Best Glock 43X Compensators 2026: Radian, PMM & More header image
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August 26, 2026
Best Glock 43X Compensators 2026: Radian, PMM & More

A fitment-first Glock 43X compensator ranking led by a 500-round first-party Radian test and a manufacturer-sourced retention audit.

Our Top Picks

  1. #1 Radian RAMJET + AFTERBURNER (Glock 43X) ($351): Best overall: 500 rounds of mixed 115gr and 124gr FMJ with zero malfunctions on the stock spring, and a threadless lock with nothing to time
  2. #2 Tyrant CNC T-Comp ($75.99): Best stand-alone comp: the Ratchet-Lock body deletes the timing step and the set screws entirely
  3. #3 PMM Micro JTTC Barrel + Comp Combo ($300): Best matched threaded system for a buyer willing to shim-time the proprietary barrel-and-comp pair

Our Top Picks

1
Radian RAMJET + AFTERBURNER (Glock 43X)
Best overall: 500 rounds of mixed 115gr and 124gr FMJ with zero malfunctions on the stock spring, and a threadless lock with nothing to time
$351
2
Tyrant CNC T-Comp
Best stand-alone comp: the Ratchet-Lock body deletes the timing step and the set screws entirely
$75.99
3
PMM Micro JTTC Barrel + Comp Combo
Best matched threaded system for a buyer willing to shim-time the proprietary barrel-and-comp pair
$300

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Best Glock 43X Compensators 2026: Radian, PMM & More

The best Glock 43X compensator is the Radian RAMJET + AFTERBURNER, a matched barrel and comp that lock together without threads. We put 500 rounds through one on a Glock 43X and it did not malfunction once. Below it we rank the best stand-alone comps for shooters who already own a 1/2x28 slimline barrel, ordered by how much of the timing and retention problem the maker solved for you rather than handing to you. Every pick here lists its own fitment, its barrel requirement, its ammunition rules, and exactly what holds it in place.

By AB|Last reviewed August 2026

The Short Answer: Buy the Barrel, Not the Threads

Buy the Radian RAMJET + AFTERBURNER for Glock 43X ($350.96). It is the pick we have the most evidence for: our 500-round test of this exact system on a Glock 43X produced zero malfunctions across mixed 115gr and 124gr FMJ, on the stock Glock recoil spring, with no thread locker anywhere in the install.

The reason to start there is not only reliability. It is that the AFTERBURNER never touches a thread. It slides over the matched RAMJET barrel and an INTRA-LOK tapered screw drops into an angled V-groove underneath, which pulls the comp into alignment against the barrel profile at 15 in-lb. There is a fastener, and it has a number, but it is not a set screw clamping onto hardened barrel threads and holding your clocking by friction. The groove decides where the comp stops. The barrel is part of the purchase, which is most of why the sticker looks steeper than a bare comp.

Two honest caveats. First, blast. In our test, 115gr threw a massive flash signature that was startling even outdoors in daylight; 124gr was better but still flashed more than the stock barrel, and noise and concussion went up on every load we shot. Indoors, that is disorienting, and it is the single strongest argument for leaving a nightstand 43X alone. Second, fitment is unit-specific: Radian sells the 43X and the Glock 48 as separate systems, so buy the one that matches your slide.

If you already own a 1/2x28 slimline barrel, or you want that barrel to run a suppressor later, skip to the stand-alone ranking and start with the Tyrant CNC T-Comp ($75.99). Its Ratchet-Lock body clamps onto a hardened stem with no shims and no set screws, so there is no clocking step to get right. If you want the most compact option instead, the Griffin Micro Carry Comp 1/2x28 Special also skips set screws, indexing on the muzzle face at 8 ft-lb.

Top Pick: Integrated Barrel + Compensator Systems

Matched barrel-and-comp packages: the barrel and the compensator are designed as one unit, so barrel fit is never in question and you are not buying a threaded barrel separately. Radian goes further and removes the timing step outright, with a groove in the barrel that clocks the comp for you. PMM does not; it ships a matched barrel but still times with a shim stack and Loctite. Read the retention line on each before you assume.

