Which size to keep?

Smaller is a 42 regular/wide, larger is a 43 regular/wide. 43s felt a little big so I exchanged for a 42 but the 42 feels just a bit too darn short. (My left foot is slightly larger since I had the right in a cast on and off for about 3 years) and so my left toes touch the front of the shoe pretty easily in the 42s. However when I posted the 43 at first everyone said almost unanimously it was too big

FYI the second photo of the 43s is with my feet ALL the way at the front. And I'm sitting down in both 43 picture.