Glock 43: Loving it!!!

[stmcelroy]

Picked up a Glock 43 on Friday from Rapid Fire Firearms in Sandy, OR. and boy am i a happy camper. Of course I paid more than I planned but really happy I did.

Feels great in the hand, slightly smaller than both my Springfield Armory XDs and S&W Shield, but feels much smaller.

I love all guns and feel totally safe carrying the Shield, XDs or my newest carry gun the H&K P2000SK; but at the end of the day my Austrian roots(yes my grandmother and dad are from Austria:cool:) come through.

I love all guns and feel totally safe carrying the Shield, XDs or my newest carry gun the H&K P2000SK; but at the end of the day my Austrian roots(yes my grandmother and dad are from Austria:cool:) come through.

So far I've only been able to shoot 103 rounds through the gun(97rds S&B 115gr FMJ, 3rds Winchester Ranger 127gr and 3rds of Hornady Critical Duty). No issues at all except me covering the slide stop which is not surprising on a small gun.

Recoil is snappy but very controllable and keeping all shot in the chest region even shooting fast was no problem(11 yards).

The only cons that I can come up with this far is capacity if you don't believe 6+1 is enough, the grip texturing isn't aggressive enough to me(of course I live in a dry climate and this may not bother you), and of course the biggest issue is having to pay an early adopter price.....:eek:

Looking forward to shooting the gun more and carrying it this summer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/stmcelroy/Glock%2043/2015-04-24%2012.53.18_zpsj8qx60wn.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/stmcelroy/media/Glock%2043/2015-04-24%2012.53.18_zpsj8qx60wn.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/stmcelroy/Glock%2043/2015-04-24%2017.46.13_zpsnwlsgz6u.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/stmcelroy/media/Glock%2043/2015-04-24%2017.46.13_zpsnwlsgz6u.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/stmcelroy/Glock%2043/2015-04-25%2017.30.00_zpsantcfc6k.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/stmcelroy/media/Glock%2043/2015-04-25%2017.30.00_zpsantcfc6k.jpg.html)

[stmcelroy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/stmcelroy/Glock%2043/2015-04-26%2013.23.45_zpsoktgbgmw.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/stmcelroy/media/Glock%2043/2015-04-26%2013.23.45_zpsoktgbgmw.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/stmcelroy/Glock%2043/2015-04-26%2013.23.58_zpsxh9srrp7.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/stmcelroy/media/Glock%2043/2015-04-26%2013.23.58_zpsxh9srrp7.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/stmcelroy/Glock%2043/2015-04-26%2013.24.11_zpsuynrva49.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/stmcelroy/media/Glock%2043/2015-04-26%2013.24.11_zpsuynrva49.jpg.html)

[Wishoot]

Congrats!

Looking forward to shooting one myself someday. I don't see it replacing my Shield anytime soon, but I've been surprised before.

Dandy lookin' holsters too ;)

[stmcelroy]

Thanks.

I've had a Shield since they released them at the NRA show and it's always been a love hate relationship. I love the basic premise of the small thin 9mm, but always hated the oval shape of the grip.

I much prefer the XDs squared off grip to the Shield. I was considering switching from the Shield to the XDs in 9mm that I picked up recently to replace the XDs in .45acp I sold a friend.

But now with the G43 I think I've found the best of the bunch. Guess only time will tell if it turns out to that way:D

[4 Paws]

Is Glock offering a free watch with each purchase now ?;)

[stmcelroy]

Is Glock offering a free watch with each purchase now ?


Wouldn't that be nice?:D

Traded for the watch the other day and figured show them both off.

[Homerboy]

Isn't the 43 bigger and heavier than the Shield?

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

Isn't the 43 bigger and heavier than the Shield?
I'm not sure where people are getting this misconception. It's shorter/thinner than the Shield and roughly the same length. G43 is lighter by 3oz. It's basically a PM9 with a 1/2" longer barrel.

Watch the Hickok45 Glock 43 video, he does a nice overview and comparison to other popular single stack 9mms. Skip to 21:35 for the G43 and Shield size comprison.

[stmcelroy]

It is most definitely smaller and lighter than the Shield and has a longer barrel.

