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Glock 43 popularity

Glock 43 
25K views 254 replies 112 participants last post by  Lee Elliott 
#1 ·
I have to wonder, why is this single stack Glock so popular for concealed carry? It seems more and more this has become the primary choice for many.

Aside from concealment, has "comfortability" surpassed capacity? Does the Glock 43 really match up to "qualify" as a fighting pistol?

6-8 rounds depending how you choose. Does that meet what a fighting pistol is meant to accomplish?

Would love to hear some thoughts and feedback.

Just my own curiosity speaking.

Please don't mention concealment as this is obvious. [emoji4]



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#2 ·
Every decision we make, from what gun to carry to what to eat for lunch to who to marry, entails a complicated cost/benefit analysis. Often we don't consciously engage in that analysis, but it is going on behind the curtain. Do I drive 4 miles for "good" fast food, or 100 yards for "decent" fast food. Cost/benefit.

The same holds true with the Glock 43 or any gun. Clearly, major considerations are size/ease of carry on one side of the ledger, and capacity/shootability on the other end. We decide where we want to exist on that continuum.

Given the reality that we might carry 18 hours a day, and shoot the gun at a bad person zero times in our lives (hopefully), we tend to weight the balance toward comfort and away from shootability and capacity. I certainly do. This is even more so when we realize that most armed encounters result in either no shots fired, or 1-2 shots and its over. I don't expect to engage an ISIS assault team at Home Depot, so a small gun and a spare mag are okay with me.

For me, 7x rounds of spicy 9mm in a small, easy to carry package is a good deal. This is especially true since its a Glock, and we know about the reliability and so on. Throw in a spare 6x round mag on the belt, and that's 13 rounds with little effort. And the 43 handles well, almost like a larger gun.

So when we do that cost/benefit analysis, whether intentionally or not, for many of us the Glock 43 rises to the top of the heap. I own somewhere around 14 Glocks, and though I flirt with the others and carry them on occasion, usually its the 43. Easy to carry, decent capacity, and handles like a real gun. Not much to dislike.
 
#6 ·
Great response, I appreciate that. I definitely see comfortability being a big part. For me I don't carry all day. While at work it's in my bag as I try my best to respect the rules. It's a bit uncomfortable, but the chances of some nutjob entering the office and doing something is slim to none.

Personally I'm not a capacity whore. I can deal with 10-12 rounds and most times as bad as it sounds I don't carry an extra mag on my body. Usually in my bag but lately I've been getting back to that habit.

I've thought about getting a 43 a few times. You make some good points of view on how you balance out your preference.

Definitely in majority of self defense cases I don't hear or see anything about someone having to reload or shoot more then 2-3 shots before it's over. You'll hear that major argument between those who carry a revolver vs semi auto.


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#3 · (Edited)
Here in California, the maximum magazine capacity is 10 rounds. With an ETS G43 9 round magazine you are very close to the max capacity of any other semi-automatic pistol in California.

9 rounds in a small slim G43 or 10 rounds in a G19? At 15 yards or less, I can shoot my G43 as accurately as my G19. If I could carry in Los Angeles the G43 would be my first choice followed by my .380s (G42 and P238). The G19 would be tied with my CZ D PCR for fourth place.
 
#9 ·
I do! lol I held one once and it definitely had a good feel to it. Much more comfortable then the M&P shield I thought.

I think if I end up getting one I'll be carrying all day even at work lol. Seems like the type of pistol you can just get away with doing so.

I certainly want to see how it shoots. Since it's release I've never heard anything bad about it's accuracy. That's a huge plus for such a small gun. When it comes to the G26/27/29/30 baby glocks you always hear how snappy they are.




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#10 ·
For decades, leo's carried revolvers with a capacity of 6 rounds. Has society gotten to the point where we as civilians need to carry almost 3 times that, considering that in real life very few of is will be unfortunate enough to need that much firepower?
As a Marine Corps 0311 combat veteran my personal opinion is that to many people base their perceived need on video games rather then real life.
I generally carry a 43 with 6+1, and never feel like I'm under gunned.
I've carried for almost 50 years, and so far have never needed round 1.

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#11 ·
I took my 43 to the range a few weeks ago along with a new 19c. I had not planned to get a 43until I handled one at a gun show)The 43 is easy to shoot well and at 7 yard ranges was pretty much as accurate as the 18. (Yeah, I know , it should be at that range)
I have installed TruGlo sights, installed two 2+ mag extensions (I bought a spare mag which I left stock and picked up an ETS extended mag just because) and I have a Hogue grip sleeve on the way. The 43 is easier to conceal down here in "brutal heat wearing shorts all the time" conditions than the 19.
 
#15 ·
The 43 was the easiest to carry and most comfortable Glock to carry I ever owned, I could not shoot it well and really didn't feel like shelling out the money for the amount of ammo it would take to find out I still can't shoot it well, I can shoot baby Glock's better so I will have to deal with a thicker heavier gun that is uncomfortable to carry IWB vs how comfortable the 43 was.

For the guys that can shoot the 43 with no problem I hate your guts, it's the perfect carry gun, I'll continue to carry my 27 uncomfortable!
 
