[MDJAK1]

In NY (suburbs) where I live, you have to buy a gun BEFORE you can submit application for CCW. You can’t take possession. Store holds it until permit is issued. All I was able to do, with the dearth of gun shops around here and few ranges, was go to a store that had a good selection and hold whatever I wanted, after basically doing a lot of research online, and see what fit my hand best. I tried Sig, also Hellcat, and a few others. When I put my hand around the grip of the 43x, it felt like an old friend.
So why do I ask if I made a mistake? Because as a novice, the two instructors of the 18 hr mandatory class I took, along with now five range days with them, including a defensive shotgun course last week, insist (one is retired police sgt, the other ex-military) that a beginner should buy nothing but a minimum 4” barrel. If I’m not mistaken, the 43x is 3”. I did not want a 4” as it just seemed to big to easily conceal and too big to carry with at least a modicum of comfort. They espouse that smaller guns are too hard to learn to shoot well.

I don’t plan on it being my one and only gun, but just wondering.

Opinions are welcome. Ty.

 

[Valmet]

Sounds like you had two blow-hard instructors. Practice, practice, practice with it and it’ll do you just fine.

 

[John_AZ]

You won’t know anything any different.

Buy some ammo (if you can?), get a holster, and get some training. Maybe not from those instructors though….

 

[BoostedGT36]

You will be happy with the 43x. I think it’s a good choice

 

[PIC123]

Mandatory training class is required ?

 

[KurtH]

There is nothing at all wrong with the 43x, it's a great carry gun. I might suggest you looks for different instructors as you proceed with your process. I carry the 43x and a Sig P229 based on my attire for the day, The 43x is my preferred and most carried.

 

[hotshot357]

If the gun "feels like a old friend" I think you are ahead of the game. Shoot it regularly and it will serve you well.Welcome to the world of gun ownership!

 

[stuckon9mm]

You made a very good choice. They are full of it.

 

[PattonWasRight]

Generally, a smaller, thinner gun is more difficult to shoot as accurately and quickly as a full size. But that's a pretty big generalization. I personally don't shoot single stack magazine guns as well as double stack, but that's me and everyone's hand size, palm size, finger length is different.

They make different size shoes for a reason

 

[adc]

I'm an instructor. It my go to pistol.

 

[warbow150]

You’re fine. Don’t let the personal quirks of others influence your rational decision. 43x is an excellent carry gun.

 

[mj9mm]

the 43x is a nice gun. you have an advantage in a way, you won't have an old bad habits to break. with a Glock you will learn that your safety of last resort is training to keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. the 43x is actually about as big as i like to go for a conceal carry. i agree, a longer barrel is just harder to hide, if you practice enough and have good skills, the barrel length is fine.
enjoy your choice, your Glock, and practice...

 

[Doc Holliday]

 

[MDJAK1]

Mandatory training class is required ?

In NYS you have to take 16 hr classroom followed by 2 hours at range to file for permit. And the course runs from $525-$600. The application fee is $120. The gun store charges $35 a month to store the gun after 6 months. It can take 8 months just to get an appt for fingerprints and handing in the application and then another 4-6 months waiting for a judge to review it. I was able to move the handing in portion by repeatedly calling to see if they had cancellations.

It’s now a waiting game.

I thank you all for the words of encouragement. As I mentioned, I’ve taken multiple classes since December when I sat for the class, shooting from cover, shooting in a dark indoor range with weapon mounted lights, etc. unfortunately I must borrow a gun to take the classes, and they usually give me a small 22. Nothing wrong with that except it has very poor sights on it. They did loan me a 9 when we practiced jams with randomly loaded dummy rounds. Just looking forward to getting the permit and my Glock.

I did take a class, file for and receive my Utah CCW but it doesn’t really do me any good as it’s not honored here and you can’t buy a gun outside your own state, at least here, where it’s not legal to possess without the hard to get permit.

 

[RightNYer]

I second what everyone else said. And if it turns out the 43x isn’t for you because the barrel is too short, you can get a 48 slide and swap it out and not require another amendment to your permit.

(I am originally from the New York City suburbs and escaped to Florida like everyone else)

 

[Gamera]

Nope. Your instructors are idiots.

 

[Julius Seizure]

Can you believe some weirdos prefer Pepsi over Coke? The 43X is a fantastic pistol, how many times did they use the word “snappy”? “Old friend” is a strong term of endearment, spend some time with it. Good luck

 

[PattonWasRight]

In NYS you have to take 16 hr classroom followed by 2 hours at range to file for permit. And the course runs from $525-$600. The application fee is $120. The gun store charges $35 a month to store the gun after 6 months. It can take 8 months just to get an appt for fingerprints and handing in the application and then another 4-6 months waiting for a judge to review it. I was able to move the handing in portion by repeatedly calling to see if they had cancellations.

It’s now a waiting game.

I thank you all for the words of encouragement. As I mentioned, I’ve taken multiple classes since December when I sat for the class, shooting from cover, shooting in a dark indoor range with weapon mounted lights, etc. unfortunately I must borrow a gun to take the classes, and they usually give me a small 22. Nothing wrong with that except it has very poor sights on it. They did loan me a 9 when we practiced jams with randomly loaded dummy rounds. Just looking forward to getting the permit and my Glock.

I did take a class, file for and receive my Utah CCW but it doesn’t really do me any good as it’s not honored here and you can’t buy a gun outside your own state, at least here, where it’s not legal to possess without the hard to get permit.

Regarding New Yorks requirements, I had no idea it was that bad.

Oiy vey

 

[Julius Seizure]

Regarding New Yorks requirements, I had no idea it was that bad.

Oiy vey

Oiy vey is right, I had no idea either. Wow

 

[RightNYer]

Regarding New Yorks requirements, I had no idea it was that bad.

Oiy vey

And once you get your permit, you can only carry the guns on that permit. California, New York and New Jersey are often jockeying for most unreasonable gun laws