Table of Contents

• Glock 43 Specs
• Build
• Shooting
• Magazines
• Sights
• Safety and Assembly
• Accessories and Customization
• In Conclusion

It’s hard to imagine now that the Glock 17, at its time of the release, was considered a premium option for concealed carrying by the general gun public. While this is still the case, the problem for the Glock 17 is that perceptions in the gun community have changed. An ever-increasing demand for smaller and smaller guns gave way to the Glock 19, a reduced-size version of the Glock 17, then the Glock 26, a version of the Glock 19 with a smaller frame, and now finally the Glock 43 – a smaller version of the Glock 26. Given that Glock has long been considered the world standard in handgun manufacturing – and for good reason – it has been a bit surprising that the Austrian gun company had not released a single stack, 9mm pistol. Although there had been other companies to have that category covered, Glock had not been one of them – that is, until the release of the highly anticipated Glock 43.

Designed as a ‘slimline’ version of the subcompact Glock 26, a heralded and highly acclaimed gun in its own right, the Glock 43 features an ultra-compact slide and frame and is the first Glock handgun that uses a 9 x 19 parabellum magazine. The Glock 43 has a more limited range of magazines it can use due to the limited nature of it being a single stack 9mm, but this is made up for thanks in large part to its smaller size and compact form. While magazine friendliness has been a selling point of Glock handguns, as everyone likes a gun that can accept all different kinds of ammo, this was a necessary sacrifice in order to release what is perhaps the ideal concealed carry handgun in the 43.

All in all, you would think that in order to produce a smaller, sleeker handgun, Glock would need to compromise on many of the qualities that make Glock guns so special, but this is certainly not the case. The Glock 43 packs some serious punch and just gets the job done, as we will detail here in our Glock 43 Review 2016!

Glock 43 Specs

Dimensions:

• Length – 159 mm / 6.26 in.
• Height – 108 mm / 4.25 in.
• Width – 26 mm / 1.02 in.
• Length Between Sights – 132 mm / 5.20 in.
• Barrel Length – 86 mm / 3.39 in.

Weights:

• Unloaded – 509 g / 17.95 oz
• Loaded – 634 g / 22.36 oz

Trigger Pull, Travel:

• Trigger Pull – ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs
• Trigger Travel – ~12.5 mm / ~0.49 in.

Miscellaneous:

• Barrel Rifling – right hand, hexagonal
• Length of Twist – 250 mm / 9.84 in.
• Magazine Capacity – Standard – 6 + 1
• MSRP – $529

Glock 43 Build

The Glock 43 is, to put it simply, of a smaller size. Smaller than you’re used to when it comes to Glock guns, anyway – overall familiarity with the size of the gun will depend on the specific user. Glock tries to keep things familiar by keeping the trigger reach and pistol grip dimensionally equivalent to the larger 9×19 handguns produced by Glock, but there’s no mistaking it or getting around it – the Glock 43 is on the smaller side. The beaver tail design of the gun as well as the aggressive grip texture do help with handling and gripping the gun, as does the large magazine catch which allows for easy magazine removal. The Glock 43 is polymer based, as should come as no surprise to Glock lovers, and the gun feels like it could survive an atomic-bomb blast. Basically, in typical Glock fashion, the gun is well- built, sturdy, and reliable.

Glock 43 Shooting

Given the fact that the Glock 43 by definition compromises on size and weight, it would be unfair to expect the gun to perform just as admirably when shooting as its high-quality predecessors in the Glock lineup. While the 43 unsurprisingly does not handle or shoot quite as well as the Glock 17, 19, or 26, it does a damn good job given its smaller frame and lessened weight. Depending on what you’re used to, be it double-stack pistols or single-stack subcompacts, the gun may or may not feel familiar in hand and perfectly natural. However, regardless of who you are or where you’ve been, you would be very hard pressed to find a handgun of this size that features this little kick or recoil, and handles as well as the Glock 43.

