I have hundreds of thousands of rounds through double stack GLOCKs and only thousands of rounds through GLOCK single stack guns, so my experience isn’t definitive on the single stack guns, but my G43s haven’t given me any issues with target or carry ammo. I think the reliability issues with the single stack guns were just the growing pains of a new gun release. Real-world use led to feedback to improve mags and RSAs, not unlike releases in new models or Gens of the double stack guns. I suspect those issues have been sorted at this point.

 

yup same as long as you havent messed with them and then wonder why it wont work lol.

 

Wrong.
My 43X ran for a couple hundred rounds, but then couldn’t go through a full mag without choking. Off to Glock.

Same deal: two hundred rounds then choke city.

Bought an IMSI rsa…all is good.
Glock had a bad batch of recoil assemblies but never did a recall.

This problem affected all the thin line models 43, 43X and 48.

 

O issues with my g36.. just as dependable as my g30 was.. it’s a great little shooter…

 

I don’t have the round counts as @Danke Glock but moved from a 19.3 to a 43 then to a 43x when it was first launched and haven’t run into any issues at all with either of the single stack iterations.

I have read that there were some magazines that needed updating (IIRC) but have not had any problems with any of the OEM mags in my possession.

I did run into some issues with aftermarket PSA magazines in my 43x however and do not use them for EDC. Some folks report zero issues with them but that was not my experience.

 

GLOCK has gone through teething pains with the release of various guns, be they double stack or single stack. It’s usually something minor that needs to be tweaked like the spring weight of a RSA or a mag spring. My single stacks have worked fine, as have those of the guys I shoot GSSF with, or least they haven’t mentioned any issues nor have I seen any when we practice. They all carry some form of single stack (G43, G43X, or G48) most of the time and compete with them.

 

Yes. I haven't found any model or caliber of Glock to be less than 100%, over the last 34 years or so of shooting them.

 

My single stacks have been as reliable as my doubles.

 

So far, my experience is:

G43 (since 2016) has exactly 1 Malfunction (FTF) in 5k+ rounds (just through Shield Z9 mags) was with an aftermarket mag. Zero malfunctions through OEM mags, even with extensions and/or magguts springs. I did have a magguts follower get stuck one time during unloading it manually, but never during actual use.

G43X (since 2021) Malfunctions every time I hit the range with aftermarket mags whether from Shield or PSA. No malfunctions with OEM mags.

G19 (since 2002) 1 malfunction ever during use (tens of thousands of rounds) and that was when I was a newb and left out the floor plate in the magazine. Otherwise I did break a trigger bar return spring during dry fire. This was an aftermarket spring. Went back to OEM and no issues otherwise.

Long story short. My Glocks have only malfunctioned as a result of aftermarket parts. The fan bois of Shield & PSA mags immediately jump to "oh probably user error" it is not, it's the mags. Otherwise there would also be malfunctions with OEM mags, which there is not.

 

I concur with all of the above.

 

We own an older G36 and a G43. Both have been 100%. The G36 has a lot of rounds down range. The G43 not (yet) as many.

As an aside, the G36 kicks like a mule. The G43 has pretty “lively” recoil too. Neither is desirable for extended range sessions.

We trudge on.

 

My only experience with Glock SS was buying 10r compact mags to carry with my 19.3's in case BM 114 went into force. If that's anything to go by, SS reliability isn't even close to double stack.

Guess I have about 300k on gen3 total, with no feed issues.

 

Mine are.

 

I just put 50 10 round mags of 115gr. S&B through one of my 48's about an hour ago. Zero issues as usual. I normally do 30 mags, but today I loaded up 50. The only thing I have ever broken on a 43/43X/48 was that little metal hook on the trigger spring thingy, but only after countless rounds.

I have had feeding issues with 147gr. HST's in a couple of 43's for some reason. I just run 124gr instead.

Great guns, IMO.

 

It's a valid question, I wondered the same thing when the 43 and 43x came out, if they were gonna be as rock solid as the rest of the lineup and for me they have. If they weren't, it'd be a thing all over the web, how "my 17s and 19s are g2g but this damned 43" .. I'd say they're good to go

 

Dammmmm !

You carry all the time chamber loaded hammer fully cocked, and safety off .

Having shot my 42, 43x, 44, and 48, I've never had a problem. I'm going to try out my 42 with 10-round Promags this weekend. I'll report back on what I find.

 

My 43, 43x, and 42, are every bit as reliable as my 19 and 26.

 

I have a Vickers tactical version of the G43. I had failure to return to battery issues. Once I took the extended slide stop out and went to the factory one all of my issues ceased.

