GLOCK 48 Slimline: A Dark Horse with Exceptional Performance

My introduction to the innovative GLOCK system happened nearly forty years ago when the outfit I worked for was looking to swap our revolvers for a self-loading pistol. At the urging of our equipment distributor, I agreed to take a sample for testing and evaluation. To cut right to the chase, the upstart GLOCK won us over in very short order, despite my earlier reservations. Several months later, we were among the first police agencies in the country to select the GLOCK 17 as a duty pistol. However, more recently, the GLOCK 48 Slimline has caught my eye for concealed carry. Let’s take a look at it.

GLOCK 48 Slimline: Dark Horse Rising

Since that time, the GLOCK family of pistols has grown by leaps and bounds. It is by far the most popular pistol in use with law enforcement agencies. Not to mention commanding a huge share of the commercial market.

Starting with a single service-size offering in 9mm, the line has grown to include micros, subcompacts, compacts, full-size, and extended slide variants for a wide variety of popular cartridges.

The reason for this success is quite simple. GLOCK pistols are extremely reliable and durable and can be had for a reasonable price. You might spend considerably more money purchasing a sexier-looking pistol from another manufacturer or a custom number. However, the bottom line is that it will not shoot any better than an out-of-the-box GLOCK.

One thing that has flipped 180 degrees in recent years is the demand for smaller, concealable pistols. When the GLOCK pistol first hit these shores, smaller handguns were utilized almost exclusively by law enforcement officers and other armed professionals.

With the liberalization of concealed carry laws, the paradigm has shifted. As a result, the demand for handguns that responsible citizens can discreetly carry is huge.

GLOCK’s first effort to create a small, concealable pistol culminated with the subcompact G26/27 in 1995. They are indeed great pistols, and I still utilize my original G26 to this very day. The subcompact family is essentially a chopped and channeled service pistol with an abbreviated slide, barrel, and grip frame.

While popular, there was still a demand for an even smaller, thinner pistol. The end result was the micro-size G43, introduced in 2015. A few years later, GLOCK introduced the G43X and G48 which are also relatively thin, concealable designs but offer greater capacity.

Where is the Love for the G48?

GLOCK launched its Slimline series of pistols at the 2019 SHOT Show, and I got a little trigger time at a media event with the new 43X and 48. I was impressed with both pistols and after some deliberation, I determined that the G48 best suited my needs.

A short while later, I purchased one, and it has remained a faithful companion ever since. Except for a set of XS night sights, my G48 remains an entirely stock pistol.

The only alteration the author made to his pistol was to add XS Sights.

One might describe the GLOCK 48 as a 43X with an extended slide and barrel or a thinner version of a G19. While this may not be entirely accurate, it’s a splendid pistol that incorporates the best features of both other designs.

Like the 43X, it is fed by a single-stack 10-round magazine and sports the signature Slimline features. These include the Marksman barrel, milled front slide serrations, reversible magazine catch, and a reduced-thickness frame with a built-in beavertail. All of these elements contribute to the G48 being a top-notch concealed carry pistol, which won me over in short order.

The GLOCK 48 Slimline includes the Marksman barrel, milled front slide serrations, reversible magazine catch, and a reduced-thickness frame with a built-in beavertail.

While I favor the 48 over its sibling, the 43X seems to be the more popular of the two. I can certainly appreciate why some discriminating users might prefer the reduced length of the 43X, and both are excellent choices.

A short while ago, I watched an online video in which the show’s star opined that the GLOCK 48 was among the most useless designs in today’s market. Really? Quite frankly, I wondered what took GLOCK so long to bring such a pistol to the market.

What Really Matters

A long-standing pet peeve of mine is the hang-up a lot of people have with magazine capacity. In their opinion, capacity trumps just about everything else. But this is contrary to my observed experience of many years of firearms instruction.

No matter how you slice it, high capacity equates to greater grip circumference. I have no problem getting a proper grip on my GLOCK 19 with my medium size hand.

Even with interchangeable grip inserts, many double-stack pistols, including the G19, aren’t a good choice for users with smaller hands. Comfort and efficiency are compromised in a big way. Quite simply, if the pistol doesn’t fit the hand, you will never be at your best. Fit is everything!

