I own both, but I think of the 43X as a belt gun and the 43 as a pocket gun. I actually refer to the 43 as my “walk the dog” gun, but I like to carry it on my daily hikes in town, too. The 6+1 capacity is plenty, and I generally carry an extra mag.

 

I prefer the 43 because the smaller grip makes it easier to pocket carry or ankle carry. It is close enough for either of those that an extra .79" would make it not work. Plus, the bigger issue is that I can (and have) extend my G 43 magazines for extra rounds and grip length, but I can't make a 43X shorter for my ankle holster.

With the 43 or any subcompact Glock, I generally keep one magazine with a flat bottom for concealment and extend the others as far as I want.

 

I prefer the 43 because the smaller grip makes it easier to pocket carry or ankle carry. It is close enough for either of those that an extra .79" would make it not work. Plus, the bigger issue is that I can (and have) extend my G 43 magazines for extra rounds and grip length, but I can't make a 43X shorter for my ankle holster.

With the 43 or any subcompact Glock, I generally keep one magazine with a flat bottom for concealment and extend the others as far as I want.

Exactly ! You can make a small pistol bigger but can’t make a bigger one smaller. Taran Tactical +2 or +3 for backup mags.

 

For me? Nothing. The 43 is still too big for my pockets and the 43X is a better belt gun.

For you? As mentioned maybe a pocket or ankle option.

 

For me? Nothing. The 43 is still too big for my pockets and the 43X is a better belt gun.

This, exactly.

 

43 is a great pocket carry gun.

I have a Tlr-6 on mine and use an Alabama pocket holster. I use a Tulster IWB for belt carry, though I like a G26 or my 43x MOS for that purpose. I also use a G45 or G19 9f traveling into South Texas or any of the usual big city hellholes.

Ultimately, it'll depend on how you dress and where you go. For me, the 43 gets the nod 90% of the time. Capacity is not something I chase so capacity issues are not a limiting factor.

I deal in probabilities, not possibilities.

 

43 is a great pocket carry gun.

I have a Tlr-6 on mine and use an Alabama pocket holster. I use a Tulster IWB for belt carry, though I like a G26 or my 43x MOS for that purpose. I also use a G45 or G19 9f traveling into South Texas or any of the usual big city hellholes.

Ultimately, it'll depend on how you dress and where you go. For me, the 43 gets the nod 90% of the time. Capacity is not something I chase so capacity issues are not a limiting factor.

I deal in probabilities, not possibilities.

How many rounds do you recommend for break in on the 43?

 

G-43 is excellent for a pocket side carry, reaction side as a backup! Magguts make it a 8 round gun. 3 more then any snubby revolver.

Regards,

 

What are Magguts?

 

Yes, the 43 is my go to, and I've also extended and increased mag capacity, with now excellent results. I almost bought a 43X recently, but decided against it. I don't do the Shield Arms route, so going from 7 or now 8+1 to 10+1 wasn't enough juice for the squeeze, for me. I have no doubts the 43X is an excellent gun, right outta the box. I just love the 43. It does the same job, and a little better as far as CCW.

We'd all love for Glock to actually make the 43 a little wider in the grip, and re design a new 10 round mag, keeping the 43 the same size, essentially. Sadly, I doubt they will. Why? The 43 is still selling quite well, even amidst the modern P365, Hellcat world today. Some people just want a Glock, regardless of reduced capacity.

@No Quarter I love that. Deal in probabilities, not possibilities. I'm taking that. 😁

 

I have both and a G42. The G43 is a backup pocket gun. I wear loose fitting 511 pants and it fits just awesome with a Boreii Eagle pocket holster. The G43X is a belt gun with 16 rds of firepower and much quicker reloads than the tiny G43 6rd mag. The g42 is for those times when I am NOT carrying a gun...LOL

 

I had both the 43 and 43x at the same time but ended up selling the 43x and I don't regret it. The 43x is nice but that extra grip length makes it a little trickier to conceal. I can carry my 43 in every situation but I couldn't the 43x. I ended up getting a Taran Tactical +2 baseplate for a mag and that allows me to go 8+1. That's almost identical in length to the 43x but it is 2 fewer shells. However, it just made more sense to me to trade the 43x and just stick with the 43 that I could carry everywhere.