Handguns of this size are known for handling shakily and featuring a decent amount of recoil, but the superior build quality that Glock is known for wins out and the Glock 43 handles like a gun of a greater size and weight. This makes for a more reliable and accurate shooting experience with the Glock 43. However, one area that Glock quality cannot overcome in this gun is the challenge typically associated with drawing a handgun of this size. The bottom line is, the smaller the firearm, the less area there is to grip the gun on the draw. The best way to overcome this is via the three p’s: practice, practice, and practice. A good, familiar, and reliable holster helps as well.

Glock 43 Magazines

The other area that the Glock 43 necessarily needs to compromise on in order to achieve its compact size is in its magazine. The Glock 43 comes equipped with a six-round magazine, as well as includes a spare, and don’t count on any of your old, reliable Glock ammunition being compatible with the 43 – it’s not, and it won’t be. This should come as no surprise, of course – realistically speaking, smaller ammunition might be compatible with a larger weapon, but larger ammunition is never going to work with a smaller weapon. The Glock 43 is a significant step down in terms of capacity from its older brothers in the Glock line – the Glock 17, which holds 17 rounds, and the Glock 19, which holds 15 rounds.

Even a primary competitor of the Glock 43, the S&W Shield, holds a superior eight bullets. However, don’t be too hard on Glock about all of this. The Glock 43 aims to achieve one goal, and that is to become the ideal prototypical concealed carry weapon for self-defense minded gun owners. Until the very nature of ammunition changes in terms of size, coming equipped with a smaller magazine was always going to be a necessary compromise in terms of achieving this goal – Glock knew what needed to be done, and did it. This is in fact an area of concern that can be addressed with extended mags, but that’s an area we’ll get to shortly.

Glock 43 Sights

If there’s one are that consistently draws mixed reviews in Glock handguns – and you’d be hard pressed to find any, Glock does produce really excellent firearms – it’s in the factory sights that come with the guns. The plastic and uninventive sights are an outlier in Glock’s otherwise standard-setting build designs, as the dot in box visual reference and underwhelming helpfulness don’t exactly make for standout features in Glock’s standout guns. This is the case once again in the Glock 43. The sights of the gun don’t exactly disappoint, as they do in fact ‘get the job done’ but they don’t exactly scream ‘world class Glock quality’ either. Like the Glock 43 magazines, this is an area that can be addressed via secondary market accessories and upgrades – but we’ll be getting to that shortly.

Glock 43 Safety and Assembly

There’s one reason that a gun owner would be interested in owning a handgun of this size, remarkably small-handed people notwithstanding. That reason is for concealed carry purposes – e.g., for the sake of personal safety and keeping yourself ready for any situation the world can throw at you in public settings. Suffice it to say that folks who own handguns for concealed carry purposes are usually concerned with the safety features and standards of the handguns they own as well – gun safety and personal safety kind of go hand-in-hand, wouldn’t you say? Well, luckily for these concealed carriers, the size of the Glock 43 does not impact the implementation of the patented Glock Safe Action safety system.

As is the case with the other Glock guns, the 43 uses Glock’s highly praised three-part automatic safety system. The trigger safety renders the trigger unusable unless engaged at the same time as the trigger, the firing pin safety blocks the firing pin from moving forward until the trigger is pulled, and the drop safety prevents unwanted firing due to drops or accidental impact. The bottom line is, any gun that benefits from the Glock safety system is sure to be safe as heck, and the 43 is no exception. Also as is the case with all Glock guns, the Glock 43 is a breeze to take apart for maintenance and cleaning purposes.

Glock 43 Accessories and Customization

Although it doesn’t offer quite as many accessories, modification, or customization options as some other firearms in the Glock family (although what guns do have as many accessories as the Glock 19 or 17?), the Glock 43 has plenty of trinkets and toys for users to try out. For starters, it may be of interest to many to learn that there are in fact extended magazine options for 43 owners, boosting 1-3 rounds to the factory standard six bullet capacity of the 43 magazine. This may seem silly to some, as an extended magazine will add size to a gun whose selling point is its small form, but hey, gun owners can be weird.

