Glock 43 Review - All good things must come to an end, and it's time to wrap up my ongoing review of the Glock 43. I started this series last July with my first impressions of the G43 and then followed it up with a review of the gun's reliability. and accuracy with different loads. Late last year I presented some ideas on how to improve the G43 as a self defense weapon. After that last point, I slowed down the performance testing process, but a few weeks ago I took a few rides to officially push past the 3,000 lap mark. Today, I present some final thoughts on the Glock Single Stack 9mm Pistol in the video below.
If you're looking for a more in-depth comparison between the Glock 43 and other popular 9mm carry pistols, check out Jim's take on the G43 vs. Sig P938. And in the near future, stay tuned for Melody's thoughts on the G43 as she compares it to the Smith & Wesson Shield she's carried over the past few years.
Glock 43 Review
Hey guys, I'm back with the last update on the Glock 43 - a subcompact 9mm single stack. I have put just over 3,000 rounds through the gun and have a few observations I want to share before I wrap this up and start looking at others.
Glock 43, Tiffany Blue Glock 43, Tiffany Blue Glock, Tiffany And Stainless Glock, Tiffany And Stainless Glock 43, Diamond Blue
My last video update was in the fall and I talked about accuracy and reliability. The gun came out of the box fine, but then started having issues with the base pads I was using. The Taran Tactical +1 and +2 basic pads often fail to feed rounds for hard-to-hole areas.
After playing that video, Scott from Taran Tactical contacted me and sent me some more powerful magazine wells they were working on. They seem to have completely taken care of the feeding issues I had, and now Taran Tactical is sending out new mag springs and all the wide pads they sell for the Glock 43. That
I still highly recommend testing your carry ammo if you use this or any other pad. Not all Glock 43s are going to be exactly the same, and small semi-autos are often more prone to feeding issues than larger guns, so test a few boxes of ammo in your carry-on when replacing something.
As for the spring issue, I am very happy with these foundations. I still hate that Glock didn't make a factory extended magazine. But in the aftermarket segment, these are pretty good. They're made of solid aluminum, have very low bezels, and don't look any bigger than they need to be. The +2 base pads seem to be very popular, but I actually prefer these little +1 concealed carry bases. That gives me seven rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, but no more than the factory 6 round magazine with the pink extension on it.
Glock 43x Mos Review (with Pictures)
A while back, I replaced the factory scope with Trijicon HD night sights. The big orange ring on the front sight is a big deal, especially on a small gun like this. It becomes much easier to get back on target during a rapid fire sequence. One of the best things about any Glock is the aftermarket support, so even if you don't like Trijicons, there are plenty of options if you want to upgrade.
The biggest complaint I have with the Glock 43 is the trigger. It's been tweaked a bit since brand new, but it's still really solid, even by Glock standards. I even tried some aftermarket connectors and they helped a little but not much. When I try to shoot quickly, I find that I easily hit the target. I really have to make an effort to slow down a bit if I want to make sure I'm looking at you.
You could say that's the nature of shooting these small guns, and that's partially true - they're always hard to shoot. But with the other 9 small pistols I carry and a lot of practice, I've gotten to the point where I can run as fast as a double-action pistol and the center of gravity is seven yards. This was the case when I carried the Walther PPS and the M&P Shield. But I couldn't get used to the trigger on the Glock 43.
But that doesn't mean I don't recommend the Glock. The trigger factor is very subjective and depends on the size and skill of the hand and a number of other factors. So I definitely wouldn't call it a deal breaker, just something to be aware of.
Glock 43: The Best Concealed Carry Gun In The World?
Before working with the Glock 43, I definitely considered the PPS and Shield to be the best 9mm ultra-compact single-stack. Now I'm adding the G43 to that list. All three are really good options in this size category. Even with the launch issues and the lack of factory 7 and 8 round magazines, I think most people can see that the Glock 43 is a little better and maybe more concealable. Inexperienced shooters will find it a bit overwhelming, at least at first, and those with larger hands may have trouble getting used to it. But in these times when two stacks are too big to handle, the Glock 43 should definitely be on the short list of guns to consider. I blog here as an anti-first philosophy, especially when it comes to mechanical devices. So, when the Glock 43 came out in mid-2015, I didn't run out and bought it. In my mind there were some issues with the 4th generation Glocks - especially in 9mm (how many of our readers have suffered from "brass in the face" issues?). Knowing that Glock tends to value their reputation and resolve issues with their products quickly, I decided to wait a little longer.
Along those lines, I didn't think about the role that the Glock 43 filled right away. My Glock 19 and 26 cover my primary concealed carry needs, and the Ruger LCP covers my non-permitted (NPE) situations.
After the Glock 43 came out, the only criticism I kept reading about (mechanically) was that it was a heavy trigger compared to its bigger 9mm brothers. My understanding is that Glock made this a little lighter/smoother with a different connector, although some still complain about it (mine has the original connector based on the manufacture date). Some criticisms were about its size (some wanted one the size of a .380 ACP Glock 42, others wanted one with the features of a Glock 19 but thinner, etc.) - you can't please everyone - and its capacity, which is 6+1. Since the launch issues were somewhat improved and the aftermarket was looking at magazine capacity, I started looking casually at the Glock 43, renting one from the range and putting a box of ammo in it. I liked it, but I didn't see the need to buy it right away.
As luck would have it, about a year ago a member of a local gun club sold his Glock 43. I looked for it online but couldn't buy it. Surprisingly, despite the low price ($430 I believe), there were no takers. When the seller dropped the price to $415 and threw in a third magazine, I called him right away and made a deal. The gun was new. The seller said he shot a total of three magazines (18 rounds) through it because he had bought two Glock 43's - he was keeping one - and tested it. The interior of the gun was clean, with no marks on the barrel and the interior was still coated with the copper colored anti-seize lubricant used by Glock at the factory. The seller even paid a transfer fee to the local FFL!
Glock 43x Vs Glock 43 (with Pictures)
It took me a while to put the mandatory 500 rounds through this pistol as I was focused on other things. However, now that my round count has reached that number with this Glock, I feel I can give my general opinion.
In terms of reliability, I have yet to experience any malfunctions in the Glock 43. I have taken several magazines worth of Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P, some Sellier and Bellot mixes, Fiocchi, Blazer Brass, and Freedom Munition 124 grain FMJ and a few brands (Winchester and
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