Regardless of your opinion on the Glock 17, it’s one of the most popular handguns among enthusiasts, law enforcement, and CCW holders. This pistol’s reliability and durability make it a top choice for many users. Gaston Glock’s polymer-framed pistol shocked the shooting world when it entered American markets. It got its name from the fact that it represented his 17th patent. It has a reversible enlarged magazine release, flared mag-well, and is ambidextrous to accommodate left-handed shooters.
Reliability
While some might dislike them, Glocks have a long standing reputation as a reliable weapon. Their reliability is one reason that they are so popular in the duty and defensive world.
The frame, magazine body, and other components are made from a high-strength polymer invented by Gaston Glock. It is resistant to shock, caustic liquids, and temperature extremes that would warm or brittle steel alloys.
Glock pistols are also easy to maintain, with minimal cleaning and lubrication needed. Despite being subjected to harsh operating conditions, Glocks are highly dependable.
Glocks are the ideal choice for competitive shooters because they can fire 17 rounds in a row without a single malfunction. They are able to accommodate a wide variety of ammo types, with many shooters choosing to use them for IDPA or 3 Gun matches due to the large capacity magazines. Additionally, the ambidextrous controls on the Glock are a big draw for competition shooters. They are also incredibly versatile, with many accessories available for the Glock 17, including extended magazines.
Durability
Glocks are renowned for being among the most durable handguns on the market. The simple design of the frame, barrel, and spring allows for easy maintenance. Keeping the gun clean and oiled will ensure that it performs at its best.
The Glock 17 is a popular choice for law enforcement officers because it is so easy to operate and keep clean. It also has a large magazine capacity, which means that officers can shoot more rounds before needing to reload.
The Gen 4 Glock 17 added a dual captured recoil spring and a rail for mounting red dot optics. Glock claimed that this would reduce recoil and increase the gun’s service life. However, some shooters still prefer the older single-captured spring design.
The newer Gen 5 guns have a flared magwell and stippled grip, which make them easier to hold and more comfortable in hot or sweaty conditions. They also have a redesigned trigger that has more of a wall area and is easier to hit.
Comfort
The Glock 17 is used by police and military forces around the world. It is incredibly comfortable to shoot, and it is easy to conceal with a quality appendix holster. The Glock is also a very safe gun. It is designed with three internal safety mechanisms.
The Gen5 version of the Glock 17 removes finger grooves and has removable backstraps to accommodate different hand sizes. This allows users to better customize the grip for their hand size and style. The Gen5 also features a flared magwell for faster reloading when fractions of a second matter.
However, the Gen5 isn’t without its drawbacks. The pistol can still be a bit of a handful for shooters with small hands, especially when shooting a high-round count. The trigger can also get tiring after a long day of firing. However, these are all minor drawbacks to a very reliable and durable pistol. The Glock 17 is an excellent choice for those looking to get a double-stack 9mm striker-fired pistol.
Training
When the Austrian military began looking for a new duty pistol at the dawn of the 1980s, Gaston Glock didn’t have a lot of experience designing guns. However, he did have an expertise in advanced synthetic polymers, which would prove to be key to his new design.
He assembled a team of Europe’s top handgun experts from the military, police, and civilian sport shooting communities to define the most desirable traits in a new handgun and designed around their criteria. The gun needed to be able to be fired one-handed, be ambidextrous in operation, and not require tools to disassemble. It also needed to be able to hold at least 17 rounds, and the design had to be able to pass a metal detector.
What’s Next?
The Glock 17 met all 17 of these requirements and was ultimately adopted into service as the Pistole 80 in 1982. Glock also offers a trainer made from durable hardened plastic, for safe training with lasers or blanks. It is colored orange to instantly show that it is empty and a safe to handle, and it comes with dummy barrels to prevent accidental chambering of live ammunition.
