The Glock 43, 43X, 48 and 44?

I can hear the first question being asked: Why did you include the Model 44 in there? I’ll explain. Read on.  This was intended as a review of the Glock Model 48 9mm. The Glock Model 48 was released long enough ago that some will wonder why even put out a review at this point. There are writers out there that will write a review of a product without ever having fired it. Three of the weapons included here – all but the Glock 44 – have been field tested prior to this writing. The Glock 44 has been announced but not released and is included only as a comparison / reference item because of size similarities. All these weapons are chambered for 9mm (9x19) except the Glock 44 which will fire .22lr.

Let’s start out with the Glock 43. Quick look at the published specifications are:

·        Overall Length:         6.26”

·         Slide Length:            6.06”

·         Slide Width:              0.87”

·         Overall Width:           1.06”

·         Height incl. Mag:       4.25”

·         Barrel Length:           3.41”

·         Weight w/ loaded mag:       20.64 oz

·         Capacity:                   6+1

Thinking back to the 1990s and early 2000s, “small” 9mm handguns just weren’t as small as they are today. Polymer technology and metallurgy has certainly evolved and the engineering involved has progressed. While there are many who will still argue the virtues of a revolver over a semi-auto, far more seem to prefer to carry a 7-round 9mm that is easier to conceal than a 5-round J-frame .38Spl revolver. To get a gun as small as the Model 43 is, you used to have to accept a lower power cartridge such as the .380ACP.

For as convenient and handy as the G43 is, there were plenty of people who, used to carrying a full-size duty weapon with 15+ rounds in it, weren’t satisfied with the 6+1 capacity. Some simply went out and bought magazine extension plates, increasing the capacity by one or two rounds. That challenge was resolved further when Glock released the Model 43X in conjunction with the Model 48.

The Glock 43X has the same slide assembly as the G43 but has a longer frame with a semi-staggered magazine that holds 10 rounds of 9mm, thereby increasing overall capacity of the weapon to 11 (10+1). That G43X frame is the same length and capacity as the Glock 48, so the G43X bridges the difference between the G43 and the G48. Let’s take a look at the specs on the G48 so you can see the difference between that and the G43.

·         Overall Length:         7.28”

·         Slide Length:            6.85”

·         Slide Width:              0.87”

·         Overall Width:           1.10”

·         Height incl. Mag:      5.04”

·         Barrel Length:           4.17”

·         Weight w/ loaded mag:       25.12 oz

·         Capacity:                   10+1

It is of interest to note that while the G43, G43X and G48 are all fairly slim weapons (overall width 1.06-1.10”), the G48 is the same overall length and overall height as the higher capacity Glock 19 (5^th generation). Both are 7.28” in overall length and 5.04” in overall height. Surprisingly, the Glock 48 has a barrel that’s longer by 0.15”. The Glock 19 is wider by a about a quarter inch (1.34” wide for the G19 as compared to the 1.1” wide for the G48). That quarter-inch may not seem like much but anyone who carries a gun every day, concealed or otherwise, will tell you – that quarter inch can make a big difference in how the gun fits your hand. Of course, that extra width also nets you extra rounds in the magazine as the G19 standard magazine holds 15 rounds of 9mm as compared to the 10 rounds in a G48 magazine.

The question someone will ask is, “Why can’t we fit more rounds in the G48?” The answer is one better suited for engineers to answer, but there’s a company called Shield Arms located in Montana that manufactures 15-round metal magazines for the Glock 48 that reportedly fit flush and function properly. To prevent the metal magazines from chewing up the polymer magazine catch on the G48, that part also has to be replaced if you intend to use the Shield Arms magazines. Shield Arms sells both. Using that Shield Arms magazine (they have an EDC Kit on their website that provides three 15-round magazines, the magazine catch and two +5 floor plates for the magazines) you can get 15+1 9mm rounds in the Glock 48 which effectively makes it a slimmer Glock 19 – one of the most popular off-duty and concealed carry handguns in the past thirty years.

Now, last item: Every firearms instructor of merit will tell you that training and practice are the keys to effective shooting skills.  Make no mistake: Shooting skills are perishable. “Use it or lose it” definitely applies. On the other hand, good training and all that practice ammo can cost a significant amount of money. Well, what if you could practice with a gun that was the same size and exact same functionality for a much lower cost? Enter the Glock 44.  Announced in December 2019 and being released at SHOT Show 2020 (January 21), the Glock 44 is the same overall length and height as both the Glock 19 (5^th gen) and Glock 48. The difference? The Glock 44 is chambered for .22lr – the rimfire cartridge that is SO much cheaper to shoot than any 9mm you can find.

One of the biggest challenges – and the reason for an entire accessory industry – firearms instructors and regular shooters face is reducing cost of training. Changing a weapon from its standard caliber to .22lr allows for the use of the much cheaper ammo without sacrificing functionality or changing size. Using a caliber conversion kit can be a good way to go and can offer reliable functionality in your primary weapon. In this case, the Glock 44 effectively gives you those benefits without having to convert anything. Projected to have an MSRP under $400 the cost of this whole handgun won’t be much more (and sometimes will be less) than a conversion kit for other weapons. It will allow you to train/practice with the Glock system in a gun that is effectively the same size as the Glock 19, 23, 32, and 48 (although the 48 is noticeably slimmer in your hand).

For more information on Glock pistols visit them online.

For more information on the Shield Arms products, visit their website as well.