When people began singing the praises of the 43x/48, I have to say I didn’t get it. Especially the 48. It was just a slightly thinner G19. I always attributed the 48 to being a niche pistol for those that could not comfortably carry a G19.

I went down the 48 rabbit hole, and it led me down the 43x rabbit hole.

I’m 4000 rounds into the 43x. And during that time, I have started asking myself what the G19 offers that the 43x doesn’t? I can ramp up the capacity with Shield Arms magazines. I can save weight by running 10 rounders.

The little gun flat performs. I’ve taught a two week course on moving targets and shot all the demos with the 43x. I’m getting just about the same speed and accuracy that I get with a G19. At seven yards, I’m getting consistent 2 second Bill Drills with really predictable accuracy. 25 yard Bill Drills are about 4 seconds clean. At 50, I’m cleaning Bill Drills in sub 6 seconds.

The little gun flat performs. For years I would carry anything smaller than a G19. Times have changed.

My current set up is 43x MOS with a Holosun EPS Carry.

quote:

I’m 4000 rounds into the 43x

any malfunctions of any kind?

A couple of the guys I shot with on Saturday have 43X's and they were holding their own against the rest of us shooting full size pistols. I had a 48 for a hot minute, and a friend of mine just had to have it and I traded it to him for a Beretta 92. I loved the size and said I'd get another one. May be about time to do just that.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts about the 43X vs the 48.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:

quote:

I’m 4000 rounds into the 43x

any malfunctions of any kind?

One of my Glock mags gives me a couple of fail to feeds per training session. But, it’s the same mag each time. I’ve shot about 3500 of Blazer brass, 100 Gold Dot G2 and the rest is American Eagle 147. All of the malfunctions have been with Blazer.

I feel the same way about my P365x. Which is why I’ve put up my P320 for sale.

It’s just that good.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:


I'd be interested to hear your thoughts about the 43X vs the 48.

The 48 has a little nicer recoil impulse. One of my guys has an unhealthy relationship with his 48. He shoots it as well as I do the 43x. We are of the opinion if you are going to run a WML the 48 may make more sense. If not, it’s pretty much dealers choice.

Good to hear, thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
One of my guys has an unhealthy relationship with his 48.

You may have tipped me over the edge on a 48.

We just had a range day today. He is assigned as a TFO and he shot his issued 43x. He did just as well as anyone else using their issued G17’s. Not one issue.

I have to agree with you about the 43X.
I carried either a G5-26, or a G4-27 about 80% of the time for years. But after picking up a 43X that has changed significantly.

I shot it very well right out of the box, but the stock trigger beat the shit out of my trigger finger. So I tried an Apex trigger shoe and that did the trick.
I also stippled the front strap & back strap and that really improved my follow up shots at speed at multiple plates.

Recently I put on an EPS Carry. I shot a few Steel Challenge matches with the irons and two matches so far with the Dot and the gun runs great at speed. I really feel this compact pistol performs as well as the G19 with the benefit of lighter weight and slimmer more comfortable concealment. I have probably 1000rds so far with no issues and boring Glock reliability with both ball and defense loads. I’m running the stock 10rd mags.

I’ve been carrying it in a Tenicor Velo5 AIWB and it’s a great combination.

Both of my brothers have 43Xs. I really like the way they fit in my hand, the way they shoot, and how flat they are to carry. All three of us are pretty big guys, and I really appreciate the way the slimline Glock grip fills my hand better than any variant of the P365.

I think the 48 might fill my needs better than the 43X, just because I'd carry it IWB and put an optic on it if I do get one. I made a conscious decision at one point to get out of the Glock game, but those slimline guns just keep calling to me.

Yeah I’m surprised how much I like the slimline Glocks. They are soooo comfortable to carry and really shoot well. I know they were Glocks holy shit Hail Mary competition to the P365 but I think they really sort of fell into being their own thing and a good thing at that.

Carried my 43X for quite some time now. Have the shield mags with no issues at all. with a Holosun

I've got a GSSF coupon asking to be used as soon as I can decide between a 43X and a 48.

I carried a G26 for years and years, it was a little bit of magic in a small gun.

I switched over to the G43x and have carried that for years, in fact I had 2 of them. Earlier this year I got a steal on a 48 and tossed an EPS carry on it. I now carry the 48 full time.

I find both of them to be very natural shooters for me.

I've got couple of 43X pistols and I truly believe they shoot as well (or maybe I should say I shoot as well) with them as I do with my G19 Gen 5 MOS which recently replaced my 17 as the nightstand gun.

And better than I do with my P365. And I've done about all I think I can to the 365, Wilson Grip Module, & night sights that actually illuminate at night. I plan to keep the P365-I just shoot the Glocks better.

I have a bunch of OEM Glock 10 round mags and three of the PSA 15 rounders and absolutely love those 43X pistols.

I've traded or sold that last of my
Shadow Systems CR920s (the all worked as good and reliably as the 43X)-just didn't need 'em anymore.

Bob

I really like my 43X. It's so easy for me to shoot well with. The only thing I've had done to the pistol is to replace those stupid plastic sights with Trijicon steel 3 dot sights. The rear is almost a wee tad too wide as far as slide width goes, but it's still within bounds and works fine me.

As for the Shield mags, I bought some as well as the mag release as soon as they hit the market but haven't converterd the gun over to the new set up yet. It seem there are at least a couple of generations of Shield mags at this point. Does anyone know the differences? Are the 1st Gen reliable? Those are the ones I have.

The 43x has been my go to for the last several years when I wasn’t pocket carrying a P365. It came with Ameriglo night sights. I added talon grips. I used the OEM mags but I have shield arms and PSA 15 round mags. Just haven’t vetted them enough for full time carry. I prefer the PSA mags more since you dont have to fool with the mag catch.

I am still resisting the red dot rabbit hole on my handguns.

I shoot my 43x much more than my Glock 19s.

43X is to slim for my taste. But to each his own.

As to the Shield Arms magazines-

I was skeptical about them as well. And just before I left my TFO gig most of the agencies under DOJ authorized them for carry. That’s a pretty big endorsement as liability frantic as DOJ was in the Biden years. Generally, the FBI firearms unit tests the crap out of them before authorization. The ATF and DEA piggyback off of their work.

If DOJ lawyers, bean counters and insurance providers all signed off on them, they have to be solid. The Shield Arms mags came as a surprise. The Geissele SSA-E triggers in the new 11.5 rifles were a huge surprise.