Radian Weapons RAMJET + AFTERBURNER (Glock 43X)
1

Radian Weapons RAMJET + AFTERBURNER (Glock 43X)

Best overall and best carry pick: nothing to time, nothing to re-torque

$350.96
Shop at MidwayUSA
Top Pick500-Round TestedNo Threads, No Set Screws
  • +Zero malfunctions across our 500-round test with mixed 115gr and 124gr FMJ on the stock Glock recoil spring
  • +Matched threadless interface needs no shims, threadlocker, or manual clocking
  • +Threadless barrel avoids the restricted threaded-barrel feature that matters in states such as California and Massachusetts
  • −115gr produced massive muzzle flash even outdoors in daylight; 124gr flashed less but still more than the stock barrel
  • −Noise and concussion increased with every load we shot and would be disorienting indoors
  • −Highest price of the Glock 43X-specific systems here
System: Matched barrel + compRetention: INTRA-LOK tapered screw, 15 in-lbFitment: Glock 43XBarrel Needed: None (barrel included)
2

Parker Mountain Machine Micro JTTC Barrel + Comp Combo (Glock 43X)

Best matched threaded system for a buyer willing to shim-time it

$300
Buy Direct from PMM
Matched KitShim TimedLoctite 272
  • +Matched proprietary barrel and steel compensator remove third-party barrel-shoulder uncertainty
  • +Separate manufacturer-listed variants cover Glock 43, 43X, and 48
  • +Kit includes the shims, Loctite 272, alignment rod, and mounting block needed for installation
  • −Requires manual shim timing and an adhesive cure instead of a self-timing lock
  • −G43, G43X, and G48 variants are not interchangeable
  • −Costs substantially more than a stand-alone compensator before installation time
System: Matched barrel + compRetention: Shim stack plus Loctite 272Fitment: Glock 43X variant (43 and 48 sold separately)Barrel: 416 stainless, 1:10 twist
Radian Weapons RAMJET + AFTERBURNER (Glock 48)
3

Radian Weapons RAMJET + AFTERBURNER (Glock 48)

Best integrated system for a Glock 48 rather than a 43X

$389.95
View at OpticsPlanet
Glock 48 VariantNo Threads, No Set Screws
  • +Matched threadless barrel and comp avoid manual clocking
  • +INTRA-LOK retention is repeatable and removable for cleaning
  • +Radian says the G48 system adds .52 inch and works with open-bottom G48 holsters
  • −This exact G48 variant was not part of our Glock 43X 500-round test
  • −Adds .52 inch beyond the Glock 48 slide
  • −Highest price in this guide
System: Matched barrel + compRetention: INTRA-LOK tapered screw, 15 in-lbFitment: Glock 48Added Length: .52 inch

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Best Stand-Alone Compensators for Glock 43X

Thread-on comps for shooters who already own a 1/2x28 slimline barrel or want that same barrel to run a suppressor later. They are ranked by how much of the timing and retention problem the maker solved for you. The first three need no set screw at all, each solving it a different way; the last four hold your clocking with a set screw and threadlocker, and that is the group you re-check.

1

Tyrant CNC T-Comp (Glock 43/43X/48)

Easiest install: ratchets on with the supplied wrench, no set screws, no shims, no clocking step

$75
View at OpticsPlanet
Ratchet-LockNo Set ScrewsNo Shims
  • +Ratchet-Lock removes the timing step entirely: no shims, no set screws, no threadlocker
  • +Nothing bites into the barrel threads, so the comp comes off as easily as it went on
  • +Manufacturer lists Glock 43, 43X, and 48 fitment on standard 1/2x28 barrels
  • −Two-piece design means one more part to keep track of than a one-piece comp
  • −Needs the supplied wrench rather than the hex key most comps ship with
Retention: Ratchet-Lock body on a threaded steel stemFitment: Glock 43, 43X, 48Thread: 1/2x28Material: 6061 body, hardened steel stem
2

