Keefe Report: Glock 43 Range Time

Next week we start an intense week of “American Rifleman Television,” and before wringing out the Glock G43 for the TV crew, I took it to the range for familiarization (see video above). In short, I was impressed.

The Glock G43 is a departure for Glock in that it is the first 9 mm Luger in its class made by the Austrian maker—and according to Glock officials in Georgia, it is made in Austria, not in the firm’s U.S. plant. And by class, I mean size. The little gun is 6.26” long, 1.02” wide, and 4.35” high and has a 3.39” barrel. The 16.19-oz. gun has a single-stack magazine holding six rounds. It is remarkably similar in size to the .380 ACP G42 (see our review here), although the .380 is ¼” shorter, 4 ozs. lighter and 1/10” shorter in barrel and overall length.

On the range, the gun is a little snappy, as one would expect, but remember, it delivers 9 mm Luger performance in small, concealable package. Width of the butt section is one of the most important factors in discreet carry and, when combined with a Galco Kingtuk IWB holster, this makes for a gun easy to hide on one’s person.