My First Glock

[ThomasT]

Just picked up my first Glock. A Gen3 model 17. My bud bought a Gen1 when they first came out many years ago and I shot it quite a bit but just never bought one of my own. Actually I did buy one many years ago, a 357 Sig but sold it as soon as I got home to a friend who begged me to sell it to him. So I did. For a $50 profit.

Anyway I am going to order a couple more mags. The Glockstore has them for $30 each. I looked at holsters and may order a Bianchi UM84 II for $50 and a double mag pouch. I may pick up some of spare parts like recoil springs and any other common parts that wear out. But I plan on leaving it stock. I like the trigger and sights. They work for what I want.

I even somewhere along the way picked up a real Glock belt slide holster. I have no idea where I got it. Just in some long ago trade. Here are some pics for those who may not know or have not ever seen what a Glock looks like. Lol.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Congrats and welcome to the dark side

 

[ThomasT]

OK for grins I did a comparison between my new Glock and my new S&W SD9VE. Boy howdy this ought to be fun!

First how do they feel in the hands? They feel very close with me really liking the feel of the S&W grip just a little better. I like the new texture of the S&W grip. The weight was close with the Glock weighing 20oz and the S&W weighing 18oz both without magazines installed. Now the big one. The triggers. My Glock box says my new gun has a 5.5lb trigger. I estimated the S&W trigger at 8 pounds. They feel almost exactly the same as far as pull and smoothness. The real difference is the Glock reset is much shorter. The reset on the S&W is at least twice as long. And even longer on the SW version.

The Glock feels slightly more solid than the Smith. The Smith fits right in the old Glock belt slide holster. I forgot to check the Glock in the Fobus holster I have for the S&W but I bet it fits which will save me buying a holster for the Glock. And looking inside they look almost the same. The S&W really is a copy of the Glock.

So I guess if a person were on a budget and couldn't decide between the Glock and the SD89VE I would say go for the S&W. I don't think you will be disappointed. The new SD is a better feeling gun that the older SW I also own even though I have no complaints with the SW now that I have done a little work on the trigger.

So is the Glock worth the $225 extra I paid for it over the SD9? Maybe if for no other reason than the easy to find parts and magazines and the legendary reliability/durability that the Glock has.

And I went and checked and the Glock will not quite fit the Fobus holster because the Glock has the forward hook on the trigger guard that the S&W doesn't have. But the local Academy sells the Fobus holsters for around $25 and I like the couple I have owned. Easy on and easy off with the paddle set up.

 

[ThomasT]

Congrats and welcome to the dark side

Thanks. I am already looking for extra mags and hoping someone will come along and recommend spare parts I should have on hand. I found some Magpul mags a few days ago for around $13 IIRC and wonder if they are good mags to have? It seems everyone likes the AR mags they make so I an guessing they are GTG.

 

[ThomasT]

And another thing is I took the Glock apart and looked down the barrel and it doesn't appear to have the polygonal rifling. It looks like standard land and groove rifling like any other barrel. And what a smooth looking barrel it is. And if its conventional rifling then shooting lead bullets should be OK to do. I sure hope so. I just got a new Lee 140gr bullet mold and a .356 sizer to go with it.

 

[Dan-O]

They’re like pringles. Once you pop, you can’t stop.

 

[Lennyjoe]

If it’s a Gen 3 and original barrel then it’s definitely polygonal. Shooting lead out of it is a myth. People do without issue. I like a 3.5 lb disconnector in my Glocks.

 

[ThomasT]

If it’s a Gen 3 and original barrel then it’s definitely polygonal. Shooting lead out of it is a myth. People do without issue. I like a 3.5 lb disconnector in my Glocks.

Maybe you're right but it sure looks like its rifled to me. I will have to do more checking. And the gun is brand new. Its not a used gun so new manufacture.

 

[Pat Riot]

Congrats on your new toys.
I have not shot that particular S&W, but I do like my Glocks.
In regards to spare parts, I bought a “Glock Survival Kit” from the Glock Store years ago for my first Glock 34. The only part I ever used from that kit was the firing pin safety spring because I dropped it and stepped on it while looking for it.
I understand that it is recommended that the recoil spring assembly should be changed after a few thousand rounds.

My first Glock 34 had the polygonal barrel. I sold that gun, like a dope. I now have a Glock 45, a Gen 3 G26 and a Gen 3 G34. I just bought another Gen 3 G34 that I can pick up next Monday after the CA 10 day wait.
The 3 Glocks I possess now have the “Marksman” barrel rifling. My old 19X did as well.
I am convinced my original G34 was more accurate than my current G34. If the G34 I pick up next week matches the accuracy of my current one I am going to go looking for an original polygonal barrel to test out.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Midway has the mags for less than $30---------free shipping if you spend $49

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/930445055

 

[Pat Riot]

This is why I say my barrels all look like Marksman rifled barrels.





This and I was told by my LGS that all new Gen 3s have standard rifling though I cannot corroborate that online.

