The Glock 43X: Is It the Best Concealed-Carry Pistol? – When it comes to everyday-carry handguns, few names come up as often as the Glock, and recently the Glock 43X has been a pistol that is gaining popularity.
Since its debut in 2019, it has become a go-to option for people looking for a slim, reliable 9mm they can carry comfortably all day.
Glock 43X. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Image: Creative Commons.
However, “popular” and “best” aren’t always the same thing. Here’s an honest look at what the 43X does well, where it falls short, and whether it deserves the top spot on your shortlist.
My caveat to this has always been: When you’re choosing a concealed carry or a personal defense weapon, remember the word “personal.” It doesn’t matter what I or any of the thousands of very experienced gun hands who write for magazines say.
It is YOUR weapon. So, unless you are in the military, law enforcement, or another government organization, you have a choice. The weapon you choose is the one that you need to save your life.
So, it must be one that you’re comfortable holding, aiming, and shooting. If it is the one you see here, great. If not, even better; you can search for one that works for you.
The choice is subjective and personal. You deal with a person’s built-in biases whenever a column like this comes along. For instance, I love the M1911A1 .45 auto. I also disliked the M-92 Beretta 9mm. Many troops loved it. It doesn’t make any of us wrong. It was a personal choice. Today my choice is a SIG P365 XL.
What the Glock 43X Is
The 43X is part of Glock’s “Slimline” family, essentially a hybrid between the ultra-thin single-stack Glock 43 and the taller-gripped Glock 48.
Image: Creative Commons.
Image: Creative Commons.
It takes the narrow, single-stack slide width of the 43 and pairs it with a slightly longer grip, bumping magazine capacity from six rounds up to 10 rounds of 9mm in the standard configuration (some newer limited editions, like the Coyote MOS variant, ship with 15-round magazines).
It has a 3.41-inch barrel, an overall length of a little over six inches, and weighs roughly 18 ounces unloaded, which is light enough to disappear in an inside-the-waistband holster.
Glock also offers an MOS (Modular Optic System) version with a factory-milled slide, allowing owners to bolt on a micro red-dot sight, such as a Holosun 507K or Shield RMSc, without sending the gun out for expensive slide milling.
That single feature has made the MOS variant the preferred pick for many serious carriers, since a factory cut avoids the $100–200 aftermarket milling cost and the warranty complications that come with it.
Base-model pricing typically runs in the $450–550 range from major retailers, with MOS and special-finish versions pushing higher, sometimes into the $700–900 range depending on optics packages and cosmetic finishes.
Glock 43X Pros
Concealability. This is the 43X’s calling card. The single-stack width (about 1.1 inches) makes it genuinely easy to hide under a T-shirt, something many double-stack compacts can’t match without printing.
Capacity-to-size ratio. Ten rounds in a gun this thin is a real improvement over the six-round Glock 43, and it narrows the gap with slightly larger pistols like the Glock 48 or Sig P365 without sacrificing much grip real estate.
Reliability and simplicity. It’s still a Glock: striker-fired, polymer-framed, minimal controls, and a well-earned reputation for running without fuss across a huge range of ammunition. There’s very little to learn or maintain.
Aftermarket support. Because Glocks are so widely owned, holsters, sights, triggers, magazine extensions, and grip modifications are widely available and generally inexpensive compared to those for less common platforms.
Shootability. The slightly longer grip compared to the Glock 43 gives most shooters a full grip on the gun (no pinky curling under the mag), which noticeably improves control and follow-up shot speed.
Glock 43X Cons
Limited capacity compared to rivals. Ten rounds is solid for the size class, but guns like the Sig P365 or Springfield Hellcat pack 12–15 rounds into a similarly sized (or smaller) package. If capacity is your top priority, the 43X probably isn’t the choice for you.
Sig Sauer P365. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Fixed sights on base models. Standard 43X pistols ship with basic polymer sights; serious carriers often upgrade to steel night sights immediately, which adds cost.
No factory optics cut on the base model. You need to buy the MOS version or pay for aftermarket milling if you want a red dot. Competing manufacturers increasingly ship optics-ready cuts as standard across their whole compact lineup.
Recoil is snappier than a full-size gun. It’s still a lightweight 9mm with a short slide and grip; the recoil is a bit more pronounced than you’d feel with a duty-size pistol, which can affect follow-up shot speed for newer shooters.
The trigger is average, not great. Like most Glocks, the factory trigger is serviceable but not particularly crisp. Many owners eventually swap in an aftermarket trigger for better feel.
So, How Good Is It?
If your priority is a proven, low-maintenance, easily concealable pistol backed by a massive ecosystem of holsters and accessories, the 43X is hard to beat. it remains one of the most-carried guns in the country for good reason.
If your priority is maximum capacity in the smallest possible footprint, or a factory-crisp trigger and sights out of the box, newer designs like the Sig P365 series arguably edge it out on paper.
Again, the “best” concealed-carry gun is the one that fits your hand well, that you can shoot accurately under stress, and that you’ll actually carry consistently.
The Glock 43X checks enough of those boxes for enough people that it’s earned its reputation, but if I were buying the 43X, I would pay a little extra and purchase the Glock 43X MOS to get the upgrades I’d probably want from the get-go. But that is just my take.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