Griffin Armament Micro Carry Comp 1/2x28 Special

Best self-indexing stand-alone comp for a slimline barrel

$61
View at OpticsPlanet
Muzzle-Face Indexing8 ft-lbNo Set Screws
  • +Self-indexes on the muzzle face instead of relying on the slim barrel shoulder
  • +No set screws, shims, or threadlocker are specified
  • +17-4 stainless construction in a compact carry profile
  • −Still requires a compatible 1/2x28 threaded barrel
  • −Hitting the correct 8 ft-lb torque requires a wrench, not a hex key
Retention: Muzzle-face indexed, 8 ft-lb on wrench flatsFitment: Glock 42, 43, 43X, 48Thread: 1/2x28Material: 17-4 stainless
3

True-Lock Ultimate Compensator

Best locking-block comp for a shooter who already runs 124gr and up

$129
Buy Direct from True Precision
Locking BlockNo Threadlocker124gr Minimum
  • +Integrated locking block avoids set screws bearing on the barrel
  • +No threadlocker is required
  • +7075-T6 aluminum keeps the design lighter than a steel body
  • −Rules out 115gr, which is the cheapest and most common range load
  • −True Precision does not publish the clocking procedure, so you are timing it by eye on install
Retention: Integrated locking block, no threadlockerFitment: Glock 43, 43X, 48Thread: 1/2x28Ammunition: 124gr or heavier
4

Herrington Arms HC43 V2 (No Fin)

Best pick for an aftermarket slimline slide

$85
View at OpticsPlanet
Aftermarket Slides OKTwo Set ScrewsLoctite 243
  • +No-fin version covers Glock 43, 43X, 48, and aftermarket slides
  • +Herrington publishes exact set-screw torque, threadlocker, and cure times instead of leaving them to guesswork
  • +7075 aluminum construction
  • −Set-screw retention depends on correct torque, Loctite application, and cure time
  • −Manufacturer excludes SilencerCo, Bar-Sto, KKM, and EFK barrels
  • −Calls for a 500-round break-in through the threaded barrel before the comp goes on, and rules out plated, bi-metal, and frangible ammunition
Retention: Hand-timed, two set screws, Loctite 243Cure: 24 to 48 hours before shootingFitment: Glock 43, 43X, 48, aftermarket slidesMaterial: 7075 aluminum
5

Agency Arms 417C Compensator

Best budget Glock-specific comp

$54
Buy Direct from Agency Arms
Budget PickTwo Set ScrewsSingle or Dual Port
  • +Manufacturer explicitly lists Glock 43, 43X, and 48
  • +Lowest price of the Glock-specific options in this guide
  • +Includes two set screws, an Allen key, and threadlocker
  • −Exact clocking and torque instructions are not published on the product page
  • −Agency says the OEM recoil spring is the design target but some pistols may still need tuning
  • −Manufacturer excludes SilencerCo, AlphaWolf, Fortis, Faxon, and OEM threaded barrels
Retention: Two set screws plus supplied threadlockerFitment: Glock 43, 43X, 48Thread: 1/2x28Ports: Single or dual
6

Zaffiri Precision Blowhole Compensator

Best steel stand-alone comp, and the natural match for a Zaffiri slide

$95
View at OpticsPlanet
17-4 StainlessBlack NitrideVibra-Tite Red 131
  • +17-4 stainless construction with a black nitride finish
  • +Manufacturer explicitly lists Glock 43, 43X, and 48
  • +Set screws, installation tool, and Vibra-Tite Red 131 are included
  • −Exact clocking and set-screw torque are not published on the product page
  • −Set-screw and threadlocker retention needs periodic inspection
  • −Steel body adds more reciprocating mass than the aluminum comps here
Retention: Two set screws plus Vibra-Tite Red 131Fitment: Glock 43, 43X, 48Thread: 1/2x28Material: 17-4 stainless, black nitride
7

Faxon Firearms EXOS-533 Compensator

Faxon-confirmed 43X and 48 fitment in a compact 1.218-inch body

$85
Shop at Faxon Firearms
1.218 in43X and 48 ConfirmedTwo 6-32 Set Screws
  • +Faxon publishes tested-and-confirmed Glock 43X and Glock 48 fitment rather than a generic 9mm claim
  • +Compact 1.218-inch published body length
  • +Thread locker, both set screws, and the Allen wrench ship in the box
  • −Set screws plus thread locker make removal slower than a mechanical-lock comp
  • −Flush fit is tuned to Faxon barrels; on another maker's barrel Faxon calls for 0.600 inch or less of protrusion
  • −Glock 43 is not on the confirmed fitment list
Retention: Two 6-32 set screws plus supplied thread lockerFitment: Glock 43X, Glock 48Length: 1.218 inMaterial: 6061 aluminum