For gun owners dissatisfied with the sights of the gun, the 43 also has a number of first and third part options available in terms of different sights – night sights in particular are a great option for concealed-carry owners who could be traveling alone in questionable areas in the dark of knight. Laser sights are also a good option in terms of customization for the 43, increasing visibility where it may be necessary.

Lastly, as is to be expected when it comes to a standout small-form, concealed carry gun, the Glock 43 offers a plethora of options when it comes to holsters. A near-necessity for a defense and concealed gun of this nature, gun owners can have a lot of fun testing and trying different holsters – try as many as you can until you find one that works best for you. A comfortable, practical, and reliable holster will make for a safe Glock 43 experience.

In Conclusion

The bottom line is, Glock has become so good at making handguns that some stubborn customers might be annoyed at some of the necessary limitations of a gun as small as the 43, such as an increase in kick and a smaller magazine. However, when it comes to single stack, 9mm pistols, the Glock 43, while a latecomer to this category, is the standard of the gun industry. If you’re looking for a small-form, concealed carry handgun that is reliable, easily handled, and built well, look no further – the Glock 43 is assuredly the gun for you, the latest in Glock’s long legacy of handgun successes.

Thanks for reading our Glock 43 feature – be sure to check back for more on Glock, as well as all things guns here at Gunivore!

The post Glock 43 Review: Big Gun, Small Package appeared first on Gunivore.

Table of Contents

• Background
• Glock 19 Gen 4 Specs
• Glock 19 Gen 4 Review – Overview
• Gun Build
• Trigger and Barrel
• Grip
• Firing
• Magazines
• Safety
• Sights
• Conclusion

There never was and never will be a ‘perfect’ handgun, or a ‘perfect’ gun of any kind for that matter. Different gun owners have different needs that they look for their firearms to satisfy, as well as different qualities that they search for when choosing a gun. Therefore, the thought of an all-purpose ‘gun of perfection’ is nonsensical, as certain gun qualities which are subjectively preferable – weight, fire rate, ammo capacity – are contradictory. No two gun owners are going to have the exact same needs and living circumstances, and no two gun models are going to be exactly the same. Different guns accomplish the same goal (to fire a projectile) but employ different processes to do so. Having said that, there is still a wide range available in terms of quality in every class of firearms, and the fact is that some guns are inherently better than others. One of the higher quality guns in the world is the Glock 19 Gen 4, which we will review in this, our Glock 19 Gen 4 Review 2016.

Background

Glock, an Austrian gun manufacturing company, first began producing handguns in the early 1980’s, hitting it big with the release of their highly successful Glock 17 model. Named for the number of renderings it took before the ideal model was captured, the Glock 17 is one of the most revolutionary and acclaimed handguns in history due to its build quality, ease of use, and comfort in hand. Having been made a best-seller due to frenzied buying from numerous law enforcement and military agencies around the world, as well as the general public (the gun remains a favorite for self-defense purposes), the Glock 17 put Glock on the map and gave way to its successor, the Glock 19, as we have covered in the past. Released in the late 1980’s and billed as a compact model of the Glock 17, the Glock 19 sports a shorter barrel and grip and has given way to three successors of its own since its introduction to the market – the Glock 19 Gen 2, Gen 3, and now Gen 4. The second generation Glock 19 features a textured grip and enhanced finish (check out our feature on Glock 19 finishes for more finish options), and the third generation Glock 19 offers a different grip, finger grooves for improved grip, accessory rails, and a thumb rest. In this review, we will cover the enhancements and features offered by the Glock 19 Gen 4, the latest and greatest in Glock’s long and successful line of handguns.

Glock 19 Gen 4 Specs

Length: 7.28 in. –  185 mm.

Height: 4.99 in. – 127 mm.

