The Glock 43 is one of those pistols that just makes sense for concealed carry. Nothing fancy, no gimmicks, just good ol’ fashioned Glock reliability in a slim and easy-to-carry package.
Now I’m not gonna sit here and say it’s the best pistol ever made. That depends on who’s carrying it and what they need it for.
But if you’re looking for something that disappears on your body, rides easy all day, and still shoots like a real gun should?
The Glock 43 in 9mm will disappear on your body easily. It’s also just as reliable as a larger Glock model.
The Glock 43 is a strong contender.
Built for Everyday Carry
Let’s start with the size. The Glock 43 is a single-stack 9mm, which means it’s slim, like pancake-flat compared to most other Glocks. We’re talking less than an inch thick.
That’s a big deal when you’re carrying inside the waistband, and especially during the summer when you’re rocking shorts and a t-shirt.
It holds 6+1 rounds from the factory, which yeah, isn’t a ton, but it’s enough. Especially when you consider how easy it is to carry a spare mag in your pocket. And there are aftermarket mags and baseplates if you want a little extra capacity without bulking it up too much.
Weight-wise, it’s light. Just under 18 ounces empty. That means you can toss it in a good holster, slap it on your belt, and forget it’s even there. No dragging down your pants, no printing through your shirt.
Just simple and quiet confidence that if something ever did go sideways, you’ve got something solid at your side.
It’s a Glock. That’s a Good Thing.
Glocks have a bit of a reputation, and for good reason. They’re not pretty, they’re not flashy, but they work. Rain, sand, sweat, cheap ammo, you name it, Glocks tend to eat it up and keep chugging along.
The Glock 43 is incredibly narrow and short. It’s an ideal concealed carry pistol or a backup piece to a larger handgun.
The 43 carries on that tradition. It’s got the same Safe Action trigger system that Glock fans know, the same takedown process, the same rock-solid simplicity. If you’ve ever shot a Glock 19 or a 17, the 43 will feel right at home…just skinnier and a little snappier.
And speaking of snappy, yeah, it does have some kick. It’s a small gun firing a full-size round. That’s physics. But it’s not unmanageable. My brother has no trouble keeping rounds on target, even with quick follow-ups.
And if you practice with it (as in you actually train with it0 it’s more than accurate enough for real-world defensive distances.
How It Compares
If you’ve been shopping for a concealed carry gun, you’ve probably noticed there’s no shortage of options these days. Micro-compacts are everywhere now, and everyone’s trying to cram 10, 12, or even 15 rounds into a tiny frame.
So how does the 43 hold up?
Well, let’s be honest. The Glock 43 isn’t going to beat something like the SIG P365 or Springfield Hellcat when it comes to capacity. Those guns are kind of like magic tricks, as in they’re tiny guns with big-boy ammo counts. But they also tend to feel chunkier in the waistband and a little more crowded in the hand.
The 43, on the other hand, feels like it was purpose-built to disappear. It’s just smooth. It doesn’t poke you in the gut. It doesn’t print like a block under your shirt. It’s one of those guns that carries easy, and when you’re wearing it for 10-12 hours a day, that matters.
A Mighty Fine Backup Gun
Now let’s talk backup. Maybe you’re a law enforcement officer carrying a duty pistol, or maybe you’re just someone who believes in having a second option close at hand. The Glock 43 makes a fantastic backup gun.
The Glock 43’s magazine pinky extension means that you can get a full firing grip over the weapon despite its inherently small size.
It slips into an ankle holster, a cargo pocket, or even a jacket pocket with ease. And because it’s a Glock, it’ll work when you need it. The controls are familiar, the trigger’s predictable, and you’re not sacrificing much in terms of shootability just because it’s small.
I’ve even seen folks carry it as a secondary on the weak side, appendix style, or crossdraw. It’s that flexible. If you’re already running a Glock platform, having a 43 as your backup just makes training and handling that much more intuitive.
The Confidence to Carry
Here’s the bottom line. A carry gun needs to do a few things well. It needs to be reliable, it needs to be easy to carry, and it needs to shoot well enough that you can hit what you’re aiming at if the worst ever happens.
The Glock 43 checks all those boxes.
It’s not the highest capacity pistol out there, and it’s not a range toy you’ll want to shoot 300 rounds through in one sitting.
But as a tool for personal protection? As a pistol that rides comfortably day in and day out, and fires when you need it to? It’s hard to beat.
My brother trusts it with his life. That’s about as high a recommendation as I can give. And after carrying it myself a few times and putting some rounds downrange, I’d say he made a fine choice.
