Testing the Glock 43 pocket pistol

[C-grunt]

I recently bought a Glock 43 to replace my S&W 442 for pocket carry. It is slightly more difficult to pocket carry, mostly due to shape. But it is FAR easier to shoot well. I also mostly wear shorts and pants with pockets easily large enough to fit the Glock.

I have about 300 rounds through the Glock 43 now and it's been 100 percent reliable. Not surprised there. Today I wanted to try some slow fire accuracy to test it against my duty gun Glock 17. Not necessarily a fair comparison as the 17 has a red dot and a full size gun. I was just more curious.

Here are 5 round groups at 15 yards.

Glock 17. I of course had to pull one shot...

20230814_112851 by chase, on Flickr



Glock 43. I noted my shots are grouping slightly left. At this time I cant tell if it's me having a harder time with the tiny gun or if it's the crappy stock Glock sights. Probably a mixture of both.

20230814_112859 by chase, on Flickr

20230814_114637 by chase, on Flickr

Brought along the Ruger Mk4 to get some good practice to focus on trigger control. Ive heard a lot of people talk bad about the Remington Thunderbolt II ammo. But it's been running great in all of my 22s.

20230814_114448 by chase, on Flickr

 

[JERRY]

Get yourself a 9 shot shield arms magazine for a spare.

 

[C-grunt]

Get yourself a 9 shot shield arms magazine for a spare.

I actually have a Vickers 2 round extension on my spare mag.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I shot a G42 and didn't care for it, but I may have to give the 43 a try now.

 

[Riomouse911]

I bought a Glock 43 a few years ago. It’s a compact little gun for sure, it just didn’t fit me very well so shooting it wasn’t comfy. I tried a flat trigger, changed my grip a bit, etc., but nothing seemed to help me. I certainly didn’t shoot it as well as you do, at 15 yds that isn’t bad at all with that little 9mm. Nice job!

The Glock 48 fits my hands a lot better, so I ccw my 43X instead. The 43 is more packable than the 43X/48 though, I do wish it agreed with me better.

That Glock 17 group is doggone nice as well. Like your target there, I usually toss a round or two as well no matter how hard I try .

Stay safe.

 

[12Bravo20]

I find that I shoot my G43 better than I shoot my G26. Part of that is I can actually get my pinky on the G43 grip where it hangs below the G26 grip. While I do like my G43, I prefer my Sig P938 as far as conceal carry goes. The P938 is smaller and lighter.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

I bought a Glock 43 a few years ago. It’s a compact little gun for sure, it just didn’t fit me very well so shooting it wasn’t comfy. I tried a flat trigger, changed my grip a bit, etc., but nothing seemed to help me. I certainly didn’t shoot it as well as you do, at 15 yds that isn’t bad at all with that little 9mm. Nice job!

The Glock 48 fits my hands a lot better, so I ccw my 43X instead. The 43 is more packable than the 43X/48 though, I do wish it agreed with me better.

That Glock 17 group is doggone nice as well. Like your target there, I usually toss a round or two as well no matter how hard I try .

Stay safe.

Ditto. I should have never traded off my Glock P80 (Gen 2 17 remaster)... I had a threaded barrel on it and also put a couple QoL improvements on it and it shot wonderfully! Oh well I'm m fully invested in my 45 1911 so....

 

[Peakbagger46]

Nice shooting! I’ve been considering the 43 for exactly what you’re describing.

Now go zero that duty gun!

 

[CDW4ME]

Glock 43 preferred over a snub.

 

[Tallball]

G43's are nice pistols. Good choice!

 

[JERRY]

I actually have a Vickers 2 round extension on my spare mag.

How much does that one add to the grip when inserted? Got a pic?

 

[C-grunt]

How much does that one add to the grip when inserted? Got a pic?

I'll get one today. It's roughly the size of the pinky extension mag, but thicker in the rear.

 

[EMC45]

"Glock 43. I noted my shots are grouping slightly left. At this time I cant tell if it's me having a harder time with the tiny gun or if it's the crappy stock Glock sights. Probably a mixture of both."

I find myself shooting slightly left with my G42 (similar size) if I'm not intentional on grip squeeze and trigger squeeze. I think I'm "milking" it to the left some. Both the G43/G42 are great guns.

 

[C-grunt]

How much does that one add to the grip when inserted? Got a pic?

Now that I compared them side by side, the +2 extension mag is probably a good 1/3 to 1/2 inch longer than the factory pinky extension. In the gun it makes the length roughly as long as a 43x or 48.

20230815_155504 by chase, on Flickr

20230815_155523 by chase, on Flickr

 

[L-2]

When I was issued a G17gen4, I also had both the G43 and an S&W 642 as backup guns.
I agree, the 642/442 carries just a bit better than the G43.
My G43 was typically carried in a body armor holster or, if the 642 was carried, in an ankle holster.
I had body armor and ankle holsters for either, however, just in case I wanted to switch things up (but not usually).

 

[Big_Al]

No love for the sig 365? Slightly smaller than a 43 and higher capacity. I have both but carry the sig more because of the capacity.

 

[halfmoonclip]

No love for the sig 365? Slightly smaller than a 43 and higher capacity. I have both but carry the sig more because of the capacity.

I agree with Al. Still have a 42, for being just a little smaller/lighter, but much prefer the 365 to the 43. Better trigger, more rounds, slightly smaller (than the 43), milder recoil, and it just flat works.
A buddy spent several months, trying higher capacity aftermarket mags in his 43, before giving up and accepting the SIG as a better proposition.
Yeah, much as I love Centennials, the little autos are simply easier to shoot, and pack.
Moon

 

[C-grunt]

No love for the sig 365? Slightly smaller than a 43 and higher capacity. I have both but carry the sig more because of the capacity.

The P365 is a great gun. But the grip is to small for my hands. I had a P365XL and my trigger finger jams into my support hand when shooting.

 

[bannockburn]

I tried both the SIG P365 and Glock 43 when they first came out and didn't really care that much for the smaller, abbreviated grip on both guns. So I waited and when the new "X" versions were introduced I felt that they were a great deal better in terms of how they gave me a much more comfortable grip on the guns.

Liked the P365 grip slightly more than the Glocks but all them were perfectly designed for my smaller size hand
so I got all three (P365, G43X, and G48), along with a S&W Shield Plus (another too good of a grip to pass up on)!