[Stinkyshoe]

I really am sold on Glocks for now. I think they are great.(I like 1911s too though)

Anyways, a friend(SWAT cop instructor, ISPC shooter, 3-gunner) said that he much prefers the G17 competition over the G34 because the G17 is faster and has a shorter trigger reset. This is why he sold his 34. I really don't have much experience with either one, so I don't know if it is an accurate opinion. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks
Ss

[eerw]

does he mean the G17L???
both the 17 and the 34 can be made into decent guns for competition.some people like the 34 for the longer sight radius..

Both guns can be modified to have triggers with very short overtravel and reset and with trigger pulls as light at 1.5#



just depends on what you like and want..

[Stinkyshoe]

Surprisingly, he actually means the G17. Not the 17L. I know it sounds funny. I was just wondering if anyone else preferred the 17 over the longer models for the reasons I hinted at. I still am not sure exactly what he meant.:banghead:

[eerw]

Cool..

guess that is why a person needs to try things for themselves..what works for you may not be the bst for another...some people do prefer shorter lighter guns and others prefer heavier guns..

I like both guns...the G17 could possibly handle quicker due to its shorter slide...

My last glock was a G34 with a Vaneck trigger job and Dawson sights on it..and it shot really well..the trigger was set at 1.5#s and had the shortest overtravel and reset I have seen on a Glock...but then again it was worked over...

[bofe954]

The 34 differs from the 17 in a few ways. The most obvious being the longer slide. The longer slide would give you longer sight radius and could decrease recoil just because the pistol weighs more.

The 34 should also come from the factory with a 3.5# connector (vs. the 17's 5.5# connector) and an extended slide release.

The extended slide release isn't needed in my opinion for 4 reasons- I can thumb the regular one fine, you shouldn't be shooting to slide lock in IPSC anyway, and last you can "slingshot" the slide if you do. They may increase your odds of riding the slide release with your thumb and locking your slide open while firing. They are cheap and easy to install if you want one anyway.

The 3.5# connector is a $10-$20 item and you can learn how to install it or your buddy certainly can.

The 17 and the 34 are on the same frame. You could swap uppers (the slide barrel etc) on a 17 and 34 and function would be the same.

Some people feel that it is easier to move the shorter guns, some people feel that the action is faster on shorter guns. I don't have any experience with the longer slides so I don't know.

I shoot a 17 in production but would love to try a 34.

I think most people would say that a 34 would be superior to a 17 for competition use. It seems to me that the G35 (40 cal long slide) is the most common glock I see at matches and I rarely see a G22 (40 cal short slide).

At some point the shorter is better theory definitely ends because I never see (although I am sure someone shoots them) a G19 or G23 in production and since both hold more than 10 rds the only drawback is their short slide.

I'd try one before you buy. I wish I had.

[Navy joe]

I would, having shot the crap out of both, agree that it is true at least for me. Some would wonder about argueing over .76 inch worth of gun length....Oh wait, we routinely argue over 2.4mm of caliber, so nevermind. That 3/4 of an inch really does change the handling characteristics of the gun.

For me the G17 is faster to transition, but more importantly, recoil and sight tracking are much better than the G34. The 17's front sight is straight up, straight down. I can best describe the G34 as doing a small figure 8 in recoil. Both guns have tungsten guide rods in them, same spring. Some of the difference may be the grip, the 34 has fingergrooves, I won't own a 17 with them. I feel like the 34 may be a little slower out of the holster, never really gave it the back to back. So for me, from 20 yards in the Glock 17 is what I am most confident with, of any of my handguns, possibly because I practice with it. I really like my sights, grip, and trigger. As a result it is an excellent IDPA type gun minus the tungsten.

The G34 shines beyond 20yds, aka any good USPSA field course. Maybe it is because it has adjustable sights, I shoot with it a lot at 25 yds and know right where it hits. Maybe it is the sight radius. I'll probably trick out a G17 with adjustables, get it dialed in and see what I can do.

[artherd]

The 34 differs from the 17 in a few ways. The most obvious being the longer slide. The longer slide would give you longer sight radius and could decrease recoil just because the pistol weighs more.

Just a quick note, the 34's slide (and the 17L for that matter) are the same weight as the 17 slide. (note the cutout in the 34 & 17L). So they can use the same recoil springs/ammo/etc.

I like my 34, but the legenth of the slide may affect some shooters adversely. It makes recoil.... different.

[bofe954]

I remembered the cut in the slide but I wasn't thinking they were the same weight. Must just be weight farther forward that results in different feel.

[SR_]

Surprisingly, he actually means the G17. Not the 17L. I know it sounds funny. I was just wondering if anyone else preferred the 17 over the longer models for the reasons I hinted at. I still am not sure exactly what he meant.:banghead:

I'm also new to Glock. There is a top IDPA shooter that is also a pretty well known gunsmith that shoots where I do. He has a preference for th 17 over the 34. I now own the Glock 17 he shot at the IDPA nationals.... he did a little work to improve the trigger reset - did not lighten the trigger.

[Stinkyshoe]

SR_,
Well then perhaps we are onto something here. I don't understand why the 17 is preferred by some, but it sure is interesting to me. To me it makes sense to compete with what you'd carry. Most guys don't carry a 34 everyday(unless they are on a special police unit that issues the longslide; I've heard of some depts. issuing the 35 for tactical stuff) I guess if I do get around to some of the competition stuff, then rest assured whether it was a 17 or 34 it wouldn't make much difference for a novice like myself. Thanks for the replies gents,
Ss

[Jim Watson]

All internal G17 and G34 parts are the same or interchangeable. If your guy has a 17 with shorter reset than a 34, it has either been worked on or he just got lucky with factory tolerances.
Faster? I am not quick enough to tell the difference but I do know people who prefer the shorter gun. It has enough sight radius to hit the target and that is all that really matters, the rest is personal preference.

[Ankeny]

I prefer the longer sight radius. For me there isn't squat difference in transitions. Sight tracking and the recoil impulse can be easily changed by changing powders and/or bullet weight. Fact is, with a decent trigger job and good sights, either one would take a guy into GM class in Production Division. That said, I don't know any GM Glock shooter who routinely uses the shorter gun.

[Stinkyshoe]

Good info guys, Thanks for your opinions. I guess the right answer is to get both.:D
Thanks
Ss

[faustulus]

Just a quick note, the 34's slide (and the 17L for that matter) are the same weight as the 17 slide. (note the cutout in the 34 & 17L).
incorrect. While the slides are very close they are not the same weight (the cutout top doesn't make up for the steel in the sides)
Weights of the guns as follows
17 625 g
17L 670 g
34 650 g