Glock 43, 48, and Sig 365

[Glaciers]

A couple weeks ago I was in a LGS in Fairbanks and looked at some carry semi automatic pistols. I looked at an Sig 365, Glock 43 and Glock 48.
The Glocks were certainly lighter than the Sig but the Sig felt good. The Sig has a pretty high capacity but felt thinner than I was expecting.
I was leaning towards the Sig even though it was heavier and add in a full mag it would obviously be more so.
The weight of the Glocks with the addition of a full mag would certainly be less.
Any thoughts on these three pistols.

 

[Winelover]

I would look at the SA Hellcat. IMO, high capacity defeats the purpose of a carry pistol. If you feel you can't get it done with 6-8 shot magazine, carry a extra magazine. Semi's require hardly any time to reload.

 

[462]

I don't do 9 mm, John, but I wear a Glock 27 -- .40 S&W, nine plus one -- all day long without any discomfort.

 

[Glaciers]

I would look at the SA Hellcat. IMO, high capacity defeats the purpose of a carry pistol. If you feel you can't get it done with 6-8 shot magazine, carry an extra magazine. Semi's require hardly any time to reload.

Yeah the Sig actually felt like a single stack and I was surprised that it was a double stack.
I actually was not looking for a double stack for the reasons you stated. I believe once you recommended the Glock 43 as one to look at. I haven’t looked at the Hellcat. Have to give it a look.
There’s a LGS in Medford that offers about fifty different pistols for testing, buy the ammo and pay a small fee and give it a go.
I agree that if you don’t get it done in 4 or 5 you have a serious problem anyway.

 

[CZ93X62]

I've had my Glock 43 for about a year and a half. It can be pocket carried in my Carhartt dungarees without much fuss, and it is lighter than my East German Makarov. The 9mm Luger imparts 125 more FPS to a 30% heavier bullet than does the Mak, also. Advantage x 3 to Glock 43.

 

[Winelover]

Yeah the Sig actually felt like a single stack and I was surprised that it was a double stack.
I actually was not looking for a double stack for the reasons you stated. I believe once you recommended the Glock 43 as one to look at. I haven’t looked at the Hellcat. Have to give it a look.
There’s a LGS in Medford that offers about fifty different pistols for testing, buy the ammo and pay a small fee and give it a go.
I agree that if you don’t get it done in 4 or 5 you have a serious problem anyway.

Nope, wasn't me. Never owned a Glock. Shot one, once, when my buddy was looking for a compact semi. I don't even recall the model #...........only that it was small. It was a range rental. That was also the only time I fired a 40 S&W. Didn't think there was much difference in recoil between similar sized sub compact Glocks in 9mm versus 40 caliber. BTW, he purchased a compact S&W Shield in 40 S&W.

 

[Glaciers]

I don't do 9 mm, John, but I wear a Glock 27 -- .40 S&W, nine plus one -- all day long without any discomfort.

I do 9’s and 45’s. Not going to branch out now at my age. Considering carrying a semi of any kind for me is close to blasphemy anyway. But the three pistols I listed and John has added a fourth to my list, they were surprisingly concealable feeling.
I carry a model 60 or a SP101 3” when I carry.
The 9mm with proper care and feeding should get the job done.
Don’t get me wrong the 40’s a good one but it’s like the 7mm in rifles, not going down that road. A guy has to limit his distractions at some point.

 

[Glaciers]

Nope, wasn't me. Never owned a Glock. Shot one, once, when my buddy was looking for a compact semi. I don't even recall the model #...........only that it was small. It was a range rental. That was also the only time I fired a 40 S&W. Didn't think there was much difference in recoil between similar sized sub compact Glocks in 9mm versus 40 caliber. BTW, he purchased a compact S&W Shield in 40 S&W.

It was Al now that I think about it.

 

[Winelover]

My sub compacts 9's are a Beretta Nano and a Kahr CM-9 pistol.

Own two compacts are a SA and a Sig P-320................both are duty sized, 15+ shot pistols, IMO. Nothing compact about them.