Width: 1.18 in. – 30 mm.

Barrel Length: 4.01 in. – 101 mm.

Barrel Height: 1.26 in. – 32 mm.

Loaded Weight: 30.18 oz. – 855 g.

Unloaded Weight:  is 23.65 oz. – 670 g.

Trigger Pull: 5.5 lbs. – 2.5 kg.

Trigger Travel: .49 in. – 12.5 mm.

Barrel Rifling: Right Handed, Hexagonal style

Length of Twist: 9.84 in. – 250 mm.

Caliber: 9×19 – 9mm

Magazine Standard: Two 15’s with 10/17/33 options available.

Glock 19 Gen 4 Review – Overview

Before we get into the specifics of the fourth generation model, let’s talk about what makes the Glock 19 series so
special to begin with. As previously stated, the Glock 19 was originally intended to serve as a compact, supplementary firearm to the Glock 17 model. It has certainly served as such, and admirably. The Glock 17 was praised for its reliability, build quality, and safety features – the Glock 19 has been praised for improving on the original Glock recipe for success in a number of ways, including; improved aesthetic and appearance, even easier to learn and enhanced safety features, and it is also an easier concealed carry choice due to the more compact build of the gun. Like the second and third generations of the Glock 19, the fourth generation (or ‘Gen 4’) of the gun comes equipped with certain modifications that push the Glock standard even higher. A stippled grip, fully-replaceable backstraps, larger magazine release button, reversible magazine well for ambidextrous shooting, and a bigger internal spring are just a few of the enhancements that have made the Glock 19 Gen 4 the greatest entry in the Glock series to date.

Gun Build

The signature feature offered by Glock handguns over the years has been the impressive build quality of their guns, and this is certainly lived up to in regards to the Glock 19 Gen 4. Made up of just 34 parts, which helps the gun run simply and smoothly due to the lack of parts that can conceivably become damaged, the Gen 4 features a build that is composed of mostly polymer-2, but incorporates steel as well. Originally criticized due to fears that it would be undetectable by metal detectors, Glock’s polymer formula is a well-kept trade secret. The polymer-2 material is, Glock boasts, more resilient than carbon steel as well as other materials that guns are generally composed of.

Trigger and Barrel

One element of gun manufacturing that Glock has always had down pat is that of their trigger manufacturing, and this is on full display in the Glock 19 Gen 4. The striker-fired gun employs a two-stage trigger which, unsurprisingly, is held to the frame of the gun by use of a polymer pin. Called the ‘Safe Action Trigger’ by Glock, the trigger features a level in its direct center which must be engaged in order to fire the gun – a handy and sensible addition that goes to show that Glock prioritizes safety in its firearms. At a relatively heavy but satisfying 5.5-pound pull weight, the Gen 4 trigger feels steady and true, even after having gone through extensive use. If a lighter pull weight is your preference, an alternative 3.5-pound trigger is offered by Glock that features a lighter, ‘hair trigger’ system. The Glock 19 Gen 4’s barrel is fairly standard, featuring a hexagonal shape and right hand twist. Glock employs a “hills and valley’s” shape to its barrel, which gives the barrel a smoother finish for more reliable firing.

Grip

The comfort, feel, and grip of a gun is a category which is, for the most part, subjective. Different people find different guns comfortable, depending on their weight, size, grip, material, etc. However, for the most part, the Glock 19 Gen 4 has been heavily praised for its comfort and grip options. For people with smaller hands, this gun will likely feel ideal – it has to be held to be fully understood, but the Glock 19 has been known to be described as a firearm that feels as though it’s an extension of the hand, as opposed to an object being held by the hand. The plethora of customizable options for the Glock 19 Gen 4 given the removable backstraps offered, as well as the plethora of both first and third-party grip products available, means that despite the subjective nature of comfort and feel, everyone is likely to be able to find a setup that works for them.