 

No problems yet with my G48 after nearly 1,000 rounds.

Edited to add, the only problem I’ve ever had with my G48 was a squib round.

 

No issues here.

 

My Glock 43 and 43x have been flawless.

 

The fact is that the single stacks do have the track record or the military, police, and civilian world wide usage and vetting that the double stacks have. They haven't been issued, used, and abused by L.E. and military. They haven't had tens of thousands of sponsored rounds ran through them in countless competitions. As far as I know, there aren't any single stack Glocks that are on record as doing the same number of rounds as the double stacks. Furthermore, logic and common sense dictates that the bigger, thicker, and more robust slide and components will beat up the gun less as well as stand up to higher round counts than the smaller, lighter, thinner single stacks.

My opinion based on what data we do have and simple logic is that the single stacks are NOT as reliable as double stacks.... It's similar to how both J-frames and L-frame/N-frames are both reliable, but of course the J-frames aren't going to stand up to a study diet of .357 as well. All that said, I think it's a moot issue as most people aren't going to run enough rounds through single stack Glocks to wear them out, and even if they do ever wear them out, parts can be replaced and Glock is likely to fix any big issues, e.i., cracked frame.

[EDIT] I do recall hearing about there being some issues with Glock's single stack 9mm mags causing a malfunction????

 

Out of two single stack Glocks the only issues I've had were caused by ammo not the guns themselves. Exactly one failure in my 42 due to an underpowered round and exactly one failure in my 43x with range ammo. Someone else had the same issue with the same brand in their 43x and I haven't been able to recreate the issue. I tried to make my 43x fail after this lone malfunction and couldn't get it to, even doing a super limp wrist like the TFG guy I couldn't cause it to malfunction. Not a hiccup since and no hiccups at all with my carry ammo. The 43x is my primary edc and I'm extremely picky with semi autos that I use for defense. Are they as reliable as the double stacks? I'd like to think so but shrinking a gun to a smaller size can have side effects. I do think Glock single stacks are definitely more reliable than single stacks from any other company, which is why I went back to Glock. I've had too many issues with small semi autos that I never had with Glock. The only non Glock semi auto I still carry is my Ruger LCP. If the 42 was as small as the LCP I'd still have my 42, unfortunately it was just too big for me to pocket carry.

 

My G17’s, G19’s, G26’s, G34, and G17L have all been flawless with the ammunition they like. My G43’s have been the same, but it took a little longer to find the right ammo. Also, certain G43 mags in which I used aftermarket springs, base caps, and followers took a while to achieve 100% reliability, but they finally did. The G43 has been my go-to EDC for over two years. I love the thing.

 

Are single stack Glocks as reliable as double stacks?

It depends on how much Glock Kool aide you guzzle -

Does anyone believe a G17 and a G42 have the same failure rate?

Larger guns - IMHO - have better reliability -

But I CC smaller guns even though I have a greater risk of a jam.

You pay your money and take your chances - but having confidence in your CC gun is a must have and the only way you get that is by putting rounds down range.

Want a small gun that is easier to carry - buy one - then shoot it enough to be confident it will go bang when you pull the trigger and you can put the rounds where you want.

 

Are single stack Glocks as reliable as double stacks?

It depends on how much Glock Kool aide you guzzle -

Does anyone believe a G17 and a G42 have the same failure rate?

Larger guns - IMHO - have better reliability -

But I CC smaller guns even though I have a greater risk of a jam.

You pay your money and take your chances - but having confidence in your CC gun is a must have and the only way you get that is by putting rounds down range.

Want a small gun that is easier to carry - buy one - then shoot it enough to be confident it will go bang when you pull the trigger and you can put the rounds where you want.

Totally agree. I don't believe the G42 and G17 have the same failure rate, and I don't believe they would hold up the same over tens of thousands of rounds.

That isn't to say the G42 stinks. It is a world of compromises. A police officer might carry a G17 because an M16 or Barrett might be too inconvenient (and it is tough to get through a crowd driving a Bearcat or Abrams tank!).

It is a world of compromises, and the convenience of the G42 and its generally really high reliability (even if slightly less than a G17) is still pretty great! I would trust both, but I would place bets on the G17 if we want to split hairs and anoint a single winner!

 

I currently own a 19 and 48, and have owned a 26 and 43. 8,000 rounds through the double stacks and 4,000 through the single stacks. Haven't really had any issues with any of them. I do think the 43/48 feel cheaper, in terms of quality, than the 19 and 26, which are built like tanks.

 

The only problems I've had with single stack are when using Sheild Arms mags. Stick to OEM as they will work.