Glock 43X Review: The Best Balance for Concealed Carry Pistol?

Originally reviewed and published June 2019, Updated February 2026

As the great philosopher Jimmy Buffett once said, “Indecision may or may not be my problem.”

True words, especially when talking about concealed carry handguns. We can’t seem to make up our minds about what we want to carry. Is bigger better? Or does size not matter as long as you have the skills?

This Glock 43X review examines whether Glock found the perfect middle ground between micro-compact pistols and full-sized handguns. Glock has updated the 43X with some worthwhile improvements worth discussing since the original review.

Back in the days when cordless landlines were a hot commodity, the rage was to carry so-called Wonder-nines: pistols with double-stack magazines and a whopping 15 or so rounds at the ready. Those were, and still are, comparatively large and heavy, although the advent of polymer frames made a big dent in the weight specs.

As the number of concealed carriers went from zero to somewhere approaching 20 million, manufacturers clued in to the basic human want for convenience and started to produce smaller and smaller carry pistols. KelTecs, Ruger LCPs and the like sold in the trillions (maybe that’s a slight exaggeration) because they are effortless to conceal and carry.

In the red-ink column, those guns are harder to shoot well, especially under stress, and have limited capacity.

More recently, we seem to be following the pendulum back to the middle. As a shining example, consider the Glock 43X. The latest in the Glock Slimline series, this nifty little pistol finds the perfect carry balance point, at least in my opinion.

Like many others, I went through the same big-to-tiny carry evolution. My first carry gun was a Beretta 92 full-sized model (not exactly a diminutive pistol). A year or so later, I figured that smaller is easier and followed the crowd into the KelTec and LCP craze (that was until I figured out that I was not nearly as confident shooting a micro-compact as I was with something more hand-filling).

As a fun exercise to illustrate this point, try shooting a Steel Challenge course with a compact or full-sized gun, then do it again with a subcompact. Anyway, the Glock 43X sways just enough to the larger side of the spectrum to make it easy to shoot well.  (For a hammer-fired alternative with similar capacity, see our Ruger Security-9 Compact review.)

So, with all that said, let’s take a closer look at the Glock 43X from a concealed carry perspective.

What Makes the Glock 43X Different from Other Concealed Carry Pistols?

The Glock 43 makes a fine carry pistol. It’s easy to conceal owing to its thin 1.06-inch width, short barrel and short grip. However, for me, the grip is the downside.

It’s a two-finger affair, and its short height limits standard capacity to six in the magazine.

The Glock 43X shares the same 3.41-inch barrel and only adds .04 inches to overall width. This provides a full-height grip surface that allows most anyone to get all fingers in place without use of a pinky or magazine extension.

Overall dimensions are 6.5 inches long and 5.04 inches tall. That makes all the difference to me for shooting performance.

Glock 43X Specs: Size and Weight Breakdown

Except for weight and the taller profile of the 43X (5.04 inches compared to 4.25 inches for the Glock 43), the two pistols are practically identical. The G43X, with its taller magazine, adds just .71 ounces to the G43’s 17.99-ounce weight with an empty magazine.

Of course, when you add the four additional cartridges in the Glock 43X, you’ll see a 3-plus-ounce increase in loaded weight.

Since 2019, Glock made some changes worth noting. Current production G43X models now come with an accessory rail up front for mounting lights. The original non-rail version has been phased out. Lights like the Streamlight TLR-7 Sub are compatible with the railed models.

The 43X originally came only in a two-tone configuration with a black polymer frame and brushed stainless-steel slide, but Glock has expanded finish options. Cocking serrations are on both front and back of that slide. (For a look at the longer-slide variant of the same platform, see our Glock 48 review.)

Glock 43X Specifications

The height of the Glock 43X allows use of a 10-round single-stack magazine, so carry capacity is 11. The pistol ships with two magazines and the standard Glock magazine-loading tool.

The dust cover forward of the trigger guard is well-rounded and slim.

The controls are standard Glock, as is the safe-action design. The mag release is generously sized. With my large hands, I can activate it without changing my firing grip. The first joint of my thumb falls on the button, and that works just fine.

What Is the Glock 43X MOS?

Glock expanded the 43X lineup with the MOS (Modular Optic System) version. The MOS model features a factory-cut slide that accommodates micro red dot optics.

The 43X MOS accepts optics using the RMSc footprint, including the Shield RMSC and Trijicon RMRcc. The 2025 MOS system also offers direct mounting for Holosun 407K/507K/EPS, Vortex, and Aimpoint (MOS8) optics without additional adapter plates. Glock updated the mounting system from the older boss system to screw posts.

The MOS version typically adds approximately $100 to the base price and requires purchasing the optic separately.

Glock 43X in Today’s 9mm Concealed Carry Market

The 9mm concealed carry pistol market has evolved significantly since 2019. The SIG sauer P365 and Springfield Hellcat now offer capacities ranging from 10 to 15+ rounds while maintaining compact dimensions through double-stack magazine designs.

