{"id":384053,"date":"2022-12-22T13:00:56","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T19:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=384053"},"modified":"2025-09-10T15:34:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T20:34:18","slug":"glock-43-vs-hellcat-micro-compact-for-ccw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/glock-43-vs-hellcat-micro-compact-for-ccw\/","title":{"rendered":"Glock 43 vs Hellcat Micro-Compact for CCW"},"content":{"rendered":"

Glock has been making compact guns for a long time. They are short bulky little things that some love and others hate. I am a hater, but that\u2019s just personal preference. I don\u2019t like how bulky they are, and if I am going to carry a gun that has the width of a full-size model. I\u2019ll just carry a full-size model.<\/p>\n

Glock\u2019s 1st real move into the CCW market came with the introduction of the Glock 43. A slim, compact 9mm gun that was easy to carry concealed and functioned just like all the other Glocks. It was a big improvement for Glock when it comes to compact guns that can be concealed. I purchased a 43 and started carrying it everywhere I went off-duty. The agency I work for even issued them out to every road deputy as an off-duty weapon. The only downside is the capacity.<\/p>\n

Springfield has the XD line of guns and did somewhat the same thing as Glock, compact versions that are still on the bulky side. Their big breakthrough into the CCW market (in my opinion) is the Hellcat micro-compact series of guns. They look like a cousin to the XD, but aren\u2019t as top-heavy. I also own a Hellcat and carry it regularly. Springfield was quick to extend this line into a series with plenty of options to pick from. Both companies continue to develop more models but today we are going to look at the Glock 43 and Springfield\u2019s Hellcat Micro Compact.<\/p>\n

\"Hellcat
The Glock 43 and Hellcat Micro-Compact are very close in size. Both use double recoil springs, and both use safe action triggers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Glock 43<\/h2>\n

One of the best guns Glock has produced for CCW is the model 43. It\u2019s slim and compact but still large enough to get a decent grip on. On the range, I can shoot the 43 about as quickly and accurately as my Glock 19. The trick with concealed carry guns is finding that magic size that is large enough for good control and ammo capacity but small enough to conceal. Glock excels at making the 43 compact 9mm while still carrying the same quality and reliability as the larger Glock models.<\/p>\n

The biggest downside to the model 43 is the ammo capacity. The box model comes with a 6-round mag, but aftermarket mags can be found<\/a> that hold nine with a grip extender. ETS makes a 12-round mag, but with the length, it works better as a secondary mag. The frame on the 43 is nearly identical to the larger models, just shrunk down. The mag release, grip surface, and trigger all feel comfortable and familiar when shooting.<\/p>\n

Glock 43 Specs<\/h3>\n