Glock 43X any thoughts?
- Thread starter gifbohane
- Start date
Dan-O
Member
I thought glock bulge was more of a problem with gen 2 and early gen 3 Glocks in .40
Been out of the Glock game for a while, but think you should be good to go with the 43x.
dogtown tom
Member
My 43X with PSA Micro Dagger mags and Holosun 407K has been my carry gun for over a year. I dont carry my LCP or G19 or G26 anymore.
I love mine.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
There is no Glock bulge with 9mm.
I had a G48. I wish I would have bought the 43x.
Glocks are very reliable. If the gun fits your hands you should be very happy with it.
EDIT: I also had a G43 and mounting that slide on my G48 made it a 43X. I liked it like that, but the grip size just didn’t work for me so rather than modify them I sold them.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,533
I liked all four of them (SIG P365X, Glock G48, Glock G43X, and S&W Shield Plus) so I just set about to get all four of them. Favorite is the P365X with the best ergos, balance and handling, and the best trigger. Coming in at a very close second place is the Shield Plus. Decent trigger and ergos it feels great in my hands. Tied for third the G48 and G43X both have okay triggers and handle nice enough. I just preferred the slightly longer slide and barrel of the G48.
vanfunk
Member
“Glock bulge” happens when you are wearing an ill-fitting appendix inside-the-waistband holster with your G43X! 
Just about every time I go to the LGS I look at and/or handle a 43 or 43X but I haven’t been able to commit. I just don’t see the benefit over and above the SIG P365 but of course everyone’s mileage will vary, and I am sure you have your reasons for excluding it. Absolutely nothing wrong with a 43X and no worries about bulging brass. Buy it if you want it!
Just about every time I go to the LGS I look at and/or handle a 43 or 43X but I haven’t been able to commit. I just don’t see the benefit over and above the SIG P365 but of course everyone’s mileage will vary, and I am sure you have your reasons for excluding it. Absolutely nothing wrong with a 43X and no worries about bulging brass. Buy it if you want it!
I just picked up one of these a week ago- a 43X MOS on a blue label discount. I have a Shield, an APX, and a few others.
The 43X seems to fit my hand as well or better. And there's alway plenty of cheap factory mags and aftermarket stuff for Glock.
I took it out and shot it Sunday. Very happy with it.
I might end up with two of these. I've never had a red dot on a pistol but this might be my first.
The 43X seems to fit my hand as well or better. And there's alway plenty of cheap factory mags and aftermarket stuff for Glock.
I took it out and shot it Sunday. Very happy with it.
I might end up with two of these. I've never had a red dot on a pistol but this might be my first.
NIGHTLORD40K
Contributing Member
I had one for a bit. The gun itself was great with the factory 10-round mags. The PSA 15-rounders had some issues- jamming with the first or second round and warpage of the baseplate when fully loaded. I ended up downloading them to 10 and they worked fine.
In the end, as small as it was, it was still too big for CCW in shorts and Hawaiian shirt or cargo pants which Im forced to wear by the weather and my boss.
Any outfit I could conceal the 43 in could also hide a G19 on the rare occasion I could layer.
Sold it to a buddy who really likes it.
Dunno, might get another some day.
In the end, as small as it was, it was still too big for CCW in shorts and Hawaiian shirt or cargo pants which Im forced to wear by the weather and my boss.
Any outfit I could conceal the 43 in could also hide a G19 on the rare occasion I could layer.
Sold it to a buddy who really likes it.
Dunno, might get another some day.
Lennyjoe
Member
I had a 43X and enjoyed it. Added an aluminum mag release and 15 round Shield magazines and it was a good shooter. I preferred the Springfield Hellcat over it so I ended up trading it away.
I still have a few extra Shield 15 round magazines if anyone is interested in them.
I still have a few extra Shield 15 round magazines if anyone is interested in them.
NIGHTLORD40K
Contributing Member
Do the Shield mags work without modification?
slicksleeve
Member
I had the G48 MOS. It was an excellent pistol, but after all these years shooting a Glock, my mind tells me that they should feel a certain way in my hand. I knew I would never carry it, so I sold it to my cousin who was in the market. That money turned into a G26 Gen 5 MOS and I couldn’t be happier.
