trlloyd Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Wanting to use a Glock for 3-gun, why are people more apt to get the 34 instead of the 17L? What does the 34 offer that the 17L does not have? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 The 34 is easier to find and is also legal is USPSA Production division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikerburgess Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 There are more holster options for the 34 as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superslowmo Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 There are more holster options for the 34 as well I have to agree with this one. And many holsters for the 17/22 will fit the 34/35 with just a little bit hanging out the bottom of the holster (makes it easier for those that don't want to buy a completely new rig for their set up). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I have 4 G17s, 2 G34s and 2 G17L's. I use my oldest G17 the most for both USPSA and 3 gun. The timing is a little slower on the G34s and G17Ls, but they have a longer sight radius. Most shots are within 15 yards, and 90% typically within 3-7 yards. The G34 and G17L are better for local steel matches where the targets are much smaller and much further out. 3 gun is won by long range rifle and shotgun loading, not by pistol stages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) ^ That's a silly way to look at it. If auto racing is won by the drivers why do the pit crews bother striving for perfection? It all adds up, pistol stages included, you might as well shoot the best 3 guns you can afford to the best of your potential and not neglect any of the aspects that seem less important. And I've seen more than a few guys with that same mentality blaze through some rifle shooting and shotgun loading only to draw their pistol and time out or run out of ammo in front of a 15-20yd plate rack. Edited March 22, 2015 by TonytheTiger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trlloyd Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 I've been shooting my 19 for some time, and want to get a little more serious. Besides a few mods, I plan on shooting stock. Is the frame of the 17 and the 34 the same? I appreciate all the input. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ima45dv8 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Is the frame of the 17 and the 34 the same? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 There are lots of variables. I just had this same discussion with one of the top 3Gunners and a USPSA GM. The 17L shoots softer, is a little longer, but has more swing weight. Doubles on paper can be faster, transitions a tad slower, but that depends on the person jerking the trigger. A longer, heavier pistol, in some regards, yields some of the benefits of a lighter trigger...it helps to mask and reduce the effects of a less than perfect trigger press. My 13 year old and I shot a RFC match yesterday. We loaned his pistol to some friends shooting their first match. He struggled with the 22/45Lite with a VQ trigger in it. His MkII is heavier by almost twice with a longer sight radius. But his technique is not as refined and he pulled light pistol pulled off the target due to his trigger press several times. I refer to it as "twitchy". Your style and skill need to be factored into your decision. Some people will shoot a 34 better, some will shoot a 17L better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 There are lots of variables. I just had this same discussion with one of the top 3Gunners and a USPSA GM. The 17L shoots softer, is a little longer, but has more swing weight. Doubles on paper can be faster, transitions a tad slower, but that depends on the person jerking the trigger. A longer, heavier pistol, in some regards, yields some of the benefits of a lighter trigger...it helps to mask and reduce the effects of a less than perfect trigger press. My 13 year old and I shot a RFC match yesterday. We loaned his pistol to some friends shooting their first match. He struggled with the 22/45Lite with a VQ trigger in it. His MkII is heavier by almost twice with a longer sight radius. But his technique is not as refined and he pulled light pistol pulled off the target due to his trigger press several times. I refer to it as "twitchy". Your style and skill need to be factored into your decision. Some people will shoot a 34 better, some will shoot a 17L better. So what were the GM's thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 There are lots of variables. I just had this same discussion with one of the top 3Gunners and a USPSA GM. The 17L shoots softer, is a little longer, but has more swing weight. Doubles on paper can be faster, transitions a tad slower, but that depends on the person jerking the trigger. A longer, heavier pistol, in some regards, yields some of the benefits of a lighter trigger...it helps to mask and reduce the effects of a less than perfect trigger press. My 13 year old and I shot a RFC match yesterday. We loaned his pistol to some friends shooting their first match. He struggled with the 22/45Lite with a VQ trigger in it. His MkII is heavier by almost twice with a longer sight radius. But his technique is not as refined and he pulled light pistol pulled off the target due to his trigger press several times. I refer to it as "twitchy". Your style and skill need to be factored into your decision. Some people will shoot a 34 better, some will shoot a 17L better. So what were the GM's thoughts? He is getting a new 34 tuned by TTI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeAZ Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 A different view.... I have small hands. My Gen 4, 34 is much quicker and safer for me to use to use when it comes to mag changes. (I have moved the mag release to the right side). I can't do this on my Gen 3 G 17L. I'd hate to be at a major match and get DQed for breaking the "180" because I over reached on a left side mag change......This carries on to my 2011 "open" gun, I've have the "Mitchell" right side mag release on that gun for years.. If your just range "plinking"????.... No big deal..... Competition shooting ??, why take a chance?..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 There are lots of variables. I just had this same discussion with one of the top 3Gunners and a USPSA GM. The 17L shoots softer, is a little longer, but has more swing weight. Doubles on paper can be faster, transitions a tad slower, but that depends on the person jerking the trigger. A longer, heavier pistol, in some regards, yields some of the benefits of a lighter trigger...it helps to mask and reduce the effects of a less than perfect trigger press. My 13 year old and I shot a RFC match yesterday. We loaned his pistol to some friends shooting their first match. He struggled with the 22/45Lite with a VQ trigger in it. His MkII is heavier by almost twice with a longer sight radius. But his technique is not as refined and he pulled light pistol pulled off the target due to his trigger press several times. I refer to it as "twitchy". Your style and skill need to be factored into your decision. Some people will shoot a 34 better, some will shoot a 17L better. So what were the GM's thoughts? He is getting a new 34 tuned by TTI. He had been using a 17L? I was amazed when I compared the sight radius of my 6" sti and my 35. Virtually the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpaw Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I shoot the 17L a bit better than the 34, but not by much. If I could only have one I'd take the 34 because it's more versatile (USPSA Production legal) and available in Gen 4. But I do love the 17L. