First Shots with a Glock 48 [VIDEO]

The Glock 48 is the pistol many gun owners have been waiting on for some time. It’s a Slimline 9mm — not technically a single-stack, but close to it — sized to more comfortably fit a wider range of shooter’s hands and maintain the expectations of Glock durability. The gun officially launched in 2019 alongside the Glock 43X, which is slightly shorter, and has ended up with a lot of fans. In this video, the guys at Practically Tactical take their first shots with a two-tone Glock 48 and offer their first impressions.

Glock 48 review, Nick and Jeff of Practically Tactical

Nick and Jeff of Practically Tactical talk about the Glock 48. (Photo Credit: Practically Tactical)

Glock 48 Basics

Nick and Jeff get started discussing the general details and basic points of the Glock 48. They point out that its dimensions are similar to those of the Glock 19, just in Slimline width, and that Glock has a solid reputation backing it up.

This gun’s overall weight is 20.74 ounces empty and 25.12 ounces with the standard 10 +1 magazine loaded. While it was launched at the same time as the 43X, the 48 model has a slightly longer barrel (the 43X’s barrel length is 3.41 inches and the 48’s barrel is 4.17 inches long). That little bit of extra length is exactly what some shooters prefer, whether for balance or accuracy reasons.

Shooting Glock 48 for review

Love at first shot? You’ll have to watch the Practically Tactical video to find out. (Photo Credit: Practically Tactical)

First Shots

The Glock 48 delivers some things as expected, like the Glock factory trigger, but the ergonomics of the gun seem to fit many shooter’s hands better than the double-stack models do. The match-grade Marksman Barrel performs as promised by nailing tighter, more precise groups than many older generation Glocks. And if you’re at all disappointed in its 10 +1 capacity with the standard factory magazines there are other options out there including a truly extended 19 +1 capacity magazine from ETS. Tyrant Designs +4 magazine extensions are also an option for greater capacity without making the gun impossible to conceal.

Live Fire

One of the great things about the video is that you get to see not one but three shooters try out the Glock 48 for the first time. That means different hand sizes, varying stances, and a trio of opinions. Check out the video below:

 

Glock 48 for Concealed Carry?

There are quite a few upsides to using the Glock 48 as your EDC (EveryDay Carry), including:

  • •Capacity
  • •Concealability
  • •Durability (Glocks are proven to be extremely tough guns.)
  • •Caliber (9mm is pretty much the current gold standard for self-defense calibers.)
  • •Precision (This gun isn’t only accurate, it’s beautifully precise.)
  • •Longevity (You’ll get serious life out of the barrel.)
  • •Ergonomics

Get Hands-On!

It’s always a good idea to get your own hands-on time with a gun. If at all possible, check out the Glock 48 as a rental at a range near you (or find a friend who has one you can run at the range). And if you don’t normally enjoy Glocks due to how thick they are, this one might surprise you. Try it out before you form an opinion, just like the guys at Practically Tactical did.

Glock 48 review by practically tactical

The Glock 48 has a lot of things to recommend it. (Photo Credit: Practically Tactical)

Glock 48 Specifications

Model: G48

Caliber: 9x19mm

Capacity: 10 +1 (standard capacity mag)

Overall Length: 7.28 inches

Overall Height: 5.04 inches

Overall Width: 1.10 inches

Slide Width: 0.87 inches

Line of Sight: 5.98 inches

Barrel Length: 4.17 inches

Trigger Distance: 2.64 inches

Weight: 20.74 ounces (empty)

 

Kat Ainsworth Stevens is a long-time outdoor writer, official OGC (Original Gun Cognoscenti), and author of Handgun Hunting: a Comprehensive Guide to Choosing and Using the Right Firearms for Big and Small Game. Der Teufel Katze has written for a number of industry publications (print and online) and edited some of the others, so chances are you’ve seen or read her work before, somewhere. A woman of eclectic background and habits, Kat has been carrying concealed for over two decades, used to be a farrier, and worked for a long time in emergency veterinary medicine. She prefers big bores, enjoys K9 Search & Rescue, and has a Master’s Degree in Pitiless Snarkastic Delivery.