Sights for Wifey's new Glock 43 finally arrived!

[wyntrout]

I went to the range on April 26th and noticed a Blue Label Dealer notice on their white board. I had looked online but not seen them listed. After my shooting session I asked about them having a Blue Label G43, no luck... popular pistol, but I could order one! I did, not expecting anything for possibly months. I had a non-binding order for one at another dealer for a month and a half or so... he had said he got about one a week. So... I ordered one and put $100 down on it. Well, this past Thursday I was working on my garage door for the second time and was a bit dirty and sweaty, when my wife says I have a call from the Gun Gallery. It was a lady there saying that they had received the pistol! I told her I would pick it up the next day.

So, Friday, may 6th, I load up my inventory of G43 mags... 6 with Vickers +2 bases, base locking plates, and springs, one mag with the Pearce Grip +1, and one stock 6-rounder with the flat base. This would give me my 10 round magazines per pistol that I like, especially in lower capacity pistols.

I went to the gun store/range and picked up the pistol... NIC took a while, but I shopped around. After I got the pistol I took it out to my van and field stripped it and lightly lubed the recommended bits with Tetra oil and run a damp patch then a dry one through the barrel as well. I left the pistol stock for this trip.

I had all of my mags pre-loaded with Federal Champion 115-gr FMJ and loaded the ones that came with the pistol with that as well. I also Had 43 rounds of Tulammo Brass MAXX 115-gr FMJ, and a box of Blazer Brass 124-gr FMJ, and a 20-rd box of my 9mm carry ammo... Speer +P 124-gr God Dots Short Barrel. All total, I had 176 rounds. I had only two real malfunctions... the first was a failure to feed on the PG+1 mag... top cartridge was pushed forward about 1/8" with two tries to chamber the first round, then it worked fine. I alternated with using the skimpy slide lock release and manual racking... actually easier.

The pistol was a pleasure to shoot and POA=POI when I did my part.

The other malfunction was that one of the Blazer Brass 124-gr FMJ's failed to fire. I kept it pointed down range for about 20 seconds before ejecting it and loading it again, with 3 attempts and the primer failed to fire, so I put that one aside. The primer was well dented, so it must have been a bum primer.

I'm really happy with all of the mags and the PG +1 and especially the Tango Down Vickers +2 upgrades. The latter were faultless and inexpensive... $19 per two-pack with free shipping from Botach! Price break at 3 and 5, etc., but only needed 3... $57 shipped.

I had bought one Pearce Grip +1 for $9.99 and the Grip Plug for $5.95 at Shooters while I was there recently. I got a second +1 from CMC for only $6.11.

I got as much as I could find for the G43 from CMC Government Supply:

Order Summary:

Item	Qty	Brief Description	Rate	Amount
TANGO DOWN VCKR TAC FOR G43 SLDE STP	1	TANGO DOWN VCKR TAC FOR GLK SLDE STP	$16.66	$16.66
TANGO DOWN VCKR TAC FOR G43 MAG RLS	1	TANGO DOWN VCKR TAC FOR G43 MAG RLS	$14.14	$14.14
GLOCK OEM TRGGR HOUSING PIN G42/G43	1	GLOCK OEM TRIGGER HOUSING PIN G42	$1.05	$1.05
GLOCK OEM TRIGGER PIN G43 ONLY	1	GLOCK OEM TRIGGER PIN G43 ONLY	$2.23	$2.23
PEARCE PLUS-ONE EXT FOR GLK 43	1	PEARCE PLUS-ONE EXT FOR GLK 43	$6.11	$6.11
GLOCK OEM FIRING PIN SFTY SPRG 42/43	1	GLOCK FIRING PIN SAFETY SPRING 42/43	$2.84	$2.84

After cleaning the pistol at home, I installed the Vickers Slide Lock Release, Vickers Magazine Release, Pearce Grip Butt Plug, and the Ghost 3.4 Connector. Now I just need holsters and some sights. For my wife, I'm thinking about the TruGlo TFX Pro FO/Tritium night sights to give her the best sights in any light. Her eyes aren't that great up to arms length. Neither are mine, but I can read some stuff without glasses at less than arms length.

