Glock 43 vs 43X: Which Is Better for Concealed Carry?

Quick answer: The Glock 43 is easier to hide: its grip is 0.79 inches shorter, so it prints less under a fitted shirt. The Glock 43X holds 10 rounds instead of 6 and gives most hands room for all three fingers, so it’s easier to shoot well. The two share the same slide and barrel, so the whole difference is in the grip. For most people who carry every day, the 43X is the better all-around pick, as long as the holster setup handles that taller grip.

Glock 43 vs 43X Specs, Side by Side

Source: Glock’s official G43 and G43X spec pages (us.glock.com), checked September 2026.

The Whole Difference Is the Grip

Same slide, same barrel, nearly the same weight. What changes is the frame. The 43X’s grip is 0.79 inches taller, and that’s where its four extra rounds live.

Here’s the detail most comparisons miss: with the magazine in, the 43X stands exactly as tall as a Glock 19 (5.04 inches, per Glock’s own specs for both). It’s a slimline gun that is thin, not short. So when people are surprised that their 43X prints, that’s why: its grip is full compact height.

The Glock 43’s 4.25-inch height is what makes it one of the easiest guns to hide. The trade-off is a grip that leaves many people’s pinky finger hanging off the bottom.

Which Is Easier to Conceal?

The Glock 43, and it isn’t close under a thin, fitted shirt. Less grip above the belt means less to push against the fabric when you bend, reach or sit.

That doesn’t make the 43X hard to carry. It just needs more attention to setup, especially in appendix carry (AIWB), where the grip sits right where your shirt moves the most. Three things close most of the gap:

• A claw or wing on the holster presses against your belt and rotates the grip in toward your body.
• A wedge on the lower part of the back of the holster pushes the muzzle end out, which also tips the grip in.
• Ride height: set so the grip clears your belt for a clean draw but doesn’t stand proud of it.

Looser shirts, patterns and cooler-weather layers shrink the difference further. In a jacket, most people can hide either gun.

Which Is Easier to Shoot?

The 43X. A longer grip gives your hand more to hold, which helps with recoil control, and many shooters find it much more comfortable over a full range session. It also carries four more rounds before a reload, and Glock lists 10 as the 43X’s standard capacity against 6 for the 43.

If you’ll mostly carry the gun and rarely shoot it, the 43’s advantage in concealment may matter more to you. If you train regularly, most people end up happier with the 43X.

Holsters for the 43 and 43X

Because the slide and barrel are the same length, many holster makers list a single model for both guns. The 43X’s frame is slightly wider and taller, though, so always check the maker’s fit list for your exact model, and whether you run an optic or a light. For the 43X specifically, including the MOS and light-bearing versions, see our Glock 43X holster guide.

Making Either One Comfortable All Day

Here’s what neither spec sheet tells you: the thing that makes people stop carrying a slim Glock isn’t the gun. It’s the muzzle end of the holster pressing in when they sit. Both guns have the same barrel length, so both press in the same place.

• Add a wedge. We make the Cloudster Pillow, a soft, adjustable-fill memory-foam wedge that attaches with velcro to the back of your holster. It cushions the edge that digs in and tilts the grip in so it stops printing. Because the fill adjusts, you can set it thicker or thinner for your gun and your body. Too thick over-tilts the gun, so start in the middle. Our wedge placement guide shows where it goes.
• Use a stiff gun belt. A belt that flexes lets the holster sag away from your body. We carry Kore ratcheting gun belts, which micro-adjust in small steps so you can let it out a click when you sit.
• Size: for the right Cloudster Pillow size for your 43 or 43X holster, check the size guide on the product page or just ask us.

Shop the Cloudster Pillow →

Glock 43 or 43X: How to Decide

Choose the Glock 43 if:

• You carry under thin, fitted shirts or tuck in
• You have a slim build and little room to hide a taller grip
• Deep concealment matters more to you than capacity

Choose the Glock 43X if:

• You want 10 rounds and a grip that fits your whole hand
• You shoot regularly and want the more controllable gun
• You’re willing to set up the holster with a claw and a wedge

Deciding between a slim Glock and a double-stack instead? Our Glock 17 vs 19 breakdown covers the bigger guns, and our Glock 19 holster guide covers carrying one.

Quick Answers

Is the Glock 43X bigger than the 43?
Only in the grip. It’s 0.79 inches taller and 0.04 inches wider; the slide and barrel are the same length.

Do Glock 43 and 43X magazines interchange?
No. The 43X uses its own 10-round magazines, and they’re taller than the 43’s 6-round magazines.

Is the 43X as tall as a Glock 19?
Yes. Glock lists both at 5.04 inches tall with the magazine. The 43X is much thinner, though (1.10 vs 1.34 inches).

Which is better for appendix carry?
The 43 is easier out of the box. The 43X works just as well for most people once the holster has a claw and a wedge to keep the taller grip tucked.

Written by the Cloudster Pillow team. We make holster wedges and carry Kore gun belts. We don’t sell firearms or holsters, and nobody paid for this comparison. Specs are from Glock’s published spec sheets, checked September 2026.