After having been on for more than two years, the modern sporting rifles buying frenzy appears to be fading out in the United States in favour of a renewed interest for compact and sub-compact pistols − particularly those designs conceived for concealed carry as a primary defensive firearm for civilians and as a back-up or off-duty carry weapon for law enforcement and private security personnel.
This new trend has to be linked to the recent string of changes in concealed carry laws all throughout the United States: after getting rid of the last remaining bastions of full prohibition, now all 50 States have legal provisions for the release of concealed carry licenses, and many others are considering to switch to "Constitutional" carry (a.k.a. legalization of non-licensed carry).
Many European Countries have concealed carry provisions as well, although generally those licenses are much harder to obtain than in the United States; and nonetheless, the demand for sub-compact defensive handguns is on the rise even on the other side of the Big Pond. That's not just due to the overwhelming demand of compact, comfortable and yet effective defensive guns by CCW holders: many first-time gun buyers − mostly women, elderly people, or otherwise persons with a small physical build − often go for such alternatives when selecting a gun for home defense, as they find them easier to handle.
Said new trend powerfully revamped something that had been there for years, now, although recently mostly relegated to Web-pages and forums for "hard-line Glockers": the request for a full-caliber subcompact single-stack pistol from Glock, that would be thinner and lighter, and thus more comfortable to carry, than the other subcompact models currently offered by the Austrian company, which are mostly double-stack.
After launching the .380 ACP caliber single-stack subcompact Glock 42 model, last year, and witnessing its instant and almost unexpected global market success, Glock probably decided that it was about time to make those hard-line Glockers happy: a single-stack "full" 9mm caliber subcompact is on its way, and it's dubbed the Glock 43.
Officially announced on March 20th − although rumors about it had already been spreading all over the Internet for days − the Glock 43 will be first showcased to the public at the 2015 edition of the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, which will be hosted at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee (U.S.A.) from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12.
Shipment and deliveries to distributors and retailers will follow suit, beginning right after the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits − at least in the United States of America. For Europe, availability has been slated to begin in May at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of 644€.
Technically speaking, the Glock 43 won't change much from the other full-size, compact and subcompact models offered by the legendary Austrian company: that's still a semi-automatic pistol based on a modified Browning lock, built around a machined steel slide that's Tenifer-treated to a 64HRC hardnless level, and around a reinforced polymer grame with a Gen.4 type texture on the pistol grip.
The magazine is a standard Glock design − a polymer body and base plate with a metal sheet core − and holds up to six rounds of 9x19mm ammunition (a.k.a. 9mm Parabellum, 9 Luger or 9 NATO).
The Glock 43 sub-compact semi-automatic pistol is 159mm (6.26") long overall, and its polygon-rifled barrel is 86mm long (3.39"). The Glock 43 will be provided with standard Glock fixed sights with white fast-alignment inlays, and will sport a classic Glock triple safety system and Glock trigger, with an integrated safety and a 12,5mm (0.49") travel.
The Glock 43 9x19mm caliber subcompact single-stack pistol will also be a true featherweight, standing at barely 459 grams (16.19 oz) unloaded and at around 584 grams (approximately 20.60 oz) with a full magazine in.
With the Glock 43 model, the legendary Austrian company is aiming to set new global standards on the concealed carry pistols market. Sure, many experts and observers will object that this time Glock may be too late: the market is already crowded with semi-automatic single-stack 9mm caliber concealed carry pistols, offered by a plethora of direct competitors − some even just as famous and affirmed as Glock.
The quality and reliability of Glock products is however generally something to vouch for, and it's safe to assume that the new Glock 43 will be a success. We can only wait and see... and possibly obtain a sample for a T&E session, In the meanwhile, stay tuned on all4shooters.com to remain up-to-date with the market status of the Glock 43 and many other new products in the field of firearms, ammunition, accessories, hunting, personal protection, and much more!