Firing

The Glock 19 has received praise from all over the world for being one of the most enjoyable-to-fire guns on the market, in addition to being maybe the most reliable handgun available for purchase. The replaceable backstraps offer fits that accommodate different shooters, the gun has excellent balance with a small, manageable amount of kick, and it is accurate even at a distance. This is part of why it is one of the most widely-used guns by military and law enforcement agencies.

Magazines

Coming bundled with two interchangeable fifteen-round magazines, the Glock 19 Gen 4 can accommodate magazines of 10, 17, 31, and 33 as well, although the larger the magazine, the more the weight and look of the gun could be compromised. Given the popularity of the Glock 19, as well as Glock handguns in general, there is an abundance of third-party ammunition available for the gun, but it is never recommended to purchase anything but original, Glock-made magazines for your Glock handgun. The situation isn’t dissimilar to that of any kind of product that has third party support; a third-party iPhone charger might be cheaper than one made by Apple, but it won’t work as well as it was not developed by the same company that developed the phone itself, and it could damage your phone as a result. The same logic can be applied to our Glock situation – Glock knows how to make ammunition that is most compatible with their own hand guns. Trust them. It’s never a good idea to sacrifice on safety and quality for the sake of price, especially when dealing with a handgun. While we’re on the subject of safety…

Safety

In addition to the handy ‘Safe Action Trigger’ that was previously described, the Glock 19 Gen 4 offers a number of other safety options which, combined with the trigger safety, make up what is known as Glock’s ‘Safe Action System’. The Gen 4 has a firing pin safety that is designed to prevent the striker from moving on its own, constituting an internal safety as opposed to the external trigger safety. Thirdly, the Glock features a drop safety which prevents the gun from being fired when dropped, regardless of the height of the drop. It’s also important to note that, again, the abundance of third-party external accessories offered for the Glock 19 is a very positive thing (note that this is not including accessories which are internal or implicate the inner-workings of the gun). In regards to safety, a number of handy, comfortable concealed carry holsters and devices are available for purchase which can go a long way towards ensuring the safe use of an already-safe gun. Check out our Top-10 Glock 19 Holsters feature for more information on Glock 19 holsters.

Sights

Whereas some aspects of Glock’s handgun construction have remained relatively stagnant from the Glock 17 all the way through until the Glock 19 Gen 4 (if it’s not broke, why fix it?), this is not the case in regards to the sights of Glock guns. Featuring fixed polymer front and rear sights, with white accents that ‘pop’ for faster target acquisition, the sights offered on the Gen 4 have come a long way from the mediocre sights offered on the previous Glock iterations. The white elements are especially helpful given that a huge percentage of gun owners use their gun for self-defense and home-defense purposes; given that most situations in which someone must defend their home occur at night, visibility is of paramount importance. Once again, it should be noted that there are a number of optional sight attachments and replacements available to best suit the needs of individual gun owners – like comfort, there is not one set solution that works best for everyone.

Conclusion

Is the Glock 19 Gen 4 the perfect hand gun right out of the box, ready for use under any and all circumstances? Absolutely not. If that’s what you’re searching for in a handgun, however, prepare to be sorely disappointed. The Glock 19 Gen 4 is an excellent handgun in a long line of world-class handguns developed by Glock, and a worthy successor to the Glock throne. Almost all of the potential perceived shortcomings in this Glock weapon – grip or sights, for example – generally come down to personal preference, and you’d be hard pressed to find a handgun with more options for customization in subjective quality areas than the Glock 19 (check out our feature on the top Glock 19 modifications for more details, or check out the top-10 Glock 19 accessories). Whether for recreational use, law or military enforcement, or home defense, the Glock 19 Gen 4 is, quite simply, the class of the handgun category.

Want to know how the Glock 19 matches up against other Glock handguns? Check out our Glock 17 vs 19 and Glock 19 vs 26 features to read all about it!

Thanks for checking out our Glock 19 review. For more on Glock and all things guns, be sure to check back here at Gunivore!

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