 

[Glaciers]

I've had my Glock 43 for about a year and a half. It can be pocket carried in my Carhartt dungarees without much fuss, and it is lighter than my East German Makarov. The 9mm Luger imparts 125 more FPS to a 30% heavier bullet than does the Mak, also. Advantage x 3 to Glock 43.

I remember now that you were recommending the 43 at one point. I was asking because my daughter in law’s sister wanted a recommendation. I suggested a wheel gun and she looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language.
So now I might give one a try.
A had a stack of three Makarov’s I got on trade and was impressed with the little guys but was not thrilled with the ammunition and the slides were horrible to rack. Two got traded on a custom 03 Springfield and the last sold to my neighbor.

 

[300BLK]

Sig P365 comes in several different flavors. The basic 365 is 10+1 with the short grip frame and short barrel. The 365X has the 12+1 grip frame and short barrel. The 365XL is 12+1 with the longer barrel, and then there are others, ported or not, and with even bigger mag capacity.....night sights standard, available with or without manual safety, and most cut for a slide mounted optic.

I've had a J frame carry piece since '1990 or so, and it felt heavy being all steel, so I bought a 637. While its light, the cylinder still bites into my hip when carried IWB at 4 o'clock.

I went to the local shop to buy a S&W Shield, but handled multiple small 9s, and bought a 365XL. Its flat, rides IWB with or without a holster, and all day comfortable. Loaded, it weighs less than the all steel 640 unloaded. The sights are bold enough that my aging eyes see them, and recoil is mild compared to +P 38s in the aluminum J frame. Modern, premium 9x19 loads are quite impressive.

Its about choices, and ergonomics vary considerably, so handle mupltiple and buy what YOU like.

 

[Glaciers]

Currently I have a Beretta 92 FS, a Ruger P85, and a Ruger Security-9. I bought the Ruger Security 9 because my two BIL’s each had one. Haven’t shot it yet.
I wanted something new that offers sight options like a plate for a reddot sight, and smaller size for carry. Also I want Karyn to be comfortable with it. So I’m probably looking for 2 pistols.
The P85 is going to my son as I already gave him one, he might as well have both. The Beretta isn’t going anywhere, I also have a trade going for a second Beretta. I like the Beretta but it’s not a CC pistol.

 

[462]

I do 9’s and 45’s.

I'd carry a .45 ACP if the Glock sub-compacts were 1/2" less tall, or if California would trust me with a S&W .45 Shield.

 

[Glaciers]

The 365 I handled felt good must have been one of the medium sized pieces. How’s that for a technical description.
But it felt quite good. Going to have to hit that LGS in Medford and just try some out.
Lots of options which can be a problem all by itself. But test firing a series of pistols and staying within the parameters of a concealed pistol and not allowing the distraction of other firearms will help.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

OK, I'm going to ruffle some feathers but here goes.

A polymer framed, striker fired, semi-auto pistol with a Browning tilting barrel locking system that utilizes a squared off ejection port to lock the barrel to the slide – is either a Glock or a Glock knock-off.

Everybody and their brother makes some clone/copy/rendition of the Glock pattern, and that’s fine. But you might as well just buy the Glock, it’s almost always a simpler design than the copies. The Glock system is proven, it’s safe, it’s reliable, they are durable – they just flat work. I’m not a Glock fan boy, that’s just reality.

So, no offense to the SIG or the owners of SIGs (I like SIG pistols) but the SIG wouldn’t make my cut simply because it was available in a display case.

That leaves the two Glock options from the OP: the 43 and the 48.

The 43 is the ultra-compact, single stack option if you need maximum concealment and lightweight. I’ve shot them, know lots of people that own/carry them. It’s a solid little pistol.

The 48 is basically a single stack G19. It’s ever so slightly thinner than a G19 and it gives up a few rounds for that single stack. If you can comfortably carry and conceal a G19, I would go with that over the G48.

