Glock 48 vs 43X: Same Grip, Longer Slide. Which to Carry?

Quick answer: The Glock 48 and Glock 43X have the same grip. Glock lists both at 5.04 inches tall and 1.10 inches wide, with the same 10-round standard magazine. The only real difference is length: the 48’s slide is 0.79 inches longer and its barrel is 0.76 inches longer, which makes the whole gun 0.78 inches longer and about 2 ounces heavier. For concealed carry, that means the two guns print the same at the grip. What changes is how much gun and holster sit below your belt, which is the part you feel when you sit down.

Glock 48 vs 43X Specs, Side by Side

Source: Glock’s official product pages for the G48 and G43X (the current rail models), us.glock.com, checked October 3, 2026. The optic-ready MOS versions list the same dimensions and weigh slightly less: 18.31 oz (G48 MOS) and 16.26 oz (G43X MOS) without a magazine.

Above the Belt, They’re the Same Gun

Glock says it plainly: the G43X has “the same compact-size grip length” as the G48. Both are 5.04 inches tall with the magazine in and 1.10 inches wide. So everything that sits above your belt line, the part that pushes against your shirt when you bend or reach, is identical.

That clears up a common worry. Choosing the 43X over the 48 doesn’t buy you a shorter grip to hide. If grip printing is your problem, switching between these two won’t change it. A shorter-gripped gun or a better holster setup is where to look.

Below the Belt Is Where They Differ

The 48’s extra 0.79 inches of slide sits inside the holster, below your belt. It doesn’t show, but it’s the part you feel. Carried appendix (AIWB), the muzzle end of the holster is what presses into your thigh when you sit or drive. A longer slide needs a longer holster, so on the 48 that end reaches further down.

How much that matters depends on your build. The only real test is yours: sit in a car seat with an unloaded gun in the holster and see which one you can live with for an hour.

What the Extra Length Gets You

On paper, the 48 gives you a longer barrel (4.17 vs 3.41 inches) and a longer line of sight (5.98 vs 5.24 inches with the polymer sights). It also weighs about 2 ounces more. Whether that makes it easier for you to shoot is something only range time can answer, so rent or borrow both if you can.

The trigger is the same on paper. Glock lists the same 24 N trigger pull and the same 2.64-inch trigger distance for both, so your trigger finger reaches the same way on either gun.

Magazines: 10 Rounds Today, and Glock’s 15-Round Announcement

Both product pages list a 10-round standard magazine, and both describe it as Glock’s “slim (01)” magazine. In April 2026, Glock announced that the G43X and G48 “will come standard with 15-round GLOCK magazines,” a metal, double-stack design that Glock said would reach dealers in May 2026. As of October 3, 2026, Glock’s G43X and G48 product pages still list 10 rounds as standard. Check the box or the dealer listing to see which magazine your gun ships with.

Either way, the capacity is the same for both guns. Magazine count doesn’t decide 48 vs 43X.

Optics and Lights

Both come in MOS versions with a slide cut for micro red dots. Glock says the Slimline MOS models need specific optics, such as the Shield RMSc, and that the MOS versions don’t come with adapter plates. The current models also have Glock’s slim accessory rail. If you add a light, you’ll need a light-bearing holster made for that gun and light.

Making Either One Comfortable to Carry

Since the grips are the same, a setup that works for one should work for the other. Three things do most of the work:

• A claw or wing on the holster presses against your belt and rotates the grip in toward your body.
• A wedge low on the body side of the holster pushes the muzzle end out, which tips the grip in. For printing, keep the fill fuller and mount it low. For comfort, start in the middle on fill and move it toward the edge that digs in. Our wedge placement guide shows where it goes.
• A stiff gun belt keeps the holster from sagging, so the grip stays tucked. We carry Kore ratcheting gun belts.

We make the Cloudster Pillow, a soft holster wedge made of adjustable cooling-gel memory foam in a fabric cover. It attaches to the back of your holster with hook-and-loop Velcro, and it goes on any holster, whether it’s Kydex, leather or a hybrid. On leather or hybrid holsters, some owners make it semi-permanent with a dot of glue at the corners and center of the adhesive Velcro, or by lightly sanding the mounting spot with very fine-grit sandpaper. Both change your holster, so check its warranty first.

Which size? For a Glock 48 or 43X with no light, the Standard. If you add a weapon light, carry a sidecar mag carrier, or have a larger build, step up to the Deluxe. When in doubt, size up: a bigger pillow can be adjusted to feel smaller, but you can’t make a smaller pillow feel bigger. Our size finder takes 30 seconds, or tell us your gun and holster and we’ll confirm.

Glock 48 or 43X: How to Decide

Choose the Glock 43X if:

• You carry appendix and the holster’s muzzle end digs in when you sit
• You want the lighter of the two

Choose the Glock 48 if:

• You want the longer barrel and line of sight
• You’ve sat with the longer holster and it doesn’t dig in

Weighing a slim Glock against a double-stack? Our Glock 19 vs 43X comparison covers it, and our Glock 43 vs 43X breakdown covers the shorter-gripped G43. For holster setup on the 43X, see our Glock 43X holster guide.

Quick Answers

Is the Glock 48 bigger than the 43X?
Only in length. It’s 0.78 inches longer overall, with a 0.79-inch longer slide. Height and width are the same: 5.04 inches and 1.10 inches.

Do the Glock 48 and 43X use the same magazine?
Glock’s product pages list the same 10-round “slim (01)” magazine for both, and Glock’s April 2026 announcement covers 15-round magazines for both models. Check the magazine’s listed models before you buy.

Is the Glock 48 the same size as a Glock 19?
In length and height, yes. Glock lists the G48 and the Glock 19 V both at 7.28 inches long and 5.04 inches tall. The 48 is narrower: 1.10 inches against the Glock 19’s 1.34.

Which is better for appendix carry?
Both print the same at the grip. The 43X is 0.78 inches shorter, so if the holster’s muzzle end bothers you when you sit, the 43X is the easier fit.

What size Cloudster Pillow fits a Glock 48 or 43X?
The Standard, with no light. Go up to the Deluxe for a light, a sidecar or a larger build.

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 product pages and press releases, checked October 3, 2026. This isn’t legal advice: magazine limits and carry laws vary by state.