I tried to use all of the magazines evenly with the 175 rounds fired and gave a couple more loadings to the one with the PG+1 without any more problems. I used the MagUPLULA to load my mags, but probably could have done them all by hand. I did preload the 8 extra upgraded magazines(1 left stock) when I got them a few weeks ago and let them sit for a few days before emptying them. I reloaded before going to pick up the pistol. All mags load and insert easily with the slide closed or locked back.

Some pix:

The pistol and all magazines and the packaging for all of the "upgrades"
My "Glock finger"... didn't notice this until later, after shooting... wasn't painful... enough, I guess.
This one was made in Austria. I just noticed that... thought it was USA made.
The first couple of mags' Target.
Another target with preponderance in the center. I like to vary my trigger pull and use more of the target.

I'll post one more target in the next post.

[wyntrout]

After shooting all of the FMJ, I loaded each of the 10 mags with two rounds of the Speer +P 124-gr GD Short Barrel that I use for carry ammo. All shot fine with no malfunctions. I did rush through this test and didn't try to get the smallest group with a lot "proper aiming and time". I did a lot of pointing. I thought about buying a box of range ammo, but decided that was enough testing until I made all of my improvements.

I wouldn't have bought this pistol except for my wife. She can't rack the PM9 or P9, but she could my G23 and the G19's I bought her. I'll be selling those two at the next gun show after our trip. These pistols can get expensive when you get through buying extra mags and upgrades. I'll probably have $900+ after the sights and one holster! I'm still thinking about an off-market trigger shoe upgrade... my G30S still hurts my finger after replacing the stock one with a smooth one.

Wifey seemed to like the new pistol and said she would go to the range with me after our upcoming trip to our "family reunion" to see granddaughter for her 3rd birthday in a few weeks. That should be fun, except for not being able to CC outside my car in Illannoy.

Anyhow... I'm pleased with the pistol and hope that Wifey really likes it and can learn to handle and shoot it well.


Wynn

[Bobshouse]

Congrats on the Glock. Was looking over the "approved" list here in California yesterday and noticed they put up a statement that "All glocks made in the USA are not approved for sale in California". Crap.

[wyntrout]

Thanks. I was expecting this one to be Made in the U.S.A. but it's Austrian made.

I'm very appreciative of GlockStore's video and one on GlockTalk by chriseger that pointed out the differences about depressing the slide lock release to remove the trigger pin and the installation of the 3.5 connector. Those are too important changes. When I got SLR depressed properly, the trigger pin pushed out easily without using the small hammer I was preparing to use. The trigger bar must be re-installed correctly, too, with that forward end in the fold of that spring actuated lever bar thingy.

Wynn

[wyntrout]

Update: The TruGlo TFX Pro sights that I ordered came in today and I installed them. I have the old SightPusher and I noticed that the slanted-for-Glock pusher was not appropriate for these sights. I had to use the straight pusher to push at the lowest level of the base, but no problem at all. There were two front sight screws included... one in a tiny ZipLoc bag that was marked for Gen-4 pistols. I tried the other but it seemed too loose, so I used the Gen-4 one and it fit. I had to try a couple of times back and forth to get the rear sights as centered as I wanted, but it was easy. I tightened the rear set screw and haven't used any threadlocker on either sight, yet. I'll wait until after our trip to the range next week, as Wifey wishes.

I've found that this setup works pretty well using the thin fiberboard pieces to build up the height of the slide position as needed, as well as protect the side of the slide in the pusher's slide "vise".







An inside the house photo. Outside the sights are really bright in the sun, but I didn't take a picture outside.


Rear sight with set screw, Allen wrench provided.



The front sight tool that I used is the best... has a magnet in the socket for proper handling of the screw. Plain old sockets don't hold the screw in the proper position and are a PITA!

