The Glock 17 is the pistol that put Glock on the map. It’s the gun that all other polymer framed striker-fired pistols are compared to. The Glock 17 is a reliable and safe handgun that performs well in accuracy tests. However, proper training is key to getting the most out of your weapon.
History
The Glock 17 is one of the most popular handguns in the world. The Glock is trusted by more than 65% of law enforcement agencies in the United States and many other police and military organizations worldwide. The Glock has revolutionized the firearms industry by combining a simple, safe design with exceptional durability and reliability.
Gaston Glock founded his company, Glock Ges.m.b.H, in Deutsch Wagram, Austria. He built a successful business manufacturing injection molding parts and components. Then he heard that the Austrian military was seeking a new duty pistol.
Gaston sought feedback from police and military experts, and his Glock met all of the requirements of the military. It passed shock, drop and overpressure testing without a single malfunction. The Glock 17 was adopted by the Austrian military and police forces in 1982.
Design
Invented by Gaston Glock in 1982, the gun has since become a staple for police and other law enforcement agencies around the world. The Glock 17 is a striker fired, polymer frame, double stack pistol that is chambered in 9mm and uses 17 round magazines.
The Glock features an internal safety system that has three separate safeties that engage simultaneously. While Heckler and Koch tried to make a similar handgun twenty years earlier, the VP70 was prone to malfunctions caused by the trigger being responsible for both cocking the striker and releasing the sear to fire the gun.
Today, the Glock pistols are made in five form factors that range from full sized duty firearms to subcompact models. Each model differs slightly in magazine capacity, slide length, and weight.
Performance
The Glock 17 is a very reliable pistol that is simple to take down and maintain. Since 1982, this gun has revolutionized the firearm industry and is still used by law enforcement agencies and numerous armies around the world today.
The factory grip on the Glock is comfortable and a good fit for most people. However, adding enhancements such as grip tape or stippling can improve the grip’s overall performance and feel.
The trigger is a little heavy, and it can get tiring on high round count days. However, aftermarket triggers are available to address this issue and give you a lighter pull. They are also fairly easy to replace. Some even come with ambidextrous safety and magazine catch features. There are also aftermarket options that allow you to convert your Glock into a carbine for use in hunting or defense applications.
Reliability
The Glock is known as one of the most reliable pistols in existence. Its reliability was pushed to new levels when Miami PD adopted it for duty use. The Glock survived Department armorer torture tests and was later used in law enforcement agencies worldwide.
Unlike blued steel pistols that require regular cleaning, the Glock requires very little maintenance other than routine lubrication and inspections. Gen 5 Glocks have a multi-piece nested spring assembly that Glock claims reduces recoil and increases service life.
Despite its reputation for durability and reliability, the Glock has some drawbacks. The trigger can be heavy, and the finger grooves make it hard for people with smaller hands to get a good grip. The pistol also takes a little longer than most to re-cock the weapon.
What’s Next?
Glock’s factory classes are only available to law enforcement officers, full time armed security guards with nationally recognized security companies and LE Academy Cadets. They must present a picture ID and their department letterhead or enrollment documentation.
The class covers a lot of information and provides hands on disassembly and reassembly of a Glock. It’s a pretty good value and a fun way to spend a day or so.
One interesting thing we learned in the course is that Glock makes cutaway models of their pistols for armorers and LE. They’re technically inert guns (as opposed to SIRT) but are essentially the same as the real deal, and therefore subject to the same sales restrictions. Glock is also one of the sponsors for the Taken films, where it was used as Bryan’s main gun.