Glock 43x vs Taurus GX4

We are comparing the Glock 43X and the Taurus GX4. Both guns are great for concealed carry, but they have important differences. We’ll help answer the question: Which concealed carry handgun is best for you?
Size
MetricsGlock 43xTaurus GX4Weight w/ no mag (Oz)16.516.6Weight w/ empty mag (Oz)18.818.6Weight w/ full mag (Oz)23.123.4Height (top of slide to bottom of magazine baseplate) (Inches)4.924.2Length (Inches)6.275.8Width of grip (Inches)1.020.99Width of slide (Inches)0.86.95Width across controls (Inches)1.051.06Glock 43x vs Taurus GX4 Concealed Carry
Glock 43X can hold 10 rounds with a standard magazine, and 15 rounds if you use the Shield S15 magazines. Taurus GX4 has an 11-round flush fit capacity and can use 13-round extended magazines. You could theoretically get 20 rounds if you use the extended magazines in the 43X.
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These guns are almost identical in weight. The Taurus GX4 comes with one more round and slightly more weight. A Glock 43X comes with four rounds and slightly more weight if the gun is fully loaded with 15.
The Taurus GX4 is the only weight difference between the guns in their factory formats. These guns are very different in size, despite being very similar in weight.
Grip
The Glock 43X is nearly three-quarters of an in taller than the Taurus GX4. This is a crucial dimension when concealed-carrying firearms. The Taurus GX4 is more concealable than the 43X. The sizing is almost identical, except for the slide width. While the slide width is not important for concealment, it is important for other operations. We’ll discuss these later.
Either one of these guns could work if you plan to carry them inside your waistband. The Taurus GX4 is better suited for those with small frames or who wear tight clothes. However, if you don’t fall into one of these categories, either firearm will work equally well. The 43X is not designed for pocket carry. While I know some people can do it and they do, it doesn’t mean that you should. If you’re Shaquille Oleary and a huge human being, you can probably do it. But if you are average sized, even the Taurus GX4 will be larger than most people can carry.
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Ergonomics overall
The ergonomics of both guns are very different. It is important to remember that ergonomics does not only refer to how the gun feels but also how the weapon allows for you to use leverage to control your shooting. Sometimes a gun with a great feel can help you do that. Other times, if the gun doesn’t allow for proper leverage, it won’t shoot as well.
Frame
Taurus GX4 has a bit of modularity with both small and large removable backstraps. This is a nice feature. They can change the shape of the gun to suit your needs. The Glock 43X has no removable backstraps so it’s the same gun that came from the factory. Both firearms have good ergonomics from a shooting perspective.
When it comes to controlling firearms, getting your pinky on the gun’s grip is crucial. This is because leverage is key. When it comes to using force to a firearm, your pinky is the strongest finger in your hand. My pinky can be reached on the Glock 43X perfectly. I can only manage to get half my pinky on Taurus GX4, which isn’t ideal but it’s better than nothing and gives me an advantage over slightly shorter firearms.
Both guns do a good job of forcing your hand into the grip. However, I have to admit that the Taurus GX4 does a better job. Not by much, but enough that I’ll have the Taurus GX4 as my preference over the Glock 43X. The Taurus’ ergonomics remind me of a mini CZ P-10 C. It is a solid grip that can be used by a new shooter and does a great job of forcing your hand high up in the grip. They are forced to use the correct technique from the start.
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Texture
These guns have a very different texture. Although the Glock 43X MOS variant is somewhat similar to the Gen5 Glocks’ texture, it is a little more aggressive. It seems more aggressive than the texturing of a Gen4 Glock, although technically the 43X is the same.
It’s not my favorite, but it’s usable and useful. The Taurus GX4’s texturing is amazing. It wraps 360 degrees around the gun and feels like 600-grit sandpaper. It’s strong enough to work well when you shoot, but not too bold that it will cause chafing if you carry the gun concealed.
Slide
These two firearms have identical feature sets, which means that they both have forward-cocking serrations. This is a great feature, especially if your primary purpose is to press-check.
