Glock Competition Guns - why only 34 & 35?

The Glock 34 and to some extent the Glock 35 have taken over in IDPA shooting especially in Stock Service Pistol. Since the 9mm is cheap and has low recoil it has been big in competition and the 35 is catching on due to the low recoil of the heavier cartridge. But you are right the long slide is just a little better on the range even though the 17/22 is very capable.

Imagine a 10mm in a long slide, could sure make the squirrels live hard.

Glock26IDPA said:

Imagine a 10mm in a long slide, could sure make the squirrels live hard.

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I was thinking of hogs. A 10mm long slide would be a bone fide hunting gun.

I doubt Glock will make other versions similarly sized to the 34 and 35, because they probably won't catch on. The 34 is popular in IDPA and USPSA Production, because 9mm is the smallest caliber you can use to play in those games and power factor (major versus minor) isn't an issue. The 35 is popular in USPSA Limited because .40 caliber is the smallest caliber with which you can make Major Power Factor. If you increase the diameter of the bullets you're shooting you're also decreasing the potential magazine capacity.

JMB45 said:

I was thinking of hogs. A 10mm long slide would be a bone fide hunting gun.

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For the length of a 17L/24 slide

http://lonewolfdist.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1500

Or for the length of the 34/35 slide:

http://lonewolfdist.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1499

:supergrin:

A 10mm long slide Glock would be great for hunting.
Look at all of the long barreled revolvers being sold out there for hunting.
Glock needs to tap into that market too !
Ted Nugent carries a G20 4.6" barrel, on his vast ranch, or when out hunting around the world.
A 10mm Glock 5.3" or 6" longslide would be nice !

