Shield Arms Glock 43X Mags

[Squeeze]

I FINALLY received my long waited pre-order of the Shield Arms 15-round Glock 43X magazines. These are metal magazines that hold 15 rounds and fit flush to the bottom of the frame. I ran 100 rounds through them yesterday at Franktown Firearms. My thoughts:



Loading them by hand to max capacity is almost impossible. I recommend an Uplula mag loader.
Smooth metal design allows for mags to fall freely.
Due to the metal design, I would recommend changing out your magazine release to an aluminum one (Agency Arms makes one). Over time I could see the mags wearing out the stock polymer magazine release.
Magazines ran 100% flawless. No hiccups whatsoever.


All in all, for $40 / mag, I feel they are definitely worth it. These magazines give the capacity of a Glock 19 in a very small package. These will work in the 43X or 48.

Definitely a game changer for the subcompact handgun world.

80007

[hurley842002]

Thank you for your evaluation, these mags have me thinking real hard about a G48 or 43X. I think I'll continue to monitor reviews, and make a decision, but there again moving to a "standard capacity" friendly state, the G45 looks pretty good.


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[Squeeze]

The Glock 45 MOS is a great platform. We've sold a lot of them at Iron Horse Armory. I've got one on my radar as well. Although, depending on where you're moving to, having a slim and easy to conceal subcompact gun with 15 round capacity on hot summer days is a great option. The wife always jokes and calls it my "bikini" gun due to how easily concealable it is. I've made several IWB holsters for the G43X & G48 with great results. Now, I can start offering mag pouches for the Shield Arms mags as well.

[hurley842002]

depending on where you're moving to, having a slim and easy to conceal subcompact gun with 15 round capacity on hot summer days is a great option.

Tucson AZ, so you have a valid point there, fortunately I have my P365 for most of my CCW needs. I like the idea of a higher capacity pistol for exploring out in the desert.


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[kwando]

Been wanting to get some, everywhere is OOS.

[Tinelement]

Thanks for posting up your thoughts. Hopefully these become more available, then the 43x is a for sure purchase. ����

[longrange2]

I received my two and a metal mag catch for a G48 this week, hope to get them to the range this weekend.

[banks74]

Awesome, excited to find some in stock somewhere.

[Tinelement]

Just got email notification these are back in stock. Limit 2

[kidicarus13]

Just got email notification these are back in stock. Limit 2Sold Out now. Thanks for the heads-up. I did not get notified by email.

[Tinelement]

Sold Out now. Thanks for the heads-up. I did not get notified by email.

I tried but when I went to checkout it kept kicking me back to my cart...[fail]

[kidicarus13]

I was able to order 2 mags plus the mag release before they sold out. And then about 45 minutes after they sold out I received their "back in stock" email (even though they actually weren't back in stock).

[kidicarus13]

The S15 15rd mags have been readily available for a while. It's the +5 mag extensions and extra power springs that are now hard to find in stock.

[Scanker19]

Are you guys worried about the metal mag catch wearing out you factory mags? I’m hesitant to switch, but a lot of PCCs use metal mag catches and there’s no concern.

[kidicarus13]

Are you guys worried about the metal mag catch wearing out you factory mags? I?m hesitant to switch, but a lot of PCCs use metal mag catches and there?s no concern.Not worried. Worst case, Glock mags are inexpensive.

[roberth]

I have a few Shield magazines to test, hope to get to the range soon. I did get the Shield metal catch but haven't installed it yet.

[beast556]

How have the mags been working for you guys, I've read mixed reviews. Are you getting 100% reliability?

[kwando]

I shot 500 rounds of factory 115gr ammo, 100 rounds of 147 gr Winchester ranger t this weekend and did not have any malfunctions. Was doing drills from holster in appendix, one round slide lock, drop mag and mag change, two shots and repeat. I am using the Hyve mag catch as the one from shield arms was OOS.

One thing I don’t like is when your round slips from loading the mags, you will slice your thumb on the metal mag. Did it this weekend and it hurt like a MF’er!!! On my 3 mags, the 10th and the 15th round is harder to get in. I will likely be buying more.

They have a sale now for Mother’s Day.

Regarding the metal mag catch damaging the stock mags, I’m confident with the s15 mags that I put the Glock ones away.

[roberth]

Regarding the metal mag catch damaging the stock mags, I’m confident with the s15 mags that I put the Glock ones away.

Since you're moving to all Shield mags are you going to install the metal mag catch?

[kwando]

Since you're moving to all Shield mags are you going to install the metal mag catch?