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.E. Kelley Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 17L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmiller Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 17L Pat, could you post a pic of the mag release on the other side? Also, do they use a lightend striker? Is the glock hump reduced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 ^ That's a silly way to look at it. If auto racing is won by the drivers why do the pit crews bother striving for perfection? It all adds up, pistol stages included, you might as well shoot the best 3 guns you can afford to the best of your potential and not neglect any of the aspects that seem less important. And I've seen more than a few guys with that same mentality blaze through some rifle shooting and shotgun loading only to draw their pistol and time out or run out of ammo in front of a 15-20yd plate rack. Shooting is not racing, it's shooting, and 95% of it is mental. Plus, do the math, most 3 guns are rifle weighted, then shotgun, then pistol. If the guys you saw run out of ammo on a plate rack, that would have happened no matter if they were shooting a $5,000 STI Open Gun or a used Gock 19 police gun. And to my original point, the pistol is still the least important of the 3 guns. OP put your money first into a rifle, then a shotgun. Take lessons from a 3 gun master. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOM Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 G-17L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 (edited) ^ That's a silly way to look at it. If auto racing is won by the drivers why do the pit crews bother striving for perfection? It all adds up, pistol stages included, you might as well shoot the best 3 guns you can afford to the best of your potential and not neglect any of the aspects that seem less important. And I've seen more than a few guys with that same mentality blaze through some rifle shooting and shotgun loading only to draw their pistol and time out or run out of ammo in front of a 15-20yd plate rack. Shooting is not racing, it's shooting, and 95% of it is mental. Plus, do the math, most 3 guns are rifle weighted, then shotgun, then pistol. If the guys you saw run out of ammo on a plate rack, that would have happened no matter if they were shooting a $5,000 STI Open Gun or a used Gock 19 police gun. And to my original point, the pistol is still the least important of the 3 guns. OP put your money first into a rifle, then a shotgun. Take lessons from a 3 gun master. I wasn't saying a better pistol would've helped them knock the plates down, but thinking rifle shooting and shotgun loading is way more important to practice certainly didn't help them. Most matches I've been to thus far have been small steel target oriented for pistol with a pretty even amount of use between the 3 guns. The guys I've squadded with who would agree with you about pistol being the least important gun seem to consistently struggle with small steel and their scores reflect it. And I believe shooting 3 gun is definitely racing, seeing as how the guy who hits all his targets fastest seems to win. And if you think auto racing isn't a mental game you clearly haven't done much racing lately. Edited March 24, 2015 by TonytheTiger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 I used to drag race when I was in my 20's. Shooting is about speed and accuracy and you are on your own, no pit crew, no one calling your hits. I don't know how long you have been playing 3 gun, or when you started, but not that much has changed since the first Soldier of Fortune matches. And it is still true today, long range rifle and shotgun loading is the most important. That doesn't mean you shouldn't practice pistol. And to the OPs point, I don't believe the G17L or a G34 will contribute that much compared to a G17 or G19 unless you are already proficient with the rifle and shotgun. The amount of points available to pistol is always the smallest. You can't win any 3 gun match by pistol, but you can loose it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 (edited) I used to Drag race too. I think pistol shooting is more akin to Drag racing. 3Gun is a Drag race, a hill climb and a Pro Solo back to back to back. However, 3Gun today, depending on venue, is VERY different than what we had just 5 years ago and VERY different from the first SOF matches, which were basically just a bunch of standards, one gun at a time. All three guns, and all elements of those three are important, and at some matches, the pistol is the most important and only a great pistol shooter will win those match types. All just a diversion from the OPs question though. Edited March 24, 2015 by MarkCO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 I used to Drag race too. I think pistol shooting is more akin to Drag racing. 3Gun is a Drag race, a hill climb and a Pro Solo back to back to back. However, 3Gun today, depending on venue, is VERY different than what we had just 5 years ago and VERY different from the first SOF matches, which were basically just a bunch of standards, one gun at a time. All three guns, and all elements of those three are important, and at some matches, the pistol is the most important and only a great pistol shooter will win those match types. All just a diversion from the OPs question though. I hated those standards, still do. I guess my point is still get your rifle right first, good trigger, good scope, know your 400 yard zeroes, then get a good shotgun and practice the heck out of loading, know your slug zeroes. I just don't think at any of the matches I have shot in the last 15 years that the difference between a G19 and G17L would have been that important. Yes, today's matches are getting more equal in point count and weight I think because of the very heavy influx of USPSA shooters into 3 gun. And I think geography has some to do with weighting. The ranges out west tend to be really long, versus, some of the shorter east coast ranges, so the rifle becomes less of a factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 I'll agree with you there, I doubt many peoples scores will be measurably effected shooting one of these two very similar pistols over the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 (edited) I'll agree with you there, I doubt many peoples scores will be measurably effected shooting one of these two very similar pistols over the other. Yea, small frame Glocks all feel the same, except for the timing. Where in North Cental Ill. are you at? I used to work for Caterpillar Tractor, Joliet, in the 70's and lived in the village of New Lenox. Course that was long before Glocks, we all used 1911s... Edited March 25, 2015 by 9x45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 ^ PM'd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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