Glock 42 Vs. 43: Which Should You Choose?

The Glock 42 and 43 are single-stack, compact baby Glocks. The G42 was announced in 2014. It resulted from GLOCK's attempts to meet the need for ultra-compact guns. The gun sold quite well and was appreciated for its concealability.

After a year, the G43 with the powerful 9mm luger came out. Like the G 42, it impressed users with its compactness and ergonomics. Now, if you want to decide between the two, a comparison of the Glock 42 and 43 is essential. Read on to understand what differentiates these two subcompact pistols.

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Glock 42 Vs. 43 - Size

The Glock 43 is four ounces heavier than the Glock 42 when loaded. It is also longer, taller, and broader than the Glock 42. The barrel of the G43 is 16 inches longer than the G42. The differences in the length, the G43 being 6.26'' and the G42 being 5.94″, are not immediately visible until you compare the pistols side-by-side. Here's a detailed size comparison of the two Glocks.

Glock 42 Vs. 43 - Ergonomics

As compact guns, both the Glock 42 and 43 are ergonomically suited for shooters with small hands. The Glock 42 is slim with a rounded front and back strap, which gives a comfortable grip.

Before using it, you may feel the grip to be small, especially if you have large hands. Surprisingly, the grip works perfectly for people with larger hands. The grip size ensures proper handling and shooting accuracy. Moreover, you can use the Pearce +1 extender accessory for even better control and faster grip with G42.

Like the Glock 42, the Glock 43 is also ergonomically great. It is slim because of the single-stack magazine. However, the 23mm grip will feel short if you have large hands. Also, you need to break your grip to avoid pinching your palm when inserting a magazine.

Much of the issue with the width can be resolved with a magazine extender. If you have medium to large hands, you can use the extender to extend the grip a little bit and make the gun more ergonomic.

Differences aside, the textured grip and magazine release of G42 and G43 add to their ergonomic appeal. If you want to make them more comfortable grip-wise, use a factory magazine with the pinkie extension.

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Differences in Slide & Barrel

The Glock 43 has a slightly bigger slide than the G42, which contributes to the additional weight of the gun. It is slightly heavier at the barrel end than the Glock 42, which enhances the control and helps with managing the recoil from the 9mm luger.

Pulling back the slide with ease is a little difficult for both the Glock 42 and 43. The slide lock in both these handguns is the same and not very easy to release because of the low profile. They are challenging to drop in a pinch and sit very close to the gun. You may need to use the aftermarket slide lock release lever to use the lever easily.

Glock 42 Vs. 43 Trigger Control

The G42 and 43 have the Glock's patented Safe Action Trigger with trigger, firing pin, and drop safeties. The Glock 42 has a 5.5-pound trigger, which resets decently. There are no safety levers that demand a conscious operation.

Contrarily, the Glock 43's trigger is heavier by two pounds and a short reset. Once you find the pressure wall (the point of discharge when the pressure increases), the trigger becomes easy to use.

If the Glock 43's trigger feels hard to pull, no matter how much you try, consider lubricating the point of contact between the trigger bar and the gun's connector. You will instantly experience a normal trigger pull.

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Shooting Accuracy and Recoil

The shooting accuracy is subjective as it is affected by ammo, grip, trigger pull, and, of course, shooting practice. The accuracy of the Glock 42 and 43 is good at self-defense distances (up to 25 yards) with a variety of ammo. These include Speer Gold Dot 9mm, JHP 124gr +P, Federal HST 9mm, and the like. Both the pistols are compact and can be handled pretty well while shooting.

Compared to the 9mm Glock 43, the Glock 42, with a .380 ACP caliber, is less snappier. Also, the muzzle velocity of the Glock 43 is way higher (around 376-foot lbs) than the G42 (around 190-foot lbs) because of the 9mm luger. So, the G42 is ideal for quick follow-up shots. If you compare these Glocks with bigger pistols like the Glock 19, you will feel the recoil a lot more.

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Differences in Sights

The Glock 42 and 43 have the same sights. They are either the Ameriglo factory sights or plastic sights. The G42 is compatible with TruGlo, Night Fision, Trijicon Night Sights, and XS Night Sights besides Ameriglo. This wide aftermarket compatibility with sights enhances the accuracy of the gun for shooters with varied preferences working in different shooting conditions.

The Glock 42 is not MOS or Modular Optic System ready, so it cannot have a red dot. Similarly, the Glock 43 does not have an MOS version. It has a fixed white dot front sight and a white outline rear sight. These sights should be swapped quickly with lasers like Ameriglo GL-705 Protector Sights or Trijicon HD XR to enhance accuracy.

Neither the G42 nor the G43 has an integrated accessory rail, as they are not part of the GLOCK Slimline models. So, you cannot mount lasers and tactical lights.

Differences in Conceability Between Glock 42 Vs. 43

Glock 42 and 43 are lightweight and compact guns made for CCW. Since the G43 is slightly heavier and has a wider slide and barrel length, it is not as easy to conceal as the Glock 42. You can hide the Glock 42 easily under a tight belt with a good IWB holster or under a tight shirt. It is also possible to exercise while carrying the small G42 in a holster.

The Glock 43 is also a deep concealment gun. The single-stack model is ideal for pocket carry. You can carry both the G42 and G43 comfortably throughout the day without worrying about discomfort.

For CCW, your decision to carry the G42 or G43 should be based on the ballistic standpoint. For a bullet to be good for self-defense, it should penetrate not less than 12 inches and not more than 16 inches into bare ballistic gelatin.

The 9mm luger in the Glock 43 is superior to .380 ACP because it has an average penetration of around 13-15 inches. It means precisely at the middle of the range where you want it to be. However, the average penetration of a .380 ACP is 9 inches. This is why the G42 is considered better than the G43 for concealed-carry self-defense.

Differences in Aftermarket Support

Both the Glock 42 and 43 are customizable and have a wide variety of aftermarket support. From lasers to grip, trigger, and extended mag, you can upgrade the gun in any way.

Magazine extensions and optics-ready slides are quite common upgrades for the Glock 43. Enhanced triggers and threaded barrels for suppressors are other options in aftermarket accessories that will help you enhance your G42 or G43.

Which One to Choose? Glock 42 or Glock 43

Both the Glock 42 and 43 are great backup guns. They are compact, easy to conceal, and comfortable to use. The only differences are in caliber and size. These differences impact the recoil and a little bit of accuracy. If you are a beginner shooter and not accustomed to recoil, using the Glock 42 with a .380 ACP will be ideal. If you want more stopping power in a concealed-carry pistol, the Glock 43 will be suitable. We also recommend you try both firearms yourself and decide which feels the most comfortable.