Glock is rolling out a new wave of updated pistols in their Slimline series. These new Glock 43X and Glock 48 pistols now have accessory rails and are optics-ready with slides cut for micro red dot sights.
For a lot of shooters, not having these options has been a deal-breaker. Even though optics on carry and concealment pistols aren’t very common, lights and laser sights are, and accessory rails for these users is a must.
Glock certainly had reasons for not including these options from the start. Maybe it was to keep the grip frames minimalist and as snag-free as possible, or maybe it was to keep the cost of the slide machining down.
But it’s clear that there was a room for a little more perfection in the Slimline family and for anyone who waited these are going to be welcome options to have. The 43X and 48 models combine single-stack slide and barrel assemblies with staggered-stack magazines and grips to make small guns with above-average capacity for their size.
The Glock 43X and Glock 48 use the same style frames and both are chambered for 9mm Luger. The 43X has a 3.4-inch barrel and slide like the original model 43, while the 48 has a longer barrel at just about 4.2 inches long.
Standard capacity for both guns is 10+1 rounds and aftermarket magazines can provide as much as 15-round capacities in the slender frames, which makes the 43X and 48 attractive options as “do-all” handguns.
Except a “do-all” handgun should probably have a provision for standard accessories–thankfully both models do now. The slide cut for an optic is a bonus.
See Also: Glock 43X: Now with 15 Round Flush Fit Capacity
More people are choosing to carry handguns with red dot optics in addition to using them with home defense pistols. They are common and even standard for some shooting competitions as well. The slide cut will add a little to the final sticker price of these guns but add an increasingly popular option.
Since this is just a per-announcement from Glock we don’t have final pricing but there’s no reason to expect it to be out of line with other handguns in the Glock MOS, or Modular Optics System series. One thing to bear in mind is that these will probably be limited to “micro” mini red dot optics since the 43X and 48 slides are slimmer.
Anyone holding off on getting a model 43X or 48, well, your patience has been rewarded. And for early adopters, remember that two is one, after all.
These are going to sell and sell fast without a doubt. For more information about the Slimline and MOS product lines from Glock, head over to their website.
I highly doubt it. G19 holds 15 rounds and is one of their most popular models. The 43x and 48 are slimmer, but not everyone has average size hands.
One thing to keep in mind is the introduction of the Shield Arms 15 round metal mag for the Glock 43X and the Glock 48. This gives you a flush fit mag with the same capacity as a Glock 19 with a polymer magazine, but in a slimmer and lighter gun.
If Glock was more forward thinking, they would license this patented magazine design and include it with all these 43X and 48X pistols.
The introduction of the light rail is awesome, as all defensive pistol, need a light. Having a light is more important than night sites, IMHO. Hopefully they find a way to do this on the 42, 43 and Glock 26 size models too.
The MOS really needs to be standard with all pistol, if possible. The standard. non-MOS product should be retired from the Glock line-up. This would likely save money in manufacturing, inventory and distribution vs having dedicated MOS Sku numbers.
Now if only they would equip all their guns with metal sights and eliminate the “Glock Tax” of have to replace the plastic sights right after buying a new gun.
Baby Steps
Is this going to replace a Glock 19 mos ? What will be the difference?