Glock 17L vs Glock 34: Which Long Slide Glock is Right for You?

Introduction

The Glock pistol, a name synonymous with reliability, simplicity, and a passionate following, has become a cornerstone of the firearms industry. Its widespread adoption by law enforcement agencies, military units, and civilian shooters alike speaks volumes about its enduring appeal. Among the many Glock variations, the long slide models, the Glock 17L and the Glock 34, stand out for their extended sight radii and performance advantages, particularly in competitive shooting. But navigating the choices between these two often-debated models, the Glock 17L vs Glock 34, can be challenging for anyone looking to add a long slide Glock to their collection.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide, delving into the core characteristics of the Glock 17L and Glock 34, comparing their features, and ultimately, helping you determine which long slide Glock best suits your individual needs, shooting style, and intended purpose. We’ll dissect their strengths and weaknesses, explore their suitability for different applications, and provide you with the insights you need to make an informed decision in the Glock 17L vs Glock 34 debate.

Overview of the Glock 17L

The Glock 17L, the granddaddy of long slide Glocks, boasts a heritage rooted in the pursuit of precision and performance.

History and Background

The Glock 17L, introduced to the market, was designed to capitalize on the growing popularity of shooting sports. It was created as an evolution of the standard Glock 17, offering a longer slide and barrel for enhanced accuracy and sight radius, targeting the competitive shooting market. It was an early attempt by Glock to establish its footprint in the shooting community. The design reflected Glock’s engineering sensibilities and its focus on the principles of reliability and a simple, striker-fired system.

Key Features of the Glock 17L

The most immediately noticeable feature of the Glock 17L is its extended length. The overall length of the Glock 17L surpasses that of the original Glock 17. This elongated profile contributes to a more balanced feel and a greater sight radius, both crucial elements for achieving accuracy at distance. The slide is considerably longer, allowing for the extended barrel length, which provides a longer path for the bullet to travel before exiting the muzzle.

As with other models, the Glock 17L is chambered in the ubiquitous millimeter caliber. This common caliber ensures a wide selection of ammunition types and availability, catering to a variety of shooting needs and preferences. The Glock 17L retains a familiar magazine capacity, reflecting its design lineage, ensuring compatibility with standard Glock 17 magazines for flexibility and convenience.

The Glock 17L’s frame shares a remarkable resemblance to the Glock 17, providing a comfortable and ergonomic grip. Familiarity with this grip will make for a quick transition for those already acquainted with the Glock platform. The sights are typically adjustable, allowing shooters to fine-tune their point of aim to match their ammunition choice and shooting style. The standard features of the Glock 17L are all optimized for accuracy and performance.

Overview of the Glock 34

The Glock 34 represents a more refined approach to the long slide design, balancing performance with practicality.

History and Background

The Glock 34 was introduced to the market with a similar focus to the Glock 17L but with a design that catered to versatility as well. Designed with competitive shooting in mind, the Glock 34 also holds potential for home defense and concealed carry. This model sought to strike a balance between the Glock 17L’s precision and the more user-friendly dimensions of the standard Glock 17. This versatility has helped it win fans in both shooting sports and personal protection, marking it as one of the best choices in the Glock lineup.

Key Features of the Glock 34

The Glock 34’s key features include a slide and barrel that are longer than those found in the standard Glock 17, but still less extended than the Glock 17L. This design allows for a longer sight radius than a standard Glock 17, without the sometimes-cumbersome feel of the even longer Glock 17L. The millimeter chambering aligns with other Glock models, providing the same benefits of ammo availability and selection.

The Glock 34 shares the same magazine capacity as its counterparts, which is useful for competitions and general use. The frame mirrors the grip profile of the Glock 17, which promotes a comfortable and familiar feel for existing Glock users, allowing for easy transitions between the two models. The sights often come in an adjustable format, further reinforcing its accuracy-oriented design, which allows shooters to customize their point of aim to their ammunition and personal preferences.

Comparative Analysis: Glock 17L vs Glock 34

Now, let’s delve into a detailed comparison of the Glock 17L vs Glock 34.

Size and Handling

The most immediately apparent difference in the Glock 17L vs Glock 34 comparison is size. The Glock 17L, with its extended slide and barrel, presents a longer profile. This can influence the balance and maneuverability. The longer slide and barrel can feel front-heavy, and drawing from a holster can be slower compared to the more compact Glock 34. However, this extended length also contributes to a longer sight radius, providing a clearer sight picture and the potential for greater accuracy.

The Glock 34 offers a more balanced feel. Its dimensions, while still larger than the standard Glock 17, provide a good compromise between the Glock 17L’s accuracy and the more manageable size of the Glock 17. It’s generally easier to handle and maneuver, making it a more practical choice for those who want to shoot in a competition setting without compromising ease of use.

