Need a car/kick around handgun. Glock 43 perhaps?

old bear

old bear

US Veteran
Platinum User
Joined
Mar 30, 2010
Messages
9,930
Reaction score
23,742
Location
R.T. P, area NC
I don’t always carry on my person. I know shame on me. I do though insist on having a weapon close at hand at all times, so several of my Smith and Wesson’s have taken turns serving as my car gun. I’ve finally realized that all of my revolvers are to nice to continue serving as car guns as well as to expensive.

I’ve shot several different offerings by Glock and thought they were fine tools, but not something I really had any desire to own.

I recently had the chance to handle the new model 43, a compact single stack 9 M/M and thought it might make a decent car gun. Do any of you have any experience with the model 43 Glock, if so I’d like to hear your thoughts?

Thanks All
 
Register to hide this ad
Personally, if I am away from my house, I don't like leaving guns alone outside my house. If I have a gun outside my house, I want it to be on me at all times. I just wanted to throw that out there.

Anyways, why not pick up a snubby? Personally, if I wanted to keep a handgun in my vehicle I'd probably get a j frame or a SP101.
 
Last edited:
old bear said:
I don’t always carry on my person. I know shame on me. I do though insist on having a weapon close at hand at all times, so several of my Smith and Wesson’s have taken turns serving as my car gun. I’ve finally realized that all of my revolvers are to nice to continue serving as car guns as well as to expensive.

I’ve shot several different offerings by Glock and thought they were fine tools, but not something I really had any desire to own.

I recently had the chance to handle the new model 43, a compact single stack 9 M/M and thought it might make a decent car gun. Do any of you have any experience with the model 43 Glock, if so I’d like to hear your thoughts?

Thanks All
Click to expand...

Why handicap yourself with a small, limited capacity, pistol when it is to be stored rather than carried concealed? Get a "real" gun for such purposes. Save the flyweights for pocket carry.
 
The G43 only has a 6 round mag. Why not look into the XDm 9mm 3.8" compact. It comes with a 13 round mag and 19 round mag.

It's fairly easy to carry concealed with the shorter mag, but if you need more fire power you can use the 19 round mag while it is doing duty as a truck gun.
 
Philadelphia Patriot said:
Personally, if I am away from my house, I don't like leaving guns alone outside my house. If I have a gun outside my house, I want it to be on me at all times. I just wanted to throw that out there.

Anyways, why not pick up a snubby? Personally, if I wanted to keep a handgun in my vehicle I'd probably get a j frame or a SP101.
Click to expand...
I feel the same way. Car can get stolen or broken into. But the main reason is that I sometimes travel to NJ and I don't want to forget I have a gun in my car when over there.

Besides that I think it would make a good car gun assuming you have it in a holster or its own spot. That way nothing can get into the trigger guard
 
Last edited:
If it's only for the car, look for a used Glock 17.......they make a million of these a day and 18 rounds of 9mm is decent firepower for a car gun. If it gets stolen you're not out something you can't replace the next day. Used 17's are $350-400, I don't see a point to buy new if it's just something that's going to rattle around in a console or glove box.
I don't think I've been to a gun show or larger gun shop yet that didn't have some kind of used Glock.


Get one of those "trigger stops" if you're paranoid, those rubber things you can get on Ebay for $3 that you push out before firing, they go behind a Glock trigger.
 
Used G17 or 19 or a used Model 10 or 65 would be my choice for a car-only gun, for the reasons Stantheman86 laid out.

For me, however, any gun I have with me when I leave home is going to be on my person when I leave my car.
 
stantheman86 said:
If it's only for the car, look for a used Glock 17.......they make a million of these a day and 18 rounds of 9mm is decent firepower for a car gun. If it gets stolen you're not out something you can't replace the next day. Used 17's are $350-400, I don't see a point to buy new if it's just something that's going to rattle around in a console or glove box.
I don't think I've been to a gun show or larger gun shop yet that didn't have some kind of used Glock.


Get one of those "trigger stops" if you're paranoid, those rubber things you can get on Ebay for $3 that you push out before firing, they go behind a Glock trigger.
Click to expand...

I don't have a car gun, but my night stand gun is a Glock 17. I own plenty wheel guns but this is my go too gun. 18 rounds of 9mm and very easy to shoot and get back on target with.
 
I have a Hi Pointe .40 S&W that I keep in the glove box. I bought it new for $150 it shoots 3" groups at 15 yards, and has never had a FTF or FTE. If someone stole it I wouldn't be so upset as I would be for one of my Smiths, Rugers, or or other guns. And I still feel very protected keeping it in the car with me.

Matt
 
Glock 17/19. S&W 66/686. Already been said but re-afirmed. I heard a guy say once "If you want a gun you can treat like your lawnmower buy a Glock". Truer words were never spoken
 
Last edited:
I tried the G43 and quickly sold it. Nothing wrong with it at all. And not to incite debate as this is only my opinion, but if I were limited to only 1 handgun in an apocalyptic scenario, it would likely be a G17 due to their simplicity and durability.
 
Last edited:
A local LE supply store has several used handguns under $350.00 and new Shields for $330.00. LEOs get discounts there.
 
If you insist on leaving a gun in your car (never a good idea) invest in a car safe of some sort.
 
To me having a go to gun in your truck that may be stolen is no different than having a go to gun in your house that could be stolen,We can't control everything but having a high capacity gun nearby at all times is a good thing.
 
You can get a much better 6 shot car gun in and old Model 10 or a compact 3rd Gen that has 10 shots both will cost less money.
 
old bear said:
I recently had the chance to handle the new model 43, a compact single stack 9 M/M and thought it might make a decent car gun. Do any of you have any experience with the model 43 Glock, if so I’d like to hear your thoughts?
Thanks All
Click to expand...

I have zero experience with the G43, okay? But you might want to consider this:

A G26 Gen4 is only .15 longer overall than the 43.
A G26 Gen4 is only .16 wider than the 43.
The barrel on a G26 Gen4 is only .03 longer than on the 43.

Needless to say, the G26 Gen4 holds more ammo. And you can swap out backstraps on it to fit your hand better.

And actually, there's no need to relegate the 26 to the status of "car gun". There's no rule that says you have to leave your "car gun" in the car when you get out. With a soft holster, you can pocket carry a G26 Gen4. I'm a little guy, but the 26 Gen4 fits nicely in my right front pocked. Matter of fact, it fits better than my 42, simply by being a bit larger, I don't have to sorta "fish" for the gun in my pocket.

I like small pistols okay (I have the 42), but I'm more comfortable (and therefore more confident) with a larger one.

To me, this is one of those situations where personal preferences and experience overrule most advice from people on a gun forum.
 
Last edited:
Fred-

I hate to say it, but I honestly don't think the Glocks are safe enough. It would certainly be one of the last guns that I'd carry in a pocket with a round in the chamber. I'm pretty sure that the accidental discharges in pockets and purses that have made recent news involve Glocks most of the time.

Depending on the size of your hand, you might try a Beretta M-92FS or a CZ-75B.

Cost would be comparable and the guns shoot well and reliably. But they are not ideal for people with small hands.
I'm guessing that you have normal to large hands, as you like K-frame Smith revolvers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top