Glock 17L vs 34

Both are awesome shooters, I own a 17L and I'm sure I'll one day add a G34.

The longer sight radius may make the 17L a little easier to shoot well but both are extremely accurate.

I'm sure the exta sight radius of a 17L will help at long range and you will get a little more velocity from the longer barrel.

Not sure if you are up on it but the G34 and G35 came about as guns that offered more barrel length and sight radius than their G17 and G22 counterparts while fitting the size requirements for IDPA and USPSA production, the 17L and G24 were too long for those games.

I can only compare G17 to G34, never shot a 17L. The G34 offers a clear accuracy advantage to me at 25+ yards due to the sight radius. The 17 I shoot better overall, the 34 moves around differently under recoil, the 17 handles better so I shoot it accurately faster. That means in my experience the 34 front sight usually describes a little sideways figure 8 under recoil while the 17 is straigt up out of the notch slightly and back in. I think the extra mass on the end of the 34 contibutes to how it moves around. Then again my G17s don't have stupid finger grooves so maybe I just choke them into not recoiling. Dunno. I like my 34 but prefer my 17.

What exactly do you plan to use the pistol for? The only real difference between the 17L and 34 is the barrel length, 6.02 vs. 5.43 inches. So if you want the longest sight radius possible, go with the 17L, while if you want something a bit more compact, go with the 34. Both pistols will of course give higher muzzle velocities when compared to the 4.49 inch barrel of the standard Glock 17. The 17L will give the highest velocities in terms of absolute maximum feet per second, but I don't imagine the 17L producing velocities that are significantly higher than the 34 (assuming unported barrels for both of course), since the difference in barrel length between the two is only 0.59 inches. Also, as Navy Joe mentioned the 17L is too long to meet the size requirements for IDPA and USPSA production pistol class matches, so if you ever plan to shoot in such matches, the 34 is of course the way to go.

Incidentally, since the 17L is out of production the prices for 3rd generation models isn't likely to go down any time soon (if ever). So if you are leaning towards a 3rd generation 17L, you might as well get one now, because they won't be getting any cheaper (though used 1st and 2nd generation variants can still be found at relatively low prices).

I'd pick it up as not only good 'ol classic Glock shooter, but as a collectible. Models 17L and 24 (.40S&W caliber) are rare to find. Both the G34 and G35 has replaced them.

My local gun store has a 24 that is like new...I am picking it up friday!

I want to turn it into a racegun but I will have to see how she handles stock.

I had a 34, great gun, now I have a 17L and prefer it to anything else (except possibly my USP .45).

The only thing I didn't like was the extended mag release and the sights. I swapped the release out for a standard one and added Heinie sights.

My 17L is stone cold accurate with any 147 grain load and I have even used it in IHMSA Field Pistol.

17L's are produced in limited quantities and imported rarely. They are much more popular in other countries. The last run was in the spring of '05 (when I got mine). Thoses serial numbers start with 'H' FWIW.

I would imagine it won't be too long before another run is made.

I have both a G17L and G34.

My G17L is a low round count 2nd Gen and my G34 is of course a 3rd Gen. I take my G34 almost everytime I go to the range. Out of all my pistols (not including 22lrs) the G34 is the gun I do the best with. I haven't had my G17L as long, but it seems to be a very good gun as well. I can't really tell much difference in the two as far as my performance goes. My main reason for buying the G17L was due to its rarity.

Here is a pic below showing my three longslides.

Consider a G34 plus a new ported Storm Lake Barrel, 6.02" long, which is equitable to the length of the G17L! The bbl actually protruded ahead of the slide with 2 ports out front. The barrel can be ordered with up to 6 ports total.

I haven't shot this setup in the G34, but I have in a G35, which I thought was a heck of a package. Right now I'm considering either getting a G34 or G35 with the Storm Lake extended and ported barrel (6 ports).

^ Is the barrel just a drop in part or did it require any fitting?

And what kind of improvement did you see with the 2 ports? Is it a noticeable decrease in recoil/flip? And was there an issue now with flash/powder coming out from the ports?

Essentially it was a drop-in with some minor polishing for aesthetics. Storm Lake indicates that Glock manufactures to pretty close tolerances. I would imagine that a barrel for a 1911 may or may not require gunsmith fitting depending on the manufacturer because of the wide range of producers with varying tolerences.

Here's an excerpt from Stork Lakes website:


"A drop-in barrel can typically be installed by the user with little to no fitting. Glock part tolerances are generally held quite well, and as a result will almost always allow for an easy drop-in. Some firearm tolerances are not held as well. As a result, the barrels we sell for these models must be designated as semi drop-in barrel and may occasionally require the aid of a gunsmith. All drop-in and semi drop-in Storm Lake Barrels are manufactured with the intent to provide the closest tolerance lock up for best accuracy while allowing for the least amount of required fitting."

I'm using the G35 for shooting steel plates, and recoil was significantly reduced and as a result follow up shots were very quick. The gun also feels stable in the hands without any preceived torqueing that I associated with 40 cal.

With the 6 port model, when the gun is shot the smoke that is ported vertically is noticable by bystanders a distance away. The shooter doesn't perceive this because it goes straight up and isn't visible for several feet above the shooters head.

You can always keep the stock barrel for carry, and use the long bbl for plates, practice, etc.

Sorry about the thread necromancy, but I didn't find a thread that answered my question and this one is close enough, given that I'm considering between the same two weapons.


Primarily, I want to know if any of the tales about 17Ls being picky with ammo? These tales run from 'occasionally jams with low pressure ammo' all the way up to 'It takes pressures in the same range as a .357 magnum to function reliably'.

Sounds rather thin to me, but I still would like to know if there's ANY truth to it.

I've shot just about every brand of cheap practice ammo in mine but the bulk of it has been Blazer aluminum. No troubles.

Last year I did some testing with various hollowpoints including 'short' Cor bons and the 147 grain subsonics, never a problem.

Only one 'failure' so far. I shot a box of lead free frangible ammo and the slide failed to lock back once, probably from the low recoil of the ammo. That ammo did the same thing with a P226 and a P6. Funny thing is that lead free ammo is the most accurate stuff you'll ever shoot in a 9mm.

Lots of other hollowpoints, no failures.

RX, from what I've read, the 17L does prefer hotter ammo due to the slide mass. S&B 124gr should be hot enough for cheap ammo, or roll your own.

from what I've read, the cut in the slides of the longslide glocks is to reduce slide mass, thus sort of making "hot" ammo unnecessary.

I'd like to see the actual weights of a 17, 34, and 17L slides, I never did it when I had mine.

If you're looking for a range gun get the 17L.

Mine's my best shooter and the lock up is solid. Glock is now marketing them as their target model.

I'm really starting to want a 17 or 34 lately...

I'm really starting to want a 17 or 34 lately...

Click to expand...

Ditto!

I don't have a lot of data to compare the two guns but I had a student last weekend that a 17 for a long range handgun class and my 34 would shoot circles around it at 200 yards. We are going to get some different sights for it and see if that helps a bit.

My G35 and G34 (wannabe).