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  4. The Glock 43: Slimline 9mm Perfection

Introduced almost a decade ago, the single-stack Glock 43 rocketed to acclaim as a slim-profile ultra-concealable 9mm carry gun and still excels at the task. 

In 2014, when Glock announced the .380 ACP G42, a wave of disappointment swept over the country as-- except for nerds who really wanted a banned-from import/LE-only G25-- it seemed everyone wanted a micro-compact 9mm pistol instead. The next year at the NRA Annual Meetings in Nashville, Glock made good and delivered the G43. Guns.com was there at the launch event, and I can vouch that the excitement was palpable. 

 

Glock 43 slimline 9mm
Yup, the cameras on cell phones were a lot crappier in 2015...
Glock 43 slimline 9mm
With a loaded weight of about 20 ounces, the G43 still has a 3.41-inch barrel and a standard 6+1 ammo capacity. The basic Gen 4 version, shown here. 
Glock 43 slimline 9mm
The cool thing about the G43 is that it was small-- about the same size as a sub-compact 380-- and fit in the palm of the hand. It is also about as wide as a finger-width. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Glock 43 slimline 9mm compared to Colt Agent
It was even more low-profile than a snub-nosed .38/.357, a gun that was (and still is for many) the go-to for a deep concealment handgun. As the 6+1 capacity G43 had a longer barrel and sight radius, as well as a larger capacity while still being slim and trim, the lilliputian Glock was a better choice for many. 

 

Soon, Glock reported it had sold more than a million G43s to a hungry CCW-fueled market.

The svelte 9mm has also proven popular as a police backup gun. For example, the year it was introduced the Georgia State Patrol adopted the gun as a standard off-duty and backup gun with a corresponding policy making its carry on-duty mandatory to supplement the primary sidearm. The Arkansas State Police soon followed as did other agencies. 

 

My own trip with the G43

 

Having jumped on the G42 train early (don't look at me that way), by the time the G43 came out I was already gun shy, no pun intended, and soon after Glock delivered the 10+1 capacity G43X (followed by the optics ready G43X MOS) to the market. This led to deals on lots of traded-in single stack G43s as folks went with the gently larger G43X and soon started buying extendo magazines/base pads to up the capacity even further.

To this day, the G43X is regularly on the top of our monthly chart when it comes to best-selling guns.

 

Glock 43X 9mm
The G43X is only a little taller than the G43 and weighs in at just 18.7 ounces, empty. It is also a bit chunkier and longer in the grip.

 

A couple of years ago, I took the G43 jump (not the G43X as I was intrigued by the short size of the original model) and picked up a Vickers Tactical edition which was a limited run that came complete with a Wilson Combat rear sight and AmeriGlo ProGlo tritium front, a Tango Down slide lock, enhanced magazine release and Vickers +2 magazine extension. 

 

Glock 43 slimline 9mm Vickers Tactical model
My G43 Vickers. Thus far, I have about 2K rounds through it. 

 

I upgraded the factory trigger with a wider SSVI Tyr shoe and went on the search for dependable extendo mags to see if they made the difference when it came to the tradeoff between size and capacity. The concept appeals to me as the extended floorplate comfortably accommodates a more proper firing grip for my big banana hands without changing the, um, girth of the grip itself. I like the idea that I can run it with the standard short grip (something the G43X doesn't offer) or add a mag with a baseplate extension to suit my carry needs. 

 

Glock 43 baseplates
When it comes to extended base pads, you keep the same reliable Glock OEM mag body/lips/follower and simply upgrade the base and/or the spring. In the middle you see the Vickers +2 Tango Down mag. It is flanked by +1, +2, and +3 capacity Taran Tactical base padded mags. The +1 adds just an eighth of an inch (1/8") and 0.4 ounces to the gun while the +3 goes 1.25 inches longer on the front, slanting back to 0.8 inches on the back of the grip while adding 1.4 ounces. Experimentation doesn't hurt and I dig modularity.
Glock 43 slimline 9mm Vickers Tactical model
This gives you an easy carry with 9+1 rounds loaded if using the +3 base pad, and you can always carry a second mag if you want. 
Glock 43 slimline 9mm Vickers Tactical model
When coupled with a premium personal defense load such as Speer's 124-grain Gold Dot Short Barrel JHP-- which is designed to work in barrels as short as 1.9 inches while producing less felt recoil and achieving reliable expansion and penetration-- you have a nice little carry set up. For reference, my G43, with 10 rounds of Speer loaded and the +3 Taran baseplate installed, weighs just 24 ounces and fits in the same places as my J-frame S&W while having twice the capacity. Don't forget, you can always carry a flush-fit standard or +1 basepad in the pistol and a +3 as a backup. 
Glock 43 slimline 9mm Vickers Tactical model
There is no shortage of holsters out there for the G43, and two of my favorites are the Safariland GLS IWB-- which includes a locking "grab proof" retention system that doesn't fool with the trigger, and the more basic (and super comfortable) Bianchi Leather No. 6. 
Target riddled with bullets
Accuracy with the G43, due to its decent sight radius, is a real thing, especially when using a longer base pad. 

 

While I have always been a fan of "carrying the largest gun you can," and I often carry a double-stack, my G43 is still a great option that gets a lot of trips out of the safe, especially when stepping out to the store in a set of shorts and flip flops during the typical 100-degree summer day in the Gulf South. It also carries exceptionally well while wearing a suit, an important concern. 

The G43, with its inherent slimline design, is perfect for those with smaller hands, or those who just want a gun with a thinner profile than a double stack. The use of extended base plates and carrying a spare mag can be effective for those who want the comfort of more rounds. While the G43X has overshadowed its slimmer brother, it hasn't replaced it in the holsters of many, and the original no doubt remains unseen in the best places. 

After all, a million G43 owners can't be wrong.

 

Glock 43 slimline 9mm Vickers Tactical model
Glock 43: I can't quit it.
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