When I first heard that the Glock 43 was actually a thing, I had to keep it to myself for a few months under an NDA. It was tough. It was the Glock that I’d been waiting for for such a long time and it was finally here. Many of my friends would say “Hey man, I’m hearing rumors of a single stack 9 from Glock. Is that true?” All I wanted to do was grab them by the shoulders, start shaking them and say “YES, YES IT’S TRUE!!”
Now that I’ve owned one for 8 months, am I still as ecstatic about it as I was at release?
Yes. Yes I am. And let me tell you why.
First, It’s a GLOCK
If you’re a long-time reader, you know that I’m a big fan of Glock firearms. Heck, I own six of them (ok ok, 9). It’s no surprise that I was going to get this one as well. It’s also not a surprise that this newest member of the lineup is just as good –functionally– as any other Glock. It goes bang when it’s supposed to.
It’s Not My Everyday Carry…
…and that’s ok. Most people (I think) don’t have a 100% go-to firearm for concealed carry. At least I don’t. I really only have two variations… for the most part.
- Cold Weather Carry: Glock 23
- Warm Weather Carry: Glock 26/27/43
- Very Warm Weather Carry: Glock 43
Alright, three variations. By ‘very warm weather carry’, I really mean a (more) fitted t-shirt with shorts. Sometimes, I just can’t do a great job with hiding the 26 or 27 to my liking. The 43, however, is slim enough to correct that problem.
I think it’s ok to have numerous firearms to choose from for concealed carry, as long as you practice with each firearm that you carry.
If You’re Upset With The Capacity…
A) I’m not quite sure what you were expecting
B) Get yourself a grip extension that allows for a +1 (or maybe even +2)
The #1 complaint that I hear about the 43 is that it only holds 6+1 rounds. Again, that’s pretty standard for a single stack 9mm. With a proper grip extension, now you’re up to a total of 8 rounds.
With better concealment comes sacrifice, and that comes in the form of a few less rounds in the magazine. It’s the nature of smaller firearms.
It’s Brought New People Over To Concealed Carry
I guess you can say this about any concealed carry firearm, but I saw a noticeable uptick in new concealed carriers picking up the Glock 43 as their first carry firearm. Maybe it’s because of the Glock name, or maybe it’s because concealed carry is a hot topic now. Maybe it’s both. All I know is; this firearm is responsible for a lot of newcomers to our world… and that’s a great thing.
So, Would I Still Recommend It?
Absolutely. It’s a well-refined firearm that sports the Glock name, and it’s been a positive addition to my concealed carry routine. I don’t see that fact changing at all, and I’m happy and confident with my 43 by my side.
