GLOCK G43X Review: Best Concealed Carry Option?

GLOCK 43X PROS And CONS

PROS:

• Grip is superior to the GLOCK 43
• Allows better shooting with a minimum of compromise in concealment 
• Pistol offers 10 rounds in the magazine
• We liked the night sights on this pistol

CONS:

• Would prefer night sight options on other GLOCK handguns
• No accessory rail

We ran 60 rounds of full-metal-jacketed ammunition through the GLOCK 43X, loading our four magazines up for each firing string. The GLOCK 43X is fast from a concealed carry holster. While such things are difficult to measure objectively, the GLOCK 43X is faster from concealed carry than other micro nine handguns. Our lone female rater preferred the GLOCK 43X for draw from a high-riding holster. Getting on target is fast. The GLOCK 43X offers excellent hit ability. Speed to a first shot hit is equal to the GLOCK G48. Fast follow up and control is a bit different due to the shorter slide and sight radius and lighter weight.

During the firing test two raters experienced an odd malfunction due to shooter error. The slide did not hold open on the last shot. This happened four times. The culprit, we believe, was the small GLOCK 43X frame and the raters riding the slide lock down with the thumb. Once we realized what the problem was, we fired an additional 40 cartridges to be certain we solved the problem by moving our grip. The problem was solved. For some reason even though the controls are identical, the GLOCK G48 and GLOCK G43 exhibited a similar problem
only once.

The GLOCK 43X, bottom, is much thinner than the GLOCK 45, top, and holds 10 rounds of ammunition compared to 17 in the G45’s magazine.

If you decide to buy this pistol, be aware of this characteristic and check it for yourself. After the combat drill, the raters felt the GLOCK 43X was a good combat shooter with better results than the GLOCK 43 pistol previously tested. Compared to the GLOCK G48, we felt the larger GLOCK allowed greater speed in firing but the difference takes a skilled shooter to notice. And after all, the pistols are concealed carry designs.

The Ameriglo night sights we paid a surcharge for are good for 24-hour use, but the standard GLOCK sights are just as good for daylight shooting and perhaps had an edge in absolute accuracy in bright sunlight.

While the GLOCK 48, left, is a slightly better shooter, the GLOCK 43X at right conceals better, in our view. Either pistol can be a good self-defense shooter, depending on your situation.

In firing for accuracy from a rest, the GLOCK 43X gave good results. The best group was 2.2 inches with the Black Hills 115-grain EXP load.

The GLOCK 43X is a viable handgun that stands on its own merits. This version is an improvement over the GLOCK 43, we believe. After the comparisons were done and
the rate cards tallied up, the GLOCK 43X would be our pick for a concealed carry pistols.