Revolver guy goes Glock?

I learned to shoot with revolvers. Tried some autos including various Glocks but never warmed to them. They came and went and I kept returning to DA wheel guns. I think the bridge was the Sig P22X series. Then when I looked at the Gen 4 Glocks, there was enough different to make me want to try once more to like them.

I figured if I could get used to country music, I could get used to a Glock. So I decided to just try really hard to adapt to the ergonomics, and I did. Now they're my preferred pistols, and the DA revolvers in .38 and .357 are slowly disappearing down the road.

The 43 is very comparable in size to the 42. So if you like your wife's 42, you will like the 43. The 48 and 43X will have a slightly wider grip and is longer too. So if the 42 and 43 are too short but the 19 is too wide for you, then the 43X/48 should be a good fit.

Like you, I am a revolver guy, with a S&W Model 19-4 4" bbl, a S&W Model 60 (.38 spl) 1 7/8" bbl, and a Dan Wesson 715 with 6" and 2" bbls.

My first semiauto was a Glock 26 Gen 3. Many years later, I got my wife a Glock 42 when it first came out, and she loves it. The G43 is slightly larger, and the 48 larger still. The G48 is more or less a slim version of a G19.

You might also wish to consider the G43X, which is the G43 slide length married to a G48 grip, and uses the same G48 10 round magazines.

If you are considering IWB concealment, the 43, 43X, or 48 will all conceal about the same. If you are thinking pocket carry, I would only consider the .380 G42, and that is pushing it. I wear tactical pants and can barely pocket carry my wife's G42 in a Galco pocket holster. But I liked it so much that I ended up with an LCP that I pocket carry daily, and love it.

So it really comes down to how you plan to carry for your work.

Even though I give certain folks a bit of grief in the "capacity wars" threads I do see the value of autos. It certainly is wise to avoid falling into the "emotional connection" or "I'm a revolver guy!" trap when discussing guns for serious purposes. I can imagine myself switching to an auto for daily carry, but the amount of work it would take for me to become competent with one is considerable, and with today's gun/ammunition/reloading situation, I'm not planning on starting any time soon.

That said, I have never been able to manage the Glock trigger and would most likely carry something along the lines of the 1911. For those who can use it well, though, the Glock seems like a fine tool.

My on and off duty carry is a Glock 19 Gen 5. I have little bitty girly hands (no offense meant to girls) so I also had a G48. However, even for my mouse hands the grip of the G48 just seems too slim and small.

48 and be done with it.

My 43X has been my carry for about 2 years now. Love it. Get Shield 15 round mags.

Now of course you could always go with this handgun and have the best of both worlds...





I went with the 43X MOS when I became chained to my desk and no longer do the things at work that I used to. For over a decade I carried my Glock 34 in either a Safariland paddle or drop/thigh rig or a Glock 19 for suit and tie dignitary protection details. The bigger guns started pushing into my hip and wearing on my sciatic nerve, so I had to get something smaller before I made myself miserable.

The 43X combined the 48 grip and 43 slide, so it’s a 10+1 (OEM standard) gun rather than the lower capacity 6+1 of the compact 43. Aftermarket mags can bring it to 15 rounds, but I’ve stayed stock with mine. (I think a mag release swap for a metal part should be done to keep the metal aftermarket mags from chewing up the mag release.)

In my mid-sized grip the 43X is perfect, but as with every Glock I had to round a bit off the right side of the trigger guard so I don’t get a blister on the side of my right hand middle finger.



Either the 48 or 43X should work for you. If you’ll be driving or sitting a lot with your gun hip-holstered, the 43X and it’s shorter barrel won’t dig into the seat and push up into your side/hip as much ... which is why I went with it.

Whatever you choose, let us know how it carries snd shoots for you when you get a chance.

Stay safe.

Glock 43X with a +1 Grip extension that’s 12 rounds. 11+1 In a IWB holster like this one.

