Glock 43 vs 43x vs 48 insight

[willyworm]

My primary carry weapon has been a 27 for many a years. Looking for something a little more compact but without stepping all the way down to my LCP. Primary advantage of the 43/43x/48 over 27 is the thinner frame and slide plus the shorter distance to trigger (73mm on the 27 compared to 66mm on the others).

I'll be using the Blue Label program, but I'm torn between the 43, 43x and 48. Leaning towards 43x.

I know many of you have experience with all these firearms, so figured I'd take some input from the braintrust. Any advantages of one over the other that I'm not considering?

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[BugBuster]

Not one of your options, but Sig 365 blue label would be my choice.

[Flores12]

43x Mos with the upgraded shield mag 15+1 is a great combo, Also the sig p365 x-macro Tacops 17+1 is a good choice also

[Luvin' Labs]

I went with the 43 over the 43X. The only real reason I can remember is the 43 fit in my pocket better if I ever wanted to carry it that way.

[ducksmoker]

I have the 43 and the 43X. Both are great, but I carry my 43 98% of the time. I like that the grip doesn’t hang on anything due to it being shorter.

[Coastal Woodie]

I carry a 48 mos everyday with a holosun 407k and a shield 15 round mag. I prefer the longer slide compared to the 43, 43x or sig 365. I have several thousand rounds through two different 48s and never had any issues.

[tsigmon]

43X for me , went from S&W 686 to Ruger SP101 to the 43X, I still shoot all three but the 43X gets the nod. Somethng about a 686 4" that keeps it in the roatation and I carry on the farm. The 101, 2 " barrel aint bad either.

[CWPINST]

With the slightly extended mag, the 365 will hold 12+1. I have one on my side right now. I am a Glock fan through and through but for the small compact 9’s they are a bit behind the times. However they didn’t have the teething problems that Sig did.

[GreenHeadRocker]

Miles I've got a 43 and a 48 you're more than welcome to come shoot and see what fits you better. I think I prefer the longer slide on the 48 personally.

[Buckin Bronco]

I went in to buy a 43 this time last year. I love the Glock trigger, shoot my Glock 21 and 30 very well but wanted something smaller. After shooting the 43 and the Sig365 I walked out with the 365 bc my groupings were tighter.

It fell in the lake this ocean this summer though in about 60ft of water.

[FLS]

43x and 48. Don’t care for the short grip of the 43. 48 is the most shootable of those listed.
I’d also take a look at the Shield Plus.

[USMCsilver]

Another 43X vote. One (avatar) has LOTS of work done, Shield mags, & a green Holosun.

The other has polished guts, factory mag, and Handle-It grips.

I bought my dad a Blue Label 48. While the sight picture may be slightly better, these guns were never meant to be precision firearms.

The 43 carries best, the 48 is (probably) more accurate. For me, the 43X is the best in-between.

Having said that, I also have two S&W Performance Center Shields that have been set up identically - Handle-It grips, Apex triggers, magwells, and +2 bases. The fiber optic sights are great and the factory porting makes for accurate rapid shots. I honestly prefer the Smith ergonomics over the Glocks.

(Pic is pre-trigger install.)

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[Cwaysvt]

I am very happy with my shield plus.

Just waiting on a 4” version with a rail to put a decent light on.

I’d say 43x if you’re not using a light 48 if you plan to.

[Steelin' Ducks]

43x MOS.
I'm interested in the PSA Micro Dagger but haven't got one yet.

[adamb61085]

IMG_7175.jpg
Im at about 50/50 on carry time with both the tacops and the 43Xmos. Really just comes down to what im wearing or where im going. I always carry a spare mag with either. I had planned to add a Holosun to the 43x but haven’t went that route yet. I looked at both the 43x and 48 and decided that the ability to stick it in my pocket if need be outweighed the extra barrel length.

[Steelin' Ducks]

Extra length of the 48 is pointless if you're sticking a red dot on it.

[Coastal Woodie]

Extra length of the 48 is pointless if you're sticking a red dot on it.

I like the longer slide for appendix carry, it keeps the gun from tilting outward. Of course, you can always put a 43 in a 48 holster and achieve the same thing.

[SilverFox]

Don't overlook the Hellcat Pro. I bought the Sig365XL and a Hellcat Pro. Gave the Sig to my SNL. He shot it better than everything else. I still carry a Glock 19 but wouldn't feel naked with the Hellcat Pro. It's a great weapon.

[Model12]

Gaston got the grip angle all wrong............S&W Shields for me..........Never met a glock I didn't like.

[Swamp Rat]

I have all three... The G43 is my "big pocket" carry or my back up gun at work stashed somewhere in my armor or uniform. It was the first subcompact Glock I bought.

Then I got the G48 MOS - I wasn't running optics and I like the longer slide (and longer sight radius). It fits me nicely and is my main belt-mounted carry gun. I do have the Shield system installed (more on that in a moment), and it is carrying a Streamlight TLR-7 Sub.

I recently won a G43X MOS, and will be working on that. I will be putting a Holosun optic on it in a bit and probably another TLR-7 Sub.

I won't be putting the Shield mags in the G43X, and will back-converting the G48 to Glock OEM condition - this is due to information I got when recently taking the Glock Armorer's Course. The word from Glock was that the metal mag catch will eventually wear the polymer in the frame. Metal vs polymer + movement is not a good combo. BUT, I have been told that the Micro Dagger magazines work well in the G43X and G48. The face of the magazine is polymer - so polymer on polymer is maintained with the Glock mag catch. Same capacity.