For concealed carry, both models can be challenging. The Glock 34 presents a slightly more favorable profile for this role, but neither is ideal. Weight also plays a factor. While the differences aren’t massive, the Glock 17L’s longer slide and barrel contribute to a higher overall weight, which could impact handling over extended periods.

Accuracy and Ballistics

In the Glock 17L vs Glock 34 debate, accuracy potential is crucial. The longer sight radius of the Glock 17L gives it a noticeable advantage. A longer sight radius means a greater distance between the front and rear sights, which helps reduce the visual impact of aiming errors. This can translate into tighter groupings and improved accuracy, especially at longer distances.

The Glock 34, while having a shorter sight radius than the 17L, still offers a significant advantage over the standard Glock 17. The enhanced sight radius, combined with a properly managed recoil impulse, facilitates a higher level of precision. The longer barrel also contributes to a slight increase in muzzle velocity, which can translate to a flatter trajectory and slightly more energy on impact.

The increased barrel length of both pistols compared to the standard Glock 17 allows for a more complete burn of the propellant. The differences in these models may influence velocity by some degree, although the gains are typically not drastic.

Recoil Management

Recoil management is pivotal for consistent accuracy, and here the Glock 17L vs Glock 34 provide different experiences. The Glock 17L’s longer slide and barrel add weight, which can contribute to reduced felt recoil. The longer slide also helps to distribute the recoil impulse over a greater distance, further minimizing muzzle rise.

The Glock 34, although slightly lighter than the 17L, also provides excellent recoil control. Its design focuses on minimizing muzzle climb and facilitates faster follow-up shots. The combination of barrel length and overall balance enhances the shooter’s ability to stay on target, which results in better control and rapid target acquisition.

Ergonomics and Controls

When comparing the Glock 17L vs Glock 34, both pistols share the familiar ergonomic design elements of the Glock family. They both use the same frame and grip. The grip angle is similar, making it easier for experienced Glock users to transition between models. The trigger mechanism, magazine release, and slide release are also located in the same position, maintaining consistency in handling.

The Glock 17L and Glock 34 offer a common user experience. This consistency makes it easier for shooters who are already accustomed to the Glock platform to adapt to these longer slide versions.

Practicality and Competition

Both models shine in competition shooting, but their strengths lie in slightly different areas. The Glock 17L, with its emphasis on a longer sight radius, excels in precision-based shooting disciplines where distance and accuracy are paramount. The longer slide and barrel of the Glock 17L can provide an edge in certain competitions. However, its size may make it slightly less advantageous in courses of fire that require rapid transitions and maneuverability.

The Glock 34 offers a more well-rounded approach. Its balance of accuracy, handling, and maneuverability makes it suitable for a variety of competitive shooting scenarios, including the practical pistol disciplines. The Glock 34 is well-suited for multiple shooting tasks.

Customization and Aftermarket Support

The Glock platform has a massive following, translating to significant aftermarket support for both the Glock 17L and Glock 34. Shooters have access to a wide array of aftermarket parts and accessories to customize their pistols.

Both the Glock 17L and Glock 34 can be upgraded with enhanced triggers, sights, slides, barrels, and other components. Common modifications include trigger upgrades for a lighter and crisper pull, and adjustable sights to refine the sight picture and improve accuracy. This strong aftermarket support ensures that owners can tailor their pistols to their specific preferences and shooting styles.

Pros and Cons (Side-by-Side Table)

Who Should Choose Which Gun?

The Glock 17L vs Glock 34 choice depends largely on individual priorities.

The Glock 17L

The Glock 17L is ideal for shooters who prioritize long-range accuracy. Its long slide and barrel make it a top choice for dedicated competitive shooters who want to maximize their accuracy potential at various distances. It will be a good choice if you are passionate about target shooting and want to extract every possible ounce of performance. It is less suitable for concealed carry and defensive scenarios where ease of handling and maneuverability are vital.

The Glock 34

The Glock 34 is well suited to competitive shooters looking for a versatile and balanced pistol. Its blend of features and performance makes it a strong contender in various shooting disciplines. It will appeal to shooters who want the benefits of a longer slide without sacrificing as much in terms of overall size and ease of handling. It’s a viable option for home defense, and some users may consider it for open carry.

Conclusion

The debate between the Glock 17L vs Glock 34 often boils down to a question of priorities. Both pistols represent high-quality firearms with excellent performance capabilities. The Glock 17L excels when accuracy is of paramount importance. The Glock 34 offers a more balanced package, making it a strong choice for those seeking versatility.

Ultimately, the best approach involves considering your specific shooting needs, whether you’re in the market for a pistol. Think about your shooting style, intended applications, and personal preferences to determine which Glock long slide model aligns best with your goals. If possible, try handling and shooting both pistols to experience the differences firsthand. Remember to always prioritize safe gun handling practices. With the right choice, your shooting performance could reach new levels.