Glock 17 or Glock 34? Compare.

[drusk_34/17]

I am in the market for a new handgun. I have looked up a bunch of information and decided to go with a 9mm Glock, either a Glock 17 or Glock 34. I will mainly use it for Target shooting, but not competitively unless I decide to in the future. Can anyone give me any insight or first hand experience as to which u prefer?

Which has better range and velocity?
Which has the most modifications available to it?
Overall is the Glock 34 worth the little extra money?
Does the Glock 34 let in a bunch of crud on top?

Any information will help greatly. Thanks.

 

[Purple Rice]

Get a 19. Large enough size for target shooting, and can be CC'd if necessary. Not too big, not too small. Best of both worlds. Holds 15 rounds in the magazine. Works for me!

 

[jon86]

I don't have a 34, but I will try to answer your questions.

We are comparing 4.49 inch to 5.32 inch barrel lengths. The difference in range will be nonexistent from a practical standpoint. The difference in velocity will be less than 100 fps difference. (negligible to me) See http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/9mmluger.html for reference. But to answer your question, the 5.32 inch barrel will have higher velocity.

I'm not aware of any modifications that would fit the 17 that would not fit the 34. I could be wrong though. I like my glocks stock.

Only you can decide if the 34 is worth the extra money. I feel that the 17 is a bit more balanced in the hand then the 34, but that's just me.

I don't have a 34, so I don't know if crud gets in the top. I can't imagine why it would if you are only target shooting with it... unless you target shoot in a jungle... in the rain... lying prone...

If you ever plan to conceal the thing, I would look hard at the 19. You CAN conceal the 17 though. I've never concealed a 34.

Bottom line is you can't go wrong either way. There is no wrong decision here. If I were getting it ONLY for target shooting I might consider the 34 only for the increased sight radius. Let us know which one you get!

 

[ForumSurfer]

Get a 19. Large enough size for target shooting, and can be CC'd if necessary. Not too big, not too small. Best of both worlds. Holds 15 rounds in the magazine. Works for me!

Great advice! I didn't like my 17, but I fell in love with my 19 and now it spends the most time on my hip and the bulk of my range time (aside from 22's).

For range only, I'd go with a 34. It has a slight advantage in sight radius so it has more potential for better accuracy.

Which has better range and velocity?

There is very little difference in barrel length, you won't notice a big difference....draw.

Which has the most modifications available to it?

Either one...draw.

Overall is the Glock 34 worth the little extra money?

I can't decide that for you. For me? Yes, but only because I already own a 19 and a 26.

Does the Glock 34 let in a bunch of crud on top?

Buy me one and I'll let you know. Seriously, I don't think it is going to affect reliability. I would LOVE to evaluate one and see since it is either sandy or muddy in the area where I shoot on my property. Depending on where you drop your mags, it is a real endurance test. No matter what kind of crud I've gotten into my glocks, nothing has made them stop yet.

unless you target shoot in a jungle... in the rain... lying prone...

Yep, that's the area on the back of my property. Prone may require a snorkel after a heavy rain.

 

[Prosser]

My experience. I've shot a bunch of Glocks. Never liked any of em, until I tried a full race, Glock 34. GREAT trigger, for a Glock(It's still not a custom tuned 1911)
excellent accuracy, and, it or the 35 are the only Glocks I would seriously consider buying. There are a few I might own if someone gave them to me, other then that...or what they really cost to produce.

 

[Strykervet]

I have a bunch of 'em. I got a 17 and a 17L; the 17L is like the G34 but longer and with a 3.5 connector. It comes with an extended mag release and slide release. The 17L is certainly more accurate (more accurate than you would expect out of a plastic pistol at that price) the trigger is lighter (more so that I've polished the parts) and the recoil with target loads is negligble. I did need to use a lighter recoil spring though --where the 17 would function fine with my target loads, the 17L needed a 15 lb'er. The velocity in the 17L is noticeably higher, it spits out the hot 9mm ammo at .357 velocities. The 17L is balanced well because Glock machined out certain parts of the slide on the inside, I don't know if they do this with the G34. For instance, the side of the slide in the rear is hollow, whereas on the G17 it is solid. The weight between the two is very similar.

For carry, I use the G17 on the hip sometimes. The 17L is just too long, if I were to use it it would be in a leg holster. Since I'm not in the military anymore, the 17L is a range pistol. A target pistol. If SHTF though, that is my pistol of choice among all others.

