G17: Is it "all that"?

[ACP]

Dear G17 owners (and BHP owners): I might soon be in the market for a hi-cap 9mm. Is it your experience that the Glock 17 is as advertised, the most tortured and most reliable Glock? Is it the most reliable 9mm? What about the Browning Hi Power, for comparison? I've had a few G19's (2nd generation) and had mixed luck with them. Any input is appreciated.

 

[N3rday]

Well, Kinda...

The glock is similar to the AK: its simple, reliable, and you probably could go a year without cleaning it and come out shooting. Its also quite waterproof, and I certainly would not be scared to jump in a pool with one, assuming the rounds are jacketed.

Its just an all around good gun. Its ugly and blocky though, and you can't customize it that much. Its friggin durable as hell, the tenifer does a good job. feel free to sharpen your knives on it .

It isn't supremely accurate, but it certainly exceeds what is needed for a service pistol in the accuracy department. I hear ppl have trouble with the grip, but if the shoes fits, wear it!

 

[Oleg Volk]

Personal preference. G17 was my first handgun,didn't like it muchback then. Now have two and a .22 conversion kit. Fits me better than a BHP. YMMV.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

I have a G17 and a G19. They are pretty much the same gun, the G19 being a little shorter in the barrel and grip. Both of mine are generation 3 Glocks.

I don't shoot my G19 much. It is one of my home defense weapons. It has never failed me.

My G17 is my target, plinking, and just plain fun 9mm. Shot a lot more than the G19, I have never had any problems with it. It really is a joy to shoot. For some reason, I like the G17 trigger over the G19. It seems better for some reason, and it does not have those "target trigger BATF import point reducing" grooves like on the G19. Not fond of those at all.

I suspect, since the G17 was the first Glock, and was designed around the 9mm cartridge, that it probably is the more reliable gun. The recoil springs are different in the G17 than the G19, stiffer in the G19 to compensate for the lighter slide of the G19. The recoil and action of the slide seems slicker on the G17. My guess is, because of these subtle differences, the G17 is overall the more reliable weapon with 9mm loads.

One more observation. The G17 seems to have little felt recoil. Like shooting a .22 almost - very mild. Follow up shots on the G17 are amazingly quick. The G19 is a bit more brisk in recoil.

All these opinions are subjective, but if I had to choose between the two, I would go with the G17.

Regarding hi-cap mags, of course, with either the G17 or G19 you will have to shop for 17 and 15 round pre-ban magazines. G17 hi-cap magazines are more available than the G19 15 rounders. Hopefully the AW ban will expire in the near future and this will be mox-nix.

 

[NevadaPistolero]

The preban glock mags cost an arm and a leg...its ridiculus. Go with the Springfield XD in 9mm if its got to be 9mm. They hold 10+1, alot more safe than the glock also. You can use XD .40 cal mags and up the capacity by 3 or 4 rounds. Guess you can tell Im a little prejudiced for the XD. Ive owned glocks but in my estimation the XD is a better gun, in a few years it will equal or pass glock sales in the US. The chambers in the XD are also fully supported.

 

[TheeBadOne]

alot more safe than the glock also

Meh. How so? (don't tell me: "It doesn't have a manuel safety") Don't put your finger on the trigger until you're ready to shoot, don't cover anything with the barrel you don't want to shoot. The Glock is a fine firearm and as with any firearm you must obey basic firearm safety.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Both the G17 are excellent pistols. However, they feel very different in the hand and one may fit you much better than the other (or perhaps not). For example, the G17's grip angle causes it to point high for me. In contrast, the BHP fits me as if it was designed specifically for me.

Another thing to consider is the different type of action. Glock's action is akin to a double-action only, whereas the BHP is single-action.

Good, affordable standard capacity mags are more easily available for the High Power. E.g., CDNN carries 15 and 17 round military mags for under $20 each. The only high quality > 10 round mags that are cheaper are for FALs, G3s, CETMEs, and AKs.

 

[Black Snowman]

OK you two that's enough, we've already done the safety thing to death. Everyone knows

OK I don't have any experiance with the G17 but I do have a G24 which is in almost no way similar other than being a Glock

It's a long slide, ported, and a .40 S&W. For a serviceable tool wielded by a competent user they are excellent. For punching holes in paper they're adequate unless you get one of the long-slide versions, and they all the one's I've ever seen needed some polishing of the connectors to smooth up the trigger which I managed to accomplish on mine without screwing anything up.

I've never had the pleasure of shooting a Hi-Power but they just don't fit me. I have larger hands and a longer trigger reach so the CZs fit me much better. The HP and the CZs are some of my favorite gun designs and definately at the top of my list for "excellent guns I don't own yet".

Either one would be a great EDC CCW but for a range gun I'd tend to prefer the Hi-Power.

I don't CCW, and I don't own either, so, you've been warned

 

[JohnKSa]

The preban glock mags cost an arm and a leg...its ridiculus. Go with the Springfield XD in 9mm if its got to be 9mm. They hold 10+1,

Uhh...

So, because you can buy a 10 round XD mag for less than a preban Glock mag that's a selling point for the XD?

Perhaps you should price 10 round Glock mags--if you keep your eyes open you can often find them for around $15. AND, if you DO want more than 10 rounds, you can have it with a Glock preban mag.

