HELP!!! I shoot everything better than my Glock 17 (Pics)

[StrikeFire83]

So my Glock 17 has over 15,000 round through it. It was my 2nd handgun and I've owned it for close to 8 years. I love this gun. It just works. Does not malfunction. (Check my signature.)

Problem: Even though I've had a ton of trigger time on this Glock, it seems that I can pick up almost ANY other gun and shoot it better. That happened today at the range. Here is the story in pics:

Glock 17 @ 7 Yards


Glock 17 @ 15 Yards


XDm @ 7 Yards


XDm @ 15 Yards


Dad's Hi-Power @ 7 Yards


Dad's Hi-Power @ 15 Yards


Buddy's M&P9 @ 7 Yards

 

[chrisTx]

I've owned a few Glocks and was never a great shot with them, but I can shoot the hell out of most anything else. Glocks just felt odd in my hand, and I've never been particularly fond of them due to that. The most recent glock I bought I decided to do what I haven't ever done before; I cut away a little bit under the trigger guard. That tiny bit of material made it night and day. The gun fits now, and I can shoot it as good as anything else I own. Before, the trigger guard dug into my knuckle and I had to shift my grip ever so slightly to compensate for the already awkward hold. Now that I can grip it like I'm supposed to, everything is just better. I like the grip now, and I can shoot it just as well as anything else. That tiny bit of material on the frame was holding me back with Glocks.

 

[tarosean]

I would suggest getting rid of the 0.05 cent sights that came on your Glock.. However, 7yds is pretty close...

I have three; 17 and 19 x2, The gen4 19 is far more accurate than the other two (gen3's).. Course I read somewhere that they improved lockup on gen4's.

 

[TexAg]

I might suggest a sight upgrade as well. Looks like you're pushing it left also. Are you pulling the trigger and letting it release just to the reset? My accuracy improved a lot when I started doing this instead of letting it fully out.

 

[tcoz]

I felt the same way about my G19. In fact, I was getting ready to stop taking it to the range or trade it in but since it was a gift from my wife, I decided those weren't the best options so I put on a set of Truglo TFO's and voila. It's gone from my worst to my best shooting gun. I have to add, however, that I'm 63 years old and eyesight has a lot to do with it.

 

[bannockburn]

I'm kind of the same way in that I shot most of my other 9mm.'s better than my Glock 17. Probably due to the trigger and the grip angle more than anything else. Still it's capable of some decent accuracy and I like a challenge, as long as I have the enough ammo to keep practicing with it.

 

[TestPilot]

Went from Glock 22 to M&P40. I hated Glock trigger, and the grip angle always made me feel like I am about to suffer from carpal tunnel. I am happy with the switch, and I am performing better than ever.

However, I've worked with a person who is the exact opposite:

There are guns that suit or does not suit well to a certain individual. It's just a fact of life.

Even with a not so suited gun, training can make the individual perform to a certain standard, but it will not be as good as when the person trained with a gun that ergonomically interact better with the person.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'm assuming this is fired "target shooting" style with slow and consistent trigger pull, breath control, etc. If it were me I'd assume that the other guns were simply more accurate in my hands.

Having owned and shot many over the years all things are not equal - some guns simply do not perform as well as others in my hands. There are undoubtedly technical reason as to why this is and it can be improved with specialized mods and grips (well..maybe not on a Glock...) and barrels and springs and triggers, etc.

I shoot lots of guns and keep the ones that perform the best in my hands after a complete evaluation of what the "problem" might be and attempts to improve it. It's one of the reasons I have 2 Colt 1903 Model m's in .32 ACP and will buy others. They "fit" me and are combat accurate like no other pistol in my hands.

In your case, I think you have found that a Glock 17 is not your "Soul Mate" in terms of accuracy *in your hands*...not saying the Glock ain't all that and a bag of chips *but* the proof is i the pudding. Or, on the paper I guess.

I expected a lot less of my Glock 26 but after about 300 rounds it is shaping up to be quite accurate in my hands. I'm really becoming attached and that surprises me. It's not the gun or you - it's the match.

VooDoo

 

[TarDevil]

My son is the opposite...loves and clings to his XD, though he can't hit a thing with it. Shoots ANY Glock he picks up like a champ, but refuses to own one.