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Timing and Retention: The Real Difference Between These Comps

Four of these comps never make you clock anything, and they get there four different ways. Radian's tapered screw drops into a groove machined in its own barrel and self-times at 15 in-lb. Tyrant's Ratchet-Lock body ratchets onto a hardened stem. Griffin indexes on the muzzle face at 8 ft-lb on wrench flats. True Precision uses a locking block that never touches the barrel threads, though it does not publish its clocking procedure. PMM ships a matched barrel but still times with a shim stack and Loctite 272. Herrington, Agency, Zaffiri, and Faxon hold your clocking with a set screw and threadlocker, and that is the group you re-check. The distinction matters because a comp only works if its ports finish pointing straight up, and 1/2x28 threads stop wherever they stop. The method you buy is the method you own.

Matched Interface: No Timing At All

The Radian RAMJET + AFTERBURNER has no barrel threads to time. The comp captures the matched barrel and an INTRA-LOK tapered screw engages a V-groove under it, timing the comp against the upper barrel profile at 15 in-lb. Nothing is shimmed, nothing is glued, and the same interface comes apart for cleaning and goes back on indexed. This is the same approach we recommend on the full-size guns in our Glock 19 compensator guide.

Ratchet Lock: Timing Deleted, Threads Still There

The Tyrant CNC T-Comp splits the job in two. A hardened steel stem threads onto the barrel and takes the load, then the 6061 aluminum body ratchets onto that stem until the ports point up and the Ratchet-Lock interface stops it rotating under recoil. Tyrant states "no shims, no timing required" and that the design eliminates set screw damage to barrel threads. Nothing bites into the barrel, so the comp comes back off as easily as it went on. The wrench ships with it.

Muzzle-Face Indexing: The Slimline-Specific Fix

The Griffin Micro Carry Comp 1/2x28 Special indexes on the face of the muzzle rather than on the barrel shoulder, then torques to 8 ft-lb on its wrench flats with no set screws specified. That distinction matters on the slimline guns specifically, because the barrel shoulder these pistols give you is thin. This is a different product from Griffin's standard shoulder-indexing Micro Carry Comp, and the "Special" in the name is how you tell them apart.

Locking Block: Retention Without Threadlocker

The True Precision True-Lock Ultimate uses an integrated locking block to hold the comp on a 1/2x28 barrel without threadlocker and without anything bearing on the barrel threads. It is the cleanest retention answer among the thread-on designs, with one asterisk: True Precision does not publish the exact clocking procedure on the product page, so plan on following whatever the packaged instructions say rather than a method you read online.

Shims Plus Adhesive: The Documented Old-School Method

The PMM Micro JTTC combo times its comp with a stack of .010, .005, and .002-inch shims and retains it with Loctite 272, using the included Muschi mounting block and alignment rod. This is the traditional method done properly, on a barrel and comp that were machined for each other, and it is the reason PMM lands second rather than first: it works, but you are performing the procedure and waiting on adhesive.

Set Screws: Cheapest to Machine, Most to Verify

The Herrington HC43 V2, the Agency Arms 417C, the Zaffiri Blowhole, and the Faxon EXOS-533 all hand-time the comp and then clamp it with set screws plus a threadlocker. A small fastener biting into a hardened barrel absorbs every slide cycle, and when it walks out the comp rotates off-index and starts venting gas sideways instead of up. That is not a reason to avoid the category, it is a reason to install it the way the maker says. Herrington is the only one of the four that publishes the full procedure: Loctite 243 on both the barrel and set-screw threads, no more than 18 in-lb on 8-32 screws or 11 in-lb on 6-32 screws, and a 24 to 48 hour cure before shooting. Agency, Zaffiri, and Faxon supply the hardware and the threadlocker but do not publish torque or clocking values, so follow the sheet in the box and re-check the screws after the first range session.

Do You Need a Threaded Barrel for a Glock 43X Compensator?