This is where things get a little more complicated. The slide with the Glock 43X finish is slick. This means that you will need to grip the slide harder than usual in order to run the slot. The finish on the Taurus GT4 is not as smooth and has more texture. I find the GX4’s serrations to be more powerful and aggressive. You can also get a little more grip with the gun because the slide is slightly wider.
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Glock Glock 43x’s in StockGuns.com
These firearms have almost identical spring weights. It’s easy to rack the slide on either of these firearms, but people with smaller hands may find it easier to rack the Taurus GX4, whereas those with larger hands will likely feel that both guns rack roughly the same. The 43X frame gives you a little more leverage. This will give you a solid base for when you want to cock the striker, or rack the slide.
Sights
Glock’s plastic slot-fillers are included with the Glock 43X from the factory. These sights work but aren’t great. I recommend replacing them as soon you get the gun.
The Taurus GX4 comes with metal sights. The front sight features a small, painted ring and the rear sight features a blacked out profile with a square-notch. This rear sight is quite decent for its size.
Aftermarket
Both guns accept the same sights. Taurus designed the GX4 so that it can accept Glock factory sights. Any aftermarket sights for the Glock will fit the Taurus GX4. When it comes to aftermarket sights, I can’t give either gun an advantage.
Red-Dot Optics
Both guns can run red-dot optics. Taurus has yet to release the Taurus GX4 equipped with a red dot. It has been developed, and it is expected to be released soon. However, they are still waiting for parts. We don’t know the exact optics of the gun, but we do have information on the Glock 43XMOS gun that we have in-house.
The 43X MOS was built around the Shield-RMSC mounting pattern. This is a common mounting pattern, but Glock decided to make this gun compatible with an optic made specifically for this gun by Shield. Many companies had adopted Shield’s mounting pattern. This was great until Shield decided to make specific hardware that would work only with Shield’s optics.
This gun will not work with the SIG Romeo Zero and Holosun 507K. To make the optic sit higher, you will need to either file down the recoil box or purchase an adapter plate. This was a serious oversight by Glock. This was, in my opinion, a decision made at Glock Europe and not at the American plant. Americans love the ability of using aftermarket features, while the European market might not be as keen.
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Controls
Trigger
Glock 43X Trigger
Glock 43X trigger has a stiff and springy feel. It is not as light as some other Glocks. After you take that take-up out you will feel a stiff wall. From there you will feel a little creep before you feel a stiff break. This trigger is almost identical to a Glock Gen3 trigger. It doesn’t have the rolling brake of the Gen4/5 models. It’s a standard Glock when it comes to the reset. It’s very short and authoritative right at the top of that wall.
Taurus GX4 Trigger
The trigger on Taurus GX4 has a very short take-up and then you’ll hit a hard wall with a clean and easy break. It feels lighter than the Glock 43X trigger. Personally, I really liked the trigger on GX4.
The reset is something I must mention. The reset is short and tactile. Although it’s not as drastic as the Glock 43X reset, it’s still a nice and quick reset. I have enjoyed shooting the Taurus Taurus GX4 trigger. It performs better than I expected. Although some may disagree, and triggers can be a matter of personal preference, I believe most people agree that the Taurus GX4 is the winner when it comes down to the trigger.
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Glock Glock 43x’s in StockGuns.com
Slide Lock
Both guns have slide locks on the left-hand side. Although the Taurus GX4 slide stop might be a little more difficult to reach for someone with shorter hands, they are both easily reachable. They are almost in the same position. The Taurus GX4 slide brake seems to be a little further back.
These slide stops are quite different. The Glock 43X’s sheet metal slide stop is extremely slick. It is quite stiff for me. It’s easy to drop the slide. However, I handle firearms every day so it’s not a problem for me. I can see how a novice shooter might have problems.
The slide stop on the GX4 is an amazing design. This part was made of polymer and appears to be connected with a sheet metal addition. The polymer design isn’t as intuitive as the 43X, but it’s much easier to use. It has a low profile. This design is simply amazing. It’s easy to drop the slide onto the GX4.
