17L and 34 are based on the same frame. The only notable difference is the 17L barrel and slide are longer and squared in the front. The 34 slide nose has side bevels.

 

The 17L slide has more material cut out. I think it also lighter.

The G17L is a light gun for it's size.

 

I own both, and as they are less common and less-often carried/used, holsters for the 17L model can be harder to find (unless it's an open-bottom holster without any sort of a rolled edge or "lip", then you can just let the excess slide hang out the bottom).

The main difference is the 17L has a 6.02-inch barrel and corresponding square-nosed slide, and the Glock 34 has a 5.31-inch barrel, with a tapered muzzle-end of the slide (as said above). The G34 could be ordered with the normal connector or the lighter connector, depending on the intended use (if I remember correctly, Glock does not recommend the lighter connectors for defensive or duty-gun use); I think the 17L always came with the lighter connector.

The frame on either is the same frame that was being used on the Glock 17 at the time either was produced. Although I don't believe Glock has yet produced any Gen4 17L models, the model 34 has been made in Gen4 configuration as well as its original Gen3 version; but the 17L has been around for a long time (it was the second model Glock ever made), so it can be had in Gen1, Gen2 or Gen3 versions.

The only parts I can think of right now that might not work on a 17L, but would work on a standard 17 of the same frame style, are certain front sights that are very long. They will overhang the slide cutout on some models of 17L, leaving the sight less-well-supported and subject to snagging/damage. EDITED TO ADD: Some recoil spring assemblies (RSAs) with large endcaps may not play nice with the long RSA tunnel on a 17L slide, either.

 

What type of competition are you planning to start? That might make your decision a little easier.

 

This is correct. The internals of the 17, 34, and 17L frames are identical and interchangeable.

The 34 and 17L slides have different sized lightening cuts in them to make them close to the weight of the 17 slide. Because of these cuts, all use the same RSA.

There are competitions where the 17L is not legal, due to length. The 34 is pretty much universally legal

I've never heard of a minus trigger. There is a minus connector that is easily swapped into any of these, if it didn't come that way.

 

This is correct. The internals of the 17, 34, and 17L frames are identical and interchangeable.

That's only true if all are pre-Gen4, or if the G17 and G34 are Gen4.

 

Yeah, I meant Connector, not trigger. I'm looking at getting one for my G26 right now.

Thanks for that information about the 17L, I hadn't even thought of it not being legal in competition. If some places don't allow the 17L, I guess I'm pretty much decided on the 34.

My last competitions were back in the early to mid 80's, when I was 11-15 years old. I shot in a lot of the local IPSC competitions using my Uncle's 40 year old 1911 that he'd gotten chambered in .38Super so I could control it easier than full blown .45ACP. It was all fun and competitive until the Race guns started hitting hard in the line and I was using my Uncle's pretty basic pistol against $4000.00(1980's dollars) pistols with all sorts of bells and whistles. Since buying my G26, and seeing how easy they are to modify and accessorize without having to mortgage my home and selling off my son, the idea ha started floating around in my head about doing it again at some of the local events. Nothing major, maybe a little 3-gun, IDPA and other fun gun events. Something to do on the weekends when I don't have any chores to do around the house kinda thing.

 

First check to see what the rules are for your local comps, that will help you determine what would suit you better. If the rules will allow you to run a C model, then I would choose a 17C or especially the 19C. The Gen4 19C shoots softer and flatter than the 34 or 17L.

 

Thanks. I've never seen a "C" model listed anywhere. I'm assuming it's a Competition model. EDIT: Never mind, looked it up and found it was Compensated models.

Is it something you have to special order from Glock or is it a Custom Shop only? What do they do with it as opposed to the factory run pistols?

As far as looking for something I can compete and carry, that's not a big deal for me. I carry my G26 now pretty much exclusively. It goes in my pocket or on me out of habit like putting my keys and wallet in my pocket when I leave the house. I live in Central Florida so the Subcompact pistol for me is pretty much an only option for ease of carry. Shorts and T-Shirt or Polo are pretty much my every day suit when I'm not wearing scrubs(surgical nurse). Not to brag but, A couple of weeks ago, I did actually wear long pants when it got down below 60* one night.... The 17 or 34 that I buy will pretty much just be a "Fun Gun" to take to the range and compete on occasion with.

I won't say I have drank all the Glock kool-aid yet, but, since buying my Glock, I have really become enamored with the basic design, simplicity and functionality of them. This was my first modern firearm I'd ever owned. Prior to it, everything I owned, shot and used were 19th and 20th Century designs. 1911, S&W revolvers, Walther PPK/s, Sigs. It has taken me a few months to get comfortable with this, being my first Striker fired pistol without all those switches and external safeties. Now, I don't give it any more thought or consideration than I did when I carried my 1911 or the wife's Walther.