 

Absolutely nothing, next!

 

"What does a 43 do for me that I need done."



Translation please.

 

What can I do with a G43 that I can't do with the G43X that I already own?
Is that better for you?.. and I know you knew exactly what I meant like all the others that replied above.

I think the answer to my question is possibly pocket carry and I also think the P365 makes more sense there for me.. especially since I already have a P365, extra mags, holsters.. and a probable 2nd one in my future.

 

I bought a G43 and G48 MOS. Pairing the G43 slide with the G48 frame gives me a G43X.

An additional take-off frame is an option if you want to have both a G43 and G43X.

My G43 slide is currently being RMRcc-cut.

I'm in the process of trading my G48 MOS slide for a G48 slide. That'll be RMRcc-cut, too.

PSA is expected to drop a 15-round polymer G43X / G48 magazine this month. Fingers crossed that it's highly reliable.

Is there any reason why PSA couldn't offer, say a 10-round polymer G43 magazine?

ETA: A 10-round polymer G43 magazine, even if it could be done, wouldn't necessarily make sense for PSA as it wouldn't be compatible with even a "Short" Micro Dagger™.

ETA: Has the Shield Arms Z9 9-round G43 magazine dropped?

 

The 43 is in GSSF "Pocket Glock" class.
The P365 is a better emergency gun, because the G 43 has a tendency to stop open when the slide stop lever is inadvertantly engaged. The G43 is good enough, but the 365 seems to be better.

 

I pocket carry a G43 with Carhartt B357 cotton ripstop cargo shorts.

I've been through several pocket holsters trying to find one that has a deep enough cutout under the trigger guard to allow my middle finger to acquire a solid shooting grip while the gun is still in the holster. The other holster problem I've been trying to solve is finding one that reliably releases the gun when I draw it from my pocket. It appears I finally found a holster that solves both of my problems - a Pocket Concealment Systems leather pocket holster. I applied Mitch Rosen Leather Lightning to improve the holster release and it, so far, it's the best pocket holster out of about a half dozen that I've tried.

I also have a G48, and like a previous poster, I can install the G43 slide on the G48 from to create a "G43X". I have no intention of trying to pocket carry the "G43X" because the girth and length of the grip makes it impractical.

I originally started out with a G42, as an upgrade from my Seecamp .32. Once I got used to pocket carrying the G42, I bought the G43 as an upgrade from the G42. I rarely carry the G43 in any other mode, although I do have OWB, IWB, and AIWB holsters that fit it. My primary carry pistol is a G19.

 

@wickedbeernut

Unfortunately, from the preliminary, limited info, the Z9 magazine doesn't make much sense. It looks to be as large as the VT +2 but 3 instead of 2 rounds. Couple that with the fact that you'll need their mag release, too? I've got my G43 running 8+1 per magazine for still less than one Z9 will cost for each mag, probably about $39.99 and up. Still using OEM mag catch.

 

@wickedbeernut

Unfortunately, from the preliminary, limited info, the Z9 magazine doesn't make much sense. It looks to be as large as the VT +2 but 3 instead of 2 rounds. Couple that with the fact that you'll need their mag release, too? I've got my G43 running 8+1 per magazine for still less than one Z9 will cost for each mag, probably about $39.99 and up. Still using OEM mag catch.

I tend to agree.

PSA's 15-round polymer G43X/G48 magazine leverages a "patented design" and works with an OEM Glock G43X/G48 magazine release. I was hoping PSA could apply some of this magic to an OEM Glock G43 magazine, but unlike the OEM Glock G43X/G48 single-stack magazine, there's simply not much real estate to play with when it comes to an OEM Glock G43 magazine.

​

 

I like options. So I picked up a 43X MOS blue label when I found it. Not I have irons on my 43 when needed, or optic 43 or X.

Options.

