Glock 43 vs J frame

Police departments, like other branches of government, base their purchases on the lowest bidder. Gaston was very aggressive getting his products into the hands of law enforcement. Nothing new here, S&W did the same thing trying to move M&P's. No slam on Glock, they're a proven product, but to use the police as a yardstick isn't quite valid either.[/SIZE][/FONT]
 
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I am a big fan of Glocks, but I consider the J-Frame superior to the 43 for everyday concealed carry. Here's why: the 43 packs a few more rounds, has better sights, and reloads quicker...but the J Frame can shoot multiple shots reliably from a jacket pocket, has an intuitive and faster immediate action for a failure to fire (just pull the trigger again), and is easier to carry. For me, this makes the J-Frame a better option for breaking contact. The 43 is a little better for a more protracted fight, but if that is the expected use a Glock 26/27/33 is a far better choice than the 43.

If I'm in a situation that requires protection or rescue of others, I would opt for a hi-cap, major caliber pistol; but for everyday protection of myself, I'll choose my S&W 638 every time.
 
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Donn, you are absolutely right about PD's basing purchasing decisions on "lowest bidder" Every Glock that we have bought has been from the vendor that could sell Glocks to us the cheapest. We (department) can purchase SW M&P's (and most other polymer handguns) for about the same price but opt for the Glock. Individual Officers can take advantage of Glock's "Blue Label" Program that allows them to buy additional Glocks (up to 2 per year) at greatly reduced prices. GSSF Members also get a coupon to purchase a Glock at a reduced price (somewhere in the neighborhood of $425 for G-17's, 19's, 22's, 23's, etc.). All of this with, in my experience, excellent customer service. Not to mention additional factory magazines at around $20 each compared to M&P mags costing at least $10 more each.

Another yardstick that can be used is the success of GSSF that continues to grow. In GSSF Competition, the usual lowest turnout of competitors is within the "Guardian" Class (Law Enforcement, Military, etc.) and the single largest class is the "Amateur Civilian" class.

If Smith and Wesson would start a 50 state membership (GSSF Styled) competition event for the M&P's I and many others like me would buy one or two, but i digress.

I don't think Glocks or anything else for that matter are perfect since earthly perfection is a myth. They would come closer if they would get rid of those freaking finger groove grip frames and have a flat backstrap and let their optional snap on, pin in back straps have curves in them for those that want such.

I greatly apologize to Collin642 as we have totally abandoned his initial question.
 
Collin642 said:
Has anyone went back to their J frame after getting a Glock 43?
Click to expand...

Bought a Model 649 before the Glock 43 was even a consideration, it's a .38 Special. Great gun! That same pistol was beefed up a little to fire +P ammo and redesignated the Model 638. Would carry the J frame over the Glock, but Glock does make a nice product, you can't go wrong either way.

Product: Model 638
 
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Collin642, I will say that I have a great affinity for S&W J frames and all other S&W revolvers for that matter. No matter what wondergun comes on the market, I will not part with my 340SC, 640-1 or any of my 686's. Handguns today have lost character. No plastic gun will ever be more aesthetically pleasing than a S&W Revolver. I have often said that if I could only own one, I would ditch everything else and keep my 4" 686. Again, off topic.
 
I go back and forth. Depends on my mood and perception of the day. Lots of good perspectives in this thread that I agree with. Biggest thing going for the J is being able to fire from the pocket. Weight advantage goes to the J when I carry the 340PD and to the Glock when I compare with my 640 Pro. Wife has recently adopted the 340PD, so there's that. Neither one is more accurate than the other, but the G43 is hands down easier to shoot more accurately, and this is a serious consideration.

Someone mentioned being uncomfortable with any Glock around the groin due to the trigger pull, and there is merit to that concern. ALWAYS carry a Glock in a stiff horsehide or Kydex holster. I would never ever put one in my pocket or appendix carry with a soft holster (Sticky holster, etc).
 
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oldguyshoot said:
...Neither one is more accurate than the other, but the G43 is hands down easier to shoot more accurately, and this is a serious consideration.

Someone mentioned being uncomfortable with any Glock around the groin due to the trigger pull, and there is merit to that concern. ALWAYS carry a Glock in a stiff horsehide or Kydex holster. I would never ever put one in my pocket or appendix carry with a soft holster (Sticky holster, etc).
Click to expand...


Might be personal preferences and tastes...

I have a G26 and I can shoot my 638 J-frame as accurately DA, and more accurately SA. My 4" S&W K/L frames are easily more accurate than my G19 (in my hands). The Smith revolver triggers are heavier than my Glocks, but just feel crisper to me.

I can't carry my Glocks appendix and it has nothing to do with the trigger. For one, I'm just not comfortable with the striker being "half-cocked" and pointing at my junk/femoral artery 24/7, relying on mechanical safeties/devices that I can't see/verify....and I know I've potentially put energy into the system by racking the slide. My 638, I can verify the hammer is down and therefore there's no potential energy in the system. Secondly, for me, the critical dimension for comfortable appendix carry is where the grip rests on your belt line (just under the trigger guard where the middle finger wraps) to the highest point on the backstrap, or the back of slide (gun canted) - that's like 2" on my Glocks vs 1" on my J-frame, and it makes all the difference to my ribs. I'm fine with 4 o'clock carry with my Glocks, but it's a slower, more cumbersome draw and re-holster/re-tuck, and it prints much more for me.
 
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I went back to a J-frame after carrying a G19 for a few years. Does that count? :D

Don't get me wrong. I was seriously considering a Walther PPS before I came full circle, but I honestly don't have a use for a pocket auto.

