Glock 17 gen 4 a good pistol?

[sch84]

Hello all. I have a chance to buy a new Glock 17 gen 4 tomorrow but I have some concerns. I read some reviews about the gen 4 a awhile back and they seemed to be somewhat negative. Has Glock worked the bugs out of the new gen 4 17 or should I stay away from it? Can I trust one of these pistols or will it give me trouble? Need input on these before tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[Zerodefect]

Pretty sure Glock has it sorted out now. Completely sure that if it isn't they will soon. Tear it down and see if it has "0 4" marked on the recoil rod spring assembly. If it's marked "0 3", call Glock and they'll ship you the softer recoil spring assembly. The springs were a bit too stiff for weak ammo. Most everyone seems to shoot +P JHP for CCW anyways.

I'd get a gen 4 is I was in the market for one right now. If I saw a Gen4 G35 I'd have $550 less in the bank.

I don't think the Gen4 upgrades do much in the 9mm Glocks. So unless you really want a replaceable backstrap and the new grip bump style get the Gen3.

I wouldn't sweat it either way. I'd pick the one with the Glossy finish.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I had a gen4 17, only put 1000 rounds through it and decided the 19 was for me. My gen4 19 has 3000+ trouble free rounds. It isn't much, but it is enough that I trust it.

I also have a gen4 26 that has been trouble free for just under 1000 rounds. They have had the dual recoil spring assembly for years and years so it is mainly grip surface, backstrap, mag release and cosmetically different from older glocks.

Some people hate the mag release, back strap and grip surface changes. I for one love them. It is really the only reason I started buying glocks. Well, it started as one for a range toy. Now the glocks have multiplied, I switched my carry platform and I've bought some gear so I can enter some local competitions. I love my gen4's. I wish now that I had kept the 17, but I had no idea at the time I wanted to switch my carry gun and try my hand at IPDA.

 

[ckone]

If the Gen3 guns fit you then I would not do it, they don't have the Gen4 9mm's squared away yet, it's a fact, plain and simple.

The new grip and mag release are awesome, great improvements, that said, the new recoil assemblies and trigger bar changes have eroded their reputation for reliability to the point where they're really not features but potential problems.

I put 6000rds through one Gen4 G17 waiting for it to work right and finally just got rid of it after all it's problems and went back to the Gen3 and experienced no-problems just as expected, a few months later I decided to give it another chance and picked up another one, sold it about 700rds later, was still choking and still wasn't right. I never felt confident enough in either of them to carry them, actually had a few malfs during IDPA matches that hurt my scores pretty good... and I'm not the only one either, quite a few guys I shoot IDPA with went to the Gen4's after they were released and to a man everyone is back to the old reliable Gen3 models.

The Gen3 9mm guns run like clocks, get one of those if you just are after a great gun that's a modern classic.

 

[Black Butte]

I'm holding out for a gen. 5.

 

[Quiet]

The Glock 17Gen4 is good enough for the Swiss military to adopt it as their new standard issue sidearm.

 

[RP88]

Since they are priced back to what Gen-3s cost I'd probably get one. You get a lot more for the money now since you get grips, an extra mag, and because they did make some decent improvements.

However, a Glock was my first handgun, and I have since found that there are better guns for me. I'd maybe pick up a Gen-4 19 if the price was right since they make great CCWs and because I'm very familiar with them, but I don't think Glocks are really worth the ~$500 tag anymore compared to other guns on the market that are just as good if not better for either the same or less money.

But, if you are familiar with Glock pistols already, the Gen-4 is a very good buy/trade-up for any Glock user. As said, check the recoil spring and make sure it works before putting it to duty use.

 

[ForumSurfer]

put 6000rds through one Gen4 G17 waiting for it to work right and finally just got rid of it after all it's problems and went back to the Gen3 and experienced no-problems just as expected, a few months later I decided to give it another chance and picked up another one, sold it about 700rds later, was still choking and still wasn't right.

I own a gen4 19, the most notorious of the so called problem child glocks. It hasn't seen 6000 rounds, but it has seen over 2500 without a single malfunction. FWIW, my guide rod has an "0 4" stamped on it and I hear that is the magic spring/guide rod that correct the gen4 19 issues. I wouldn't know because I haven't experienced any issues yet. I'm not standing in a booth standing statically slow firing at paper, either. I shoot outdoors on my property running drills and such.

 

[helitack32f1]

I would certainly recommend a Gen 4 g17. I love mine and intend on using it for GSSF competition at some point. But if I was gonna carry a Gen 4 9mm it would be the G19. I personally believe the compact Glocks are the perfect carry gun but I may be biased.

Just buy the Glock you are looking at, I doubt you will be disappointed.