I have a couple 19’s and really like them, but they can be a little on the bulky side for CCW. I saw where the G48 had been released and read up on it. I also have a G43 and this seemed like a hybrid, best of both worlds.
Today I went to a local gun shop and they had one in stock. I hadn’t handled one before so this was the first time. It felt good in the hand, like a G19 on a diet. I said “Oh, what the hell” and bought it. It was almost dark when I got home so I loaded up a mag with HST 147gr +P (my 9mm carry ammo of choice), stepped out near the woods, and popped it off. Felt good, no more recoil (it seemed) than my G19’s, and fed/fired just fine. Will put some more through it tomorrow.
One might say “Why?” Well, that was my original line of thinking. You lose 5 rounds of capacity and is it worth the tradeoff? For starters, I probably needed it like another hole in the head, but we all know how that goes when it comes to guns! It does feel good in the hand as I mentioned above, so ergonomics is good-to-go. The relative “flatness” will no doubt be a plus when it comes to IWB carry, which is how I do it unless it’s a true pocket pistol (like a Ruger LCP .380). The loss of 5 rounds doesn’t bother me too much…you still have 10. The real benefit (to me) is the fact that you have a quite concealable handgun with a 4" barrel so you get the full ballistic performance from your carry ammo in a really slim package.
Anyone else have one, and if so what do you think?
I was on the fence with the 43x or 48 last week. I went with the 43x.
I really liked the 48 and you’re right about the ballistics advantage with the longer barrel on the 48 vs the 43x. That was a big consideration when trying to decide.
End of the day I went with the 43x because I’m starting to appendix carry and the shorter 43x makes a big difference to me.
I put about 100 rounds through the 43x yesterday and was blown away at the difference between it and my standard 43. Night and day. It’s early but I think I’m really going to like it.
I think you will really like the attributes of the 48. More than likely I’ll end up with a 48 at some point too.
I want one for my wife. I think she’d enjoy shooting the 48 more than the 43X. Neither of us like the color of the slide finish though, and I have no idea why they couldn’t have made the frame a little longer and incorporated some type of rail for a micro light. I’m sure there will be some trigger guard mount light at some point, but it seems like that would’ve worked.
Like I said, I have a couple 19’s. One I’ve had since 2002. Awesome guns. Just thought this was an intriguing alternative.
Put 50-some rounds through it today, a mix of IMI 124gr FMJ, HST +P 147gr, and HST +P 124gr. Made sure to use both mags. No issues at all. Actually a pretty smooth shooter. Wife took a liking to it (damn!). That happened with a Postal Meter M1 Carbine and it’s hers now. Tried to dissuade her about this Glock! :nono:
I really like the G48 and G43X I handled at the LGS this past week. Took an awful lot of willpower to walk away without the G48.
But I agree that a light rail on the G48 would have been money. As it is, I don’t really need another easily-concealable 10-round magazine 9mm pistol without a light rail on it - I already have a 9mm 1911.
For those that have the G48, is it noticeably slimmer in an IWB holster than the G19? Did Glock streamline the slide at all? Is the grip circumference in between a G43 and G19, or closer to the G43/Shield?
I held these at the store the other day and was very impressed. The Blue Label price was very attractive. I can see why they have been getting such good reviews. The biggest thing for me was the Ameriglo sites that we on them. I’ve never seen the big orange dot H3’s before and it definitely draws the eye.
Without actually measuring the grip it should be the exact same circumference as the Glock 43, just that it’s taller. That’s one of the things I like about it. Haven’t actually put it in an IWB holster in the pants yet but it should feel like a taller, longer Glock 43. Or looking at it another way, a Glock 19 on a diet! Think about it: on a diet you don’t get shorter, just thinner.
Another interesting thing to note (from an article I read) is that it was made to also be sold in Canada, where a handgun barrel cannot be below 105mm in length. The Glock 48 is 106mm, which is 4.18" A Glock 19 barrel is 4.02". So the Glock 48 barrel is 0.16" longer than a Glock 19. Certainly not an Earth-shattering revelation but interesting to know.
Grip circumference subjectively feels closer to 43 than 19. According to Glock specs off of website, G43 and G48 only one mm apart but some folks measured their 48s thicker than on spec sheet and more closer to in-between size width-wise. Obviously, 48 mags are wider than those for 43 and don’t fit into the 43 so the 48 has to be wider. My IWB is AIWB and 48 is notably slimmer than 19, not just because of grip but because of slide which does contribute to concealment in appendix position. However, because of slide length and how far laterally it extends, for my body and my definition of concealment the 48 is in line with the 19 effor-wise while the 43 is step above in the NPE/discretion department.
I have a blue label, Glock 48 and much prefer it over the Shield. It has a super thin profile and is unnoticeable in an appendix holster. Only problem is there are no additional mags available at this time. I would give it a 5 star rating.
True Blue Label should be 358 non night sight and 411 Glock night sights. What happens with some “Blue Label” dealers is they are not the true distributer. They are approved for the Blue Label and have to obtain via the distributer. Around here my best option is to order through Atlantic Tactical and transfer to ffl or get through local “BL” and end up paying 10 more out the door. I actually have a third, drive 3 hours round trip and buy from Town Police in Richmond and “save” 25 or so-less gas and hassle unless my wife drives me and I hit the brew pubs on the way back(gun locked up of course)
I miss the days when you could get it right off the UPS truck, dang
I’ll measure again later, the 43x/48 mag is .780 +/- .005 and the 17/19/26 .9 +/- .005 wide, depth(front-back) is the same. Will measure a 43 mag and tape the circumference on 43 48.