Glock 43 Concealed Carry Handgun Review
The Glock 43 is Glock’s new single stack 9mm handgun. The excitement for this handgun’s release is quite possibly without comparison in the extensive Glock family. The little single stack 9mm is very concealable due to its compact design and slim frame. This low-recoil, easy to fire gun is desirable and sought after in most concealed carry circles.
The purpose of this review is to give you a brief, realistic overview. Hopefully, it will give you a good idea whether or not you want to purchase a Glock 43.
The G43 is very concealable, able to be hidden in just about any position on your waistband regardless of your size. Some people even pocket or ankle carry the G43. This little Glock has a well-balanced combination of the following: shoot ability – (if that’s a word) it’s smooth and easy to shoot, respectable round capacity – at 6 plus 1, a compact design as well as an ergonomic shape that makes it a great single stack, concealed carry gun.
Glock 43 Size: The overall length of this sub compact, single stack Glock is 6.26 inches (159 mm), making it the “Ninja” of the Glock family. This gun is incredibly easy to conceal and yet the size does not take away from its lethal stopping power, as long as you can shoot.
The width of this gun is a mere 1.02 inches (26 mm), which once again, makes it one of the most concealable firearms in the Glock family today. It fits nicely in your hand and has a comfortable grip (we’ll discuss this more thoroughly later) The height is 4.25 inches (108 mm) tall.
The height of your firearm is a major factor to take into consideration before making a decision to buy any gun for concealed carry. The height of a gun is the most exposed portion above the waistband and consequently the portion that prints the most. The shorter the height the less the handle will print theoretically.
The height is also quite important when taking into consideration the round capacity. Later, you will see my favored setup when carrying a G43. The standard magazine capacity for this gun is six rounds plus one in the chamber 
for a total of seven 9mm rounds. Perhaps this is not adequate in your mind, but that’s why there are magazine extensions like the Strike Industries EMP +2 (pictured below).
While we are talking about the small size i’d like to mention that the Glock 43 weighs just 17.95 oz. or 509 g unloaded and roughly 22.36 oz. (364 g) loaded.
Now, I have already touched upon this briefly, but the stock Glock 43 magazine holds six rounds of 9mm ammunition. Add one round in the chamber and that give you seven. If you are not satisfied with stock capacity you can purchase after market enhanced magazine plates like the Strike Industries EMP pictured to the left. I replaced the stock pinky extension magazine plate that came on one of the mags with the Strike Industries +2 model.
All things considered 9mm is a sufficiently lethal round for self defense. The question is “will 7 rounds be enough in a critical dynamic incident or do you feel better with 9?”. I’ll leave that up to you to decide for yourself. Keep in mind when you extend the magazine the height increases and so does the potential for printing.
Everyone has their own preferences on sights. In this image, you will see that I have stock Glock sights. I prefer 3 dot Trijicon night sights and that is probably the only other thing I will change on this little G43 other than the magazine base plate already mentioned.
Now, there are a couple of other things I must mention about this little single stack powerhouse. For example, the outstanding grip on this gun.
With a unique texture and aggressive feel, you can get a firm grasp allowing you to shoot and manipulate the weapon confidently. With a large magazine release catch, one can easily remove the G43 mag from the well and perform quick and efficient reloads if necessary.
The Glock 43 also features a beaver tail structure which allows you to command a firm, even grip. With a unique texture and aggressive feel, you can get a firm grasp allowing you to shoot and manipulate the weapon confidently. With a large magazine release catch, one can easily remove the G43 mag from the well and perform quick and efficient reloads if necessary.
The Glock 43 has a dual recoil spring making recoil management very comfortable for the average shooter. The Glock 43 has surprisingly very little recoil compared to most single stack 9mm handguns.
In conclusion, the Glock 43 is a superb concealed carry weapon. With an ideal size, sleek feel and adequate capacity, this firearm has it all. Despite it’s size, this gun is a perfect applicant to the wise words of a certain someone who lived a long, long time ago who once said: “Size matters not.” The Glock 43 just might be the gun guaranteed to meet all of your concealed carry needs.
Roughly, you can purchase this gun for about $450 or even less with an LEO or GSSF discount. This gun is well worth your money and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy-to-shoot and easy-to-conceal single stack 9mm. After all, it is a Glock.
About the author: Anthony Battaglia is the founder, owner and developer for TactiPac – Tactical Solutions Provider and the founder of The Louisiana Concealed Carry Association . He is a Christian, Husband, Father, business owner, U.S. Navy Veteran, Firearms Instructor, CCW permit holder, gun enthusiast and avid outdoorsman. You can receive more information or contact Anthony by visiting AnthonyBattaglia.org or Tactipac.com .