You need a 1/2x28 threaded barrel for every stand-alone comp in this guide, and for none of the integrated systems. The Radian and PMM systems include their own barrels, which is the whole point of buying one. Everything in the stand-alone ranking assumes a threaded slimline barrel is already on the gun or is going on the invoice.

The SilencerCo Threaded Barrel for Glock 43/43X ($169) is a straightforward 1/2x28 slimline option, and SilencerCo's own fit guide lists the Glock 43 and Glock 43X for it. Read the next paragraph before you pair it with anything.

Barrel exclusions are not a formality. Herrington states the HC43 is not compatible with SilencerCo, Bar-Sto, KKM, or EFK barrels. Agency excludes SilencerCo, AlphaWolf, Fortis, Faxon, and OEM threaded barrels from the 417C. So the SilencerCo barrel is a good barrel and a wrong pairing for two of the comps ranked above it. Faxon tunes the EXOS-533 flush fit to its own barrels and calls for 0.600 inch or less of thread protrusion on anyone else's. Match the comp to the barrel before you buy either one, not after.

The one case where the threaded-barrel route clearly wins is a suppressor plan. If the same barrel needs to host a can later, buy the threaded barrel and a comp you can remove. If it never will, the integrated system saves you the barrel purchase and the pairing homework.

Threaded Barrel for a Thread-On Comp

Threaded Barrel for Glock 43/43X
Pistol Barrels • $169

Threaded Barrel for Glock 43/43X

  • 1/2x28 threads
  • 3.9 inch barrel
$169.00
Shop at SilencerCo

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Which Compensators Fit the Glock 43X, 43, and 48

Most of these comps fit all three guns, but three do not, and those three are the ones that cost money. The Faxon EXOS-533 is confirmed for the 43X and 48 only. The Herrington HC43 ships in two profiles whose slide lists differ, so the fin decides what it fits. PMM and Radian sell per-model variants rather than one slimline part. Everything else here carries shared Glock 43 / 43X / 48 fitment, which is why the slimline aftermarket is deeper than its magazine capacity suggests.

The comps that cover all three guns

Tyrant lists Glock 43, 43X, and 48 for the T-Comp on standard 1/2x28 barrels. Agency lists all three for the 417C. Zaffiri lists all three for the Blowhole. True Precision lists all three for the True-Lock Ultimate. Griffin goes one further and lists the Glock 42 alongside the 43, 43X, and 48 for the 1/2x28 Special. None of these makers separately name the MOS variants, so treat MOS fitment as a slide question, not a muzzle question.

Faxon EXOS-533: 43X and 48 only

Faxon states the EXOS-533 has been tested and confirmed compatible with the Glock 43X and Glock 48. The Glock 43 is not on that list. That is a narrower claim than the rest of the field and a more specific one, which cuts both ways: 43X owners get a tested confirmation, and Glock 43 owners should buy something else.

Herrington HC43: the fin decides the slide list

Herrington sells two versions and they do not fit the same guns. The no-fin HC43 V2 ranked above covers Glock 43, 43X, 48, and aftermarket slides. The finned version is limited to OEM Gen5 Glock 43X and 48 slides. If your 43X is running an aftermarket slide, the no-fin version is the only one of the two that fits it.

PMM and Radian: buy the variant, not the family

Both integrated systems are sold per model. PMM lists Glock 43, 43X, and 48 as separate selectable variants and warns that the G43 comp does not fit the G43X bull-nose slide. Radian ships the 43X and the 48 as separate units. A Glock 48 owner buys the RAMJET + AFTERBURNER for Glock 48 ($389.95), which Radian says adds .52 inch and works with open-bottom G48 holsters. Our Glock 48 upgrades guide covers the rest of that gun's parts path.

