Before You Buy - The Glock 43X and Glock 48
The Glock 43X and 48 slimline handguns were Glock's first offerings in the new “micro-compact” 9mm category of handguns. While the previously released Glock 42 (.308 ACP) and Glock 43 (9mm) handguns were some of the smallest and easiest to conceal Glock offerings on the market, they were severely limited in terms of capacity with the single-stack Glock 43 only carrying 6 rounds in its magazines. Fast forward to today and the standard capacity of the relatively new Glock 43X/48 has been raised to 10 rounds or even more with aftermarket magazine options. There are a lot of great features that the Glock 43X and 48 have as standard that make them a serious option to consider for a concealed carry weapon and today we’ll explore the pros and cons of this family of Glock Slimline 9mm handguns.
Specifications and Features
For the purposes of this article, I am going to focus solely on the Glock 48 handgun that I personally own. However, it should be noted that aside from the barrel and slide length, the Glock 48 and 43X are virtually identical and in fact, can swap slides/barrels without any issues. Any information I give you on the Glock 48 can almost verbatim be used to judge the Glock 43X which is only slightly more concealable due to its shorter barrel and slide.
One thing that my particular Glock 48 is lacking is an optics cut, this used to be a knock against the platform itself as it was not optics ready from the factory, but Glock has since introduced the new Glock 48 MOS (and 43X MOS) variant and that one comes standard with an optics mounting solution. However, it should be noted that the Glock MOS system necessitates the use of Glock adapter plates which the gun does not come with.
- Striker Fired Action
- 9x19mm
- (2) 10-round magazines
- Glock Safe Action Trigger Safety Blade
- Options for Either Standard Glock Sights or Glock Night Sights
- 18.4 oz in weight
- Length (Overall): 7.28 inch
- Slide Length: 6.85 inch
- Width (Overall): 1.10 inch
- Slide Width: 0.87 inch
- Height incl.Mag.: 5.04 inch
- Line of Sight (Polymer): 5.98 inch
- Line of Sight (Steel): 5.94 inch
- Line of Sight (GNS): 5.91 inch
- Trigger Distance:2.64 inch
The Glock 48 and 48 MOS can both be found for about $450-$500 depending on where you choose to purchase the gun. Glock 48 Concealed carry holsters are by far some of the most common on the market and you’d be hard-pressed to find something that wasn’t to your liking. My favorite Glock 48 holster is a simple Kydex holster but there are a lot more options for those who wish to have a Glock 48 IWB holster or a Glock 43X nylon holster that is made from premium nylon, which can be much more comfortable to wear.
Range Performance
The Glock 48 is a predictably and boringly reliable handgun. When it comes to reliability in handguns there are few names that have the same stellar reputation that Glock has for creating a reliable and safe striker-fired handgun and the Glock 48 is no different. You can expect great accuracy out of the box as well as flawless reliability with virtually any off-the-shelf 9mm ammunition including all types of defensive hollow point loads.
I happen to own the night-sighted version of the Glock 48 and the sights are easy enough to pick up during the day, and glow quite brightly in low-light situations. The front sight is not adjustable but it is replaceable with aftermarket sights, I currently have a couple of spare sets of Meprolight sights I’ve been working through that seem to be a promising upgrade for the Glock night sights. That being said the standard sights on a Glock are nothing to scoff at as they are more than suitable for defensive use or simple target practice at the range.
While 10 rounds is a lot, it unfortunately is now the lowest round count of any of the new micro-compact category polymer-framed striker-fired pistols on the market. However, Shield Arms makes their S15 magazines which are virtually identical in size to the standard 10-round Glock 48/43X magazine but carry an additional 5 rounds bringing your overall capacity up to 15. This puts the Glock 48 and 43X at the top of the food chain in terms of flush-fit capacity.
Before You Buy - the Pros and Cons
The Glock 48 has been my primary carry gun since I purchased it. Even though I do still occasionally carry different guns, I almost always come back to the Glock 48 due to its reliability and also my familiarity with the handgun itself. Since I am so familiar with the handgun, I may be blind to some of its flaws that a newer shooter might find to be a big deal, so if I’ve missed something, feel free to let me know in the comments!
Cons
- Glock Triggers are not the smoothest or the most comfortable to shoot for long sessions at the range
- No manual safety (this is a pro in my book but some people may find this to be a con)
- Doesn’t feature an M1913 rail and requires specialized lights and lasers for attachment
- Standard capacity is the lowest of all the micro compact pistols
Pros
- Legendary Glock Reliability
- Access to all sorts of Glock 48 Holsters
- Very Concealable due to its small footprint and slim frame and slide
- Tons of aftermarket parts and accessories
- Shield Arms Magazines don’t change the profile of the gun and bump the capacity up to 15+1 rounds
- Priced affordably and doesn’t come with any extra unnecessary bells or whistles that “gucci glocks” come with
Final thoughts
The Glock 48 is simply one of my favorite handguns because of how reliable it is. I’ve put tens of thousands of rounds through my Glock 48 which includes multiple defensive pistol courses and it has proven to be reliable, accurate, and also very easy to maintain. While the pistol lacks some of the cooler stylings or a standard capacity of some of today’s newest micro compacts, the pistol was one of the first of its kind and has managed to keep itself as one of the top contenders for the micro-compact concealed carry market. I’d highly recommend the Glock 48 to anyone searching for a new concealed carry gun, especially if you plan on carrying it appendix IWB!
Luke Cuenco
30.3.2023