I installed the hyve one because Shield Arms version was OOS.

[roberth]

I installed the hyve one because Shield Arms version was OOS.

Thank you.

[bw88350]

Picked up 2 of these, have only run 250 rounds through but work great, no failures or stopages, mixture of roughly half 115 grain and 124 grain NATO, will echo the last few rounds can be a bit of a bear to load. One other thing I noticed is the base plates dig into my palm under recoil, not enough to say painful but noticeable, enough so I tried with gloves and it helped mitigate it some. My hands are "large" size in most gloves. Just an observation.

[hurley842002]

Any update on these from a reliability standpoint? Unfortunately they have been MIA for quite some time online, and I have a line on a good trade deal for a G43x, thinking of just doing the deal anyway, this would be the perfect pistol with the 10 round mags for when I go to CA, then throw the 15 rounders back in when I get back to the free world.


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[thedave1164]

Mine have been no problem, 2 of which have the 5 round extensions :)

[hurley842002]

Mine have been no problem, 2 of which have the 5 round extensions :)

I didn?t realize they made a 5rd extension until I watched a review from Mrgunsngear on YouTube earlier, that?s awesome. Looking like I?ll be picking up a 43X tomorrow, wish I could find some Shield Arms mags in stock!


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[hurley842002]

Well I got a 43X, brand new and unfired, what a sweet feeling pistol, can?t wait to shoot it. The guy I got it from said it came with 3 mags, I didn?t realize one of them was none other than an S-15 SCORE! Now I just need 1 or 2 more and I?ll be set for EDC. Also came with a T-Rex IWB holster.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200801/b5d84620db06d0b1c6af2895598fe5ad.jpg


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[thedave1164]

Well I got a 43X, brand new and unfired, what a sweet feeling pistol, can?t wait to shoot it. The guy I got it from said it came with 3 mags, I didn?t realize one of them was none other than an S-15 SCORE! Now I just need 1 or 2 more and I?ll be set for EDC. Also came with a T-Rex IWB holster.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200801/b5d84620db06d0b1c6af2895598fe5ad.jpg


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Nice

Place an order with Shield Arms direct, it shouldn’t take too long for the back order.

[hurley842002]

Nice

Place an order with Shield Arms direct, it shouldn?t take too long for the back order.

As chance would have it, a guy on Glocktalk posted two S-15 mags with metal mag release/catch last night for $90 shipped, needless to say, snatched those up.


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[hurley842002]

Wow, got an email with a time stamp of 1:51 PM, that the nickel S-15 mags were in stock, didn?t get to see the email until 2:05 PM, and they were already sold out. Glad I was able to get a few private party.


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[thedave1164]

Wow, got an email with a time stamp of 1:51 PM, that the nickel S-15 mags were in stock, didn?t get to see the email until 2:05 PM, and they were already sold out. Glad I was able to get a few private party.


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Yeah, they go quickly, that is why you backorder the black oxide finish ones so they ship when they come in ;)

[hurley842002]

Yeah, they go quickly, that is why you backorder the black oxide finish ones so they ship when they come in ;)

Yeah, that seems like the way to go. I wouldn't mind a couple more mags, but I'm not really actively trying to acquire them now that I have a few.

[roberth]

How are the Shield magazines working out for you guys.

We have a couple and no troubles so far.

[driver]

Mine have been no problem, 2 of which have the 5 round extensions :)Did you order those +5s direct from shield arms? I was worried they wouldn't ship them to Colorado and would cancel and charge the restock fee.

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[Squeeze]

I bought 2 of them on their first run and they have ran flawless this entire time. Planning on getting a couple more down the road.

[kwando]

My mags that’s I purchased April 2020 initially ran fine but 7 months later is starting to have problems locking the slide back on the last round.

My setup - Glock 48 early gen with silver slide. Hyve mag catch, everything stock internal wise. Gun prob has 750-1k rounds so far.

I thought it was me riding the slide stop. Shot one handed and still had problems. Gun was carried so mags were constantly loaded with 15 rounds. Tried new mag catch (OEM and Shield arms steel), same issue. Even with an empty mag it will not lock back by manually cycling the slide. I pressed up on the mag and slide locks back. After some research SA has 10% more powerful springs that “fix” this issue. Contacted SA and they sent new springs right away.

Shits and giggles I also tried a few other things. My mag (with worn springs) in my buddies later gen G48 (black slide) works fine. Does the spring for the slide stop require less pressure? The mag appears to seat further in on his grip as well. Some people swapped Glock springs from their OEM 15 rounders in. Tried that and slide catches manually every time.