For driving, and then delivery, I would go either 42 or 43. They disappear on your hip(43) or pocket(42). And they are both accurate and reliable. And they weight nothing on your hip in the right holster. I use a Stealth Operator Multi holster and it carries the 43 or G26 nicely in it. Will get a JM Custom OWB soon me thinks.

The 43X and 48 are both nice, but for me, I don’t see either of them being any better carrying while driving or working then a G26 or even G19. Just a tad slimmer. Where the 43 you can use extended mags and get 8 rounds if you wanted, same with the 42. But you can’t make the 43X/ 48 smaller.

Colder weather hits and I’m in the barn and kennel, my G26 is in a shoulder holster under a hoodie. It’s protected from straw and shaving dust and other gunk. Or my 42 is in an Alabama Holster in my pocket with the same protection.

I found I can carry a 43X/48 in an OWB holster while working and driving around, but it’s about the same as a G19 so I don’t do it. Besides, if I’m carrying OWB it’s my Ruger Blackhawk in 10mm for the win in coolness. LOL

Well if it makes you feel any better, I love both Glocks and revolvers, those seriously are the only two types of guns other than maybe rimfire that I'm interested in. I've had the G42 and it's an incredible shooting 380, by far the best shooting 380 out there. I also have a G43X, basically a G43 with a little bit longer grip (not double stack) that holds 10rds. I like it real well.

WestKentucky said:

I need a single stack if I go Glock.

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Forgive me for continuing to think of the G36 every time I read that.

WestKentucky said:

I think it’s time to seriously consider an auto rather than the revolvers I normally carry.

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Why? "Because I want to" is obviously a valid answer but I'm curious as to what brought you to this conclusion.

My kid and I both accidentally ride the slide stop on the 43 and cause the slide to lock back way too often.

A Houge grip sleeve fixed this problem.

Definitely need to test the heck out of whatever gun you choose to carry because I’ve never accidentally locked the slide back on any gun I’ve ever shot, until the 43.

There are plenty of excellent semi-auto guns to choose from so you needn't be confined to a Glock something or other. Go shopping.

I prefer the g42 to the other tiny glocks. I've shot the g43, it's fine but I like the shooting characteristics of the 380 better. Ammo selection is crucial if you decide on a 380 but with that being said, it will certainly get the job done. The only advantage the 43 offers is more powerful cartridges , which isn't really desirable in such a small gun (to me).

I carry a g42 in hot months when I'm lightly dressed and a g30 the rest of the time. The 42 is not a pocket gun, a bit to large to work well (for me) but it's a tiny belt gun that is really comfortable and easy to conceal. I use underwoods loading of xtreme penetrators feel pretty well armed for social work.

Yes look at as many different pistols as you can and find the one that suits you the best.

I'm not one that is stuck on just a few brands and nothing else. If it fits my hands and I shoot it well, I'll buy it.

Plan2Live said:

Why? "Because I want to" is obviously a valid answer but I'm curious as to what brought you to this conclusion.

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I was thinking the same.

doubleh said:

There are plenty of excellent semi-auto guns to choose from so you needn't be confined to a Glock something or other. Go shopping.

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Little bit blasphemous, but some truth there.
Seriously, lots of solid smaller pistols out there. Taurus GX4 and Ruger’s Max 380 are in my radar.

Obturation said:

I prefer the g42 to the other tiny glocks. I've shot the g43, it's fine but I like the shooting characteristics of the 380 better. Ammo selection is crucial if you decide on a 380 but with that being said, it will certainly get the job done. The only advantage the 43 offers is more powerful cartridges , which isn't really desirable in such a small gun (to me).

I carry a g42 in hot months when I'm lightly dressed and a g30 the rest of the time. The 42 is not a pocket gun, a bit to large to work well (for me) but it's a tiny belt gun that is really comfortable and easy to conceal. I use underwoods loading of xtreme penetrators feel pretty well armed for social work.

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Good choice, the UWs, but with the longer barrel of the G42 it really helps any 380 HP out.