Two Years With a Glock 43

[druryj]

Well, it's been almost two-years, give or take a few days now, since I got my Glock 43. I was one of the first to get one; I bought it through the LEO/MIL program from GT Distributors for $358 plus $20 shipping and a $10 transfer fee from our good friends at Sooner State Pawn. I was lucky and got in on their early-bird list and was able to snag one of these little pistols right away. I gave a one year report on it, and felt I needed to do another report now that the gun has a whole lot of rounds through it and has been carried an awful lot, as in almost every day. I did drop a Ghost Edge Connector in the gun, and I also put a fiber optic front sight on it. I added talon grips after handling and shooting my buddy's gun with them, and I like the feel of them a lot. Definitely worth the $21 bucks or whatever it was to buy them. Talon grips add very little width, but a whole lot of "grippy". The Ghost Edge works well too; for me anyway. I have about 5.0 honest lbs. of trigger now, as measured on my Wheeler Trigger Gauge. I like the reset too. It's never going to be anywhere near as nice as the trigger on my 1911, or your 1911 either for that matter, but for a striker fired gun, I have no complaints. As far as the fiber optic front sight goes, I like fiber optics a lot. My old eyes can easily pick that front sight up with them. My Gen 4 G19 has factory Glock night sights, but I think I'll just keep the Fiber Optic up front on the 43. I carry the 43 in one of three holsters; a Tueller Holsters OWB Pancake rig, a Crossbreed Mini Tuck, or a Rocketman (RM) Holsters Lowrider (third pic). All three are good holsters; all three serve a purpose. I always carry a spare mag too. My carry load is Federal HST 124 gr. How's it shoot? O it shoots just fine. I really have no idea of the exact round count, but it's at least 4,500 or maybe a little more now, the 43 goes with me on every range trip and I go at least once a week. I am pretty much just as accurate with the little G43 as I am with my larger G19. Is it as accurate as my 1911? No. But it's not as accurate as your 1911 either, unless yours is a real POS. It's also not nearly as big or heavy either. So, my feelings about the G43 now after carrying and shooting one a lot over a two-year period can be summed up pretty simply. It's the best of the small single stack pistols made, as far as my needs go. I know the S&W Shield is also a great pistol, as is the Walther PPS, the whole Kahr series, the Springer XDS, and the Sig P938, etc. but...having owned, handled, or at least shot all of the others, the G43 comes out on top for all the right reasons, as far as I am concerned. It always goes bang, I can find parts cheap and easy, the mags are solid as hell and cheap, the gun itself is a snap to break all the way down for detailed cleaning, and it will run any ammo you feed it. Oh...and it always goes bang. Plus, the handling/ergonomics of the 43 just plain fit me. I don't care about the so-called Glock grip angle issue...it's just not an issue to me. So there you have it. A fantastic little carry gun that runs like a striped-ass ape for under $4 bills? You betcha; me likey my Glock 43 just fine. Thank you; thank you very much. Oh yes, please come to the ENS at big Boys Gun Range on Saturday April 29 if you'd like to try it out.

 

[Pstmstr]

Nice write up. I've had mine for almost as long and agree on the Talon grip tape. I have night sights on mine and carry it in a Keepers Concealment Errand AIWB holster. I've shot it in matches when Safety First was having carry gun matches and probably have 3k rounds thru it. I carry the same load as well with a spare mag. Great pistol and I never leave home without it. It goes in every morning just like my wallet goes in my pocket.


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[beastep]

Nice review. I was in the market for a 43 when a guy offered me a 42 at a price I couldnt pass up. I had intended on selling the 42 for a profit and buying a 43 but I fell in love with the 42. I still want one though.

 

[druryj]

Thanks guys. One thing I failed to mention, and it's kind of a negative point - a small one, but still...it's a negative. And it's the finish. The finish on my 43 is quite a bit less "substantial" shall we say, than on other Glocks I have or have had. Maybe it's the fact that she more or less lives in that RM Lowrider Kydex Holster, but man, the gun is starting to show some holster wear for sure, especially on the edges of the slide, the extractor, and the slide lock lever. Not a big deal; I just wipe the gun down with an old slightly oily rag every few days anyway.

