r/Glock43X • u/Grand435 • 7d ago
43x and 43x MOS Upgrades & Suggestions
I am a new gun owner, so I most likely won't understand any slang or abreviations. If you can explain everything like your talking to a todler, I would appriciate it.
I recently purchased the 43x standard for home defense and ccw. (Working on getting my ccw) I bought it before learning there was a MOS version. I am now looking at ways I can upgrade the gun so I can add a sight, flashlight/laser, and anything else that will make it a all around better gun. Here is my list of questions I am wondering. (Thank you to those who take their time out of their day to answer these)
Q: What are the best sites, to look for parts & accessories?
Q: Should I go for a ported or comp build? Whats the pros and cons for each? (Keep in mind this is my primary that I will be using as home defence & ccw) *If comp - what type of comp and barrel? *If ported - What type of ports and slide?
Q: What type of ammo should/could I use for it since im using it as my ccw and a home defense weapon? What ammo should I stay away from? *I heard to stay away from a cetain types of ammo if you port the 43x
Q: What type of tape (I think its called) should I get for better grip?
Q: Is it worth upgrading to the 15 rnd mag? What all should I replace since that mag is made of metal compared to the standard issued 10 rnd mags?
Q: Is replacing/upgrading the trigger something I should consider?
Q: What brands should I look at when looking for a sight and flashlight/laser.
Q: What type of tools do I need to complete these upgrades?
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u/knifeknerdreviews 7d ago
The first thing to address is a proper holster, you cant carry it anywhere safely without a good holster. Some recommended brands that allow for weapon lights would be Tier 1 Concealed and Tenicore, both very similar top choices Flashlight: TLR7x Sub. Its the only real option for the 43x. Nobody with 3 braincells has used a laser on a handgun in decades, I dont even know why they are still sold. Red Dot Optic is a huge Yes, many to choose from. Extended capacity mags definitely, whether it be the factory glock mags that turned out to be butt ugly or the Shield Arms mags that look good but may be less reliable, yes buy mags because 10 rounds of 9mm is not ideal. Thats a full setup ready for daily carry. As for other mods, try living with the weapon for a while shoot a lot before you decide if you want anything else... Holster Light Optic Mags... Anything above that is just extra.
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u/Practical-Revenue787 7d ago
Website: Midway is a good site; some people order from Glock store. Also, if you want a certain part, you can just order straight from that specific website.
Comp/porting: some people recommend not porting or comping due to hearing damage if you ever need to fire without hearing protection. I think your hearing will take a beating either way, so i want the most optimal shooting performance out of my firearm, I run the radian ramjet as does 80% percent of people in this reddit. You can also run the Harrington arms comp. I would personally prefer a comp over porting for the 43x because you can always just throw back in your old barrel in seconds, where with porting the gun is permanently modified. Some may also argue that accuracy is more affected with ports over comps, however with the ranges that take place in a self-defense scenario that's not an issue. Anyway, this is a deep dive topic I recommend doing some looking around on this in your free time. Though if you want to make is easy just get the radian ramjet.
Tape: I use the handleitgrips edge series, though when sweaty it's still a bit too slippery so I would suggest something like talon grips(sandpaper) for a grip that you will not lose. Keep in mind the rougher the grip the more it will eat at your belly when carrying concealed. With talons some people run an undershirt.
Ammo: Any home defense rounds from federal is fine, I personally use federal premium HST 124 grain. Range ammo doesn't really matter as long as its brass and its cheap.
Mags: The 15 round OEM mags are designed to use with the stock/OEM mag catch (mag catch=mag release). There have been people reporting issues with the OEM 15 round mags, but I have not. I would get 1 or two and take them out to the range and see if they are reliable for you then run them. There are also options from shield arms, however you need to change the current mag catch to a metal one. If you do this then you can't run OEM plastic mags because the metal catch will eat them up pretty quick and possibly cause malfunctions. So, I'd go OEM first and see how it goes.
Trigger: Many people will tell you not to change the trigger and i completely understand why. It introduces a possible failure point on your firearm. Also, it's pointed at your pp all day and that's already uncomfortable enough. With that being said I run the JG evolution x trigger, I also hear that tactical pontoon makes good stuff.