Magazine Release
These magazines can be reversible to the other side of the gun if you wish to use it left-handed. Glock 43X has a slightly sharper release than the GX4. However, the Glock 43X requires more pressure to press in than that of the GX4.
The GX4 magazines also pop out a bit quicker than the G43X magazines, but that’s due to the magazine’s materials. The magazines in the GX4 will not drop as fast as those in the Shield S15. You might need to loosen your grip if you have large hands to get the magazines out of the GX4. This problem has only occurred to me about 1/10th of the times. This means that someone with more hands can share it more.
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Magazine Well
The magazine well on the Glock 43X only has the slightest bevel, but it does a lot to help you reload. The GX4 has no bevel, but your hand acts as a funnel to guide it into the mag well. This is a little better than the 43X. Both guns are easy to reload after practice.
Quality
These guns are identical in quality. The GX4’s finish is a bit better, but the Glock 43X’s polymer seems to be a little more high-quality than the GX4. However, these are very small quantities. It’s not as if one gun is superior to the other in quality. This department has been impressive to me. They are not known for their quality of feel in polymer handguns. GX4 is a significant improvement on their previous product.
Aftermarket
Glock 43XMOS has many more parts than the Taurus GX4. Glock seems to have the best and most extensive aftermarket support. Taurus GX4 is a new handgun that has no legacy to offer aftermarket support. All aftermarket support for GX4 will come from scratch. Although I expect we’ll see many offerings soon, I still believe the Glock 43X will be better than the GX4 in terms of aftermarket offerings.
Aesthetics
It all comes down to personal taste, but I find Taurus GX4 to be a little more balanced. It has clean, modern lines that are excellent. The Glock 43X will look better with time, but the Taurus GX4 looks great for this time period. It will all come down to personal opinion. My opinion doesn’t really matter in this area.
Shooting
These guns were amazing to shoot. The Taurus GX4 has a very low recoil impulse. The grip is a little shorter. The grip of the G43X is a great grip, and I was able to shoot well. However, the gun has more feel recoil than that of the GX4. They have the same slide and recall system that the Glock 43 uses, and the 43 is a very flippy firearm. Although the extra grip helps to reduce that flip, the violence of recoil remains.
There are many reasons why the Glock 43X is better than the Taurus GX4, particularly if you have a 15-round Shield magazine. The Glock 43X with the Shield mags will be just as significant as the Taurus GX4 which has a 13-round extended magazine. Two extra rounds will be yours for a small penalty. It all comes down to how you intend to conceal the firearm.
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Glock 43x vs Taurus GX4 Carry
The Glock 43X is great for someone who wants a full-length grip. However, if you don’t want to carry IWB, the Taurus GX4 offers many advantages. The Taurus GX4 is a good choice if you prefer a shorter grip. However, the G43X with Shield Mags is a better choice if you prefer a longer grip. Take both guns to the range to test them and see which one is the best.
I wish I could have more information about the Taurus GX4 vs. Glock 43X comparison. However, these guns are very similar when you compare all their features at end of day. Although the features are nearly identical, your specific use case will determine how the firearm will perform for you. The G43X is the best choice if you prefer a longer grip. However, the GX4 is a smaller gun with a great trigger and good recoil impulse.
Price/Value
MSRP for the regular Glock 43X is $538 and $582 respectively for the MOS version. The MSRP for the Taurus is $393. The street price for both guns is typically $50 lower than the MSRP. It’s difficult to argue that the Taurus is a better value than Glock, but Glock has a better reputation as a manufacturer than Taurus. This is a good thing. Taurus seems to be working hard at repairing that reputation.
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Pros and cons
Glock 43X Pros
Grip lengthAftermarketTaurus GX4 Pros
ConcealmentCapacityTriggerGlock 43X Cons
TriggerConcealmentTaurus GX4 Cons
AftermarketRelated Articles
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