Glock 17 hates me at 25 yards

[Beren]

I went to the range yesterday for the first time in three months. I'm not the greatest shot in the world, but with my Colt Gunsite 5", I can keep all rounds on a 7" paper plate at 25 yards. With my Glock 17, I can barely hit the plate, period.

10 yards? No problem with the G17, I can drill nearly touching holes all day long.

Am I being overly ambitious? Guess I should start trying at 15 yards, then slowly work my way out to 25. Any recommendations that are Glock-specific or is it all a matter of sight alignment (stock sights), breath control, and trigger control?

 

[Seven High]

Its been my experience with my G 22 that different brands of ammo are more accurate than other brands. You might experiment with as many brands as you can find. I bet that you will find one that the weapon likes a lot better. You might also consider having a lighter trigger spring installed. I believe that five pounds is the standard one. They have 3 pound ones avaliable.

 

[WEPS]

Maybe the 17 doesn't fit your hand as well as the Colt.
Im a pretty good shot period, but i found i do my best work with a 92fs. It just fits my hand the best. I can do things with a 92fs at 25 yards that i could never duplicate with any other weapon and believe me i have tried.

 

[Bix]

Have you noticed any difference in the characteristics of the trigger pull on you GSP as compared to your 17?

I have a hard time printing pretty groups out past 15 yards or so with my Glocks, as well. I think it's simply a matter of getting your head around that trigger. At closer ranges, I work on "chasing the hole" and other trigger-control drills to try to clean things up at longer ranges. It helps.

I, like SH, also notice some pretty dramatic accuracy variance among ammuntion choices. If I shoot a target with WWB next to one with reclassed Gold Dots at 25 yards, the result is startling.

 

[jamz]

You think it hates YOU, just think of how it feels about the guy you're shooting AT!


-James

 

[Onmilo]

Like everything else practice, practice and more practice will make you proficient with the Glock.
Most Glocks do not fall into the realm of target grade accurate but 3" groups at 25 meters is a reasonable expectation with any model Glock.
I can shoot groups of this size and smaller, offhand, with a fixed sight model 26 and you should do the same with the 17. Good Luck.

 

[medmo]

How are you missing with the G? All over the place or in a specific pattern?

 

[357wheelgunner]

Glocks have a hideous trigger. You are comparing a $1500 single action 1911 with a trigger that breaks "like a glass rod", to a $500 glock with a long spongey trigger that breaks more like a wet toothpick. I have had 2 glocks, both were sold due to the crappy trigger. It can be overcome, but that is like aquiring a taste for coffee. Why work so hard to be able to tolerate something that sucks?

I carry and shoot S&W revolvers now....no flinching, and smooth buttery DA trigger matched with a crisp light SA trigger= bull's eye with lots of holes in it.

 

[Shipwreck]

I have had a G19 and G 17 years ago. I had the same problem U did. 15 yards weren't too great, and 25 yards took a prayer to hit. I carry a G26 for CCW, but I understand that my range is limited with it.

I was gonna buy a Glock 34. I decided to get a Beretta Cheetah in a couple of weeks instead. I've never been as accurate with Glocks, and I already have 2 full size Beretta 9mms that I love. Not much point in adding another big 9mm, especially one I can't shoot as well...

 

[panayoti]

I have had several glocks and went through the same search for accuracy. The two things I found:

1. you can't switch back and forth between a glock and 1911 single action trigger pull.

2. glocks seem to be sensitive to holding pressure. Massad oroob (not sure on spelling) discusses this. he recomended a 90% squeeze with dominant hand and 100 % with weak hand. This helped my groups with my 22C.

 

[El Tejon]

Hitting at long range with squishy triggers is tough, but can be done.

Dry practice and shoot more at longer ranges. Rome wasn't built in a day. There's a reason they call it gun fu: skill through time and effort.

 

[Old Fuff]

To determine the accuracy of a particular gun/ammunition combination try shooting off of a bench at different ranges. Yes, ammunition can make a difference.

