Glock 43 recoil??

If you didn't like the Kahr, you aren't going to like the G43 either. The Kahr p380 and Glock 42 are much easier on recoil.

The Glock G42 is a pleasure to shoot, but it is a 380.

The 43 has substantial recoil for a 9mm, I put +1 extensions on my mags to improve grip surface area. The S&W shield recoils less.

I've carried a Glock 19 since 2001 as my primary CCW. In 2008 I bought a Kahr PM9 as I'd just moved from the Seattle area to Titusville, Florida and I wanted a smaller 9mm pistol to carry when wearing hot weather, thin fabric clothing. I relocated back to the Seattle area a couple of years ago and in March of this year I bought a Glock 43 for my primary CCW. My wife liked shooting it so much that I bought her her own.

I find the G43 to have a surprisingly mild recoil. I replaced the factory connector with the Ghost Edge connector and the trigger pull is very smooth. I also installed a Houge Hand-All Jr. onto the grip as the pistol was shifting slightly in my grip when I fired it.

I also installed Pearce finger extension base plates to all my magazines, even going so far as to replace the factory finger extension baseplate to keep all my magazines consistent.

Finally, I replaced the factory sights with Wilson Combat Vickers Battle Sights, with the front sight on mine have a gold dot and the green fiber optic on my wife's pistol.

Every time I shoot my G43 I'm amazed at how little the recoil is. I handload 124gr bullets at 1189 fps for training and load our pistols with Federal HST 147gr for carry.

Being in Kansas, you should have little trouble finding a public range which rents a #43. If it worries you very much, driving to such a range should come under the heading of "research".

Passed on the glock 43

SNIPER,

I carry a GLOCK 42 as my off duty gun and tried the slightly larger 43. I cannot recommend it.
I have shot the GLOCK 43, SMITH & WESSON Shield, KAHR CW9 and did not want to shoot any of them, again.
I could shoot a full 50 rounds, but would not want do it again. The recoil is something you have to decide for yourself. I would recommend renting one and shooting a full 50 rounds before buying it.
If at the end of 50 rounds, you feel fine, then go with it. If like me, it wears on you, then pass.

A painful gun is one you will not practice with and that is a gun you do not need.

Jim

OP, I find the G43 to be quite manageable and not bad on recoil. I do recommend that you rent one first and put some rounds through it.

Yea, shoot one first. Like someone said, if you don't like the Kahr you probably won't like the 43. Comparing the 43 to the pm9, I actually think the Kahr is a little softer shooting.

FWIW I tried a Kahr CM-9 for awhile. Recoil wasn't that bad though I could not keep it from moving a little. Ultimately I just couldn't (didn't want to) deal with the trigger. A lifetime of SA revolver fire (on Colt target guns) and 1911's...too big a leap. The Glock will be better here but I'd leave the stock trigger alone.

I had a glock 43 but ended up selling it and getting a glock 42. For me, the 43 would slap my trigger figure and rub it saw for some reason. Never had that problem with any other glock. I find the shield shoots quite a bit smoother for me. Also found that trigger had a little sharp plastic molding left in the middle of the trigger so that could have contributed as well.

However, the more I've been thinking about it I'm starting to wonder if the grip was slipping/jumping out of my hand when shooting. I added talon grips to my shield and 42 and get a solid purchase and honestly shoot it better.

That being said, I'm tempted to get another 43 and putting talon grips on it to see if that solves the problem. Overall though, I Think it's a great option and perfect size For cc.

I have one and carry it often in the summer, recoil will be a personal thing but for me I find it kicks a little to hard for me to enjoy shooting it much at the range. Since I carry it quite a bit I do make time to practice with it, however I do realize that in my hands it certainly has its limitations (I consider it a 5-7 yard gun). I hear the Shield may have less felt recoil but I've never shot one.

Sniper66 said:

I'm trying to decide whether or not to buy a Glock 43 9mm. My concern is recoil. I shot a Kahr of similar size and disliked the harsh recoil. I may get the same thing with the small Glock, but my past experience with Glocks is that the balance of them tends to reduce recoil. I'm wondering if someone out there has experience with both. Another question here might be, which pistol of that general size has the best recoil? I will appreciate any help you can offer.

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I have R9 close range defense pistol and though recoil is rather harsh I have no problem hitting dixie plate every time at 10 paces or less. If I was in need of subcompact single stack 9mm pistol I would probably buy the Shield.

my 5' 120lb wife carrys and shoots a G43, she has not complained to me about excessive recoil.

I prefer to shoot my G17,G21 or my 1911

Sniper66 said:

I think going to a rental range is a good idea. There's one about 35 miles away, so I'll head over there next week. Thanks for all the input.

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You will have to let us know what you think once you shoot it.

FL-NC said:

The 43 has substantial recoil for a 9mm, I put +1 extensions on my mags to improve grip surface area. The S&W shield recoils less.

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That it is, and quite accurate! I have both the 42 and 43 along with 26 and others.

With Winchester FMJ 9mm, the 43 it's easy to shoot. I use Federal HST JHPs and they shoot right on (as does the Winchester FMJ.) Cases eject very concomitantly on the ground in a nice pile.

Deaf

Recoil is subjective. Shooting them back to back I found the G43 to recoil slightly more than the Kahr PM9, while my brother in law thought the Glock was slightly better. They are very similar in any case. As noted above you won't like the Glock if you didn't like the Kahr. Perhaps with mag extensions felt recoil might be mitigated somewhat.

I had a G 43 ...few pistols i dislike--the G 43 is one, but recoil was one of the factors i got rid of it. Also it never really fit my hand the way i want a pistol to, that and a buddy traded me a Sig P 238 and a dozen mags, one of the few pistols i have parted with. Odd because I have a G 42 that I dearly love to carry ---that and my Sig P 938 are my favorite carry pistols and also neat shooters.

I've had a kahr CW9 and own a G43. They are WORLDs different when it comes to recoil. The kahr has a really TREMENDOUS recoil impulse for some reason. The G43 is much more managable. Not to mention I didn't like the long trigger pull of the kahr. the G43 is much shorter, as are most Glocks. but the G43 tends to be a heavier pull than most Glocks, easily remedied though.

The Walther PPS seemed to have a more mild recoil than most of the other single stack 9s that I've tried.

Zendude said:

The Walther PPS seemed to have a more mild recoil than most of the other single stack 9s that I've tried.

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Agreed, and for a few reasons: 1) weight - it's pretty heavy for a single stack polymer 9mm), 2) grip - with extended magazines it offers better grip/control than most of its peers, 3) low bore axis

As for the 43, as others have said, recoil is extremely subjective. My wife can shoot the 43 all day long, but her regular carry is a .40 G23, so she's not recoil-adverse.

The recoil on the 43 doesn't bother me but the tiny grips do (and I have very small hands for a guy).

Any 9mm handgun in this size/weight range is going to have significant recoil. But if you pay attention to aspects of the firearm that allow you to control it better (ergos) and work on your technique, you might find a good match.