I'll post some flash pictures next. In watching the videos to get stills, I watched the failure to feed with the Pearce Grip +1 base. There was a failure to feed at the start of the magazine. I racked the slide by hand and again no feed. Then I dropped the magazine and saw that the top round was forward about 1/8". I pushed it to the rear and never had another problem. I don't know if I failed to seat the round fully to the rear when loading... possibly. I usually try to bang the rear of the mags on my palm to seat them fully to the rear.

[wyntrout]

Okay... some stills for flashes and recoil rise. In one set I positioned the camera angle too low, so not optimal. I don't think that I took and video of the Tulammo BrassMAXX, but had no problems with the 43 rounds of that.

First the Federal Champion 115-gr FMJ... first round fired:



Frame 2 showing recoil:

Another Federal... brighter:



First Blazer Brass 124-gr FM... camera too high:



I loaded each of the 10 mags with 2 rounds each of Speer +P 124-gr Gold Dot Short Barrel (GDSB) to check for function in all of the mags... NO problems at all... just my hurried shooting at that point. I would like to point out that the GDSB IS low-flash:



Recoil



More GDSB next.

[wyntrout]

Again, the GDSB was noticeably lower in flash, but with a bit more recoil. I wasn't trying for the smallest group... just fire all ten mags and go.



Recoil



And finally the 7-yard target for those 10 mags x2 rounds GDSB:



I did manage to get 9 out of 20 into the red, even pointing and varying my "trigger technique".

We'll go to the range early next week so that Wifey can try out the pistol, sights, and the magazines. I hope that she likes this one. Even with the Blue Label purchase, this project has reached over $870 and I have reserved a table at the next gun show here in Jacksonville at The Morocco Temple for 28-29 May. I need to raise some money to pay for all of this.

Wynn

[gb6491]

Great posts and exceptional photos Wynn!
As always, in your much appreciated, comprehensive, and informative style.
A tip of the hat to you sir
The forum is is very fortunate to have you aboard.

Regards,
Greg

[Bills1873]

Great posts and exceptional photos Wynn!
As always, in your much appreciated, comprehensive, and informative style.
A tip of the hat to you sir
The forum is is very fortunate to have you aboard.

Regards,
Greg

Agreed! So cool to see that stuff posted, Wyn.

[wyntrout]

Thanks for your kind words, guys. I like sharing stuff as this. I just wish that I didn't have to worry about the money spent!

Wynn

[Boombotz401]

Can't go wrong with a 43, great little pistol, vickers mag release on mine aswell

Some suggestions

Talon grips make a huge difference on this little wonder

Taran tactical +1 baseplate hardly adds any length, just enough to get that last finger on the grip and 7+1

I went with ameriglo pro glos on mine back serrated rear with a nice orange Trijicon HD like front (I see you already have that covered)

Enjoy!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[berettabone]

I think you're on the wrong forum..........................we like guns here as much as anybody, but you'll probably do better on the Gluck forum, where they actually think that Gluck's are the best thing since white bread. They worship them to a high degree and feel that they are the greatest firearms around. They also do not have much knowledge about any other firearms, so their opinion is usually mute. Thanks for stopping in though.

[wyntrout]

I'm not a racist bigot and like more than one brand of pistol. I CC my Kahrs and my Blo... er, Glocks are for the heavy work or battle when I need more firepower.

I chat on Glocktalk, too. I do a lot of shopping for good deals there, too.

Recently, on a trip to the range, I had to actually CC my G30S because my P40 AND my PM45 were giving me problems... was glad that I took the G30S' holster and mag carrier with me. It was a long shopping day after the range. I knew that I was carrying that fat fokker, though.

Wynn

[Bawanna]

I think we should be open to any firearm discussion. Conversation especially this time of year is a bit sparse anyhow.

I pretty much love all guns, even Glocks have their strong suits. I don't own one at the moment but don't mean I won't again in the future. Probably owned a dozen in the past.

One strong suit is they are less painful to sell if one has to and you get a new one during the good times and it looks exactly like the one you had to sell.

[yqtszhj]

I'd never own a glock...... well not until they came out with the SF .45 G30s then the gen 4 G19. The grips are just better now. Crap, I ended up eating those words.

Still like my Kahr triggers better though. They're Super smooth.