glock 48
Glock Semi-Automatic Reviews

Gun Reviews by Women – Glock 48 – Tammy

Glock 48 Gun Review

by Tammy

 

Glock 48 Specifications

Gun Manufacturer: Glock

Model: 48

Caliber: 9mm

Barrel Length: 4.17″

Ammunition Capacity: 10

Price: $510

 

Glock 48 Features and Usageglock 48 customer image

Primary Use

Concealed Carry

Are you right or left-handed?

Right-Handed

What features does this gun have that appealed to you?

When I was first selecting a gun to buy I went to the range and shot many different sizes and varieties. I went with the Glock 48 because it had many features I found appealing. The width of the single stack fit better in my smaller hands than something like the Glock 19, but it still had substantial weight to it unlike some other smaller guns. The 10 round capacity and slightly longer handle were pluses as well. I liked being able to fit all of my main hand fingers on the handle and not have my pinky floating in the breeze. The thinner profile and shorter barrel also makes concealing easy to do. I like the Glock reliability and reputation which all made this a no brainer of a purchase.

Tell us about shooting this gun.

When I was shooting different guns trying to decide what to purchase I kept coming back to the Glock 48. There was just something about the way it fit in my hand and felt when firing. It made me want to try it again and again to compare to each new firearm I tried. It is a fun gun to shoot, both because of the feel and how reliable it is. Nothing is more frustrating than having to clear misfires all the time, and that is never an issue with this gun! Even on rough days where I catch myself flinching, it is easy to correct and walk my way back up to the center of the target.

I have used my 48 for indoor static range shooting and a highly active outdoor tactical class. The smaller capacity magazine means you may have to buy a few more extras for some courses and change them more frequently than with larger capacity guns, but is being proficient at tactical and combat reloading really a bad thing?

How would you describe the recoil, is it manageable?

The Glock 48 has incredibly manageable recoil in my opinion. The control you give up from the slightly smaller size and weight is more than compensated for with the solid grip you can get on the gun. I have never had a serious issue with recoil, not even when shooting prone through a barrier or on the move.

How does it fit your hand, are the controls of this gun easy to use? (Safeties, slide pull, magazine release, trigger pull, etc.)

The single stack frame of the Glock 48 fits great in the hand! It is still slightly blocky like its bigger siblings, but if you are a Glock user you’ll find the feel familiar but also more comfortable. The front slide serrations made racking the Glock 48 easy, even when hands are sweaty or wet. I had no problems racking or maintaining a solid grip on the gun during an active outdoor training when the temps were pushing 100 degrees. The magazine release is well placed but may be a slight stretch for smaller hands. Some reviews bash on the trigger but I have had no issues with mine. The trigger pull is smooth and I like the feel of the reset so I know it’s ready to go again. I’ll be honest, I only use the slide release when I am cleaning the gun. I know it adds time going from magazine insertion to ready to fire, but I prefer to rack the slide.

Do you like the sights on this gun?

The stock sights aren’t anything fancy, but they are efficient and accurate. I have no problems lining up the target, even being cross eye dominate. I was able to make a single handed shot at 50 yards using my support hand which is more than enough for personal defense. If you want to use it for competition shooting an upgrade in sights might be worth considering.

How reliable is it?

The Glock 48 has the same well-known reliability as most Glocks. Their simplicity of design and forgiving nature contributes to their ease of care and shooting. I’ve put over a thousand rounds through mine in the short time I’ve owned it and had no issues.

Any problems with any type of ammunition?

To date I have not had a single issue with any type of ammunition. I generally use Blazer 9mm 115 grain for my range shooting and Gold Dot for my protective ammo. I’ve had just 3 misfires, all with the Blazer. Twice was during moving and shooting drills while practicing tactical magazine changes and I failed to completely seat the new magazine both times. The third was at an indoor range when I again failed to completely seat the magazine after a quick change. All of the issues were user error related and not hardware related.

Was it easy to take down and clean?

The Glock 48 is exceptionally easy to break down, clean, and reassemble. No special tools or skills are required. While it is preferred and recommended, it also isn’t necessary to clean after every time you shoot. I always clean it after a full day training or time at an outdoor range, but not always after a trip to the indoor range depending on how many rounds I shoot. I’m a busy single mom and sometimes finding time to go to the range each week is a struggle but something I believe is necessary to ensure my skills are sharp should I need them. I appreciate that I can rely on my Glock to shoot every time if I miss a cleaning here and there.

Is there anything you dislike about shooting this gun?

There are only two potential negatives I have come across with the Glock 48. The first is it does not have an accessory rail for lights or lasers. If you are using the gun for personal protection it isn’t much of an issue, just keep a flashlight on your nightstand or wherever you store your gun at night. However, if you want to do any sort of nighttime training a mounted light can be more convenient that having to hold one. The second issue is accessory related as well. If you decide you want to add a red dot you may have to install a narrow slide adapter depending on the manufacturer. I am considering adding either a Holosun Micro Red Dot or a Trijicon and both will require adapters.

For someone considering this gun, what would you tell them?

I shot 15 different guns before I settled on the Glock 48. It easily had more of what I was looking for in a first gun than any of the others. At a recent training I let several more experienced shooters (including a law enforcement officer) shoot it and the general consensus was it is a great firearm.

Would you recommend this gun? If no, do you have a preferred gun?

I absolutely recommend the Glock 48 (and in fact recommend it often at the range I work at). Not only do you have the reliability and backing of the Glock brand, but it is easy to care for, easy to shoot, easy to conceal, and just a darn fun gun to shoot!

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3 thoughts on “Gun Reviews by Women – Glock 48 – Tammy

  1. Laura says:

    Hi Tammy,
    I’m curious if you compared it with the 43x. I shot the 43x recently and liked it, but I’m finding that I’m more comfortable and more accurate with larger guns like the 19 for instance. I’m new to all of this so practice and experience are a factor as well. Given that, I’m thinking that the 48 might be the better option for me. Either way I’m hooked on shooting and look forward to being able to get back to the range and practice more!

    1. Jerry Mcburney says:

      The 48 has the same handle of the 43x and the slide of a 19

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