The Recover Tactical 20/20 presents a very interesting system. There are several Glock to Subgun-style kits out there. The Roni kits are the most famous, but these chassis-type designs have their downsides and faults. The Recover Tactical 20/20 presents a similar system that’s a bit more minimalist and streamlined compared to alternative kits and essentially makes your handgun into a PDW-type braced pistol. I’ve been testing the RT 20/20 for a bit now as part of my PDW project.
I’ve been using it with the Glock 19, but recently came across an adapter kit to allow your Glock 43, Glock 43X, or Glock 48 to sit inside an RT 20/20 standard kit. These tiny, slimline Glocks were entirely too small for the original RT 20/20. I didn’t think much about this conversion at first, but eventually, the thought crept into the forefront of my mind. My PDW project is all about concealed weapons, so why not give it a try? I placed my order and got my Glock 43X ready for duty.
The RT 20/20 G43X Conversion Kit
The G43X/48 conversion kit is made up of two basic parts. Actually, three if you count the charging handle, but that’s not exclusive to the conversion kit. There is a piece that clamshells around the front of the gun and a small insert that is attached to the rear of the gun and held in place by the RT 20/20. It takes about five minutes to swap, attach the parts, and get the kit properly installed into the RT 20/20.
It looks like it shouldn’t fit. The RT 20/20 is clearly meant for double-stack 9mm pistols. Yet, with these couple of additions, the G43X drops into the device. I manually attempted to move the gun back and forth, and there were no issues. It remained rock solid and tight inside the chassis system, and I had more than enough grip to grab it.
I could still use the sights of the Glock 43X and get low enough to see the device and design easily. It’s surprising how well it seems to work. It also shrinks the size and weight of the RT 20/20. This ultra-small design seems to be perfect for the PDW project I’m currently working on. My big fear would be the movement of the gun inside the chassis.
To the Range
I’m using the Recover Tactical optic mount instead of other sighting options. It’s a bit easier to use and mounts the optic a bit higher than the sights. However, the optic remains stationary instead of reciprocating on a slide. I zeroed the optic to the G43X with some ease, but that’s a different subject.
What’s important is that the G43X remained locked tight into the frame of the RT 20/20. It didn’t budge or move even a little bit under recoil. After a quick zero, I ran a few basic drills, namely the Bill Drill, to test the overall fit of the gun and security under rapid fire. Six rounds fired in less than two seconds should be a nice shake-up. I conducted the drill five times and saw zero disruption from the gun. The zero remained solid and didn’t slip, either.
I shot the setup quite a bit as part of my PDW project. I went back to 25 and later even fifty yards. The setup remained accurate enough that it reached 50 yards to land mostly chest shots into an IPSC target. I folded the brace and found the system easy to shoot with the brace collapsed and locked in place.
It performs as adequately as the RT 20/20 with a Glock 19 or Glock 17 installed. I’m impressed it works so well.
What’s the Point?
If you only have a Glock 43, 43X, or 48, you now have a brace option. That’s one reason this exists. Second, it shrinks the RT 20/20 and, most importantly, lightens it up a little bit. For my purposes, this turned out to be a fairly solid addition to the RT 20/20 system. It’s not for everyone. I do think a dedicated slimline model of the 20/20 would be preferable, which would likely cut even more bulk and weight.
For now, the product works. It works reliably, allows for excellent accuracy, and functions with the brace extended and folded. It works as advertised, and I’m impressed.