 

Yep, definitely get a few MagGuts+1 or MagGuts2, so you can increase the capacity of your G43 by one or two more rounds without making the gun’s grip any longer than how it comes from the factory! I normally carry my G43 with MagGuts+1 in the gun along with a spare mag with MagGuts+2 (or Vicker’s +2 or new “magic combination of Pearce+1 & MagGuts+1).

Here is my G43 with MagGuts+2 in the gun, which is holding 8+1 rounds of 124gr HST +P.

Here, you can see how size-efficient some +2 magazine extensions for the G43 are. All of these three +2 mags make your G43 to hold 8+1 rounds and work reliably.

I have tested all of my +2 mags pictured above, especially MagGuts+2 fitted mags thoroughly, with some +P JHP ammo that I actually carry; and they have shown to work completely reliably with my G43s. The 8-rounder mags in the middle and on the right have also been completely reliable so far, though I have not fired as many rounds with them as I have fired with MagGuts+2. Of course, with MagGuts+1, you can add one more round of capacity to your G43 to make it 7+1 without extending the physical length of the magazine with the OEM flush baseplate at all.

There are some nice +1 and +2 capacity increasing options for the G43 that work reliably.

 

Yep, definitely get a few MagGuts+1 or MagGuts2, so you can increase the capacity of your G43 by one or two more rounds without making the gun’s grip any longer than how it comes from the factory! I normally carry my G43 with MagGuts+1 in the gun along with a spare mag with MagGuts+2 (or Vicker’s +2 or new “magic combination of Pearce+1 & MagGuts+1).

Here is my G43 with MagGuts+2 in the gun, which is holding 8+1 rounds of 124gr HST +P.
View attachment 1055998
Here, you can see how size-efficient some +2 magazine extensions for the G43 are. All of these three +2 mags make your G43 to hold 8+1 rounds and work reliably.
View attachment 1056000 I have tested all of my +2 mags pictured above, especially MagGuts+2 fitted mags thoroughly, with some +P JHP ammo that I actually carry; and they have shown to work completely reliably with my G43s. The 8-rounder mags in the middle and on the left have also been completely reliable so far, though I have not fired as many rounds with them as I have fired with MagGuts+2. Of course, with MagGuts+1, you can add one more round of capacity to your G43 to make it 7+1 without extending the physical length of the magazine with the OEM flush baseplate at all.

There are some nice +1 and +2 capacity increasing options for the G43 that work reliably.

I almost Paged you but I knew you'd be along with the Glock 43 presentation shortly. 🤣

 

THe 43 will conceal much better than a 43X, yeah you don't get the capacity but it will conceal better. I tried to like the 43X but to me the G26 is a better option than the 43X is.

 

My experience, I have found that grip length is critical in CCW.It's the grip that prints, not the muzzle....

BTW, I am surprised an aftermarket higher cap mag works reliably.

For example, the NYC subway shooter of today used aftermarket high caps for (apparently) a Glock 42. And they jammed. Fortunately.

 

I've been on the fence regarding a 43 and I just decided to get one. For defense purposes, I only trust Glock. And the 43 is the only one that fits that pocket carry and ankle carry category. Everything else is a belt gun. At least that is how I am justifying it.

 

Glock 43
Increased Capacity
Magazines and Magazine Extensions​

@GlockyQ, What is +2 magazine extension you pictured in the middle above?

Glock 43 Magazine / Magazine Extension​	Total Rounds	Magazine Catch	Magazine Tube	Baseplate	Spring	Follower
OEM Glock Magazine	6+1​	OEM​	OEM​	OEM​	OEM​	OEM​
Pearce Grip +1 Extension	7+1​	OEM​	OEM​	New​	OEM​	OEM​
MagGuts +1 Extension	7+1​	OEM​	OEM​	OEM​	New​	New​
MagGuts +2 Extension	8+1​	OEM​	OEM​	New​	New​	New​
Vickers Tactical +2 Extension	8+1​	OEM​	OEM​	New​	New​	OEM​
(Pearce Grip +1) + (MagGuts +1) = +2 Extension ¹	8+1​	OEM​	OEM​	New​	New​	New​
Shield Arms Z9 Magazine	9+1​	New​	New​	New​	New​	New​