Getting back to the original question--the 9mm Glocks seem to be the best of the bunch. They are pretty heavily over-engineered, based on the pressure specs Glock quotes. The bigger caliber Glocks don't seem to have the same margin of over-engineering and as a result, they tend to have a higher incidence of problems and a shorter service life.

 

[LeonCarr]

IMNSHO the Glock 17 is the most trouble-free Glock. I have three of them, with 21,500 rounds shot through them, with no malfunctions.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[HIPOWER]

I am a big fan of the BHP (as my user-name suggests) and I currently own two of them. They are fantastic.

That said, my G17 has never let me down....ever. The BHP has class, but if I had to take only one pistol into harm's way it would be my Glock 17 with 17+1 rounds of 124 grain +P Gold Dots.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. While I personally prefer the Hi Power, the Glock 17 was pretty common on the firearms range when I was a police firearms instructor. Those that I saw were almost always stone cold reliable and worked. Either is a good pistol and I think the decision will be made by which feels best to you. How they look influence some folks while others may make their decision based on whether or not they're comfortable with Condition One carry for the Hi Power or if they like/dislike the trigger pull on the Glock.

Either pistol would serve well.

Current Mk III pistols that I've shot have been both accurate and reliable out of the box as well. They also suffer from less than stellar trigger pulls out of the box, but there are exceptions. The Hi Power will come with a magazine disconnect while the Glock does not. The Glock is lighter should concealed carry be in your parameters.

At extended ranges, I find the Hi Power easier to get hits with. Others may feel just the opposite. Both of these pistols tend to have a dedicated following and in my experience, both are very usuable, very dependable sidearms.

I'd go with the one I liked best.

Best and good luck.

 

[Devonai]

My Glock 17 is just as reliable as every other pistol I've ever owned, but it gets the nod for capacity and light weight. I really like being able to carry 18 rounds in such a lightweight package. Most of the time I don't feel the need to carry a spare magazine, with that many rounds already in the weapon.

I might add that the Glock is the least time consuming to clean of all pistols I've owned. Combining Winchester's WinClean ammo with a Glock is a receipe for a very easy cleaning session.

 

[Nightcrawler]

The Glock 17 is an excellent pistol for your nameless, nearly-anonymous minions and henchmen, too. Easy to shoot, easy to use, plenty of rounds (since most henchmen can't shoot worth snuff.)

 

[Tamara]

It's a very durable, very reliable, generic, ugly 9mm service pistol that has a mediocre trigger and lots of holsters & accessories available and is easily replaced if lost or broken. If this is what you're looking for, the line forms at your local gun shop counter.

 

[Nightcrawler]

So like Tam said, it's good for your henchmen. You have henchmen, I trust, Tamara, being a moderator and everything?

I've got a couple. I'm just starting out, though; I just switched my major from Political Science to Super Villainry, and have a ways to go. (Fortunately, many of the classes were the same, so it didn't really set me back.)

 

[Tamara]

Nightcrawler,

I've always thought the discerning question is "Do you see yourself as a gun buff or a self-defense-tool user? If the latter, then the Glock is probably the gun for you."

 

[Sven]

Glock. So Reliable, It's Boring.

Glock 17 was my first firearm, and if I only had to have one reasonably priced semi-auto for self defense, I would choose it again without hesitation. Never has let me down.

Dirty, clean, whatever.... it just RUNS. I put Trijicon night sights on and keep it stoked with +P defense loads, which it can digest all day long. Where legal, you can easily have 17 + 1 rounds on tap... with a spare mag, you are prepared for most anything short of a riot.

If you were to have a list of the top 10 classic autoloaders, I'm sure Glock 17 would be on most everyone's list. If you want a more collectable or personalizable gun, look elsewhere, but if you want reliabiliy with a capital R, you've found the right piece.

 

[clubsoda22]

about those XD mags, putting 9mm in the 40 mags is legal, but inserting it into the gun isn't. i'd watch out with that.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Just like to add, I've got a couple henchmen, not a couple Glocks.

Reliable or no, I think Glocks are icky.

 

[Tamara]

Reliable or no, I think Glocks are icky.

"Icky? Yes or No."

Hmmm.... Never thought about that one as a major criteria for defensive firearms.

If I found out that painting my gun pink and hanging a Barney doll from the muzzle would reliably halve my splits and double my A-zone hits, I'd be off to the tempura & stuffed animals aisles at Toys 'R' Us...

 

[Longbow]

clubsoda22,
How's that become illegal?
I think it only becomes illegal if the magazine is modified, and it doesn't fit/function anymore to the gun its intended for. if no mods are done, then it should be legal. Unless there its a geographic thing....

 

[Nightcrawler]

Hmmm.... Never thought about that one as a major criteria for defensive firearms.

Well sure. But then, there are non-icky guns that work just as well, so I'll buy those.

However, as you said, if the person is just looking for a reliable shooter and isn't interested in customization, blue steel, or aesthetics, a Glock is just about perfect. (Though some new shooters might be uncomfortable with a pistol with that light of a trigger pull and no manual safety; trigger finger discipline becomes especially important with this type of handgun.)

 

[Graystar]

My 17 never fails to fire. It's the one I depend on. and it's accurate.

That said, you can have trouble with any gun. If you had trouble with a 19 you might have trouble with a 17. Depends on what you feed it and how you maintain it.

 

[Longbow]

For Glocks being "icky"

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder...my Glock works beautifully all the time!