Chris Raper — Retired North Carolina law enforcement (40+ years) · U.S. Air Force Security Police · NRA-certified Pistol, Rifle & Shotgun Instructor · NC DOJ-certified Concealed Carry Instructor · Founder, Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. (Elm City, NC, 2006)
Tom Givens — Founder, Rangemaster Firearms Training Services · 46,000+ students trained · Review date: October 31, 2026In addition to my own research and what my students bring into the Concealed Handgun Carry class every week, this guide was reviewed by Tom Givens of Rangemaster, whose opinion appears below. [Keep only if true — Chris: I handled the product(s) on this page myself. Details are in the test record at the end.] The method line at the end of the article says exactly how this guide was built.
Quick answer
For most people the best Glock for concealed carry is the Glock 43X MOS: slim (1.10 inches), light (about 18.6 oz) and easy to shoot for its size. Choose the Glock 48 for a longer slide in the same slim frame, the Glock 19 if you want 15+1 and one gun for everything, or the Glock 26 for a short double-stack.
Glock makes more carry-sized pistols than anyone, which makes choosing one surprisingly hard. The key split is between Glock’s Slimline guns (43X, 48 and the .380 Glock 42), which use thin single-stack-width magazines, and its double-stack guns (Glock 19 and 26), which are thicker but hold more and accept larger magazines.
2025–2026 changes: Glock replaced the Gen5 Glock 19 and 26 with the G19 V and G26 V in late 2025 and added an optics-ready G19 Gen6 in January 2026. The 43X, 48 and 42 have no V or Gen6 versions as of October 2026. Holster fit can differ between generations, so confirm compatibility for your exact model.
Carry Glocks compared
| Gun | Caliber | Capacity | L × H (in) | Width (in) | Weight (oz) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glock G43X MOS | 9mm | 10 | 6.5 × 5.04 | 1.1 | 18.55 | $484 street |
| Glock G48 MOS | 9mm | 10 | 7.28 × 5.04 | 1.1 | 20.6 | $484 street |
| Glock G19 V | 9mm | 15 | 7.28 × 5.04 | 1.34 | 23.63 | $539 street |
| Glock G26 V | 9mm | 10 | 6.42 × 4.17 | 1.3 | 21.69 | $539 street |
| Glock G42 | .380 ACP | 6 | 5.94 × 4.13 | 0.98 | 13.76 | $399 street |
Manufacturer specifications and prices, checked October 2026. Glock prices are typical retail (Glock publishes no MSRP).
Which Glock to carry
Glock 43X MOS
| Caliber | 9mm |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Barrel | 3.41 in |
| Length × height | 6.5 × 5.04 in |
| Width | 1.1 in |
| Weight | 18.55 oz |
| Manual safety | No |
| Optics-ready | Yes |
| Price | $484 street |
The 43X is the sweet spot: a 1.10-inch frame, 10-round magazine and a grip long enough for most hands, at about 18.6 ounces with an empty magazine. The MOS model is ready for a red dot.
Glock 48 MOS
| Caliber | 9mm |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Barrel | 4.17 in |
| Length × height | 7.28 × 5.04 in |
| Width | 1.1 in |
| Weight | 20.6 oz |
| Manual safety | No |
| Optics-ready | Yes |
| Price | $484 street |
Same grip and capacity as the 43X but with a 4.17-inch barrel and G19-length slide. The longer slide is easier to shoot accurately and usually conceals fine inside the waistband because it sits below the belt.
Glock 19
| Caliber | 9mm |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 15 rounds |
| Barrel | 4.02 in |
| Length × height | 7.28 × 5.04 in |
| Width | 1.34 in |
| Weight | 23.63 oz |
| Manual safety | No |
| Optics-ready | Some models |
| Price | $539 street |
The G19 is the compact that defines the category: 15+1 and a 4.02-inch barrel. It is noticeably thicker (about 1.34 inches) than the Slimline guns, but if you want one pistol for carry, home and range, it is the obvious choice.
