Glock 43 Pistol Review ~ 2nd Bonus Video

By Mike Searson
Glock 43 Pistol Review

When first released, the Glock 43 single stack 9mm pistol was one of the most anticipated firearms of the past decade.

It had been in the rumor mill for the past several years, so much so that at the 2015 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, an old associate who mans the booth saw me coming and said: “No carbine, no single stack 9 (mm) and no 1911!”

He then showed me the new MOS Glocks and said I will get you a Glock 43 for review.

My FedEx Deliveryman left me a package from Smyrna, Georgia, containing a Glock 43. The company’s latest offering is a 9mm with a 6-round single-stack magazine.

The author’s first impression was not that favorable. The grip felt way too small, and the slimline frame made the slide feel awkward and top-heavy. It is slightly larger than last year’s offering in 380 ACP (which most folks said was too big for the caliber).

I was starting to wonder, “What are they thinking?”

Glock 43 Pistol Review The Good

If you are a fan of the Glock system, you will like the 43. It retains all the classic lines, the same takedown method and has the look and most of the feel of just about any other Glock pistol. The author owns several Glocks without being a real “Glock Guy”, but honestly admired the looks of this one.

One of my initial complaints about the grip being too small is actually a good thing, as historically, this is the most difficult part of a pistol to conceal when carrying IWB. In spite of this, we felt no undue recoil imparted by the small grip and lightweight. In fact, the Glock 43 was quite pleasant to shoot.

There is no rail on this pistol, which means people will not be tempted to hang lights and lasers off the front end (not that aftermarket accessories are a bad thing, but keep in mind what this pistol is meant for). Likewise, Glock dispensed with their finger grooves on the 43. Both of these attributes help minimize the dimensions and make the G43 easy to carry and conceal. If you want a rail, go for something bigger.

Glock 43 Pistol Review The Bad

Some folks might be expecting a “Pocket 9″, but the 43 is just not that small. Someone with smaller-sized hands who wears larger-than-normal pockets (Cargo Shorts or Windbreaker perhaps?) may be able to pull it off.

The author’s size XXL mitts can only successfully draw a Seecamp LWS from the pocket of my Levis while being able to bring it on target and hit what I am aiming at in one fluid motion.

The author found the grip to be too small at first.

In fact in all honesty, if my only exposure to this pistol would have been to handle it at a gun show or a gun shop, I would have walked away from it without giving it a second look. Shooting makes all the difference.

The pistol shipped with a flush base magazine and one with an “elephant foot” extension that allows a better grip. The extension was external only, but following that size might allow a proper extension that could give 1 or possibly 2 extra rounds.

Like most other Glocks it came with cheap plastic sights. When the author purchases one, tritium night sights will be on order as well.

Live Inventory Price Checker

	Glock 26 Gen5 Mos 9mm Luger Semi-Aut Handgun - Glock 26 Gen 5 Mos 9mm Luger 3.43'''' Bbl (3)10rd Mags Black	Brownells.com	$ 620.00
	Glock G26 Gen 5 MOS 9mm 3.43" Compact Pistol 10rds, Black - UA265S201MOS	Palmetto State Armory	$ 749.99 $ 620.00
	Fobus APN Series, IWB Ambidextrous, fits Glock 43/43X/43X MOS/48/48 MOS, Black	Palmetto State Armory	$ 43.99 $ 31.99
	Bravo Concealment BCA OWB Right-Handed Holster for Glock 43, 43X, 43X MOS	GunMag Warehouse	$ 23.99

Glock 43 Pistol Review The Reality

A sudden winter storm in the Sierra Nevada kept me from getting to shoot it earlier than anticipated. We had access to a shooting area for a brief window with an improvised target (Phone book cover), despite those shortcomings we were impressed with the initial performance and it gave us something to look forward to the next day.

Shooting the Glock 43 made the author a believer. Our initial group was unremarkable, but the more we shot it, the tighter we were shooting.

To start, we used Winchester White Box 115 grain FMJs and then moved on to the same bullet configuration in CCI Lawman and a box of Remington UMC 115 FMC.

We tried some Remington subsonic 147 grain FMJ left over from a silencer shoot. Since this will primarily be a defensive pistol for most shooters, we stepped up to some various loads in JHP configuration for a magazine of each: Winchester SXT in 147, Corbon +Ps in 125, and a box of Federal JHP.

We experienced no malfunctions of any kind. Accuracy-wise, the pistol performed best with the CCI Lawman and UMC in 115-grain FMJ. The Winchester ammunition gave us a group that was too big and was off from our point of aim significantly.

The small grip, flat profile and decent trigger make this a serious contender for concealed carry. Out of the box, it offers two more rounds than a J-Frame revolver and a familiar manual of arms to disciples of the Glock.

It will be a perfect handgun for most, probably lacking for some, but in our estimation, one that was well worth the wait.

Glock 43 Pistol Review Resources:

• Order your own Glock 43 Pistol online at Brownells:
• More Glock 43 Pistol Review Videos :
• Glock 43 Pistol Manuals :

About Mike Searson

Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, and Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.

Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites, and newsletters, including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com, and the US Concealed Carry Association, as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

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