SHOT Show 2017: FAB Defense G43 Magazine Extension

posted on January 18, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
glock_43_7.jpg

Already well-entrenched in the personal defense firearm market, Glock turned heads when it introduced its slim, single-stack 9 mm G43. The Glock 43 was an instant success among the company’s clamoring enthusiasts and personal-defense practitioners alike, but as with any gun designed for concealed carry, the G43 was an exercise in compromise. Designers trimmed size and weight to enhance portability, but the cost was ammunition capacity—the G43 magazine holds just six 9 mm Luger cartridges. 

FAB Defense, an Israeli company focused on polymer firearm accessories, and one pillar of The Mako Group, took aim at the Glock 43’s limitation with its G43 Magazine Extension. Introduced at the 2017 SHOT Show, the extension has the capacity to hold four additional rounds—bringing the total payload to 10—and adds more than an inch of textured gripping surface to improve purchase on the little pistol. A magazine baseplate replacement, the product has its own spring and follower that interfaces with the G43’s factory magazine spring, and allows the latter to travel down into the extension under the pressure of loaded cartridges. Though installation is straight forward, company representatives suggest that it’s not necessarily easy; the magazine springs in OEM Glock 43 magazines are under considerable tension and can be difficult to handle, so customers who experience difficulty or who want to avoid the hassle will be able to have the installation done by FAB Defense armorers.  

I was impressed by the look and feel of the magazine extension, and believe it to be a very practical enhancement to an already great personal-defense gun. And for those who worry that adding size to the G43’s grip area will negate the advantages of the sub-compact pistol, I would suggest that users continue loading a shorter six-round magazine for concealment, and carry the extended magazine as a reload. Another exercise in compromise.

Latest

Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto
Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto

Review: Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto

Following the success of its .45 ACP-chambered LC Carbine, Ruger realized that this platform would go a long way toward making the 10 mm Auto more controllable and fun to shoot, and a new 10 mm version was released in 2024.

The Armed Citizen® July 14, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Favorite Firearms: A Little Stevens From Chicago

"Over the next five or six years, and before I went off to college, I fired hundreds and hundreds of rounds of .22 BB Caps, CB Caps, Shorts and Longs through this rifle."

Preview: Strike Industries T-Bone Charging Handle

The T-Bone from Strike Industries is an ideal fit for suppressed applications, as it can be configured by the user to redirect gas blowback entirely to either side ...

New For 2025: Weatherby Model 307 Range XP 2.0 & Alpine ST Rifles

Weatherby's Model 307 bolt-action rifle opens up a world of aftermarket components to consumers, thanks to its Model 700 receiver footprint, and the company now has two new models for hunters and sport shooters.

Preview: Thunderbolt To The Rebels | The United States Sharpshooters In The Civil War

Author Darin Wipperman provides a tantalizing glimpse into the world of Berdan’s sharpshooters during the American Civil War.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.