This is an update to a review originally published in April of 2019.
Glock 48 Review —
At SHOT Show 2019 Glock showcased their G48 and G43X Slimline pistols. Up until this point I’ve never really been a fan of Glock’s pistols, though I have owned my fair share of them throughout the years.
Something changed with the Slimline series of pistols that caused me to buy one when I saw its stainless slide shimmering in the gun case.
Initial Inspection and Cleaning
Once I got it home I went through my usual routine of disassembly, inspection, and cleaning. In my opinion, this is not as important for Glocks as it is for other manufacturers since I have never come across a new Glock pistol that came from the factory gunked up with a corrosion inhibitor.
In my experience there really is no cleaning required before firing, but I do an inspection and cleaning on every firearm I acquire whether they are new or used.
The Silver Slimline Glocks have an attractive 2-tone finish with a black polymer frame and silver nPVD coated slide, that also has front and rear cocking serrations.
It comes with standard Glock accessories, 2 ten round magazines, magazine loading tool, cleaning rod, nylon bore brush, and safety lock. Basically, what I have come to expect from Glock, everything you need and nothing you don’t.
The changes that Glock has applied to the Gen 5 and the Slimline pistols are so subtle that I didn’t really notice them until after I had fired 200 rounds through the pistol.
First, the grip texture is nowhere near as aggressive as it was on my Gen 4 G21. The grip texture on that pistol was so aggressive that it made the G21 very uncomfortable to shoot for long periods.
Second, and I am embarrassed to state I didn’t notice it upon my initial inspection, the finger grooves that Glock introduced on their Gen 3 pistols and carried over to the Gen 4 were gone … and that made all the difference.
My main complaint with Glock was the feel, they never felt right in my hand.
All the Glocks I had owned up to this point had the cursed finger grooves and were double stack pistols (with the G42 being the obvious exception), and being a 1911 guy, I just assumed that it was because I am so accustomed to the feel of the 1911.
The slim profile and lack of finger grooves make a world of difference in the way the G48 feels in the hand, almost like it was made for me.
Range Day
The next day I headed back to Sportsman’s Lodge, my local indoor range to test fire the G48 to see how well it shot.
I took 200 rounds to the range with me, a mix of different 9mm Luger Federal American Eagle 124gr FMJ, Aguila 115gr FMJ, Federal 115gr JHP, and Magtech 115gr JHP.
I wanted to see how it would perform with different ammunition. Because Glock has a reputation for being highly reliable, I was more concerned with how it would group different ammo than whether it would feed reliably.
The reason I parted ways with my earlier Glocks was due to the way they felt when firing, they never felt comfortable to me.
I would constantly have to adjust the pistol in my hand every few shots and after about 50 rounds of shooting the middle finger on my shooting hand would feel sore.
This was due to a ridge left over from the frame molding process that would rub the side of my finger where it made contact with the bottom of the trigger guard. To me it seemed that a company that touted themselves as “Glock Perfection” could do a better job cleaning up the molding flash.
So how did the G48 perform? Well I must say that I was impressed. Not necessarily by the fact that it ate all 200 rounds that I took to the range without a single malfunction, I mean let’s face it, it’s a Glock.
No, I was impressed by the fact that it was comfortable to shoot, with no adjusting necessary and more importantly, no rubbing on my finger. It was also absolutely accurate and reliable, just what you would expect from Glock.
I fired from 10 to 25 yards and the G48 basically fires point of aim, point of impact through all ranges as long as the shooter does their job.
Proper sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger control are paramount to accuracy and if the operator applies them properly then the G48 is definitely a capable weapon.
I fired the G48 from the 2-handed, 1 hand strong hand, and 1 hand weak hand holds. I fired sustained slow fire at 25 yards, rapid pairs at 15 yards, and Failure drills at 10 yards.
After 200 rounds I came to the realization that I need to shoot more.
The Glock grouped well at all ranges, and the only rounds that I dropped (and there were a few), I called due to poor trigger control on my part.
Grouping at 15 yards showed very little difference between the different kinds of ammunition but that could also be due to the jerk behind the trigger.
Sustained slow fire at 25 yards produced some of the best shooting I have ever done from that range with all but 3 rounds finding their way to vital areas of the target.
Shooting defensive drills at 10 and 15 yards respectively, I found the G48 to be very controllable with very little muzzle flip.
It was easy to quickly get back on target for follow-up shots. Felt recoil was minor for a pistol of the G48s size and weight, a testament to the engineers at Glock.
Is the Glock 48 a good gun?
Yes, the G48 is a good gun. It shoots well, is very reliable, and accurate if you do your job. This pistol is highly recommended for self-defense.
Is the Glock 48 easy to conceal?
Yes the Glock 48 is a slimline pistol that is thinner and easier to conceal than other pistols of this size.
Glock 48 Review Conclusion
I must say that I am impressed with what Glock has done with the G48. For me, it marks a huge improvement over their already great 9mm guns.
When I purchased it, I figured that I would shoot it, write the review, and then sell it.
But the G48 has changed my mind. It is an attractive, accurate, and reliable pistol that has earned a permanent place in my family.
Its light weight and slim profile make it perfect for concealed carry, which I am guessing was Glock’s intent. I have often stated that I would never own another Glock, to which they apparently said “Challenge Accepted.”
Well not only did they accept the challenge, but they hit it out of the park.
Now if I could only get them to come out with a compact .45 …
The above is written by Joe Roberts.