Glock 26
| Caliber | 9mm |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Barrel | 3.43 in |
| Length × height | 6.42 × 4.17 in |
| Width | 1.3 in |
| Weight | 21.69 oz |
| Manual safety | No |
| Optics-ready | No |
| Price | $539 street |
The G26 V is short (4.17 inches tall) but thick at 1.3 inches. It holds 10+1 and accepts every larger Glock 9mm magazine, so a G19 magazine can serve as your spare. Many shooters add a pinky extension.
Glock 42
| Caliber | .380 ACP |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Barrel | 3.25 in |
| Length × height | 5.94 × 4.13 in |
| Width | 0.98 in |
| Weight | 13.76 oz |
| Manual safety | No |
| Optics-ready | No |
| Price | $399 street |
Glock’s smallest pistol is a slim .380 with a 6-round magazine. It shoots softly for its size, which makes it a good choice for recoil-sensitive shooters who still want Glock simplicity.
Slimline or double-stack?
Choose a Slimline Glock (43X or 48) if comfort and concealment are your top priorities and 10 rounds is enough. Choose the 19 or 26 if you value capacity, magazine compatibility with full-size Glocks, and a thicker grip that some shooters control better. Many experienced carriers own one of each and carry the Slimline gun most days.
Not set on Glock? Compare it against the P365 and Hellcat in our micro-compact 9mm guide, or see the full best concealed carry guns of 2026.
Hands-on test record
Protocol prepared for Chris. Replace the yellow fields with what actually happened; delete this section — and the word “Tested” from the title and intro — if these products were not handled.
| Who tested | Chris Raper, NRA-certified instructor |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 31, 2026 |
| Products on this page | Glock 43X MOS · Glock 48 · Glock 19 · Glock 26 · Glock 42 |
| Protocol (plan) | Shoot each Glock with defensive and practice ammunition, draw each from concealment in a generation-matched holster against a timer, and compare how each conceals under the same T-shirt. |
| To measure | Record draw-to-first-hit time, split times on pairs at five yards, malfunctions per rounds fired and visible printing for each model. |
| What failed or disappointed | |
| Photos from the tester | Our community |
FAQ
What is the best Glock for concealed carry?
The Glock 43X MOS for most people, because it combines a slim 1.10-inch frame, a full-length grip and 10 rounds of 9mm. The Glock 48 is the same width with a longer slide; the Glock 19 offers 15+1 in a thicker frame.
Glock 43X or Glock 48 for concealed carry?
Both use the same grip, magazines and width. The 48 adds about 0.8 inch of slide and barrel, which makes it easier to shoot accurately; the 43X is shorter and slightly easier to sit with.
Is the Glock 19 too big to conceal?
No — many people conceal a Glock 19 inside the waistband with a good holster and gun belt. It is thicker and heavier than micro-compacts, so it suits looser clothing and fuller cover garments better.
What is the new Glock 19 V and Gen6?
In late 2025 Glock replaced the Gen5 Glock 19 with the G19 V, and in January 2026 added an optics-ready G19 Gen6. Check holster compatibility for the exact version you buy.
California readers: since July 1, 2026, AB 1127 bars California dealers from selling new Glock and Glock-pattern pistols. See our California carry gun guide.
Keep reading
- The 20 best concealed carry guns of 2026 (full list)
- Best micro-compact 9mm pistols
- Handgun sizes chart + comparison tool
- Best SIG Sauer for concealed carry
- Best concealed carry gun for beginners
Chris Raper
Chris Raper is the founder and lead reviewer of Conceal & Carry Network. A retired North Carolina law-enforcement officer with more than 40 years of service and a U.S. Air Force Security Police veteran, he founded Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. in Elm City, NC in 2006 and has taught the state-approved NC Concealed Handgun Carry class there ever since. He is an NC Department of Justice certified Firearms Safety Instructor, an NRA Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun Instructor, an NRA Range Safety Officer and a graduate of Massad Ayoob's Lethal Force Institute. He reviews the carry guns, holsters, safes and sight tools his students ask about every week.