¹ - PilatusTurbo: Range Rep Update (Positive): Glock 43 +Pearce +1 +Magguts +1

OEM Glock 43 Magazine

Pearce Grip Glock 43 +1 Extension

MagGuts Glock 43 Magguts +1 Extension

MagGuts Glock 43 +2 Extension

Vickers Tactical Glock 43 +2 Extension

(Pearce Grip Glock 43 +1 Extension) + (MagGuts Glock 43 Magguts +1 Extension) = +2 Extension

Shield Arms Z9 Glock 43 Magazine​

 

@GlockyQ

Is this correct? I'm missing the +2 magazine extension you pictured in the middle above. What was that?

Glock 43 Magazine Extension​	Magazine Tube	Baseplate	Spring	Follower
Pearce Grip +1	OEM​	New​	OEM​	OEM​
MagGuts +1	OEM​	OEM​	New​	New​
MagGuts +2	OEM​	New​	New​	New​
Vickers Tactical +2	OEM​	New​	New​	OEM​
(Pearce Grip +1) + (MagGuts +1) = +2	OEM​	New​	New​	New​

View attachment 1056016
Pearce Grip Glock 43 +1
View attachment 1056017 View attachment 1056036
MagGuts Glock 43 Magguts +1
View attachment 1056018 View attachment 1056034
MagGuts Glock 43 +2
View attachment 1056019 View attachment 1056032
Vickers Tactical Glock 43 +2
View attachment 1056016 View attachment 1056036
(Pearce Grip Glock 43 +1) + (MagGuts Glock 43 Magguts +1) = +2​

Dang, that's a nice chart. Had you been doing the Pearce +1 + MG +1 before I recently did the thread on how it's working out, or did you add it to your chart after?

 

I purchased the 43 out of necessity and other than occasionally sweatpants pocket carry on really cold days 4 to 10 days a year, it stays hidden for extra home defense.


I can hide a 19 and 45, why would I want a 10 round 48x on my belt?

 

How do I justify a new platform for a grip just .79" shorter?

it will help you compose clearer thread titles...

and help you formulate better forum thoughts in general.

otherwise, the 365 forum awaits

 

Why do you need to “justify” any platform? Want gun buy gun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Buy what you want, but I'm not sure what you don't already have covered with a 43X and a P365, a pocket gun and belt gun of same capacity.

I don't like pocket carry, own a 43 and 43X, and consider them both belt guns. The 43X is clearly the most pleasant to shoot, but I think the best blend of everything might be the 43 with MagGuts +2. If I had discovered the MagGuts before buying a 43X, I might would have not bought a 43X. However, I haven't carried the 43 in a long time.

 

I went to a gun show Sunday and a vendor had a 43X and a 43 next to each other and even with the wired security I was able to lay the 43 on the 43X. The only difference is the 43X grip is .79 of an inch longer... and the obvious difference of 4 rounds of capacity between the 2. My usual method of carry is right front pocket. Yep, the 43X is more difficult in the pocket than my P365. There is the other part of the puzzle. I have a P365 and extra mags for it.
The Glock 43 would require all new mags.. probably at a minimum 3 additional mags (in addition to the 2 it comes with).. usually more. I can not carry a 43X mag for a reload of the G43 and that bugs me.
To further complicate things I have a relative having financial problems who has a new in box P365 that I should probably offer to purchase for the price he paid new.. and the required transfer unfortunately. He can purchase another at a later time if he resolves his issues and I walk with something other than another loan.
What Glock needs to do is change the design of the 43 so it uses 43X mags.... and make a factory 43X mag that holds.... 15 or so rounds.
Now if the G43 was BFG I'd own it already... LOL! I'm a sucker for green.
How do I justify a new platform for a grip just .79" shorter?

I got extended mags from Taran Tactical for the 43 . Works great and way cheaper than buying the 43x.

 

I've found that I like the 43X for the belt, heck I can even wear it with gym shorts but the grip is just too big for ankle holster so I revert back to 26....