Glock 17C: any advantage?

[el Godfather]

Dear THR:
I am considering to buy a Glock 17C. I would like to know what are any other advantages of the C model other than controlling the muzzle climb? How do you feel about it making a C model (19 or 17) your EDC?

I hope Glock was not considering target shooting when came out with C model because we have Glock 17L, 24 and 34 for that.

Thanks

 

[Teachu2]

That's the purpose - to me, it's a negative. Every ported handgun I've shot vented gasses upward, into my field of vision. The milliseconds I might gain due to decreased muzzle climb were not worth the distraction. YMMV.

 

[Skribs]

I liked the idea when I read about it at first, until I read that the muzzle blast is much worse at night.

 

[psyopspec]

Depending on what type of retention shooting you train in, the position of the barrel vents could be a major concern.

I've been practicing the method seen in this video done by the late Paul Gomez since he first posted it. I chose to try it out, and ended up abandoning the method I had been using, which was to pull from the holster, tilt the weapon away from the body to keep the slide free of clothing or kit, and pull the trigger.

A compensated Glock would work fine in the latter case, but could wreck your day in the former.

 

[BYJO4]

I prefer the standard model 19 for carry.

 

[Armed 24/7]

I had a 23c about 10 years ago and really liked it. The ports really helped with the muzzle rise with .40 S&W. I bought a factory unported Glock barrel and had the best of both worlds.

 

[Silent Bob]

I had a 19C for awhile. The blast from the ports was obnoxious.

 

[needmorecowbell]

My very 1st gun about 10 years ago was a 17C. I took a beginner handgun class with my wife where we shot many pistols and she was most comfortable with the Glock, so that's what we bought. I liked some of the Ruger P95 and Beretta 92FS better when I shot, but was buying as our HD gun and cared more that she was comfortable with it so the Glock is what we bought. The LGS salesman where we took the class convinced us the 17C was the way to go for her over the 17 so she could better control recoil. We were naive so we paid the extra $60 for the C. Always regretted it. In time and as I got a whole lot more knowledgable about guns I realized it was a waste of money. When I shot a friends 17, there was no difference that I could tell. When I decided to get my CCW, I knew I didn't want the C for carry so I traded it in so I could buy a CZ. Plus I really wanted a CZ. At 1st I tried to sell it, but many didn't want a C and definitely weren't willing to pay extra for a C. Therefore, I see no reason to get a C.

 

[ku4hx]

None that I can tell. Muzzle jump on a full size, or compact, 9mm is too slight to even consider compensation. A waste of money to me, but as is the usual case YMMV.

 

[meanmrmustard]

I'd just as soon get an externally ported barrel. Those slide-cuts just gunk up the front sight.

 

[OilyPablo]

No real need for an ported barrel on 9mm.

That said, the idea does work well on a 10mm for controlling muzzle flip. I bought a 20C because I got it for a song. I have three barrels and the difference is night and day. For example the difference between an unported 6.2" barrel and the stock ported barrel is HUGE when shooting HOT 155gr home loads.

Some personal comments, take them or leave them:

What bugs me the most about porting is the physics trade off....I simply don't like wasting (venting?) propellant gases before the bullet exits the barrel. I want my money's worth!

The muzzle flash aspect is WAY overblown. Shooting in the dark does not temporarily blind the shooter. It flashes, not a huge deal. How many times will you be shooting in pitch black anyway (why?). In the light, it's not even noticeable.

The idea that the ports get so nasty dirty that it will cause a problem, has never been a problem for me. I clean my guns. The ports clean right up. The slide cleans right up.

 

[hentown]

The assertion that the gasses being vented obscure the shooter's vision is....well...novel. to say the least.

 

[ku4hx]

The assertion that the gasses being vented obscure the shooter's vision is....well...novel. to say the least.

Yep, blast effects bothered me on the heavier calibers, but recoil induced gun movement tended to obscure vision a mite more than the gasses ever could.

 

[LeonCarr]

I am a fan of ported/compensated guns. I have a Glock 22C that is just plain fun to shoot.

Typically the more powerful the cartridge, the more muzzle rise reduction and felt recoil reduction you will experience. IME in the 9mm unless you do all of your shooting with +P or +P+ type ammunition, you will not notice the difference. In the Glock 17Cs I have shot, shooting +P or +P+ ammunition feels like standard pressure 9mm and shooting standard pressure 9mm feels like standard pressure 9mm .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Tcruse]

I would think that since the Glock 18 (full auto) uses the same barrel and only slightly modified slide that the ported barrel may have been more for that gun and just was easy to add to the G17. If you have seen the latest James Bond movie (Sky Fall?) the first scene is with the BG using a Glock 18C and demonstrates the value of a ported barrel in that context.

 

[hentown]

Probably was better demonstrating the value of shooting blanks.

 

[tarosean]

Competition, sure... To be tacycool, not really...

 

[powder]

KKM 7" barrel, and a suppressor. C would be nice for that kit.

 

[Knockdownpower]

Not a big fan of ported or compensated guns for defense perposes. Muzzle flash affects vision and it's VERY loud. Now for competive shooting it is the way to go.