#16 ·
Back in the day I used to pocket carry a Kahr PM9 as a backup to my Colt commander. I over the lil gun but never was a 9mm fan especially if the mag capacity was under 10 rounds.
I sold it & never a regret. The 43 is around the same size and if it lives up to the Glock name, should be a great lil gun, just not for me.
I'm in the as many rounds as I can fit in my gun is good camp.
I'm also in the the best gun to have in a gunfight is the one you have with you camp.
I do carry a Taurus TCP .380 from time to time but I got it at a good price and it don't pull down my jogging pants on my lazy days.
I'm prolly rambling. I apologize.
I've had a few beers lol!
I think the 42 and 43 is awesome but just not for me but, for some odd reason, I'd rather carry a .380 than a 9 lol!
Go figure

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#17 ·
I feel a little foolish adding to powernoodle's response. If you want, skip mine and go read his again.

I love my 43. It's the first gun I can just carry. I have a G30s that I can deal with in jeans with a heavy shirt, etc... but the 43 goes everywhere- with shorts in the summer and a t shirt (tucked or untucked), nicer pants and shirt to church or out for dinner, sitting in the car for a road trip, on a bike ride... everywhere. And as the saying goes, I'd rather have 6+1 rounds of 9mm on my belt than 10+1 rounds in the safe at home.

I shoot the 43 well. I've found ammo that I'm happy with in its short barrel (search YouTube for 'Shootingthebull410' 9mm AmmoQuest). For me, it's a game-changer.


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#18 ·
I guess if your female and size 2-3 and wear tight clothes. Slim is better. I'm more if caught in a SHTF situation and i really really need my firearm. I don't buy into no one needs more than 3 rounds to get the job done.
I normally EDC a G17 and two spare mags (One on belt and one in pouch in cargo pocket).
Today I needed to be more discreet. So I carried my G26 with a Magpul Pmag12 a Pmag12 on belt and a 15 rounder in pocket. At this time I have no need ( or want for a Single Stack 9mm or a 45ACP)
Belt Buckle Footwear Fashion accessory Strap
 
#19 ·
Although I'm not a capacity whore which I've stated, I too can't help but think or consider active shooter situations. I live in Orlando and there's shootings all the time. A few have occurred around my area which is not as bad as other parts. Aside from that, about two weeks ago an individual walked in to his previous employer shot five and killed himself on a Monday morning. Being that I'm in a city where tourism and Disney is well known, I do feel a certain level of heightened awareness and consider how or what I carry. For a time period I wasn't carrying an extra mag and just about a month ago I decided to go back to it.


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#20 ·
I don't ever play or have played a video game. I base my round requirements on what I think is actually likely . In my city there have been many cases of several dirtbags age 12 to 16 stealing cars and doing armed robberies .. they carry guns and often shoot people even if they comply.. so I may not just have one problem to deal with. Likely the first person I shoot three times center mass will inspire running away from his friends... but what if they feel I slighted their group of inner city drug selling felons???

Well you need a plan.. and despite my practice and many people carrying several magazines... the odds of having time to reload a empty or partially empty pistol is almost never going to happen... you allready have what you have in the gun and magazine , and that's going to be it.

So if you start with 7 plus 1 that's it.. if you start with 15 plus one then you have more.
 
#22 ·
Well said and this is why I posed my question.

To each their own of course, but part of my assumption which I can't help when I hear people carrying the G43 as their primary is that there's a level of complacency there. It's sacrificing everything else for comfort of carrying and ease of carrying.

Odds may be odds, but violence today has evolved to something totally different then even five to ten years ago. Active shootings are popping up everywhere from local business to families being murdered in their homes.

I agree with shootings happening even when someone complies. They now have a choice. Leave a witness to tell of the assault or attempt to harm them enough to kill them.


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#21 ·
In my brief previous mention of my neighborhood, I failed to mention that 1) the passenger side mirror of my wife's car was shot off while my wife and daughter were in it, one block from our house, and 2) our house has four bullet holes in it, and 3) the two police raids I did mention were both at houses across the street from ours, in which we observed many guns being waved around. Someone caved in the sidewall below a double-window, trying to break in while we were gone. Two houses on our block have had to be gutted of carpet and drywall because they were meth factories. I used to carry revolvers, still have several, but I've gone to Glocks for extra capacity with reliability. I'm not a "capacity whore" or any other kind of whore, and I don't play video games either. The old gyrene smartaleck probably lives in a nicey-nice retirement community. It's all in where you live; some of us are not wealthy enough to choose, and at my age I still have to help less fortunate relatives, so hoorah for Glock.
 
#23 · (Edited)
6-9 months ago, I was arguing in someone's thread that the G43 wasn't smaller enough from a G26 or as pocketable as a Bodyguard/LCP and therefore wasn't worth owning IMO.

Then, on the off chance that it might be the perfect balance between them, I bought one.

Love it. Carry it. It really is a Goldilocks gun.

