The Glock 43, 8 Months After Release: Am I Still Happy With It?

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.