[rb8]

Hi, new here ...

I'm trying to decide on a G34 or a G17L. I don't shoot competitively so the size thing (in this case does not matter :supergrin... I just shoot steel and paper at my club.

I'm not new to Glocks, I have a 17/4 ... I know the spec differences between the 34 and 17L but I am wanting opinions on differences in shooting the two ... accuracy (does that extra .7" make that big a difference?) ... feel ... balance ... getting back on target ... etc ...

I'd appreciate your experiences and opinions please ...

Thanks
rb8

 

[mtstream]

It's very subjective. The G17 is by far my favorite gun to shoot, I'll always pick one of my 17s over my 19s or 34. The 34 just feels a little unbalanced to me. I'd always assumed it was only because the extra weight shifted things slightly compared to the 17 that I'm so used to.

Because of my experience with the 34, I didn't have high expectations for the 17L. Turns out I LOVE it! Oddly enough, it actually feels better balanced than the 34 to me.

Glock's website lists the unloaded weight of the 17L as less than the 17 and 34 but somehow 9mm bullets appear to weigh more in the 17L (must be magic) https://us.glock.com/products/compare?g1=g17l&g2=g34gen4&g3=g17gen4&g4=

It's probably all in my head, but to me the 17L feels better in my hand. Normally, I'd recommend renting the both to try but it seems unlikely ranges will have a 17L for rent.

 

[Rocky7]

Not what you want to hear, buy another 17. I've had all three and have stayed put on the 26/17 platforms. I compete and carry....the 26/17 offers a faster acquisition and slide function. Good Luck.

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

I have both and shoot about the same. I can't feel any difference in the balance. I prefer the 17L because it's the unicorn. It seems everyone at the range has a 34, but you never see a 17L.

 

[Butch]

I'm with Rocky7, I've never been able to outshoot my G17 with either of the longslides.

And yes, I've been very successful with my G17...

 

[rb8]

Yeah ... I guess I'm just going to have to hunt all three down and try them ...

Thanks for the words guys.
R

 

[Rich17L]

My first Glock was a 17L I bought at a gun show in mint condition in the late 80's for $400. Since then, I've put 15 to 20 K rounds through it. The sight radius helps me and they are harder to come by. Most 34s are Gen 4 and 17Ls are Gen 3. My experience is that the Gen 3s have better triggers. BTW - I now have 2 17Ls and they will be with me probably till I die. I also have a 34 MOS Gen 4 and don't like it as much as the 17Ls. just my humble opinion.

 

[9x45]

I'm with Butch, but then we are both dinosaurs. I've shot Glocks in competition since 1992. Owned over 2 dozen, including two G7Ls and two G34s. I shoot my old 2 pin G17 more than any other gun in USPSA/IDPA/Steel Challenge and 3 Gun. It's got over 200,000 rounds thru it. Can still throw doubles at every match, at about 12 yards, while moving....

 

[Rich17L]

Very impressive shooting 9X45! First time I shot in a Glock match, I got 2nd place out of 48 entries with my 2 pin 17L. Several of the better shooters remembered me at the next match because I was the only one there with a long slide and my last name happens to be Long!

 

[9x45]

Rich, that was my first G17L, an old 2 pin. 2 out of 48? You have the fundamentals down! 96% kick ass. Get yourself out to a USPSA or IDPA match, and throw down.

 

[Rich17L]

IDPA does sound like fun. I too am a dinosaur. Started shooting Bullesye and IHMSA back in the late 70s..... Kinda miss those old days when all the guns were made of steel and still reasonably priced.

 

[9x45]

Rich, Glocks were the original cheap guns. I think I paid $189 for a used G19 back in the early 90's, worth about 2 days pay. Have you forgotten that Colt Gold Cups cost about $200 back in the day, but you spent another $300 on a gunsmith, to make them run right, sorta of.... That was 2 weeks of wages for me

 

[Cpt.America]

I shoot a 34 in competition and love it. I find the balance of the gun, with a weight base plate, flat out amazing.

Longer sight radius will always be an advantage, so the 17l should be slightly more accurate to the shooter. I've never actually seen a 17l, and they are too long for some competitions (correct me if im wrong, but it doesn't fit in an IDPA box? Not sure about uspsa or 3g), so I chose to run a 34 instead.

 

[9x45]

The G17L is not legal for IDPA, or USPSA Production or Carry Optics. It is legal for 3 gun and USPSA Limited and Open, but then you are running Minor in a Major scoring Divisions. Theoretically the longer sight radius is an advantage, and so is the added weight, but with that comes longer swing times and slower cycle times. 95% plus of all shots in USPSA and IDPA are within 15 yards, and most within 3-7 yards, so it is of no great advantage in action pistol. For IDPA SSP and USPSA Production/Carry Optics, either the G17 or G34 are fine. There is way, way more going on in competition than just the gun.

 

[Tomcat1977]

The Glock 34 is an excellent gun. If I had to recommend two Glocks it would be the 19 for carry and the 34 for paper. Tho nothing is stopping you from carrying the 34 too. I put a Dawson fiber optic adjustable and a Vogel trigger on mine and its so much fun to shoot I find myself not using enough range time for other guns.

 

[beaversgs]

I vote for the 34 for the reason 9x45 mentions above.

 

[Rich17L]

Rich, Glocks were the original cheap guns. I think I paid $189 for a used G19 back in the early 90's, worth about 2 days pay. Have you forgotten that Colt Gold Cups cost about $200 back in the day, but you spent another $300 on a gunsmith, to make them run right, sorta of.... That was 2 weeks of wages for me

No, I haven't forgotten those days. I paid $260 for my Series 70 Gold Cup new in the box and still have it. I wasn't interested in Glocks till I saw the 17L.

 

[9x45]

I didn't get a Glock until 1992, but then I stopped shooting 1911s, and sold them all. So all in all, 25 years of 1911s and 25 years of Glocks, I won't live long enough to switch to another platform..... Still got my original 1968 SP1 Colt AR though with no forward assist on it. Just like the JP rifles of today. But I did switch from the Remington 870 platform to the H&K Benelli M1 Super 90s when they first came out.

 

[Brewtactical]

34 all the way for me
Better balance
Looks better IMHO
I like the beveled nose
And they come in gen4 which is my preferred grip texture

 

[Rusty Guns]

I have had 3 G-17Ls, and like them all. I had one G-34, and just never liked it as much as the L it was a good pistol, I just never got attached to it. The G-17L is not as easy to swing shooting competition, the G-17 works better. Just for target shooting the G-34, & G-17L would be fine.
I have been thinking about getting a G-35, just because the
G-24 is so hard to come by. I had one, and liked it too.
The G-17L & G-24 just look good, and shoot good too.
I have not seen another 17L or 24 at the range.