And, it gives me one more round for personal protection than the six-gun I was first issued when I carried professionally and was paid to go toward trouble. Didn't feel undergunned then, don't now with the G43 for personal defense. (ETS or MagGuts will give you 7+1, which is even nicer in such a small package).
 
#25 ·
In my brief previous mention of my neighborhood, I failed to mention that 1) the passenger side mirror of my wife's car was shot off while my wife and daughter were in it, one block from our house, and 2) our house has four bullet holes in it, and 3) the two police raids I did mention were both at houses across the street from ours, in which we observed many guns being waved around. Someone caved in the sidewall below a double-window, trying to break in while we were gone. Two houses on our block have had to be gutted of carpet and drywall because they were meth factories. I used to carry revolvers, still have several, but I've gone to Glocks for extra capacity with reliability. I'm not a "capacity whore" or any other kind of whore, and I don't play video games either. The old gyrene smartaleck probably lives in a nicey-nice retirement community. It's all in where you live; some of us are not wealthy enough to choose, and at my age I still have to help less fortunate relatives, so hoorah for Glock.
Sounds like you should shop for a new home in a better neighborhood instead of stockpiling guns and ammo. LOL
 
#26 ·
My first and only single stack 9mm was a Shield I picked up a few years ago. I haven't felt the need for a second single stack since that purchase. My G26 with the Magpul 12 round mag and a backup with 12, 15, 17, or 21 rounds has worked fine for me. I still think the G43 is a better choice than no gun, just not for me.
 
#27 ·
...
. Does the Glock 43 really match up to "qualify" as a fighting pistol?

....
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I am not sure what a "fighting pistol" is. Does this qualify even though it is only seven rounds?



...

Odds may be odds, but violence today has evolved to something totally different then even five to ten years ago. Active shootings are popping up everywhere from local business to families being murdered in their homes.

....
In Florida in 2007 there were 1201 murders with a murder rate of 6.6 per 100000.
In Florida in 2015 there were 1041 murders with a rate of 5.1 per 100000 and in 1988 there were 1416 murders with a rate of about 11.4 per 100000. Are you sure the rate of murders and shootings really that much worse than it was ten or twenty years ago?

.... For me I don't carry all day. While at work it's in my bag as I try my best to respect the rules. ...
...
I think if I end up getting one I'll be carrying all day even at work lol. Seems like the type of pistol you can just get away with doing so.

....
I would bet that if one could find good statistics for it, for every guy who was not allowed to carry a gun at work whipped out his gun at work and saved the day there were noticeably more who go fired because they got discovered with a gun.
 
#37 ·
I am not sure what a "fighting pistol" is. Does this qualify even though it is only seven rounds?



In Florida in 2007 there were 1201 murders with a murder rate of 6.6 per 100000.
In Florida in 2015 there were 1041 murders with a rate of 5.1 per 100000 and in 1988 there were 1416 murders with a rate of about 11.4 per 100000. Are you sure the rate of murders and shootings really that much worse than it was ten or twenty years ago?



I would bet that if one could find good statistics for it, for every guy who was not allowed to carry a gun at work whipped out his gun at work and saved the day there were noticeably more who go fired because they got discovered with a gun.
Did you get that from the FBI UCR website? Statistics that are not 100% accurate for one and aside from that my reference to violence is not limited to FL. The violence that has evolved in our nation is ridiculous. There are more active shootings, you have the riots popping up in inner cities, Chicago crime is outrageous and yet the UCR shows crime in Chicago murder rate down to nearly 5.1 in 2015... really? Their murder rate in one month exceeded records that other states haven't experienced.

And what I mean by a fighting pistol, I mean a gun you can absolutely bet your life on.

My point can be related to this idea...


View: https://youtu.be/sT25vIOxk8M


I'm not saying 7 rounds is wrong. There's a constructive purpose to my question so not sure what you're out to prove in your breakdown of my post.

Thanks for your feedback though. I appreciate all opinions.


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#29 ·
I have to wonder, why is this single stack Glock so popular for concealed carry? It seems more and more this has become the primary choice for many.

Aside from concealment, has "comfortability" surpassed capacity? Does the Glock 43 really match up to "qualify" as a fighting pistol?

6-8 rounds depending how you choose. Does that meet what a fighting pistol is meant to accomplish?

Would love to hear some thoughts and feedback.

Just my own curiosity speaking.

Please don't mention concealment as this is obvious. [emoji4]



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Pistols don't fight; men (and women) do.

Regards,
Happyguy :)
 
#32 ·
I don't ever play or have played a video game. I base my round requirements on what I think is actually likely . In my city there have been many cases of several dirtbags age 12 to 16 stealing cars and doing armed robberies .. they carry guns and often shoot people even if they comply.. so I may not just have one problem to deal with. Likely the first person I shoot three times center mass will inspire running away from his friends... but what if they feel I slighted their group of inner city drug selling felons???

Well you need a plan.. and despite my practice and many people carrying several magazines... the odds of having time to reload a empty or partially empty pistol is almost never going to happen... you allready have what you have in the gun and magazine , and that's going to be it.

So if you start with 7 plus 1 that's it.. if you start with 15 plus one then you have more.
Time to move
 
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