Glock 43X Review - What You Need To Know Before Buying?

The G43X is Glock’s new concealed carry weapon (CCW) with additional capacity. They released this model as part of their “slim-line” series to try and compete with other brands in the CCW market.

The X represents the cross between the Glock 48 and their CCW 9mm G43. So you’ll get the benefit of a small and compact pistol but the added magazine capacity of the G48. 

In short, the Glock 43x gives you the benefits of both the G43 and the G48. The G43x gets the shorter barrel of the G43 and the slightly larger but longer magazine of the G48.

However, the G43x only comes with a silver finish and is yet to be manufactured in black.

Brief History Of The Glock 43x

Conceal Carry Weapons are getting increasingly popular as more state legislations allow law-abiding citizens to bear arms. But even with this demand, Glock isn’t the first choice of many CCW holders. 

When people think of concealed carry, they go to other manufacturers such as Walther, Sig, or H&K, to name a few. Even those loyal to Glock tend to choose different models over the Glock’s pistols.

Why is that?

You might think it’s because other pistols are better, but that’s not true. Glock is one of the most reliable and accurate pistols on the market. The problem is that Glock pistols are fat. They don’t conceal themselves well when carrying them under a shirt or jacket.

If you’re looking for a full-size pistol to shoot at the range, one of your first picks might have been the Glock 19 because it is the most popular model. However, it leaves quite a print when concealed.

So wouldn’t a smaller pistol do the job better, then?

That’s exactly what happened. Glock lost customers to Smith and Wesson, Sig Sauer, and Ruger because their pistols fulfilled a need people were looking for. Glock started releasing much smaller models like the Glock 42, which shot 380 ACP, a light bullet to respond to this. 

And then the Glock 43, which fired the 9mm and made a lot of people more than happy to buy from Glock.

Earlier in 2021, the Sig P365 was announced, and people loved it. The P356 was preferred over Glock because it was the same size and could shoot reliably and accurately. It also had double the capacity of the Glock 43, which was only six rounds plus one in the chamber.

So how did Glock respond to that?

They provided what was missing from their product range and came out with the G43X, which had an even larger capacity (10 rounds plus 1 in the chamber), which was more than the Sig P356.

Now You May Be Wondering. What Is The G43x?

To answer that, the following sections will break up all the information, detailing all there is to know about the G43x. From the good to the bad, we’ll cover it so you have enough knowledge to make the best decision to buy the Glock 43x.

The Glock 43X Review

To simplify it, the G43x is just a wider and taller version of the G43. The wider and taller grip was designed to meet the need for a higher capacity of 10 rounds from the previous six rounds that Glock concealed carry weapons used to pack.

GLOCK 43X SPECS

• Cartridge: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 10+1 Round
• Barrel Length: 3.39″ or 3.41″
• Weight: 1.17 lbs
• Length: 6.5’’
• Width: 1.06″
• Height: 5.04″

First Impressions

The Grip

The grip on the G43x is the same as on the G48. It is made from a durable polymer with a black finish and has a class square grip surface. When you hold it, it feels like it was well thought out like all Glock pistols. The grip measures 1.10 inches and a side width of 0.87 inches.

However, the magazines are not interchangeable with the Glock 43. Due to the extended 10-round magazine, the G43x is no longer a pocket pistol. It can still be a CCW, but it is not a pocket pistol anymore and will have to be compared to other waist-carried guns.

The Slide

Measuring 6.5 inches, the slide on the G43x is interchangeable with the G43. Its silver-finished slide is stainless steel with a nPVD finish and meets Glock standards, and is machined without flaw. So if you like the serrations on the G43x, you can swap it out onto your Glock 43 and vice-versa. Glock is a reliable brand, making a purchase very simple.

The Barrel

The barrel is 3.39 inches and made from stainless steel but with a black finish. Very well machined for perfection. It chambered for the 9mm caliber giving the small shooter a sizable punch.

The Trigger

The trigger is a 1/3rd-inch travel distance; the pull isn’t too heavy and measures around 6.5 pounds. It comes with safety and has the smooth appeal Glock is known for, and is easy to hear and feel when the trigger resets. For larger hands, you may have to alternate your grip to the first crease of your shooting finger to maintain a good grip while pulling the trigger.