The J-frame is a platform I'm very, very familiar with. So is Glock, but despite a pretty decent stock trigger and reset, I can't shoot a Glock as well as I can shoot a revolver.

I'm not going to lie. I'm really tempted to try out a 9mm Shield sans the safety, but I know I'd end up feeling "meh" about it after a few years and just sell it. That, and I'm at a point where I can't afford to invest in additional calibers any more.

My M36, OTOH, will never get sold. It already feels like an old friend, if that makes any sense.
 
I can't bring myself to get a G43 because it does not fit well enough between my G17 and G33 to be worth the hassle of getting it, getting decent sights on it, running a case of ammo through it for testing, getting the other gear, etc. While it not pleasant to shoot, the G33 is workable for pocket carry.
I have one J frame now, and the only time I carry it as an only gun is when I am using using my fanny pack, mostly for going to the gym. I have carried a J frame as a sole sidearm, but since I became better trained to more modern mindset and threat recognition knowledge, keep such circumstances to the utter minimum. Day in/day out, I find the J frame to be inadequate. Harder to shoot well, harder to reload (at least quickly), harder to carry reloads in most clothes.
 
I've never had a G43, or a G42 for that matter. I have had and do have J-frames and a Shield. The size difference between the Shield and the G43 an nearly nothing. In fact, the G43 is just a tad longer. While I have no personal experience with the G43, I know several of my active duty friends who have bought G43s. A couple of them got rid of the Shields they had when they bought the G43. Both of them regret it, and are looking to get rid of the G43s and get new Shields.
 
Donn said:
You're right about entries like this. There's always one. That said, police departments, like other branches of government, base their purchases on the lowest bidder. Gaston was very aggressive getting his products into the hands of law enforcement. Nothing new here, S&W did the same thing trying to move M&P's. No slam on Glock, they're a proven product, but to use the police as a yardstick isn't quite valid either.
Click to expand...

You're right but the other companies can go after the police
market just as aggressively if they want. Money and factory
support will always play a significant role in police
department handgun choices. There are other factors involved
like the offt mention simplicity of operation and similarity
to revolver function for the largely non gun savvy police
officer recruit. But it really isn't true that all branches of
government base their purchases on the lowest bidder. The
US government certainly tests guns extensively before
adoption and then looks for favorable pricing. But the
mindless bashing of Glock or any other brand is just plain
dumb. Glocks are in use all over the world not just in the US.
If they didn't work the word would have gotten around by now.
 
I'm an older guy that like most of use carried a J frame for years . But when polymer lite weight pistol were proven practical to me I retired my snub nose form carry duty . But I don't own glocks ether . First carry semi-auto was a cw9 kahr now my oldest daughters CC . Rest are Kahrs , sigs , m&p and a couple others . Just no glocks
 
Recently switched to a G42 for EDC and I find it's easier to shoot and conceals better than a J. I can also carry a full reload that is much quicker than a speed strip. An added plus is the recent ammo tests show the .380 XTP is very close to the 9mm in both expansion and penetration.
 
Have a 642 that I carried as my sole/main carry gun from Jan 2004 to Dec 2014.

Then I bought a 3913. I can't really pocket carry it, but it holds 9 rounds vs 5, slick little 8 round mag sits next to my wallet for the reload, has a tremendously good trigger, Trijicon night sights, disappears under a tshirt. 642 is still a good backup gun, though.

I probably won't get a G43. If I want to use a pocket auto, I'm more likely to get an LCP or M&P Bodyguard.
 
The borrowed Glock 43 I fired was a real winner in the accuracy department. Seven shots at a dueling tree at about ten yards, first time with the gun, got six hits. It was loaded with 115 +P+ IMI ammo that came from Glock in the '80s when my work first started buying G17s.
That being said, I use a 442 for a pocket gun and either a Glock 27 or 23 on the belt. In my world, Glocks and pockets don't go together well. They pocket carry OK in slacks with a decent belt, but do not draw nearly as smoothly as a hammerless or humpback J- frame.
 
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I think almost all of the comments in this thread were good ones, and on point. My response: I just recently got a Glock 43 and I alternate it with an S&W 640, an S&W 686+ 3", a Glock 26, a Glock 19, a Ruger LC9, and lastly, a Glock 30. Obviously I've kept smiles on a lot of holster manufacturers, but I enjoy the quality (and security) of them all.
 
I'm late to the conversation, but had been pondering the possible need for more rounds due to world situations than my trusty Model 37 affords. I finally "pulled the trigger" yesterday, and the Glock 43 was surely in the running.

In the end, I went with the S&W M&P 9mm Shield. Better sights, one extra round over the G43 with the Shield's concealment magazine (7 vs 6) and eight with the provided longer Shield magazine. Also, the grip angle provides me the "natural" point of aim I've come to expect with my other handguns.

The trigger didn't have the takeup mush of the Glock, with just a hint of additional takeup, though the pull was a little stiffer than the G43.

Time will tell . . . but then again, that 37 is my "always" (always on me) firearm, and I suspect it will still be my pocket gun to go with the additional firepower of the Shield.

23310206174_38b6e6f2d0_b.jpg


Ironically, my wife also upped her firepower yesterday too when I got her to go with me. Her Model 37 3" couldn't travel on her all the time, of course. I thought she might go with the Glock 42 or 43.

Wrong! She went with the Ruger LCP in .380. THAT little pistol can be with her at just about all times, and that's the important thing!
 
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