Nothing wrong with the 43x and 48, but if you are accustomed to the double stack models they may not feel right.
Nothing wrong with the 43x and 48, but if you are accustomed to the double stack models they may not feel right.
unclenunzie
Contributing Member
I have a lot of trigger time and confidence in my P365xl, but I'd again carry my 43x without a second of concern. Good pistol.
Mine has been my carry gun for 5 or 6 years. Fantastic firearm. I use shield mags and have never had an issue. Yes you can use the standard mag release but it is polymer and can get chewed up by the metal magazines. It’s VERY easy to swap it out.
Dan-O
Member
I've had a G43 for a while. I looked at the 43X and the bigger grip on a short barrel just didn't make sense to me. It's the grip that's harder to conceal. It would make more sense to me if Glock combined the longer barrel and slide of the G48 with the shorter grip of the G43.
There is no reason the G43 shouldn't be able to take the 10 round mags of the 43X and 48. I decided to go with the G48 MOS along with the G43.
My most used Glock is a G19 that I cut the grip down to take G26 magazines. I get the longer barrel and slide plus the ability to mount a light with the smaller grip of the G26 which doesn't have the rail for a light. I can use any Glock double stack 9mm mag in it from 10 to 33 rounds. Would be nice if the G43 would give the option of 6 round mags for concealment and 10 round mags as spares or when concealment is less of an issue.
It's ugly as sin, but works.
There is no reason the G43 shouldn't be able to take the 10 round mags of the 43X and 48. I decided to go with the G48 MOS along with the G43.
My most used Glock is a G19 that I cut the grip down to take G26 magazines. I get the longer barrel and slide plus the ability to mount a light with the smaller grip of the G26 which doesn't have the rail for a light. I can use any Glock double stack 9mm mag in it from 10 to 33 rounds. Would be nice if the G43 would give the option of 6 round mags for concealment and 10 round mags as spares or when concealment is less of an issue.
It's ugly as sin, but works.
plumberroy
Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2006
- Messages
- 953
I bought a used 48 and carried it for a while. Took a 43x in one a trade .after a couple range trips the 43x replaced the 48 . I shoot the 43x as good as any pistol I have ever shot. (The 48 is in the bed holster)
curious…what do you carry in place of your departed g43?
i looked hard at a g43x and g48. both felt nice in my hand and met my ccw size needs, but settled on the s&w ez 380acp that better accommodates my hands’ physical condition. funny thing is, after all this searching and shooting the ez, my main ccw is still a 38sp j-frame snubby, go figure…
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NIGHTLORD40K
Contributing Member
During jacket weather, which only lasts about 2 months here (and Im not working), it's either the G19 OWB, or a Beretta APX A1 Carry or Sig P239 IWB.
During the rest of the year, its either a Beretta Pico or (recently) S&W Bodyguard 2.0 IWB or in my cargo pants pockets if I'm on the clock that day.
trackskippy
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2010
- Messages
- 4,540
I think the only way you're going to know, is to get one and see how it goes. I went through that with the 42's and 43's., and came to find I was still better off with my 26. It's easier to shoot well with, and I don't give up the mag compatibility with the full size guns. I easily carry the 26 in the same type holsters and in the same places as I would carry the 42 or 43.
Buzznrose
Member
I love my 43X. I also have a couple
48’s but the 43X with Shield mag sees the most carry time.
48’s but the 43X with Shield mag sees the most carry time.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
The only mod required for Shield mags is the installation of a metal Magazine Release on your Glock. The original or any other plastic release will get damaged.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
A range buddy of mine let me try out his P325 the other day. I liked it so much that I intend to buy one. He said his was an X Pro, but I can’t find that one listed anywhere. No matter, I think a standard P365 will do.
NIGHTLORD40K
Contributing Member
Ah, ok. Im seeing on the interwebnets that there is an actual company called Shield Arms making making 43X magazines. Are these what we are talking about?I was thinking of magazines for the S&W Shield 9......?
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
Yes, completely different company from S&W.
I haven’t met or heard a person yet say one disparaging thing about them or their products.
