A Guide To The Glock Slimline Pistols: The Glock 43X and Glock 48

The Glock 43X and Glock 48, the two newest additions to Glock's offerings, are part of their new "Silver Slimline" series. These are a bit different from other Glock pistols, as they share the frame, finish and magazine capacity; you just choose from the standard (43X) and longslide (48) versions.

It seems excessive, doesn't it? There are already like a billion Glock 9mm models to choose from; why the heck do people need two more?!

For some very good reasons, actually. Let's get into them a little bit more.

Glock 43X and Glock 48 Fill Gaps That Exist For Some People

The Glock 43X and Glock 48 both fill something like a gap in Glock's lineup, in terms of their size and capacity. Granted, we aren't talking a huge gap, but it's big enough for Glock to make these guns.

The Glock 43X has an extended grip compared to the standard Glock 43. It carries 4 more rounds in the magazine. Some people do find the the 43 doesn't offer enough real estate to get a good, tight grip on it and would like a few more bullets.

The Glock 48 is for folks who like the sight radius and longer barrel of the Glock 19, but don't care for the bulk. The Glock 19 isn't the bulkiest of pistols by a long shot (if you whine about that, we have a Beretta to show you that really is!) but some people find it just a tad fatter, just a tad heavier, than they prefer.

Why the silver NVD (NOT stainless!) finish? As it turns out, people have been asking Glock for a little more color. Basic black is great, but some folks would like a little more, so they decided to add a bit more to these pistols.

So, Glock made these guns because they actually listen to their customers!

Glock Slimline Pistols Are California Compliant

Oh, and another factoid about the Glock Slimline pistols is that they are California-compliant! This is an aspect not everyone necessarily appreciates, as a lot of us live in a state that believes in freedom instead of authoritarianism doesn't restrict magazine capacity.

Granted, the nanny state of California constantly revises their compliant pistol list. Furthermore, they keep changing the criteria and always to stricter requirements. It may become the case that the Slimline Glock pistols will be illegal to sell in California in coming months or in a year or two. However, they're good to go, for now, for California concealed carry.

With that said, for the time being, they are California-compliant. This gives people who live in that state the ability to purchase a Glock that isn't tiny or has to be used with reduced-capacity magazines for the model of pistol.

Glock Slimline Pistols Share The Frame; You Choose The Slide

So, one of the other things you should know about the Glock Slimline pistols share the same frame. If you take the slide off the 43X, you can put on the Glock 48 slide and the thing will work.

The Sig P320 isn't the only modular pistol in town! Ha ha ha ha!

That wasn't the intention, but it's the case anyhow that both slides work on the same frame. No matter which one you buy, you get the same grip, frame and magazine. The slide and barrel length are the only difference.

These pistols also share the Glock 43 and 42's firing pin block system, which is different (and smaller) than the parts found on the rest of Glock's lineup. The trigger system is also based on the 42/43. Like the Gen 5 Glock pistols, the 43X and 48 also lack the second cross pin above the trigger guard and do not have finger grooves. The grip, however, has the same palm swell as the 43 though it is extended a further 0.8 inches.

The new Slimline 01 magazine is basically a fat single-stack magazine. If you look at one, it has the tapered look of a double-stack magazine but the rounds stack vertically. It's wider than the single-stack magazine of the 43, but there's a reason for this. Merely extended the 43 another 0.8 inches wouldn't allow 4 additional rounds; it would be more like 3 at best. The magazine design allows for 10+1 capacity.

The Sig fanboys are probably readying their "but the P365 holds 12+1!" comments, and that's true. However, 10+1 is more than adequate for a concealed carry pistol, whether it's a concealed carry Glock or anything else.

Why Should I Bother With The Glock 43X Or Glock 48?

The features aren't the most innovative on either the Glock 43X or Glock 48, as they're basically a Glock 43 that went to the gym and a Glock 19 that went on a diet. To top it off, they only hold 10 rounds. Why bother?

The truth? Because the Glock 43X holds more than the 43. It's more comfortable to hold and shoot. Also, the Glock 48 is a bit easier to carry and conceal than the Glock 19, whilst being every bit as accurate. That's what people wanted and why Glock made them in the first place.

Another thing that you may not appreciate is the grip of the 43X and 48. This is something that I or another writer or YouTuber can describe, but you won't really appreciate until you handle one yourself. It does have the characteristic Glock grip angle (22 degrees vs 18 degrees for a 1911 or Smith and Wesson M&P and yes, that's deliberate) but the grip is svelte compared to the typical Glock pistol, being about a quarter-inch narrower in width. The palm swell is quite ergonomic, so it fits the hand more comfortably as well.

The 43X therefore is a little easier to shoot than the standard 43, as you have a full firing grip with the standard magazine. You can also grasp it a little firmer as a result. The 48, likewise, fills the hand very well. It is ever so slightly snappier than the 19 but if anything, it feels a little livelier as a result.

Glock 43X vs Glock 48

Let's say you wanted to get one of the Glock Slimline pistols; should you get the Glock 43X vs Glock 48?

There isn't an incredible amount of difference. The frame is the same, capacity is the same, the trigger is the same.

The Glock 48 tames recoil slightly compared to the 43X. If you're a relative newcomer to shooting, the Glock 48 is going to be a bit more accurate for you in all likelihood due to the longer sight radius. The difference is in barrel and slide length, as it shares the 4.01-inch Glock Marksman Barrel with the Glock 19.

The Glock 43X, on the other hand, has a slightly shorter barrel and slide.

Which is going to suit you?

Think about it like this:

If you like the Glock 19 but think it's a bit too bulky and heavy fully loaded, then the Glock 48 is basically perfect for you. If you like the Glock 43 but think it's a bit too small for your tastes and wished it carried a few more rounds, then the Glock 43X is going to be your go-to.

As mentioned, these guns fill some gaps in their lineup. The gaps aren't huge, but they are there and enough people were asking. Glock listened.