 

[dennishoddy]

Thanks guys. One thing I failed to mention, and it's kind of a negative point - a small one, but still...it's a negative. And it's the finish. The finish on my 43 is quite a bit less "substantial" shall we say, than on other Glocks I have or have had. Maybe it's the fact that she more or less lives in that RM Lowrider Kydex Holster, but man, the gun is starting to show some holster wear for sure, especially on the edges of the slide, the extractor, and the slide lock lever. Not a big deal; I just wipe the gun own with an old slightly oily rag every few days anyway.

Holster wear shows character and gives up information about the owner.
Case in point, I picked up a K-22 Masterpiece S&W for a steal at an auction. Put it on the S&W forums, and several sharp eyed eagles saw the wear patterns and determined it was a south paw that carried it. Interesting observation.

 

[MrShooter]

Nice write up.

And I like to see a gun with wear and tear. It's much better than tactical Timmy cerakoting his noveske and glock in a "battleworn" pattern. Lol

 

[Jwryan84]

Nice write up, however a few paragraphs would be nice. You're welcome for recommending the ghost connector and talon grips. You have def shot yours much more than I have, mine only has a couple hundred rounds thru it, it's nice to see it's holding up.

Your fiber sight is awesome, need to sell my Ameriglo sights on mine and get the low profile fiber like yours, it just works.

I for one have a huge issue with Glocks grip angle, but I just don't feel it on the 43. As in it just points right, unlike the bigger Glocks for me.

I run the 147 HST round and specifically like the heavier round in a small pistol as it helps with recoil. Lot less snappy than a light faster bulle.

 

[druryj]

Nice write up, however a few paragraphs would be nice. You're welcome for recommending the ghost connector and talon grips. You have def shot yours much more than I have, mine only has a couple hundred rounds thru it, it's nice to see it's holding up.

Your fiber sight is awesome, need to sell my Ameriglo sights on mine and get the low profile fiber like yours, it just works.

I for one have a huge issue with Glocks grip angle, but I just don't feel it on the 43. As in it just points right, unlike the bigger Glocks for me.

I run the 147 HST round and specifically like the heavier round in a small pistol as it helps with recoil. Lot less snappy than a light faster bulle.

You're right about the paragraph thing...but it's a post in a gun forum, not an English Paper, so I thought that if I broke it up, some guys, like Jeremy for example, would lose concentration and drift off to sleep.

If you do get a fiber optic front, consider green rather than red. I put a green on my 1911 Commander and it works much better for me than the red on my G43. I may go to green on the G43 now too. I have a front sight tool by the way if you need to install...

I often wonder if it might be the hump rather than the angle as far as the grip issue goes? Check out the difference between the 43 and other Glocks. Noticeable hump variation is apparent.

147gr vs 124gr - not a big deal to me, but it might be a factor to some. My wife likes a slow, heavier bullet too; she is also not a lover of recoil. Good point that you bring up, for those who are recoil sensitive especially.

Now go shoot that thing!


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[beastep]

The hump is what really throws me off on mine. Although the actual angle isnt perfect either. I try to get rid of the hump on all of mine but its not bad enough on my 42 that I've messed with it. Yet.

 

[Jwryan84]

You're right about the paragraph thing...but it's a post in a gun forum, not an English Paper, so I thought that if I broke it up, some guys, like Jeremy for example, would lose concentration and drift off to sleep.

If you do get a fiber optic front, consider green rather than red. I put a green on my 1911 Commander and it works much better for me than the red on my G43. I may go to green on the G43 now too. I have a front sight tool by the way if you need to install...

I often wonder if it might be the hump rather than the angle as far as the grip issue goes? Check out the difference between the 43 and other Glocks. Noticeable hump variation is apparent.

147gr vs 124gr - not a big deal to me, but it might be a factor to some. My wife likes a slow, heavier bullet too; she is also not a lover of recoil. Good point that you bring up, for those who are recoil sensitive especially.

Now go shoot that thing!


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When you decide to get a green front you can deal the red one to me, so order one up. I'm training myself to look for the red dot with the RMR, so a green would complicate things.