The Glock 43X maintains a 10-round capacity in its single-stack design (11 rounds total with one in the chamber). The slimmer 1.10-inch width compared to double-stack designs may benefit shooters prioritizing minimal printing and comfortable all-day carry.

The Glock 42, chambered in .380 ACP, offers smaller dimensions than the 43X with a six-round capacity.

Glock 43X Features: Ergonomics

While I can’t quite put my finger on the specifics, the 43X has a very un-Glock-like grip. For me, that means it fits the hand perfectly. I’ve always found Glock grips too rectangular for my taste.

Sure, I can shoot them, and would have no problem doing so on a daily basis, but given the choice, I’ll always go for a more rounded profile. That gives me more hand-to-grip contact and better overall control. The 43X has a grip that just fits.

The single-stack design allows a little more contour on the exterior of the grip.

The other ergonomic benefit is that the “medium-ish” size means you don’t have to resort to hand and finger contortions to press the trigger. Many guns are simply too small for me, so I have to make a deliberate effort to withdraw my finger from the trigger guard to get a first joint or pad placement.

With the 43X, my trigger finger rests naturally on the first joint, which is fine with me. On larger guns, I generally prefer a pad placement. I’ve noticed no ill effects using the crease placement with this pistol, though.

Glock 43X Review: Range Performance and Accuracy

This Glock was easy to shoot well. To rule out the “me factor,” I asked my range officer buddy and a few friends to burn some ammo. All reported the same results: low recoil and easy shooting.

The trigger is a bit heavier than standard Glocks at 6 pounds (according to my spring scale). I measured that weight from the center of the trigger itself. Pulling a bit farther down reduced the measured weight by about a pound.

I tested the 43X with a variety of traditional self-defense ammo, including Federal HST 124-grain, SIG Sauer V-Crown 124-grain, SIG Sauer 365 V-Crown 115-grain and Hornady American Gunner XTP 115-grain.

All functioned flawlessly, and the 3.41-inch barrel generated average velocities ranging from a low of 1,080.3 feet per second for the SIG 365 to a high of 1,117 for the 124-grain SIG V-Crown.

I also tested a couple of specialty loads: DoubleTap’s Lead Free 77-grain and the Inceptor ARX 74-grain. Both are light for caliber and left the muzzle at 1,361 and 1,448.3 feet per second.

For fun, I also shot plenty of two practice loads: SIG Sauer FMJ 115-grain and American Eagle Syntech 115-grain. As with the hollow-points, both of these ran without a hitch.

Accuracy Results

I did some sandbag accuracy testing with the same ammo from 15 yards and measured average five-shot group size. All of the defensive loads printed groups well under 2 inches, with the best of the day coming from the Hornady offering at just 0.87 inches.

The Federal HST and SIG V-Crown measured 1.73 and 1.62 inches.

How Well Does the Glock 43X Conceal? Carry Considerations

The Glock 43X is ideal for inside-the-waistband (IWB) carry. Its rounded contours make it feel slimmer than the 1.10-inch width indicated in the specs.

I spent some time with this concealed carry pistol in a Tulster IWB/AIWB holster. The Tulster is an all-Kydex minimalist design with a single large belt clip.

The Kydex shell keeps the profile thin to complement the Glock 43X’s small proportions. This holster is designed to work as a traditional inside-the-waistband model, or you can use it for appendix carry.

I gave appendix carry a go with the Tulster and Glock 43X combination, and it’s quite workable. Being a more traditional guy, I did spend more time with this rig tucked into the 3:30 carry position on my hip.

Whatever your placement preference, this combination is easy to carry and conceal, yet the full-height grip allows you to effortlessly get a proper firing grip at the start of the draw.

That same grip-size benefit rules out the Glock 43X for ankle carry, at least for most people. Sure, you can do it, but the grip will likely extend too far back and hinder proper concealment.

The Bottom Line: Is the Glock 43X Worth It in 2026?

After spending some time with the Glock 43X, I can say this is an ideal carry pistol. It offers the benefits of light weight, slim profile and easy concealment. Those are attributes shared by quite a few pistols.

What’s more unique in this case is the handling. With this model, Glock has found the perfect balance, in my opinion, between portability and ease of shooting.

It’s a pistol you’ll want to take to the range for an afternooGlock 43X Review (2026 Update): See 15-yard accuracy results (0.87″ groups), new MOS optics mounting specs, and ballistics data for the ultimate CCW pistol.full-hn of plinking. More importantly, its ease of handling provides the confidence you’ll want should you ever have to use it in a less recreational situation.

Since 2019, Glock has added the MOS optics-ready version, made the accessory rail standard on all production models, and expanded finish options. These updates maintain the 43X’s competitiveness in today’s concealed carry market.

Want to Join The Discussion? Check out this forum post by one of our members: Why I carry a 43x.