Glock 43X Compensator Comparison: Every Model at a Glance

  • Radian RAMJET + AFTERBURNER (43X)
    $350.96
    TypeIntegrated barrel + comp
    FitmentGlock 43X
    Timing / RetentionINTRA-LOK tapered screw into a V-groove under the barrel, 15 in-lb. No shims, set screws, or threadlocker
  • PMM Micro JTTC Barrel + Comp
    $300
    TypeIntegrated barrel + comp
    FitmentGlock 43X variant (43 and 48 sold separately)
    Timing / RetentionShim stack (.010 / .005 / .002) plus Loctite 272, with mounting block and alignment rod
  • Radian RAMJET + AFTERBURNER (48)
    $389.95
    TypeIntegrated barrel + comp
    FitmentGlock 48
    Timing / RetentionINTRA-LOK tapered screw into a V-groove under the barrel, 15 in-lb
  • Tyrant CNC T-Comp
    $75.99
    TypeStand-alone comp
    FitmentGlock 43, 43X, 48
    Timing / RetentionRatchet-Lock body ratcheted onto a hardened steel stem. No shims, no set screws, no timing step
  • Griffin Micro Carry Comp 1/2x28 Special
    $61.05
    TypeStand-alone comp
    FitmentGlock 42, 43, 43X, 48
    Timing / RetentionIndexes on the muzzle face, torqued to 8 ft-lb on wrench flats. No set screws
  • True Precision True-Lock Ultimate
    $129.99
    TypeStand-alone comp
    FitmentGlock 43, 43X, 48
    Timing / RetentionIntegrated locking block, no threadlocker and no contact with the barrel threads. Clocking procedure not published
  • Herrington HC43 V2 (No Fin)
    $85.99
    TypeStand-alone comp
    FitmentGlock 43, 43X, 48, aftermarket slides
    Timing / RetentionHand-timed, two set screws, Loctite 243 on barrel and screw threads, 18 in-lb (8-32) or 11 in-lb (6-32), 24 to 48 hour cure
  • Agency Arms 417C
    $54
    TypeStand-alone comp
    FitmentGlock 43, 43X, 48
    Timing / RetentionTwo supplied set screws plus supplied threadlocker. Clocking and torque not published
  • Zaffiri Blowhole
    $95.99
    TypeStand-alone comp
    FitmentGlock 43, 43X, 48
    Timing / RetentionTwo supplied set screws plus Vibra-Tite Red 131. Clocking and torque not published
  • Faxon EXOS-533
    $85
    TypeStand-alone comp
    FitmentGlock 43X, Glock 48
    Timing / RetentionTwo 6-32 set screws plus supplied thread locker and a 1/16 in Allen wrench. Torque not published

Highlighted rows are the integrated systems. Sorted by how much of the timing and retention job the maker did for you: matched interfaces first, then mechanical locks and muzzle-face indexing, then the set-screw designs.

Install Rules, Ammunition, and Break-In

Three comps here carry manufacturer requirements that change what you shoot and when. Herrington wants 500 rounds through the bare threaded barrel before the HC43 goes on. True Precision specifies 124-grain and heavier, which rules out the cheapest range ammo. Herrington also specifies a 24 to 48 hour threadlocker cure before firing. Read these before the comp goes on, because the first one is impossible to comply with afterward.

Herrington wants 500 rounds through the barrel first

Herrington calls for a 500-round break-in of factory-new ammunition through the threaded barrel before the HC43 is installed. That is a sequencing requirement, not a suggestion: if you thread the comp on out of the box, you cannot go back and do it. Herrington also does not recommend plated, bi-metal, or frangible ammunition in any of its comps, so a bulk case of plated range ammo is the wrong pairing for this one. In exchange, Herrington measures a 31.4 percent muzzle-flip reduction in its own testing depending on the 9mm load and model.

True Precision wants 124-grain and heavier

True Precision states the True-Lock Ultimate is intended for a minimum 124-grain ammunition weight and up. That is an ammunition floor, not a preference, and it is the one spec on this comp that should change your buying decision: if your practice ammunition is bulk 115gr, buy a comp without a floor. The Tyrant T-Comp is the closest alternative on retention philosophy, and Tyrant states it runs on the OEM recoil spring with no tuning.

Recoil springs and cure times

Agency says the OEM recoil spring is the design target for the 417C but that some pistols may still need tuning, which is the honest version of what every set-screw comp is doing to slide velocity. Herrington's Loctite 243 needs 24 to 48 hours to cure before the gun is fired. Our Radian sample ran the stock Glock recoil spring across all 500 rounds with no tuning and no cure time at all, which is the practical argument for the integrated route on a gun you intend to carry.