Not all hands are the same, and some small hands can’t handle large-frame pistols.

This is the point our G48 detractor seems to miss. The police academy where I teach provides training to plainclothes investigators, and roughly 1/3 of the recruits are female. Many of these women and some of the men have small hands. Over the years, I have seen them struggle with wide-grip pistols.

For those folks, a gun like the G48 with a reduced grip circumference that they can more effectively manage is a godsend. Needless to say, this same concept rings true for responsible citizens who might find the grip circumference of a double-stack pistol a tad too large.

Are Ten Rounds Enough?

No doubt, some people may take exception to the G48’s 10-round magazine, but I got over such nonsense long ago. I’m not a fan of government edicts reducing standard capacity magazines down to 10 rounds. However, I have no issue at all running a gun designed for a single-stack 10-round magazine.

If you want the best of both worlds, check out the Shield Arms S15, a flush-fitting 15-round magazine for the G48. Shield works this magic by crafting its magazines entirely out of metal. Should you go this route, be sure to swap out the factory magazine catch for one made of steel to prevent excessive wear.

The GLOCK 48: My Everyday Carry Pistol

For many years, a GLOCK 19 was my primary carry pistol, but I have now come to favor the upstart GLOCK 48. One factor in my decision was simple logistics.

I remain fond of my G19 but it can become problematic when I cross state lines to other restrictive jurisdictions. As a retired law enforcement officer, I can legally carry a concealed firearm throughout the country. However, I am not exempt from laws that restrict magazine capacity.

I, for one, have never made the connection between capacity and evil intentions. But these are the laws we have to live with. I hardly feel under-gunned with a fully loaded pistol and a pair of 10-round magazines on the belt. Personally, I am not aware of any incidents involving armed citizens where magazine capacity made a difference in the outcome.

The pistol has a 10-round capacity, so the author carries extra mags and has no issues.

An advantage I enjoy with my G48 is the fact that it has a longer sight radius than the G43X. For me, that translates into better hit potential, which has proven no different than my tried and true G19. But isn’t it harder to conceal?

During the warmer months, when more often a shirt is worn outside the pants, I utilize a DeSantis Infiltrator Air inside-the-waistband holster. Since the longer slide and barrel are out of view and inside the pants, the G48 is no harder to hide than a shorter-beak pistol.

During the cooler months, I tend to favor a Bulman THR, an outside-the-waistband rig that rides high on the belt. Under a heavy shirt or sweater, my pistol is rendered just about invisible.

Slimline Concealed Carry

A key element of the Glock Slimline concept is the reduced width. The slide of the G48 measures 1.10 inches wide, while the G19 spans 1.26 inches. That may not sound like a big deal, but in my estimation, it makes a difference.

In my DeSantis Infiltrator Air IWB, the G48 has proven comfortable enough for all-day carry. Correspondingly, the trimmer grip frame will also help to get me under the radar.

In the author’s DeSantis Infiltrator Air IWB, the G48 has proven comfortable enough for all-day carry.

Final Thoughts

Over the last five years, my GLOCK 48 has proven entirely reliable and allows me to be at my best. The 9mm cartridge it fires is easily controlled, even when firing at game speed. This is something you can’t take for granted with some micro-pistols.

The fact that I can get a full-firing grip around the pistol and I’m working with a long sighting plane with a set of easy-to-read sights weighs heavily into my success.

The extensive GLOCK line now includes a MOS version of the G48 with an accessory rail for a light and a provision for mounting a red dot optic. One of my associates recently set up his G48 in that manner. But I’m sticking with the original format for right now.

The GLOCK 48 Slimline is set up for accessories like lights and lasers.

For shooters new to concealed carry, I think the GLOCK 48 is a better choice than any micro-pistol. With just a little bit more effort, it can be discreetly concealed, and the learning curve isn’t quite as steep as with the smaller pistol. The G48 may, in fact, be the dark horse of the entire GLOCK line. But its performance potential is second to none.

For more information, please visit US.Glock.com.