By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
I am a firm proponent of carrying the largest caliber and handgun you are able to carry and control.
For some this isn’t a .45 ACP or .357 Magnum.
The 9mm is America’s caliber.* For myself, more often than not the Glock 43 slimline 9 is my preferred backup. I also carry the pistol in some situations as a stand-alone, often in a Galco pocket holster riding in the pocket of my overalls.
(*It is also the caliber of semiautomatic pistol President Joe Biden announced during a July 2022 CNN Townhall broadcast that he would like to “stop the sale” of as part of his gun control package.—Editor)
It took a long time to come to this. I thought it would be good to look at the Glock 43 as many makers are introducing high capacity versions of their slimline 9mm handguns. That’s okay, there is room for everything in the gun world I suppose but a fatter, longer and taller gun is getting away from the appeal of a slimline 9 at its best. The Glock 43X is a long grip version of the Glock 43 and while the 43X is a great shooter, try stuffing it in a pocket. The Glock 43 remains an excellent choice for many missions.
The Glock 43 was a long awaited introduction from Glock. The Glock, love it or hate it, is a handgun that excels at the Big R and Little M cherished by professionals. Big on reliability and small on maintenance. The long suit of the Glock is reliability followed by simplicity.
The Glock 43 weighs less than 20 ounces with a 3.4-inch barrel and a six round magazine. A total of seven cartridges isn’t much more than the payload of a snubnose .38. But we were comfortable with the revolver’s payload for one hundred years or more and the self-loading pistol may be reloaded in a few seconds by those who practice. The pistol is thin flat and easily concealed on your person. The Glock 43 is far more reliable than small .380 ACP pistols, hits harder, and is easier to use well.
The Glock 43 is slim and fits small hands well. My average hands are a good fit and larger hands are not unnecessarily cramped. The Glock 43 is an accurate pistol within the size class and meets expectations I have for small pistols.
Benchrest accuracy doesn’t mean much in a combat pistol. Just the same the Glock 43 will easily cut a five shot three-inch group from a solid benchrest at 15 yards. Better still the pistol will save your life if properly handled. I carry the pistol in one of two Galco pocket holsters often. One is the Stuk On, my personal favorite, and the other the Pocket Protector. I sometimes deploy the PMC Pocket Magazine Carrier. At times when suited up with a belt holster on the right I carry the Glock 43 in a Galco Hornet crossdraw. These are excellent holsters for carrying the Glock 43.
My pistol remains stock as it came from the factory. I replaced the magazine spring when it hit 2,000 cartridges, a lot of ammunition for the back up but that is over quite a few years as well. The pistol’s factory night sights are dim so I will replace these with a set of XS sights soon. I use the standard six round magazines. There are plenty of add-on magazine bases that allow a few more rounds. I have yet to see one as reliable as the Glock magazine in factory configuration. I have seen several fail in training classes. Why bulk up your pocket gun? If you want an extended magazine, then go with the Glock 43X for a more reliable set.
This fixation on gadgets fan boys have is absent from professionals. Aftermarket triggers are fine for range toys. Attend an IDPA or IPSC match sometimes. I often pick up brass after matches. Often as not there is a trigger shoe on the ground. These things fail in high round count guns. They will not fail in my gun because I don’t have one in my gun! Use the money you would spend on aftermarket parts on ammunition. You will prosper far more. If you don’t heed my advice you will probably not have a problem with these aftermarket add-ons. If you do, the results may be grim.
Firing the pistol is pleasant enough. A dual recoil spring aids in controlling recoil. Fire, allow the trigger to reset during recoil, align the sights and fire again. The pistol isn’t as controllable as a Glock 19 of course but it is controllable for those who practice. Ammunition performance is a consideration. I have tested personal defense loads including the Federal HST, Hornady Critical Defense and Winchester Defender with good results. Expansion remains reliable.
I would not use 147-grain loads in a 3.4 inch barrel as velocity loss limits expansion. Shot placement is the single greatest factor in wound potential. The 9mm Glock 43 is a great all around slimline with much to recommend. There are handguns easier to shoot well than the Glock 43 9mm but they are not as light and concealable. None are more reliable.
SPECIFICATIONS
Model Glock 43
Caliber 9mm
Width 1.06 in.
Height 4.25 in.
Barrel Length 3.4 in.
Weight 18 oz.
Action Safe Action DAO
Capacity 6 rounds
OAL 6.26 in.