Thanks again for all the replies. I'm learning a lot. Keep it coming.

 

I love my 17L. That said, if I was looking for a handgun that would fit the most stock competition categories and still be a viable everyday gun, I would go with a Model 35 (that's the .40 S&W) and then the model 35 (9mm version), unless the Major/Minor rules have been changed. The 35 used to be considered a do-it-all gun. I don't compete, so I'll just stick with my old 17L. I have a Hogue Powerspeed Retention holster that make a good field model.

 

Of course, if you want a Gen4, there's only one choice.

 

Oh, sorry about any confusion. I only think about Gen 3 since I have owned about 25-30 Gen 3s.. I forget about the differences brought about by the introduction of Gen 4. I don't think the 17L has ever been available in a Gen 4 configuration.
To clarify, all gen 3 models of 17, 34, and 17L frames are idential and parts are interchangable.
The gen 4s have differences that I'm not familiar with. I'm sure someone can add info if you're interested in a gen 4.

 

One is too long and the other is WAY too long.

 

"C" models are Compensated.

They have two ports cut into the top of the barrel and two corresponding slots milled into the slide.

 

The slide on the 34 has been lightened by cuts even though there are no ports in the barrel. The rear sights are set further back on the 34 slide to give a longer sighting radius.

 

C Models are ported, not compensated, big difference. One is in the barrel the other is on the end of the barrel. Comps will only run on very very hot ammo However, C models are not legal in IDPA at all, you would have to get a plain barrel, and the same for USPSA, unless you want to shoot in Open Division, Limited or Limited 10, and get hosed by major scoring. Neither matters for 3 Gun or Steel Challenge. Local competitions (non sanctioned by national organizations) have their own rules, which vary from club to club, but it generally isn't restricted. Both the G34 and G17L have the minus connector and the OEM G21 mag release (extended), but you can put that on any Glock. If you have never shot any competition at all, then it won't really matter until you get a few dozen matches under your belt. Competition has little to do with gear and mostly to do with shooter ability. I've got G17s/G34s and G17Ls, but shoot the G17 most often. Typically 95% of all shots in IDPA/USPSA/3 gun are 3-15 yards, so the longer guns don't have a huge advantage, except for a very occasional plate at 25 yards.

Ported barrel

compensated barrel, USPSA Major 9 Open Division

 

I agree ported versus compensated in practice. But Glock "C" models are named that way. Tell Glock that! Haha!
Your first picture is NOT of a Glock "C" model, is it. It looks like custom ports. C models have two slots in the slides and two in the barrel beneath.

Btw:
My 17, 34, and 17L (Gen 3s) all have the rear sight cut into the same place in the slide. You can put an offset sight on that adds a little extra sight radius, but they are all in the same slot placement. Pic ha's 17, 34, 17L bottom to top.
.

 

My 17, 34, and 17L (Gen 3s) all have the rear sight cut into the same place in the frame.
Huh? dovetail cuts in the frame???


No, thats a G24C. I have one also.

 

My 17, 34, and 17L (Gen 3s) all have the rear sight cut into the same place in the frame.
Huh? dovetail cuts in the frame???


No, thats a G24C. I have one also.

Wow, I stand corrected. I've never seen a c model longslide, all my Glocks are non-ported.
You got me, slide not frame. I'll correct my post.
Yes, the rear sight dovetail is milled into the slides on all of my 17, 34, and 17L the same distance from the rear of the slide. I put them all back into the safe after I took the one pic earlier, but they were cut the same.

 

All small frame Glocks have the same slide cut. It's nice there is a huge offering of really nice sights today, unlike in the beginning there were only Heinies and Novaks.

 

and dots, this is a (now discontinued) Trijicon Red Dot 7 MOA, same as a Docter or Jpoint.

 

My 17L is one of the early ones. It had the ported barrel. Since 9mm Parabellum is hardly a kicker in a six-inch barreled gun, I felt that all the ports really did was make the gun louder and blacken the front sight. I like less-noise and white dots, so I ordered a Glock six-inch non-ported barrel. FWIW, if you ran thousands of HOT loads through the earlier ported barrels like mine, apparently you could eventually get cracks. Glock stopped offering that configuration of ports a long time ago and dropped them from the 17L (Model 24 had a different shape) entirely (I think).

 

You are correct.

Glock has used 3 different types of porting on their semi-auto pistols, and at least one other style on the G18 machinepistol. Here is a photo of the 3 basic styles of porting:

From to top to bottom: Gen1 G17L (only model to use this style of porting), Gen3 G24C (early versions were stamped 24 on the pistol, and 24P on the box label; this is the only model to use this style of porting), and Gen3 G17 (style used on all the Gen 2 and Gen3 "C" models except the G24C).