If carry is not an issue (you have something you already prefer) then by all means, go with the G34. If it is mostly for range work, either would do, but if competition is even a consideration, get the G34. The 17L is a little better, but it isn't legal in the stock classes. They cost more too since they only make them in limited batches (I heard they stopped for good though...).

If carry is an issue, and competition not much so, the G19 is the better choice. It has to be THE pistol the 9mm was intended for. Absolute best all around, but velocity and accuracy will suffer some.

I prefer to carry the G27 or G29, and to target shoot the G17L. The G17 sees duty as my wife's bedside pistol, target work, some carry work, and it is a good one to keep in the truck. So it is sort of the jack of all trades. A G19 would be similar, really a better choice overall.

All that said, a .40 may be the better choice. Certainly for carry or defense. The G23 is a fine carry piece, as is the G27, and the G24 and G35 are fine target pieces. You can also do better score-wise using the .40 in competition, depending on what you get into, as you can use pretty heavy bullets that are wider, and you got 15 of 'em (vs. 17 smaller lighter rounds).

As far as accuracy, out of all of my Glocks, the G17L is the best, followed by the G20. The G29 is the most accurate pistol that size I've ever shot.

 

[ironhead7544]

For the range I would get the G34. Slightly longer sight radius and lighter trigger.

 

[Hemoglobin]

My Glocks, as of right now, are a 17,19, and a 35, but I did have a 34- traded it for the 35

Which has better range and velocity?
-The longer sight radius of the longslide models help with longer range shots, to a degree.

Which has the most modifications available to it?
-I would say the 17 only because once you start adding comps and whatnot to the long slide models, problems seem to be a little more difficult to solve if they pop up, but other than that it's mostly equal.

Overall is the Glock 34 worth the little extra money?
-If it's for a "keep it mostly stock" shooter or for possible entry level competition, then I say yes, it is.
Does the Glock 34 let in a bunch of crud on top?
-Never been a problem, but it is possible if you throw it on the ground and roll it around in the mud, sure.

 

[451 Detonics]

I thought about a 34 or a 17L but ended up with a used 3rd Gen 17. I added a Lone Wolf barrel, Carver comp, Burris Fastfire, and ZEV Tech Fulcrum trigger. I built this up for mostly fun and informal competition, steel matches and such.

Glock 17...was a police trade in, $320.00
LW Barrel...threaded for comp, $112.00
Carver Comp...4 port, very effective, $89.00
ZEV Tech Fulcrum trigger, $180.00

total spent... $701.00

I have to say a few words on the ZEV trigger. It is simply amazing. It is adjustable for both pre and after travel, reset is less than 1/2 the factory. It comes with 2 striker springs of reduced weight and it pretty much a drop in unit. After careful adjusting my trigger is breaking very cleaning at 2 3/4 pounds with just the slightest over travel. Pre travel is non-existent, just the safety take up. It is very similar to a nicely tuned 1911 trigger. Functioning has been perfect through about 1200 rounds since I put it all together.

I didn't include the optics in the pricing as some may prefer the iron sights or other optics. You can all look up the pricing on the optics you want. I am still training myself to pick up the dot quickly, grip angle still throws me off so I am doing a lot of dry fire practice from the holster but I am getting better. This gun has already proven itself in competition...with a 33 round mag in place a big steel rattle battle is a breeze.

the gun...

 

[drusk_34/17]

This is a lot of great information, I really appreciate it. I would like to buy a Gen 4 Glock 34, but I know that these are hard to come by right now. Does anyone know where I could possibly find one?

 

[Jed Carter]

I have a Gen 3 G17 and G34, The G34 is the best shooting 9mm I have besides my STI 1911. Change the factory sights and ad a ZEV or Apex trigger system, and you have a decent Limited pistol for under $900. Side by side the G34 trigger. and balance are much better than the G17. Are you a lefty? Do you need the Ambi mag release? I am not aware that the G34 Gen 4 is available in any quantity, so I am no help there. Gen 3 works for me, I shoot USPSA and sometimes IDPA matches with the G34, use the STI 1911 too, my reloads are much faster with the Glock. I was never going to get a Glock, ever, until I was handed a G17 at an intro to action shooting sports in Nov. 08, never lasted about 2 weeks.

 

[jackpinesavages]

Go for the 17 if it is your first Glock. Used and police trade-ins everywhere for under 400. If you want to shoot competetively sell it off for a 34, 35, or 24 if you come across one. Welcome to the addiction.

 

[Zak Smith]

I've shot all the Glocks and own a bunch, including the 17 and 34. The 19 is my favorite model overall; for some reason I actually shoot it more accurately and faster than a 17.