Glock 48 Review

The new Glock 48 hit shelves on January 21st, 2019, and this pistol is gaining a lot of attention. However, to most Glock fans everything about the 48 seems awfully familiar. As a matter of fact, the G48 is very close in size and design to the new 43X and has an identical profile to that of the 19.

So what role exactly is the 48 designed to fill?

We'll take a closer look at the gun itself, give our review of the Glock 48, and then we will discuss where this pistol comes into play.

Glock 48 Specs"

The Glock 48 is a single stack, full size, slim frame compact handgun chambered in 9mm. The 48 features front slide serrations, a reversible magazine catch, 10 round capacity magazine with orange followers, a comfortable built-in beavertail, and a silver-colored nPVD coated slide. 

• Length: 7.28 in
• Height: 5.04 in
• Width: 1.1 in
• Weight: 20.74 oz
• Barrel: 4.17 in
• Trigger: Striker-Fired
• Calibers: 9mm Luger
• Capacities: 10 +1 (9mm Luger)

Our Thoughts on the Glock 48

So like I said above the 48 is has the exact same profile as the Glock 19. Now the 19 is arguably the most carried Glock models as far as the compact guns go, and it is a very versatile weapon. However, when compared to other popular carry guns, it is thick, and it is heavy. This limits the positions you can carry a 19 since it will print in some configurations. This also makes it more difficult to carry IWB (Inside the Waistband) since you have to leave more room for the gun and holster.

Which is better Glock 43x or Glock 48?

Glock's first slim frame design was the Glock 43. The 43 was based on the subcompact series, but with a much thinner, single stack magazine the width was significantly reduced. Of course the so-called "baby Glocks" have a short grip so they are much more concealable than their bigger counterparts, but are also hard to get a firm, secure grip on since for most people you only get two fingers on the grip itself. You also have a short 3.41-inch barrel which can significantly affect accuracy, as does the 5.16-inch line of sight.

The 43X steps in and brings lots of improvements. The grip is the biggest feature since the 43X frame was designed to allow most shooters to get a firm full hand grip. This will improve accuracy and makes the gun much more comfortable to shoot. We all know that guns that are not comfortable to shoot are not the ones that come out of the range bags the most. If you are going to carry a handgun, you need to be shooting it often and running multiple mags through it. However, the 43X still has a 3.41-inch barrel and 5.16-inch line of sight.

Now steps in the Glock 48. The 48 is built on the exact same frame as the 43X. There are no differences and the 48 slide will fit on a 43X without issue. However, the 48 has a 4.17-inch barrel with a line of sight of 5.94 inches with steel sights. So you are adding an extra 3/4" of barrel and 3/4" to the line of sight. This will significantly improve your ability to be accurate with the weapon and extend its effective range.

Concealed Carry Perfection

From a concealed carry standpoint, the 48 wears like a dream. With an overall width of 1.10 inches, the gun sits tight to your body. This will reduce the possibility of the gun printing under clothing and opens up more potential carry positions. Paired with one of our thin profile holsters, like the new Glock 48 IWB holster which allows the ability to change the carry angle and retention pressure, you would be able to find a comfortable carry position for nearly any clothing choice. With an improved grip, allowing a full hand grip on the gun, thinner slide and frame width, a longer barrel, and a longer line of sight, the 48 improves on almost every metric.

Is The Glock 48 a good gun?

Glock has been busy in the design department producing additional models to fit the needs of its customers. From a concealed carry standpoint, I believe this is the best Glock Gun yet. It is slim, lightweight, and easy to conceal, however, it is still big enough to wrap your entire hand around, has a barrel capable of shooting well beyond the standard engagement distance for concealed carry, a line of sight sufficient to track your sights well for fast follow up shots, is comfortable to shoot, and is thin enough to carry both comfortably and discreetly. I am sure that Glock will improve on the 48, but at this point, the design team really has their work cut out for them.