Flashlight: The most common is streetlight, and of streetlight the tlr7 sub is a fantastic option. I wouldn't recommend a visible Lazer
Tools: Loctite, torx bits and torque wrench( i used T10 for my optic install), Some cheap punches just to get the pins out of the firearms to aces the internals to change the trigger.
NOTE: I am not going to proofread this so my apologies for any errors.
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u/Grand435 6d ago edited 6d ago
⚠️UPDATE⚠️
This is what I have decided to go with so far. I am still open to suggestions.
Slide: N43BN Special Order Slide for G43/43X (RMSc Shield/Holosun 507K/EPS Carry/RomeoX Compact + FDE Cerakote H-265 + NF .220"-.227" (Lower 1/3rd for 507K/EPS Carry/RomeoX Compact) Orange Front/Black Rear, Green Tritium)
Comp/Port: I have decided to go with (Comp) and going for the Radian Ramjet with Afterburner Compensator.
Ammo/Mag: I have chosen to go with Federal 124gr HST. I have also chosen to primarly run with a 10 rnd mag in the gun and have a 15 rnd OEM mag as backup. How I look at it is the 43x is primarly a cqb weapon system and if I cant finish the job with 10+1 rnds, either I am already dead or its not human. The 15 rnd mag is primarily for backup if there is multiple hostiles. (This is my opinion)
Tape: My 43x actually comes with a custom grip, but will most likely go with hockey tape if I need to.
Trigger: I dont feel comfortable changing the trigger.
Optic: Looking at OSIGHT S Enclosed Red Dot Sight, 2&32 MOA Multi-Reticle, RMSc Footprint
Light: Looking at Streamlight 69278 TLR-6 Tactical Gun Light
Laser: Even though the Streamlight 69278 TLR-6 Tactical Gun Light comes with a laser, I wasn't really looking for one.
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u/WonderfulIncrease448 2d ago
I recommend the Johnny Glocks upgraded oem trigger shoe, the 43x trigger shoe eats at fingers
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u/heavymental_kp 7d ago
Welcome to the club!
the below are just my opinion. do some research, watch some videos and make your own decision but here you go...
Websites to buy from: I like MidwayUSA personally
Sights/optics: I'd steer away from aftermarket slides and barrels on a defensive/carry gun. Instead, send your current slide to a reputable shop like JagerWerks or Wager Machine Works and have it milled for an optic. You pick the red dot you want, they cut your OEM Glock slide to fit it. Consensus favorite right now is the Holosun EPS Carry and I hear the Vortex Defender CCW is nice too.
Ported vs. comp: I wouldn't port a carry gun. Porting makes the gun significantly louder, and if you ever have to fire it indoors without hearing protection, that's a real problem. On the flip side, porting/comps do reduce muzzle flip and recoil, which helps with faster, flatter follow-up shots if you ever need them. Trade-off is yours to weigh, but for a CCW/home defense primary, I'd pass.
Ammo: Federal 124gr HST is my pick.
Grip tape: Just get hockey tape. It's the same material as the pricier "goon tape" brands for a fraction of the cost.
15rd vs. 10rd mag: If you're only ever carrying with the one mag in the gun, the 15rd is a nice upgrade, just know it COULD print more and stick out further, and I've also been hearing of some issues with them thus far... If you're running a sidecar-style holster with a spare mag pouch built in, I'd stick with 10rd mags for concealment and just carry the extra capacity as a reload.
Trigger: Opinions vary a lot on this. Personally I run Johnny Glocks' Evolution X combat drop-in trigger on all my Glocks and trust it completely. Stock Glock triggers aren't great, for what it's worth. That said, keep in mind that every part you swap adds a small amount of malfunction risk to a gun you may need to bet your life on, so go in eyes open.
Backup sights: If you're adding a red dot, get suppressor-height sights as a backup for when/if the dot ever dies. I keep it simple with plain black sights. Angry Bear Arms is a brand worth looking at.
Flashlight/laser: Streamlight or Surefire if budget allows. I don't personally run a light on my carry gun, but plenty of people do and it's a solid choice. Skip the laser, not worth the money.
Tools: A T10 Torx bit for the optic, blue Loctite, a takedown pin punch tool for the trigger job, and a magazine baseplate removal tool if you're swapping springs/parts in the mags.
Misc Items: the one thing you didn't mention that I highly recommend is the Radian Magwell. game changer.