 

[ThomasT]

Well your pictures are much better than mine. Stupid camera wanted to focus on everything except the barrel. But here is what I have. Maybe it is the marksman barrel. I bet you are correct. I had forgot about those those since I'm not really a Glock follower.

 

[jonb32248]

The one thing I dislike about the slide type holster like you have in one picture is that the end of my 19 wears on my jeans and the end of the slide gets shinny. I have gone to a leather retention holster from Urban Carry, very nice.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

 

[JDR]

..I found some Magpul mags a few days ago for around $13 IIRC and wonder if they are good mags to have?

I have many of these Magpul Glock mags and these have always worked great and none of these have ever broken.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I found some Magpul mags a few days ago for around $13 IIRC and wonder if they are good mags to have?

To be honest I actually don't know how many Magpul Glock magazines I have. I think it's pretty close to 20.

Having said that I use them as range magazines and training magazines. I don't care if they get dropped on the ground. I don't care if they get stepped on. I don't care if they get kicked and all of those things have happened to them and they work just fine.

The only issue that I have with the Magpul mags is that the Glock 26 12 round mags don't drop free like the Glock factory magazines do.

 

[Pat Riot]

Well your pictures are much better than mine. Stupid camera wanted to focus on everything except the barrel. But here is what I have. Maybe it is the marksman barrel. I bet you are correct. I had forgot about those those since I'm not really a Glock follower.

View attachment 951943 View attachment 951944

Looks like land and groove rifling to me.

 

[Riomouse911]

Good deal, you’ll be well served with your G17 for as long as you own it.

It took me years to warm up to the Glock, but they just seem to work and work and work. I carry a G-34 every day on duty, and have for many years. For me it’s the best thing going, but others may disagree as these don’t work for them. I think that’s perfectly fine.

I’m not a Glock fanboy, but I sure respect and rely on the abilities of these designs.

Let us know how it shoots for you on the range.

Stay safe.

 

[ThomasT]

I’m not a Glock fanboy, but I sure respect and rely on the abilities of these designs.

I think that right there was one of the biggest reasons I bought this gun. Back when I read gunzines there was a guy whose name I just can't quite remember that talked about shooting his Glock close to 200,000 times without fail. That really impressed me. So did the cost of the ammo for that many rounds but I guess he got it free or at reduced cost.

But the durability of the gun and the cheap, easy to find parts is a big plus for me. Not that I will ever shoot anything close to that many rounds through one. And I'm not a Glock fan or an AR fan but I know a good design when I see one.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

A Glock 17 Gen 3 and a Smith SD9VE are the two striker pistols I own as well. The Glock runs just as flawlessly as its reputation suggests and it shoots alright, but something about it feels off in my hand. Just haven't been able to warm up to it. I got the SD9 because I like the two-tone look, LOVE the way it feels in my hand, and for $350 I thought it may be the answer. But the trigger on it is terrible.

So both are OK, neither one has me fanboying out. If I had to keep one and sell the other, I'd keep the Glock.

I'm looking into the Glock 48 as the answer. Maybe with a slimmer grip and changeable backstraps, I can get the Glock to fit me.

 

[bluecollar]

Polygonal on the left and conventional on the right. Not a great pic but should be able to see the difference.

 

[bluecollar]

This is why I say my barrels all look like Marksman rifled barrels.

View attachment 951937

View attachment 951938

This and I was told by my LGS that all new Gen 3s have standard rifling though I cannot corroborate that online.

All polygonal barrels. Glock’s “Marksman” barrel is as much a marketing ploy as anything else. Still a polygonal barrel. You find a gen 3 with conventional rifling it would be a one off and worth bookoo.

 

[FL-NC]

Good choice. I would recommend investing in some night sights- the plastic ones they come with are really bad.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I am already looking for extra mags and hoping someone will come along and recommend spare parts I should have on hand.

I like the magpul mags. I despise aftermarket mags and have had nothing but trouble out of most. But magpul has been 100%. You can also find Asian military mags that work well and are cheap.

As far as parts I use a 3.5 lb disconnect. Most parts fit nearly all Glocks too so I keep enough parts to build a couple new guns. If I only had one Glock id likely just keep a return spring assembly and mag springs. You never have to worry about parts availability or anything with Glock 17/22 etc like you do with some companies.

 

[ThomasT]

View attachment 952136
Polygonal on the left and conventional on the right. Not a great pic but should be able to see the difference.

Bluecollar your barrel on the left looks exactly like what my barrel looks like. The only down side I knew of with the Poly barrel is that you aren't supposed to shoot lead bullets. But you can bet I will anyway. One of the other posters stated people do it all the time and I have heard of others who shoot lead with no problems. Plus I have read the poly barrels are a little faster with jacketed bullets. So I'm good with it. At least I'm not going to buy a replacement barrel. Just a spare recoil spring assembly or two and call it good. And a few extra mags. I really don't get to shoot as much as I want so I doubt I will ever need a spare part anyway.