 

[StrikeFire83]

-snip-

 

[StrikeFire83]

Thanks for all of the kind words! I'm going to try and upgrade the sights and see if that helps. I shoot almost everything better but all of my other guns have 3-dot sights and this one does not. I'll change them out. Suggestions? I have one vote for TruGlo.

For those who said "don't fight what works" and switch to another gun I'm inclined to agree but this Glock 17 has protected my home and family since 2006 and I'm pretty attached to it. I owe it to the gun (over 15,000 flawless rounds!!) and myself to try new sights.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Since it is a defensive gun then the TFOs are nice, but I don't like 3-dot night sights. Heine straight-eights are nice sights that I like, and I believe Ameriglo I-Dot sights are similar.

 

[19-3Ben]

For those who said "don't fight what works" and switch to another gun I'm inclined to agree but this Glock 17 has protected my home and family since 2006 and I'm pretty attached to it. I owe it to the gun (over 15,000 flawless rounds!!) and myself to try new sights.

It's a tool. You don't owe an inanimate object anything. Since 2006 is just not that long. If it were granddad's Winchester model 12 that's been pulling HD duty for the last 70 years, then sure it has sentimental value as a family heirloom. But 7 years?

If you've put THAT MUCH ammo downrange, and still can't shoot it better than the other guns, that really tells you something, ragardless of which sights are on it. If the XD shoots better after 600 rounds, than the Glock at 15,000, and you still want to keep the Glock over the XD, you're letting sentimentality get in the way of the practical defense of yourself and your family.

I can't imagine using anything other than my best shooting gun for a situation where consequences really do matter. I would not want to be the guy who has to say "sorry I couldn't stop the threat, but hey, at least I got to use my most favoritest gun in the whole wide world!"

I'll add that your groups with the Glock aren't bad, but if the chips are down, accuracy is going to be degraded no matter which gun you use. May as well use one that shoot the most accurately to begin with so that even with degraded accuracy, you're still on target.

 

[JoeMal]

I started with Glocks and shot them really, really well. Then I got a 1911 and started shooting that more...and my Glock accuracy went down the hole.

I think the better sights on the 1911 spoiled me and I just can't shoot Glocks very well anymore. I've thought about upgrading the sights but just haven't spent the money to do it.

 

[Hangingrock]

Shooting pairs in a compressed time sequence of draw and shoot. Pistols employed a S&W MP9 and Glock G17. I don't buy into the grip angle and trigger differences being problematic.

 

[Mainsail]

I bought a G17 back in '86 and thought I was just a lousy shot- my patterns all looked like a buckshot patten...at best. I sold it in '03 and bought a Sig P239 and wow what a difference. Respectable groupings said I wasn't as bad a shooter as I thought I was.

Now I have a G20SF and G29SF and I can shoot those very well. Is there something about the G17 that doesn't lend itself to accurate shooting? I've heard of people who can shoot the G19 much better than a G17. Weird.

 

[gym]

I will add that I never shot that model well either. My 26, 30 19 all perfect. The neighbors 17 terrible, and not the first one. Don't know why and don't care, it's just not for me. I stopped figuring out why some thins happen and others don't a long time ago. If it doesn't work I sell it and get one that does, rather than try changing a half dozen parts only to end up doing the same thing.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I was able to get good accuracy with Glocks, but you really have to stay on top of your training with them. Lots of dry firing and lots of range time.
I found if I didn't shoot them often it was like starting over.
With other guns, autos and revo's, I can go months without touching them and shoot accurately right away.

That funky Glock grip angle and 'unusual' (to be kind) trigger make it tough.

 

[el Godfather]

Get rid of Glock or leave it in collection scheme of things. You cant shoot it well since 15,000 rounds, time to move on!

 

[MikeJackmin]

Is it just that particular glock 17, or any glock 17? Does that particular gun shoot well for other people?

It's unlikely, but possible, it's a mechanical issue at fault.

If you find that you don't shoot any glocks well, join the club. I have two and like them, but they simply do not fit my hands no matter what I do.

 

[TestPilot]

For those who said "don't fight what works" and switch to another gun I'm inclined to agree but this Glock 17 has protected my home and family since 2006 and I'm pretty attached to it. I owe it to the gun (over 15,000 flawless rounds!!) and myself to try new sights.

I'm not trying to convince you to change or not.

But, why did you stick with it for that long?

Did you just not know that you shoot something else better?

Or, were you expecting to get a lot better along the way?