The Sights

The G43x comes with three different types of sights you can choose from (not all three are in the box). The first is the factory standard polymer sights that are decent, but most end shooters will replace them anyway. The second type is the G43x with night sights. These will glow in the dark and are easily visible during the day.

Lastly is the Amerigo Bold sights. This is already an upgrade from the factory sights. They are bold and easily draw your eye to the front view when shooting.

The Glock 43x is a product of innovation.

It may not be much, but it shows how much they care about customer satisfaction. It does seem like a waste to have a Glock 43 with only six shots and then release a Glock 48, but then it is too big for concealed carry.

So having to find a middle ground with the Glock 43x just for the Glock users to be happy with an option with the best of both models became the inspiration to create the G43x. It may seem like a hassle for Glock, but it shows that they are listening to their customers and ensuring they are happy.

The next section will break down the features of the Glock 43x to find out what key features are good. And possibly even more importantly, which may leave a negative feeling to the shooter.

Glock 43X Review Pros

The Grip

One of the biggest advantages of the G43x is the grip. It fits the needs of all the shooters who want something between the Glock 43 and the Glock 48. The hold of the G43x takes advantage of both models and gets the length of the G48, which means it can fit more bullets and the shorter barrel of the G43.

This not only makes it preferable for Glock users, but it will answer the demands of shooters who use other pistols and will migrate to Glock. The slim and extended grip is a perfect combination for any concealed carrier.

The Serrations

The change is small, but it has a big effect. On other Glock models, you will only have the back serrations. This is ok because the pistol is relatively larger. However, with the G43x, it is much smaller, so the added serrations at the front give the shooter a better grip on the small slide, making it easier to rack.

Brand

It is hard to ignore the fact that it is a Glock. This gives the G43x a big advantage because they already have many users. This familiarity makes it easy for anyone to change to the G43x because there is no learning curve.

The familiarity is a bonus, and the Glock lives up to its slogan “Perfection.” The G43x is as reliable as any other pistol Glock has to offer and will shoot every time you pull the trigger.

Accuracy

The G43x is small, but don’t underestimate the accuracy. This little shooter will land bullets where you want them to go. The G43x will stop any threat with a few well-placed rounds for a concealed carry weapon. It might not be competitive material, but that was never the intent during the design process.

Glock 43X Review Cons

For a subjective viewpoint on this pistol, here is a list of the negatives of the Glock 43x.

The Grip

Yes, the grip is one of the main key features of the G43x. However, there are other pistols out there that have a better and more ergonomic feel.

As has already been mentioned, the slim grip is unsuitable for larger hands as it will greatly affect your grip on the pistol. Even though it is a small gun, the 9mm round will still want to move around in your hand. So if you have big hands, there is more space for the pistol to move when firing.

The Slide

Not everyone will be happy with the choice of color on the slide. The silver finish may turn some people off. So unless you change the color yourself, the fact that the slide doesn’t come in black may make you want to buy another pistol. Maybe in the future, Glock will release a model with a black slide or have the option to pick a black slide instead of a silver one.

Accessories

Once they get a new pistol, one of the gun owner’s favorite things is to put accessories on it or modify it. In this section, you will find some great ideas to alter the Glock 43x.

Sights

Even though Glock has three different sights to offer, there are many sights out there for you to try and find out which you prefer.

One of the sights that you should check out is the Trijicon HD Tritium sights. They are big, bright, and colorful. Your eye will instantly find the sight and line it with your target. This is from experience and could be subjective as the Ameriglo Agent sights are similar.

Holsters

If you own a Glock 43 holster, the G43x will fit it well. This only goes for cloth or open-top holsters. However, if you use Kydex, you’ll have to get one specifically for the G43x, as the grip is wider than the G43.

Conclusion

The bottom line is for you to decide if you like the sound of what you have read. Do you like Glocks? Does the brick-like grip bother you? Do you have large or small hands? 

How many bullets do you need in a concealed carry weapon?

First, answer these questions before making a purchase. 

You must understand the cutting-edge technology you will purchase with this pistol. But if you already have a positive opinion about the G43x, it is what you’re looking for.

If the downsides like the slide color and the thin grip aren’t to your liking, then the G43x is not for you, unless you want to replace them with aftermarket ones. However, if you love the Glock feel and its precision, the G43x is a great choice for your next concealed-carry weapon.