting.
In fact, at one point when I was carrying a Glock 17 every day for work purposes, I got rid of nearly all my other calibers of Glock pistol and only carried the Glock 17 and Glock 19 exclusively; keep in mind this was pre-Glock 43/43x/48 series pistols were released.
Magazine Release
Magazine releases on pistols are one of the top three most important controls, which is why I include them in every pistol review.
The Glock 43 adopted the Gen 4 wider by more low profile magazine release. This is one of the better tweaks Glock has made to their pistol over the years.
It makes it easy to locate with your thumb and pressing it is smooth and easy.
Slide Lock
Unfortunately, Glock didn’t get into the ambidextrous slide lock/release game until the Gen 5 Glocks were released.
So this is another apparent downside to the standard Glock 43. But if you are set on the Glock 43 series, don’t let this change your mind. Since the guns are all in the Gen 4 category, none feature ambidextrous slide locks.
I’ve never been a fan of Glock’s slide locks, and they are hard to drop in a pinch and sit far to close to the gun on most models.
The good news is there is an aftermarket slide lock release lever that adds a small bunch to the lever and makes it much easier to use and function the pistol.
Trigger
I know it seems like I’m hard on the Glock controls, and I am, but that’s because the Gen 5 series stepped up what was to be expected from a Glock.
One thing that Glock hasn’t had to make adjustments on is their safe action trigger. This trigger to me is one of the best factory triggers for a carry gun you can buy.
I love the safe action trigger and can’t get enough of it. But keep in mind that I great up pulling a Glock trigger since I was about 16 years old.
Accessories
One of the well-known criticisms of Glock is they claim “perfection” while having arguably the largest market of aftermarket parts for any gun besides the AR-15.
Some accessories like range bags and concealed carry holsters wouldn’t make sense for Glock to make, but you’d think the options would be less necessary when it comes to slides, triggers, and sights.
Range Bag
When it comes to having a range bag for your Glock, we here at Lynx Defense have you covered.
The pistol range bag is the go-to for nearly any Glock, especially the Glock 43, as our standard and modular inserts will work for either!
Red Dot Sights
Unfortunately, the Glock 43 does not have a MOS mounting system. You must get the Glock 43X MOS platform to attach a red dot sight to the gun without milling or changing the slide.
Holsters
Holsters for the Glock 43 are extremely easy to find, but finding a quality Glock 43 holster isn’t always as easy.
The Glock 43 was a Glock built for concealed carry; much like the Glock 19 was easy to conceal in its day, the 43 took it a step further.
Harry’s Holsters
My go-to IWB holster for the Glock 43 is the Harry’s Holster’s Infiltrator. This is hardly the cheapest holster on the market, but I’m a big believer that you get what you pay for.
Harry’s design methods and features, like the built-in wing, rounded edges, and the fact it works great even without a belt, keep me coming back to this brand for holsters.
Aesthetics
The Glock aesthetics lack what many other guns have since the Glock hasn’t changed the look of their pistols in years. The best you will get is a new grip texture and some slide serrations.
What notorious Glock hater Brad and I have talked about in depth is Glock is missing what Sig Sauer is currently offering: Custom Shop.
Sig Sauer’s Custom Works offers buyers the chance to make the gun while not expanding the number of dedicated SKUs that Sig offers.
Glock could quickly release some new slide designs and offer similar Custom Works and buy them some time to innovate and come up with something new for the market.
Ammo
Glock 43’s exclusive eat 9mm ammo and please for the love of all things holy don’t try anything else.
Glocks are well known to be extremely forgiving when it comes to ammo so the world is your oyster when it comes to selecting what to shoot.
I stick to standard 115 GR round nose for the range and typically carry Gold Dot hollow points for self defense.
Glock 43 vs Glock 43X
The long and the short of the differences between these two guns are pretty simple. The Glock 43x has a slightly wider and longer frame than the Glock 43.
The Glock 43X offers an MOS version whereas the Glock 43 does not offer an MOS version.
That is really the only major functional difference in the two guns.
Shooting
Shooting the Glock 43 is a bit snappy compared to the Glock 19 or other larger models that offer some size and weight to reduce some of the felt recoil.
However, shooting the Glock 43 is still manageable and gives you the normal Glock experience you are familiar with.
Personally, I don’t enjoy shooting the Glock 43 without the pinky base plate magazine. It just feels un-natural with your pinky hanging off the bottom of the grip frame.
Final Thoughts
Glock pistols are known for their reliability and durability. The Glock 43 inherits these characteristics, offering a reliable firearm for self-defense purposes.
The 9mm chambering provides good stopping power while maintaining manageable recoil.
FAQ
Is A Glock 43 worth the money?
Yes, the Glock 43 is a great concealed carry pistol. But it does lack some features that similar models have and for nearly the same price point.
What kind of bullets does a Glock 43 hold?
The Glock 43 shoots 9mm.
What is the smallest Glock 9mm?
The Glock 43 and the Glock 43X are the smallest in the Glock 9mm lineup. There is also the Glock 26 that has some smaller features but is thicker in the frame and slide.
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