Carrying a Compensated Glock 43X: Flash, Blast, and Holsters

A comp on a carry gun buys faster sight recovery and sells you blast. Our 500-round Radian test on a Glock 43X is the clearest data we have on the tradeoff, and the flash was the finding that mattered. With 115gr the muzzle flash was massive, startling even outdoors in daylight. With 124gr it improved but still exceeded the stock barrel. Noise and concussion increased on every load we shot. In a defensive situation indoors, that is disorienting, and it is the reason we rate the Radian 4.5 out of 5 rather than 5.

Holster fit is more forgiving than most people expect on this platform. Radian's own product data says installing the system on a Glock 43X brings the slide length to a Glock 48 and gives compatibility with all G48 holsters, which is the general rule to shop by. Our test added a data point on top of that: the system added roughly half an inch and still fit a T.REX Arms Raptor cut for the standard Glock 43X, without ordering the G48 or threaded-barrel option. Buy to the G48 rule, and if you already own a snug 43X rig it is worth trying before you replace it. For the shopping list either way, see our concealed carry holster guide.

One more carry-specific note. The RAMJET barrel is not threaded, so a 43X running the Radian system has no threaded barrel on it. That matters in California, Massachusetts, and the other states where a threaded barrel is a restricted feature. Every stand-alone comp in this guide goes the other way, since each one needs a threaded barrel to mount on. It is a statement about that one feature on that one configuration, not a blanket legality clearance, so confirm your own state's rules for the whole pistol before you buy.

Whichever comp you pick, the carry gun is not done until it has eaten a full box of your actual carry ammunition, from your actual magazines, with the comp installed and the holster you intend to use. That is the same standard we hold the rest of the platform to in the Glock 43X upgrades guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶What is the best compensator for a Glock 43X?
The Radian RAMJET + AFTERBURNER ($350.96) is the best Glock 43X compensator. Our 43X ran 500 mixed 115gr and 124gr FMJ rounds through it with zero malfunctions on the stock Glock recoil spring, and its threadless tapered lock removes shim timing, set screws, and threadlocker from the installation entirely. The tradeoff is severe 115gr muzzle flash plus more noise and concussion on every load. If you already own a 1/2x28 slimline barrel, the Tyrant CNC T-Comp ($75.99) is the best thread-on pick because its Ratchet-Lock body times itself.
▶Can I put a compensator on a Glock 43X?
Yes. There are two paths. Buy a matched barrel-and-comp system built for the 43X, such as the Radian RAMJET + AFTERBURNER ($350.96) or the PMM Micro JTTC combo ($300), and the barrel comes with it. Or install a 1/2x28 threaded slimline barrel such as the SilencerCo Threaded Barrel for Glock 43/43X ($169) and thread on a comp whose maker lists Glock 43X fitment. Before you buy the second path, check the comp's barrel exclusions, its ammunition requirements, and how it holds its timing.
▶Is Ramjet worth it 43X?
It is worth it when reliability and simple retention matter more than price and blast. Our Glock 43X sample ran 500 rounds without a malfunction on the stock recoil spring, needed no threadlocker or timing, added roughly half an inch, and still fit a T.REX Arms Raptor cut for the standard 43X. The cost is $350.96 and a real blast penalty: 115gr flash was massive even outdoors in daylight, and every load was louder and more concussive than the stock barrel. For a range and training gun it is an easy yes. For an indoor defensive gun, weigh the flash.
▶Is a Glock compensator worth it?
A compensator is worth it when faster sight recovery is worth added length, added blast, and an installation you have to verify. On a slimline gun like the 43X the flip reduction is real: Herrington measures 31.4 percent less muzzle flip with its HC43 ($85.99) depending on the load. What it is not is free. A carry gun needs a full reliability test with its actual carry ammunition, its recoil spring, and its holster after the comp goes on, and a thread-on comp adds a timing and retention method you now own.
AB
ABAuthor

Avid shooter with 10+ years of experience including competition shooting, an associate member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), and a member of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and Safari Club International (SCI). Built 10+ AR-pattern rifles and several handgun platforms for home defense, competition, and suppressed night shooting.

10+ years shooting experienceCompetition shooterBuilt 10+ AR-pattern riflesAssociate member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)Member of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)Member of Safari Club International (SCI)

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