This is a photo of the porting on a G18 machinepistol. It kind of looks like a cross between the Gen1 G17L and G24C porting. Hat tip and thanks to Dr Ken Lunde's Pistol Pages (I think I remembered that site name correctly), where I saw and downloaded this picture many years ago. I tried to find his pages again recently and could not, so I assume they are now off-line. He had some absolutely fantastic high-resolution firearm photos on his site; I will miss browsing through them.

 

Back to the original subject...

I find the G34 points a bit better for me than the G17, and because the grip shape is the same, I assume it's the minor weight difference and the longer slide/barrel changing the distribution of that weight. Despite quite a bit of shooting with it when it was new to me, I never really warmed-up to the G17L. It shoots very well, but it feels too long for my tastes.

 

17L not legal in IDPA... but I think it IS legal in USPSA and 3gun. (somebody please correct me if i'm wrong)

 

The 17 L is not legal in USPSA Production, which is where a 9mm Glock is most competitive.

The 34 is your best bet for competition, as it gives you the most options.

 

See my post #16. You could run a G17L in USPSA Open, Limited or Limited 10 (D3 7 Maximum handgun size No), and get hosed by Major scoring, or spend another grand to run Major 9 and beat the gun to death. You are far better off to run a G17/G34 in Production because it's all scored as Minor.


D3 Production 7
Maximum size
Handgun and all magazines (revolvers are exempt)
Yes, handgun with empty magazine inserted must fit wholly within a box with internal dimensions of 8 15/16” x 6” x 1 5/8” (tolerance +1/16”, -0”) (8.938”x6”x1.625”) (227.01mmx152.40mmx41.28mm)

 

I appreciate all the input. It's giving me a lot to think about and consider. Please keep it coming.

Right now, I'm leaning toward the G17 since, as was posted earlier, in competition I really won't be doing very many Long Shots so the extra length of the G34 is probably negligible as far as competition. Also, I'm thinking(If I'm wrong, please correct me) that I could get a Gen3 G17 and that would give me a lot more options for "Bells and Whistles" to add to it if I decided to move around the competition classes, which I doubt I will but the options would be there. And, being a Gen 3, the options list is a little bit bigger than it is right now for the Gen 4 and future Gen5 models as I've seen when looking at options for my Gen4 G26. The G17 would be a little bit cheaper to start with, and I could buy a long slide/barrel combo if I really Just wanted one anyway. And, the price difference between the G17 and G34 would offset the price for getting the G17 with the MOD? MOS?(can't remember right now) model for use with mounted optics.

Like I said in the OP, I'd like to get back into it, but not spend a huge fortune. Just something to do on the weekend and make new friends, and decompress after working a 40, 50, 80+ hour week.

 

I appreciate all the input. It's giving me a lot to think about and consider. Please keep it coming.

Right now, I'm leaning toward the G17 since, as was posted earlier, in competition I really won't be doing very many Long Shots so the extra length of the G34 is probably negligible as far as competition. Also, I'm thinking(If I'm wrong, please correct me) that I could get a Gen3 G17 and that would give me a lot more options for "Bells and Whistles" to add to it if I decided to move around the competition classes, which I doubt I will but the options would be there. And, being a Gen 3, the options list is a little bit bigger than it is right now for the Gen 4 and future Gen5 models as I've seen when looking at options for my Gen4 G26. The G17 would be a little bit cheaper to start with, and I could buy a long slide/barrel combo if I really Just wanted one anyway. And, the price difference between the G17 and G34 would offset the price for getting the G17 with the MOD? MOS?(can't remember right now) model for use with mounted optics.

Like I said in the OP, I'd like to get back into it, but not spend a huge fortune. Just something to do on the weekend and make new friends, and decompress after working a 40, 50, 80+ hour week.

if competition is your goal, go 34. If you think you might actually be walking around with it on your hip from time to time as a defense gun, then consider the 17.

 

No, I really doubt I'd ever carry it. That's what the 26 is for. If I wanted something that large, I'll just go back to my 1911. This is pretty much going to be my "Fun Gun", to play with, dress up and take to parties with friends who share a common interest. I do know I want the MOS version of whichever one I finally settle on. That, at least I know. Still not 100% on either model yet. Maybe, 75-25 between 17 and 34. The 17, mainly just because it has more readily available options for it. But, at the same thinking, if I really wouldn't need to get many accessories and extra toys to go with the 34, why not just get the 34.

delimas, delimas...

 

I'd thought they'd stopped making "C" models... fun store's having a Glock sale this weekend, will have to see if any are available. Not to derail or anything...

 

Aren't the MOS versions only available as Gen4 models?