Glock 48/43X Durability

[TomJ]

I picked up a 48 a number of months ago and traded my Hellcat for a 43X more recently. I'm really liking both of them. One of the things Glocks are known for is their durability. I know they haven't been out long but was wondering if there's any reason why the 48 and 43X wouldn't be just as durable as models such as the 17 and 19, or is it something we won't know until they've been out longer?

 

[JDR]

I know they haven't been out long but was wondering if there's any reason why the 48 and 43X wouldn't be just as durable as models such as the 17 and 19, or is it something we won't know until they've been out longer?

No reason that I can think of. I need to shoot a lot of rounds through any gun that I’m considering for carry, but that’s just me.

 

[unclenunzie]

About the only thing I can think of is in the same calibers you have more mass in the slides of the double-stacks, and comparatively less in the slim line single stacks. So I'd tend toward slightly lower durability in the 48/43x models. But seriously, a 17 or 19 can go several hundred thousand rounds, if the 48/43x models can go even half that, they are still seriously durable.

 

[Old Dog]

Gave 43Xs to the daughters. Put a few hundred (maybe 800 or so) rounds through one right out of the box a few weeks ago, pretty confident that these pistols are as durable as anything Glock makes.

 

[FFGColorado]

Considering the design, just like all of the other Glocks, and considering how Glock seldom releases anything that might smack of their number one selling point..Glock 'perfection'(yes, I know)..I'd expect to these to have the same reliability as any other. BTW-Son just bought a Glock 48..had a Glock 43..fun to mix and match between the 2..'Build a Glock 43X, build a short grip Glock 451/2??'..BUT after about 1000 rounds, 100% reliability..got 2 15r magazines as well..they work great as well.

 

[Buzznrose]

I suspect they will be at least half as durable as the G17’s, so if it goes 25K rounds, I’m good!

 

[jonnyc]

As of today, I have exactly 4525 rounds through my 43X, with exactly 0 failures. I've run 115 - 147 grainers, brass, steel, and aluminum cases, Glock and Shield mags. In addition, I have bought a few spare maintenance parts......a sure guarantee that I will never need them. It's my EDC, and I have every confidence in it.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Bought a 48 ,no issues so far. Gonna buy a 43x complete slide and put that on top and have 2 guns.

 

[Dan-O]

You should try to sell one of those frames as they are exactly the same......you could probably recover the cost of the entire gun.

Just sayin. 43x frames are in high demand right now

 

[WheelGunMan]

A G48 is on my want list. Looking a a Sig P365 first.

 

[FFGColorado]

A G48 is on my want list. Looking a a Sig P365 first.

'Might' shoot the 365 first and do a google-foo search on 365 'issues'...

And in this, notice that he mentions he has 5(!) 365s and 2 of them had to go back for 'work'..

 

[5-SHOTS]

I don't think they can be as durable as a Glock 17 or 19. And I bet the 48 to be more durable than the 43X. The interesting thing about Glocks is that every broken part, even a major part like frame, slide, barrel, can be replaced with affordable aftermarket parts in case of a failure.
For a Glock 43X and 48 I expect a lifespan of at least 50.000 factory rounds before a show-stopper failure.
The most important thing to increase the lifespan of a pistol is to replace the recoil spring every 5.000 /10.000 rounds max.
There are some exceptions like the HK P30 for example, in which the recoil assembly is guarantee for 30.000 rounds.

 

[JohnKSa]

Lighter recoiling mass means higher slide velocities which means more stress on the wear parts of the gun. It's not impossible for them to be as durable as the larger Glocks, but for that to be true, Glock would have to go with stronger materials in the smaller guns to make up for the additional stress. Looking at the prices doesn't suggest that the guns are made of unusual materials to me.

I wouldn't worry about them wearing out prematurely (in the overall scheme of compact handguns), but I wouldn't assume that they will be a match for the larger 9mm Glocks when it comes to durability.

 

[CDW4ME]

Using a cost of .25 a round (maybe stocked up before prices skyrocketed) if you reload for 8 (whatever) cents a round, roll with my example.
20,000 rounds would cost $5,000
The pistol cost $500 - again roll with the estimate, it doesn't change the point I'm making.
A Glock 43 may not have the same durability as a Glock 19/17 - but it will cost a lot more to "wear it out" than it did to buy it.

 

[WheelGunMan]

'Might' shoot the 365 first and do a google-foo search on 365 'issues'...

And in this, notice that he mentions he has 5(!) 365s and 2 of them had to go back for 'work'..

I currently own a P365XL that I am very satisfied with. I'm looking at the P365 for its concealability.

 

[TomJ]

Using a cost of .25 a round (maybe stocked up before prices skyrocketed) if you reload for 8 (whatever) cents a round, roll with my example.
20,000 rounds would cost $5,000
The pistol cost $500 - again roll with the estimate, it doesn't change the point I'm making.
A Glock 43 may not have the same durability as a Glock 19/17 - but it will cost a lot more to "wear it out" than it did to buy it.

Agreed. I was asking out of curiosity. I'm in my late 50's and expect the guns to outlive me.

 

[CDW4ME]

Agreed. I was asking out of curiosity. I'm in my late 50's and expect the guns to outlive me.