So, the real choice is between the ultra-compact G43 or the Commander sized G19. The G48 is a solution in search of a problem.
Here are the hard numbers.

G19 Gen5 FS - The next generation

The GLOCK 19 Gen5 FS pistol in 9 mm Luger is ideal for a more versatile role due to its reduced dimensions.

us.glock.com

GLOCK 48

Chambered in 9mm Luger the G48 features a compact Slimline frame and a black slide with an nDLC finish.

us.glock.com

 

[Glaciers]

Good points. I pulled up the 43 for comparison and it looks more of what I’m looking for. If I’m going to use it for CC then it would be a good choice. But, I’m still looking at the Sig and others.
But looking at the “tale of the tape” clears up some obvious questions. The 43 at 25 oz loaded is sweet.
I just need to understand the modern pistols that are offered.

 

[obssd1958]

I'll add my 2 centavos -

My CCW is also a SP101, but I have owned, carried, and shot the Shields in .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
Almost no perceivable difference in recoil between the two Shields.
The reason they are both gone, is that the rifling starts right at the end of the chamber. This precluded the use of almost all of the cast bullets I use, unless I seated them deeper than I wanted to. It was also a problem with a couple of factory loaded HPs. I know I could have had them throated, but couldn't justify the extra expense.
Try the Shields if you get a chance, but know they have at least this one limitation (others might have the same issue, but I don't have any experience with them)

 

[Michael]

My wife fell in love with a 365 to the point where she just went out and bought on her own. I liked hers and picked up the SOS (POS) version, $450 mistake. SIG's accuracy standards for the SOS are to put the shots somewhere on a man sized silhouette at 5-7 yards. (I think I may still have the email). Mine printed 4" left from the POA at 5 yds. I had several other trusted friends and skilled shooters give it a try, the results were the same, they were not impresssed. Granted for social work it could work, but I still found it unsettling, coupled with the idea of having to compensate my hold for anything past that, resulted in the two of us parting company.

A 365XL replaced it, primarily because the longer grip allows for the mag to fall free whereas with standard grip the mag gets impeded by bottom of my hand. They all felt very good in the hand and are joy to shoot, just ask my wife. I tried a Sheild, nope, just was't there. No experience with a 43 or 48.

It goes without saying, go with what feels good and works best for you. Firearms are like women, just because they look nice and have pleasing dimensions, in the end we still need to get along for the relationship to last.

 

[Bret4207]

Good points. I pulled up the 43 for comparison and it looks more of what I’m looking for. If I’m going to use it for CC then it would be a good choice. But, I’m still looking at the Sig and others.
But looking at the “tale of the tape” clears up some obvious questions. The 43 at 25 oz loaded is sweet.
I just need to understand the modern pistols that are offered.

I gave up on crazy ideas like that!!!

 

[300BLK]

My wife feel in love with a 365 to the point where she just went out and bought on her own. I liked hers and picked up the SOS (POS) version, $450 mistake. SIG's accuracy standards for the SOS are to put the shots somewhere on a man sized silhouette at 5-7 yards. (I think I may still have the email). Mine printed 4" left from the POA at 5 yds. I had several other trusted friends and skilled shooters give it a try, the results were the same, they were not impresssed. Granted for social work it could work, but I still found it unsetteling, coupled with the idea of having to compensate my hold for anything past that, resulted in the two of us parting company.

A 365XL replaced it, primarily because the longer grip allows for the mag to fall free whereas with standard grip the mag gets impeded by bottom of my hand. They all felt very good in the hand and are joy to shoot, just ask my wife. I tried a Sheild, nope, just was't there. No experience with a 43 or 48.

It goes without saying, go with what feels good and works best for you. Firearms are like women, just because they look nice and have pleasing dimensions, in the end we still need to get along for the relationship to last.

I forgot to mention the 365 SAS. I had the opportunity to shoot one several years back. The "sights" are fiber optic and sunk into the slide so as to be anti-snag, but in reality were all but a useless gimmick, IMO.