 

[gym]

I am beginning not to understand what the answer that is needed is. It you don't shoot a gun well, you either sell it or take lessons to find out what you are doing wrong.
It it's only this one gun that you are having the problem with, then the obvious answer is that this gun is not for you. Regardless of "why", it just isn't. Either sell it or have an expert watch you shoot it and decipher what you are doing wrong.
Personally I would sell it and move on, any gun you had during all of those occurrences you attribute to this weapon, would probably have done as good or better.

 

[verdun59]

Convert it to cash and enjoy your other guns.

 

[Grump]

Ummm, is is REAllY the Shooter???

Yee Gads, 20 posts in before someone (MikeJackmin) suggests that maybe our OP might be showing us a problem with the

Glock.

Before going off and selling it or (perhaps wisely) switching over to an XD or one of the others which proved more accurate in this last outing, how about isolating the variables a bit more?

1. I assume the same ammo out of each. NOTHING can make up for really, really crappy ammo. That said, if I got those 15-yard groups at 25, I'd be looking at the ammo first.

2. How do the *other shooters* do with that very same Glock with the very same ammo shooting with equal care? If *they* get groups like you did the BHP, then your original theory holds some water.

3. Find someone else who can get 2-inch or smaller 10-round groups at 15 yards with a G17, and have him or her shoot that same ammo out of YOUR Glock.
a. IF that ammo shoots tighter groups than what you got with your ammo, maybe it's you.
b. THEN have that person shoot your ammo out of your Glock. IF that person gets the same crappy groups that you did, then it's most likely not you, and you just need to feed the pistol better.

Me, I want all the accuracy I can get. IF (yeah, if) my opponent in a serious encounter presents me with only a sliver of a target, I want a gun/ammo/me combination capable of at least the accuracy you got out of the other handguns which you shot that day. Not every encounter is a full frontal confrontation across the room.

 

[tomrkba]

I am assuming the same ammo was used between all guns. Ammo does not explain the shots to the left.

Does this occur with other Glocks with the same sight configuration? Does it occur with upgraded sights on the Glock? Does it go away when you use a 3.5# connector in the Glock? Does this occur when you point shoot? Odds are this is a trigger control issue possibly compounded by misusing the crappy plastic sights and/or problems with your grip.

My first guess is your finger is dragging on the frame. Try curling your trigger finger a bit more by placing less finger on the trigger. My coworker has the same problem where he throws shots out at 9 o'clock, even with Trijicons. Sometimes it's a grip and finger problem (possibly combined with trigger control). Sometimes his grip is not balanced side-to-side in how he puts pressure on the gun. Sometimes he forgets to squeeze his front hand tightly. Other times, his support hand wanders forward and has a gap between hands on the grip. Most of the time, in his case, the left side shots are caused by poor trigger control. The main thing to remember is that several factors may be at work and you'll need to address each. Your checklist for each shot, slow fire, is:

1) Check grip. Thumbs forward in a consistent position. Support index finger touching the bottom of the trigger guard. No gap between your hands at the back of the grip. Web of primary hand all the way up in the tang.
2) Check finger placement. Curl finger to keep it off the frame forward of your knuckle.
3) Check pressure. 70% support hand/30% primary hand. Hold tightly until it shakes and back off until it stops.
4) Make sure pressure is even side to side.
5) Focus on front sight.
6) Focus on pulling the trigger straight back as much as possible.

I also either shoot to the center or top of the white dot with the plastic Glock sights. I use Trijicon night sights and shoot to the center of the dot with those.

You can use thumb pressure on the side of the frame to offset sight movement caused by poor trigger control and/or grip. However, this is not optimal because you're not solving the root cause of the problem.

Keep in mind the Glock's length of pull may be too long for you in combination with that grip. You can still adapt and learn to shoot the gun well. You should do so because you should be able to pick up any handgun and shoot it well. However, the Glock Gen3 gun may not be optimal for your hand; check out the Gen4 guns with their adjustable grip.

However, blaming the grip and quitting means you're not willing to learn to shoot well regardless of the gun's attributes. Quality guns will have great mechanical accuracy every time they're shot from a Ransom Rest or similar tool. I see this all the time at the range; they blame everything but their technique. You'll be a better shooter if you know how to adapt to different platforms. Try to discover what each gun wants because every time you do so you will learn something about yourself and your shooting.