I've got several Glocks.
At age 53 with (my) typical shooting its unlikely I'm going to "wear out" a Glock, especially with current ammo cost.
Using my Glock 35 as an example, lets assign it about 1,000 rounds fired so far, I'm guessing 30,000 more without major breakage is not unrealistic.
Small parts like the locking block, striker, extractor are readily available and I can easily replace them.
If I shot 100 rounds a month (1,200 a year) in that particular Glock 35 it would take 25 years to shoot 30,000 rounds.

 

[Old Dog]

Might' shoot the 365 first and do a google-foo search on 365 'issues'...

And in this, notice that he mentions he has 5(!) 365s and 2 of them had to go back for 'work'..

Old news. 365 "issues" overblown, anyway ironed out quickly a couple years ago. Don't see the need to get in digs against SIGs in a Glock thread.

I was asking out of curiosity. I'm in my late 50's and expect the guns to outlive me.

Your grandkids will probably still be shootin' 'em when they're at the age you are now ...

 

[FFGColorado]

Old news. 365 "issues" overblown, anyway ironed out quickly a couple years ago. Don't see the need to get in digs against SIGs in a Glock thread.
Your grandkids will probably still be shootin' 'em when they're at the age you are now ...

I didn't mention the 365, wheelgunman did. AND the thread title is 'Glock 48/43X durability'..Funny, when somebody talks about any gun and somebody says, 'get a Glock', they are pillared. Talking about a Glock, and somebody mentions a SIg..'great idea'...
The gent mentioned trying a 365 first..if older, the problems are NOT insignificant..same with 320 and 238...YMMV and all that.

 

[WheelGunMan]

OldDog ...I appreciate FFGColorado's comments. I see it as someone trying to save a fellow board member some grief in case they were unaware.

I truly like the feel and fit of the Glocks and I would probably own a G43X right now..but I prefer something with a safety for my EDC and the SIG fills that niche.

 

[jeff-10]

I think the newer Glocks are even more durable than the old ones and that is saying a lot. The 43s and 48s will likely out last you.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Considering the design, just like all of the other Glocks, and considering how Glock seldom releases anything that might smack of their number one selling point..Glock 'perfection'(yes, I know)..I'd expect to these to have the same reliability as any other.

This.

Glock knows that anyone can make a polystriker pistol these days, and sell it on a lot lower margin than they do. So they don't sell a poly pistol, they sell a poly pistol with 30 years and billions of rounds of proof that it will run and run. Longevity and reliability is their brand, so they take it seriously.

For their Glock 44, I think they said they spent something like 100K rounds of 22 LR testing a double-stack 15 shot magazine, then backed off it and went to single stack when they found they couldn't make it work to their standards? I don't doubt that their single stack pistols went through an unholy battery of tests before they were released as well.

 

[Buzznrose]

After a thousand or so flawless rounds through my first 43X and having to fight off my adult daughter who wants to “trade up” from the G43 I bought her and a wife who wants to downsize from a G19, my wife and I picked up a pair of G43Xs yesterday.

I would have bought a G48 had one been available but they were out. No biggie...I’ve got one lined up for the not too distant future.

Just need to get a couple metal mag releases and some more Shield Arms mags and we’ll have a happy family once again. LOL!

 

[Buzznrose]

I don't think they can be as durable as a Glock 17 or 19. And I bet the 48 to be more durable than the 43X. The interesting thing about Glocks is that every broken part, even a major part like frame, slide, barrel, can be replaced with affordable aftermarket parts in case of a failure.
For a Glock 43X and 48 I expect a lifespan of at least 50.000 factory rounds before a show-stopper failure.
The most important thing to increase the lifespan of a pistol is to replace the recoil spring every 5.000 /10.000 rounds max.
There are some exceptions like the HK P30 for example, in which the recoil assembly is guarantee for 30.000 rounds.

May be a bit generous at 50K, but definitely possible. I always say if my Glock goes 30K flawless rounds, I’m gonna be happy and anything above that is gravy. At $200/1K, that’s $6,000 worth of ammo through a $500 gun. Plus, if I get a slide crack, I send it back to Glock who will replace it plus all internal worn parts for shipping...

I’m wondering why would you see a G48 as any more durable than a G43/43X? Same basic frame and slides with length being main difference. you mean due to sheer mass? Just curious.

 

[5-SHOTS]

May be a bit generous at 50K, but definitely possible. I always say if my Glock goes 30K flawless rounds, I’m gonna be happy and anything above that is gravy. At $200/1K, that’s $6,000 worth of ammo through a $500 gun. Plus, if I get a slide crack, I send it back to Glock who will replace it plus all internal worn parts for shipping...

I’m wondering why would you see a G48 as any more durable than a G43/43X? Same basic frame and slides with length being main difference. you mean due to sheer mass? Just curious.

Of course for show stopper failure I mean some important break that requires the replacement of the whole part such as the barrel, the slide or the frame. I believe that the 48 can be more robust because of how the front of the slide is made, much more robust than the 43 or 43X. And when the round count gets really high, the Glocks tend to break right in the front area of the slide where there are the two holes for the barrel and the recoil spring assembly. And seeing how thin the new Glocks are right in that area makes me nervous. Going back to Glock 48, moreover the slide, having greater mass, should go back with a lower speed, since the recoil spring assembly is the same.