Unless the Glock is used exclusively as a range gun I would not drop the trigger pull under 5 pounds. The Colt has a manual safety that allows the pistol be carried in a ready state, but locked. I know all about the "keep your finger off of the trigger" stuff, and I agree with it regardless of what pistol is being carried. But given the Glock's design and system I wouldn't want the trigger pull reduced below 5 pounds. I'd also say the same concerning a Colt - unless it was for range shooting only.

The techniques used to make hits with a Glock at 25 yards - or further - are much the same as those used in shooting double-action revolvers. When using a revolver with a 10-pound (or slightly more) double action trigger pull I can easily keep my hits on a 7-inch plate at 25 yards. That's twice the pull on your Glock.

 

[Onmilo]

The comparison between a Glock and a 1911 is always amusing to me because inevitably someone will compare the breaking glass rod smooth trigger pull of a 1911 to the spongy trigger of the Glock and inevitably someone else will recommend that a Glock should never have anything less than a five pound connector if it is used for anything besides a range gun.

All my Glocks, ( I have three now), have 3.5 connectors in them and one, (a model 26), is used as a carry gun on a daily basis.

I also own five 1911 pistols, two of them Colt made, and none has a trigger pull lighter than 3.5 pounds, anything less I consider prone to cause problems,(i.e. hammer follow through, misfires, double fires, etc.).

As for accuracy, my Model 34 is the second most accurate 9mm that I own, the most accurate is a S&W Model 952.

Three of my 1911 pistols are Match accurate and two, the Colt made guns, (both Military issue pieces unaltered), are paper plate guns,(They will group shots on a 9" paper plate at twenty five meters).

Practice is the key, regardless of the gun.

 

[Old Fuff]

Glock's standard trigger pull on "service" pistols is 5 1/2 pounds. The lightest, offered in some sport or game versions, is 4 1/2 pounds. The USGI standard for 1911-A1 service pistols was 6 pounds, 4 1/2 pounds for "hardball" target pistols, and 3 1/2 pounds for "softball" target guns. Neither of the latter two were intended to be carried as holstered weapons.

Of course both Colt's and Glock trigger pulls can be reduced to around 3 1/2 pounds, and there are some who choose to carry them that way. That's their business, but I notice that most police departments specify 5 pound or heavier pulls on their Glocks, and few carry any kind of single-action autoloaders anymore.

To each his own, but for my and other's safety my carry pistols will remain at 5 pounds or greater.

 

[NMshooter]

I like both Glocks and 1911s.

I shoot them both just fine, switching between them without problems.

It took years and tens of thousands of rounds to get to that point.

So get out there and shoot more!

 

[Chris Rhines]

Of course both Colt's and Glock trigger pulls can be reduced to around 3 1/2 pounds,...

Or less. My Limited G35 will lift two pounds. Not an ounce more.

Would I carry it? Sure, why not? All the factory safeties are still functional, and the gun still takes a conscious effort to fire.

...but I notice that most police departments specify 5 pound or heavier pulls on their Glocks, and few carry any kind of single-action autoloaders anymore.

Police Departments are well-known for doing silly things. Doesn't mean we have to follow them over the cliff all Lemming-like...

- Chris

 

[Old Fuff]

>> Police Departments are well-known for doing silly things. Doesn't mean we have to follow them over the cliff all Lemming-like... <<

No, But I think the Lemmings learned from experience ...

 

[Dienekes]

Just to get the ticket punched I invested in a G17 to see if I was missing something a couple of years ago. I had shot them off and on in the past and decided it was time to see if we were compatable.

Spent about a year fighting that thing and its trigger. Never could get my shot calls and it to be anywhere near the same place no matter how hard I tried. The end came when I shot a 1912-vintage .45 with invisible sights and a 9 pound pull better with half the effort. Traded the Glock off for two nice Ruger Security Sixes which I thought was one of the best deals I ever made.

I am not a big fan of the 9mm round (especially compared to the .45 ACP) but I shoot my BHP with the same ammo far better.

I finished out my LEO career with a .357 revolver and no second thoughts. Had lots of opportunities to change to the Glock and never could persuade myself that it had all that much to offer. Still feel that way...

 

[Shipwreck]

Yes, I don't wanna invest so much time into mastering a trigger when I can already shoot my other guns well. For 9mms, I like Berettas the best. For .45s, I love the 1911