FN Reflex vs Glock 43: Battle of the Guns

The FN Reflex and Glock 43 are two awesome little guns. They sell like hotcakes and, better yet, they’re reliable. Comparable in size, these two pistols are more similar than they are different, yet many people seem to have their preference for one over the other. Today, we’re taking the FN Reflex and G43 head-to-head to distinguish what advantages, if any, one has over the other.

Introduction

Glock is the household name that set the standard for polymer, striker-fired guns. Just about any gun after is viewed as, in some sense, a copycat version of Glock. But even though Glock did it first, companies have been making polymer striker fire guns for decades and they’re getting good at it. Good enough, in fact, that Glock is often on the defensive with the competition.

FN is not new in the gun-making business, and they have some legends of their own. If you are not familiar with them, you may be surprised to know they were around long before Glock was even a thought. Famous American inventor John Moses Browning partnered with FN Herstal to produce many of his guns. It was an FN Herstal gun, model 1910 that was used to assassinate Franz Ferdinand, which ultimately started WWI. That gun was designed by Browning, making a unique situation as Browning-designed guns were used on both sides of WWI and WWII.

Gaston Glock came along in the mid-1980s with the Glock 17 and made waves of his own. His new design was not accepted well by many at first, and people often wrote the gun off as a cheap plastic gun. People believed it would not hold up to the heavy metal-framed guns of the time. But it did, and years later, everyone else started making their own version of Glock pistols. But, enough about history and back to the task at hand, the G43 and Reflex 9mm.

Glock 43 9mm Pistol

The Glock 43 is the smallest 9mm pistol that Glock makes. I ran down to my local gun shop to buy one after its release because I wanted to see this small Glock handgun for myself. I like all kinds of guns, but in law enforcement, you become familiar with Glock handguns, and their reliability and compatibility. A small version of my trusted G17 was a dream come true.

When it comes to reliability, Glock earns five stars. There’s not even a point discussing the reliability of any Glock handgun so we will move on from there. Glock kept it simple with the G43. Iron sights, short grip, and the same classic frame we are used to with Glock pistols. The slide and mag release are easy to access and the gun shoots well for such a small frame. But there is one thing that causes some to look elsewhere, and that is the magazine capacity.

Designed around a single-stack mag, the G43 only holds 6 rounds in the standard magazine. Extended mags increase the count some, but not by a lot. For self-defense purposes, this may be sufficient for some CCW carriers. What I consider enough changes over time as companies continue to increase the ammo count in their mags.

Six rounds were enough until I could buy a compact gun that held more, like the Springfield Hellcat that comes standard with a 13-round capacity. I like carrying as much ammo as I can (within reason), and six rounds just isn’t enough in today’s world. Other than its anemic capacity, it’s hard to knock anything else on the G43.

FN Reflex 9mm Compact Pistol

The FN Reflex is an interesting, designed gun and has a few things that are much different about it than a Glock. By appearance, the Reflex looks to be another compact striker-fired pistol. Accept it’s not; it’s a hammer-fired gun. It has a small, square internal hammer that is fully cocked by the slide moving across it. You can tell something is different when you pull the trigger because it feels different. There is not a clear “breaking” point like the Glock has. Instead, there is some slack and then a wall that gives you steady pressure. As you pull, the hammer is released without any change in pressure.

To me, this isn’t better or worse. It’s just different. When target shooting at longer distances, I shoot better with a Glock, but I’ve also been shooting Glock pistols for a long time. Shooting long distances with a small compact gun isn’t that important to me, however. I’m more concerned about the overall size, ammo capacity, and ability to shoot fast and accurately at close distances. I can easily do this with the FN Reflex and the trigger does grow on you after a while.

Ammo capacity is where the Reflex really shines in my opinion. Overall, the gun is about the same size as a Glock 43, but the Reflex ships with an 11-round and an extended 15-round mag. FN also offers a flush-fitting 10-round mag for those who don’t want the finger grip extension. That’s some good ammo capacity for a compact 9mm gun. It also comes with a tritium insert on the front sight which is nice for a stock upgrade.

Other Considerations with the G43 and FN Reflex

One thing that is hard to beat with Glock pistols is the sheer amount of aftermarket support for their pistols. Magazines, holsters, and upgraded parts are extremely easy to find for just about any Glock handgun. The Reflex hasn’t been out long, and while holsters can be found, there are fewer options out there than that of a Glock. At some point, aftermarket mags will be available, but just like holsters, the options won’t be the same as with Glock.

The Reflex is close enough in size that it fits in many of my Glock holsters which is a nice convenience. It’s a little bit tight in the Blackhawk Serpa holster but fits like a glove in all my leather holsters. I ordered an IWB (inside-the-waistband) holster for the Reflex which is not hard to find. But I’ve been carrying it in my Glock 43 leather pancake holster until it gets here.

Both guns are easy to break down and clean, but on this one, I would give an edge to the Reflex. You have to pull the trigger on Glock pistols to remove the slide. Some folks don’t mind that, but to me, that’s just more room for human error.

On the Reflex, you flip the takedown lever up to the 12 O’clock position and just pull the slide off. It’s not a huge deal either way for those who do it safely. But I’m sure someone somewhere has fired a round off in their G43 trying to take it apart.

On the Range

I’ve spent some time on the range with the FN Reflex and thanks to Global Ordnance for providing the ammunition for the review. I fired FMJ and several types of defensive rounds through it and didn’t have any problems. The slide did fail to lock open at the end of the first two magazines but corrected itself after that. I’ve shot the G43 for years, but I still fired during my review of the Reflex. Both guns are easy to control and cycle as they should. From my limited time with the Reflex, it appears to be reliable although it will take time to prove it beyond doubt. FN has been making reliable guns for years, so I have complete confidence in the Reflex, but every gun and every shooter is different.

When you buy a Glock, you are buying a gun that has already been tested with years of data to prove it. When selecting which one to buy, it may depend on how many holsters, magazines, and aftermarket parts you want. Ammo capacity is another thing to consider if this will be a daily carry. I’ve been carrying the 11-round mag in the Reflex with the 15-round mag as my backup. I do this because it’s easier to conceal under my shirt with a shorter mag. You can buy higher capacity G43 mags, but because it’s a single stack mag, it just gets longer which makes it harder to conceal.

Final Thoughts

While I’m a big fan of Glock handguns and will always be a fan, I am leaning toward the FN Reflex as my favorite between the two. I like the look of it, the feel, and the ammo capacity. But that’s just me. If you decide you like the G43 better, it’s a great gun and you will be happy with it. Both guns did great on the range and should make good CCW guns. Check them out and decide which one is right for you.