"I was thinking of hogs. A 10mm long slide would be a bone fide hunting gun. "
~~~~~~

Glock has been doing that right along! {Kinda}

http://www.securityprousa.com/gl20baglbag21.html

They have been offering factory bbl's in 10mm, 6 inches Long for the G-20, perhaps for those States that have bbl. length restrictions for handgun hunting for "Big Game" in general.

Know a number of Whitetail hunters that have the 6" bbl's. for both the 20 & 21 Glocks and love them.

Also with the large frame Glocks there is probably enough slide mass as it is, i.e., the 34 slide is really gutted via machining inside, even with the oval cut in the slides top. Hence the significant raise in price for a 34 or 35 over a 17 or 22, etc.

I am thinking about a long slide 357sig. Maybe a just a drop in barrel in my 35 or 24.

BamaTrooper said:

I am thinking about a long slide 357sig. Maybe a just a drop in barrel in my 35 or 24.

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New barrel would be the cheapest way to go but getting a new gun is always fun.

I wish Glock would make a .38 Super Glock in a G34/G35 size model.

WellArmedSheep said:

I doubt Glock will make other versions similarly sized to the 34 and 35, because they probably won't catch on. The 34 is popular in IDPA and USPSA Production, because 9mm is the smallest caliber you can use to play in those games and power factor (major versus minor) isn't an issue. The 35 is popular in USPSA Limited because .40 caliber is the smallest caliber with which you can make Major Power Factor. If you increase the diameter of the bullets you're shooting you're also decreasing the potential magazine capacity.

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So what if it would reduce the potential magazine capacity. What does that have to do with anything he is asking? And if they did make a long slike 10mm or .45, Glock can make a 15rd factory magazine for that gun. Or one could simply add a magazine extension.

nedfolks said:

So what if it would reduce the potential magazine capacity. What does that have to do with anything he is asking? And if they did make a long slike 10mm or .45, Glock can make a 15rd factory magazine for that gun. Or one could simply add a magazine extension.

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the 34 and 35 are geared towards competition and magazine capacity is about the biggest factor to consider after the caliber to make major or minor. anyone shooting a 15 round .45 would be at a big disadvantage to anyone shooting a 20 round .40.

The G34 and G35 were designed for USPSA/IPSC Competition. They are just the right size to fit the "box" whereas the G17L and G24C are too big. GSSF competition was not a factor, as the G34/G35 must be entered in Competition Category along with the G17L's and G24's. Since the G34/G35's come with a "-" connector, they are more popular than the G17/G22 in IDPA competition. Now I would like to see a G34 sized pistol chambered for .45GAP.

JMB45 said:

Why does Glock only make the long barrel guns in 9mm and .40? I am sure it has something to do with GSSF, but I wouldn't mind having one in other calibers. They should at least make the 45GAP if they want it to catch on.

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As a competition gun (which the G34 and G35 were built specifically for, as they fit "the box"), the GAP would have no place. *IF* IDPA allowed .45 GAP in CDP division (I do not understand why they don't), then it would have a market niche. Otherwise, their next long slide / just fit the box gun should be a longer version of the G21.

I have shot my G34 and G21SF in IDPA. I am kind of surprised more people don't shoot the G21 in CDP instead of a 1911. The cool thing about the G21 is that you can shoot it in SSP, ESP, or CDP. Capacity doesn't matter in IDPA. Max of 10 rounds plus 1 in the chamber limit. I wouldn't mind seeing a longer slide version of the G21 but honestly it's pretty big as it is. Maybe a "G21SF Tactical" with a minus connector, 5.5 inch barrel, built in magwell, RTF frame.... Yeah, I would buy that.

Microbomb said:

I have shot my G34 and G21SF in IDPA. I am kind of surprised more people don't shoot the G21 in CDP instead of a 1911. The cool thing about the G21 is that you can shoot it in SSP, ESP, or CDP. Capacity doesn't matter in IDPA. Max of 10 rounds plus 1 in the chamber limit. I wouldn't mind seeing a longer slide version of the G21 but honestly it's pretty big as it is. Maybe a "G21SF Tactical" with a minus connector, 5.5 inch barrel, built in magwell, RTF frame.... Yeah, I would buy that.

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+1


Dave

Microbomb said:

I have shot my G34 and G21SF in IDPA. I am kind of surprised more people don't shoot the G21 in CDP instead of a 1911. The cool thing about the G21 is that you can shoot it in SSP, ESP, or CDP. Capacity doesn't matter in IDPA. Max of 10 rounds plus 1 in the chamber limit. I wouldn't mind seeing a longer slide version of the G21 but honestly it's pretty big as it is. Maybe a "G21SF Tactical" with a minus connector, 5.5 inch barrel, built in magwell, RTF frame.... Yeah, I would buy that.

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Sight radius, sight radius, sight radius. A 5.5" G21 probably wouldn't "fit the box". Would probably have to be just around 5" or slightly longer (would probably have to be shorter than the G34 barrel to overcome larger dimensions elsewhere).

Yes, you could shoot a G21 in ESP or SSP, it's just not the right gun to shoot. I guess it all depends how serious a competitor you want to be.

BuckyP said:

Yes, you could shoot a G21 in ESP or SSP, it's just not the right gun to shoot. I guess it all depends how serious a competitor you want to be.

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I shoot with a guy that uses his Glock 21 for ESP, SSP, and CDP. He's kinda serious, if you would call a 4-gun Master kinda serious.

A 230gr. bullet only has to be going 543 feet per second to make power factor in ESP and SSP...somethin' to think about.

I think the G21 could be the right gun to shoot in SSP or ESP. The 45 ACP tends to be a pretty damn accurate round. The G21 is also a pretty accurate pistol. I think I read somewhere that the G21 is regarded as one of the most accurate GLOCKs out of the box. Something to do with the octagonal vs polygonal barrel? I have lost time taking extra shots at metal targets that don't go down easy with 9mm. With 45 ACP, one shot drops the metal stuff. Not saying sight radius isn't important but there are some benefits to shooting 45 ACP that can tip the scales when everyone else is shooting 9mm in SSP.

WellArmedSheep said:

I shoot with a guy that uses his Glock 21 for ESP, SSP, and CDP. He's kinda serious, if you would call a 4-gun Master kinda serious.

A 230gr. bullet only has to be going 543 feet per second to make power factor in ESP and SSP...somethin' to think about.

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Don't confuse good with serious. The right gun for SSP or ESP is a G34 or G35 downloaded.