GLOCK G48 Review: Long Slide GLOCK 43

GLOCK 48 PROS And CONS

PROS:

• One of the best-shooting, compact GLOCK pistols we've encountered

CONS:

• More difficult to conceal than the others, though “difficult” is relative.

The original release of the GLOCK G48 was a silver-finish slide in the trademark GLOCK nPVD protective coating. The sights are standard GLOCK plastic white-outline sights. The grip frame isn’t pebbled as aggressively as some other GLOCK pistols, which makes sense for a concealed-carry handgun. The Glock 48 doesn’t feature grip inserts.

This handgun is a personal-defense handgun, not a service pistol, joining the GLOCK G43 and G43X. While the GLOCK G19 is well balanced and is a very good all-round 9mm, the GLOCK 48 is much easier to conceal. By the same token, the G19 is easier to fire accurately than the G43. The barrel length, however, will get maximum performance out of the 9mm Luger cartridge. The pistol might be called a GLOCK 43 Long Slide version, but then the grip is lengthened as well. The trigger action is typical GLOCK, with a 5.6-pound trigger compression.

Ten rounds is plenty for most battles, we feel.

The GLOCK 48 features a lengthened grip (compared to the GLOCK 43 9mm) that holds a 10-round magazine. Ten rounds is a significant number of cartridges for personal defense, even compared to the generous 17-round capacity of the much larger GLOCK 17. The GLOCK 48 offers a good ammunition reserve compared to commonly carried 9mm slim-line pistols, such as the Smith & Wesson Shield and GLOCK 43 9mm. There is no penalty in a fat grip. The grip is the same width as the GLOCK 43, but longer. This grip fits small hands well and also accommodates taller hands with its longer vertical area.

A GLOCK G45, top, has more aggressive pebbling compared to the thinner GLOCK G48 on bottom.

Firing offhand at targets at 5, 7, and 10 yards, the GLOCK 48 came on target quickly. The sights are well suited to fast, reactive shooting. Control is good. The 9mm isn’t a hard kicker, but lightweight pistols often kick more than larger handguns. The GLOCK 48 isn’t as comfortable as the Glock 19 as an example, but it is more pleasing to use than the GLOCK 43.

Groups were tightly centered on the target with good control and practical accuracy. We fired with a combination of speed and accuracy firing and then
recovering the sights as the trigger resets and then firing again. The GLOCK 48 responds well to a trained shooter. We rated it the best performer in combat
shooting that included engaging a string of steel plates at 15 yards. The best group was a tight 1.5 inches, excellent for a compact handgun. As for
velocity and energy, the GLOCK 48 had more than 1200 fps in velocity from the Black Hills EXP load in the GLOCK 48’s 4-inch barrel.

The Glock 48 is great shooting pistol; accurate, easy to use well, and its barrel, at just over 4 inches long, develops the more velocity and energy
of any micro nine handguns. The GLOCK G48 is a thin pistol that’s easily concealed, but it is not as svelte as other micro nines.

GLOCK G48 9mm Auto Range Data

Black Hills 115-grain JHP EXP   

Average Velocity 1201 fps

Muzzle Energy     368 ft.-lbs.

Best Group           1.80 in.

Average Group     2.00 in.

Speer Gold Dot 115-grain JHP          

Average Velocity       1160 fps

Muzzle Energy           344 ft.-lbs.

Best Group                 2.00 in.

Average Group.          2.40 in.

SIG Sauer V-Crown 147-grain JHP          

Average Velocity       909 fps

Muzzle Energy           247 ft.-lbs.

Best Group                 2.04 in.

Average Group.          2.72 in.

Remington HTP 147-grain JHP          

Average Velocity       920 fps

Muzzle Energy           276 ft.-lbs.

Best Group                 1.50 in.

Average Group.          2.40 in.

This review originally appeared in Gun-Tests.com