[Brotherbadger]

Nice to see! It seems like a nice setup.

[stmcelroy]

This is the first gun in a long time that I put on in the morning and keep on until evening. :D

Upgraded my holster to some soft loops and although a little more work to remove they also make everything a bit thinner.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/stmcelroy/Glock%2043/2015-05-02%2015.54.21_zpsmup7b4dw.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/stmcelroy/media/Glock%2043/2015-05-02%2015.54.21_zpsmup7b4dw.jpg.html)

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

This is the first gun in a long time that I put on in the morning and keep on until evening. :D

Upgraded my holster to some soft loops and although a little more work to remove they also make everything a bit thinner.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/stmcelroy/Glock%2043/2015-05-02%2015.54.21_zpsmup7b4dw.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/stmcelroy/media/Glock%2043/2015-05-02%2015.54.21_zpsmup7b4dw.jpg.html)
What holster are you using there? I have have a PJ Kydex holster (FBI cant) for my CM9. I like the soft loops you put on there.

[stmcelroy]

It's actually one of the holsters I make(www.rkbaconcealment.com)

I normally run the molded clips but thought I'd give soft loops a try and thus far am loving them. Love them so much I made them an option on my website:D

[Mrgunsngear]

Agreed. Mine's going very strong. Just pushed past 500 rounds and it's still flawless.

First time out with it and overview video here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmxgDoI5mo4)

[stmcelroy]

Great to hear.

Should have a couple holsters for it on the way to you tomorrow or Thursday.;)

[Pawatch]

Glad to hear your liking the 43! It's on my want list.
Congratulations!!

[Deaf Smith]

Glock is supposed to soon come out with a +1 extension.

I hope so!

Deaf

[stmcelroy]

Taran Tactical has both +1 and +2. Of course they're around $30 for an extension.

[druryj]

Got my new G43 last Friday, and it's great. Ergonomics are good, recoil is softer than you might think, and it just flat works. Put a Dawson Precision Fiber Optic front sight on it and blacked out the rear. I like this little gun!

[stmcelroy]

Night sights are coming next.:)

[stmcelroy]

Added my rubber Talon Grips the other day, best $10.98 upgrade ever.:D

http://talongungrips.com/

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/stmcelroy/Glock%2043/2015-05-06%2007.25.20_zpsaauo8uew.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/stmcelroy/media/Glock%2043/2015-05-06%2007.25.20_zpsaauo8uew.jpg.html)

[8MM Mauser]

It's shorter/thinner than the Shield and roughly the same length. G43 is lighter by 3oz. It's basically a PM9 with a 1/2" longer barrel.

Thank you for taking the time to post this. The quoted part is particularly helpful to me in thinking about buying a smaller 9MM. Love the Kahr PM9 but worry about Kahr's mixed reputation on reliability.

Seems like a 43 might make a nice little brother to my G19.

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

Thank you for taking the time to post this. The quoted part is particularly helpful to me in thinking about buying a smaller 9MM. Love the Kahr PM9 but worry about Kahr's mixed reputation on reliability.

Seems like a 43 might make a nice little brother to my G19.
No problem! How long have you had your PM9 and any issues with your particular gun?

Kahr makes a good quilty gun but they tend to be tight for the first 300 round break-in. I think that's the biggest complaint about Kahr.

[stmcelroy]

PM9 is more of a pocket gun, for which I'd rather carry my S&W 340PD.

The G43 is a great IWB gun for when lighter clothing is desired(or for when you just don't want to carry a full size gun).:D

[8MM Mauser]

Well I haven't purchased the PM9 yet because of that reputation actually.

I really like the way they feel in the hand and shoot, and twice I've pulled the plug at the last minute, I mean literally about
To call my FFL with the money set aside.

Might have to shoot them side by side.

It is hard to tell how these little guns will be.

I hated the Shield for example, but like the PM9 a lot, weirdly the Kahr feels fuller in my hand.

[stmcelroy]

The 43 is more squared off like the PM9, the narrow oval grip is one thing I don't like about the Shield.

[Mrgunsngear]

Got those RKBA holsters in----looking awesome.

http://i.imgur.com/2kKhxGtl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/txkKOTKl.jpg