[bagman]

Would a Glock 34 be a good first purchase> If so, why?

[G-ManBart]

bagman, on Jul 5 2009, 06:46 PM, said:

Would a Glock 34 be a good first purchase> If so, why?

You may want to do a search in the Glock section as there are a lot of threads on first purchases, which Glock to get etc.

If you want to shoot Production Division, yes it would be a fine choice. It wouldn't be allowed in Single Stack, so that's out. For Limited or Limited-10 it wouldn't be the worst choice, but Minor scoring hurts you and you can just buy a G35 and shoot Minor for Production and Major for Lim/L-10 and have the best of both worlds. For Open it would be a fairly poor choice as most of the Open Glocks are G17s.

Glocks offer lots of aftermarket parts that aren't expensive, cheap mags that work and excellent reliability although the more you change from stock the less reliable they seem to get.

If it says anything, I'm not a Glock guy other than that I carry them (G22s, 23, 27) and even I'd like to have a G34 or G35 to fool with R,

[quade]

glock 34 would be a good choice if you are planning to only shoot idpa. a glock 35 will give you more options. you can shoot more divisions in uspsa and still shoot idpa. also .40 is much easier to find over 9mm now a days!

[aztecdriver]

Personally - this is preference, but I feel in the Glock platform - this is the best choice to start out. 1.) 9mm allows smaller recoil in this frame size - G35 is pretty snappy. The first thing - I believe - the new shooter needs is to understand that front sight concept and seeing the sights lift, track and return. That is the hardest concept to get out the gate- and the 9mm allows that easier.

2 )Personally, I don't think scoring shouldn't be the issue - getting hits and unconscious accuracy is the issue. Worry about scoring when you class B limited. Shooting limited minor actually is more helpful than shooting a major platform in a production division without reloading .40 in minor. Get your As while working on everything else.

3) 9 is just cheaper. There's SO much going on starting out that you feel you blow a ton of ammo (as well as a crazy amount of dryfire). A $$$ break starting out is often a big help.

G34, knock the sights off and put on a set of warren/sevigny sights and start drilling. Scoring should come later....

BTW - this is for USPSA - i know nothing of IDPA

This post has been edited by aztecdriver: 05 July 2009 - 07:36 PM

[G-ManBart]

aztecdriver, on Jul 5 2009, 08:35 PM, said:

Personally - this is preference, but I feel in the Glock platform - this is the best choice to start out. 1.) 9mm allows smaller recoil in this frame size - G35 is pretty snappy.

3) 9 is just cheaper. There's SO much going on starting out that you feel you blow a ton of ammo (as well as a crazy amount of dryfire). A $$$ break starting out is often a big help.

Buy Atlanta Arms .40 Minor and it's as soft or softer than 9mm Minor will be and the price difference is insignificant and actually favors the .40 in one case.

If you go with their reloaded brass the 9mm 147gr load costs $5 less per thousand than the .40 with a 180gr TMJ (also reloaded brass). If you go with new brass the 9mm 147gr load costs $10 more than the 180gr TMJ load (also new brass). Imagine that....he could shoot new ammo in .40 for less than 9!!!

Even if he was using normal factory ammo it's a pretty small price break, but if/when he decides to shoot Lim or Lim-10 Major he'd have to buy a whole new gun, mags etc.

You really can have your cake and eat it too in this case....softer or just as soft, the ability to go Major if the desire is there and little to no added expense. R,

[bagman]

Where is a good place to purchase a Glock 34? Price being a purchase point.

[aztecdriver]

G-ManBart, on Jul 5 2009, 10:53 PM, said:

Buy Atlanta Arms .40 Minor and it's as soft or softer than 9mm Minor will be and the price difference is insignificant and actually favors the .40 in one case.

If you go with their reloaded brass the 9mm 147gr load costs $5 less per thousand than the .40 with a 180gr TMJ (also reloaded brass). If you go with new brass the 9mm 147gr load costs $10 more than the 180gr TMJ load (also new brass). Imagine that....he could shoot new ammo in .40 for less than 9!!!

Even if he was using normal factory ammo it's a pretty small price break, but if/when he decides to shoot Lim or Lim-10 Major he'd have to buy a whole new gun, mags etc.

You really can have your cake and eat it too in this case....softer or just as soft, the ability to go Major if the desire is there and little to no added expense. R,

Completely forgot about AA making this ammo... depending on availability in quantity - that might be a fun way to go. Personally don't like the way the 35 shoots major - would rather compete on the 2011 platform, but I'm not doing that yet. Almost makes me want to go get one, though

Thanks for the correction. That being said and with all other preferences aside, a G35 would be the most flexible option.

I've seen both the G34/G35 being sold at most local gun shops around 600.00. I like to help local businesses, I like NIB, and most savings at online auctions and such seem to be eaten by transfer and shipping fees. YMMV

[Duane Thomas]

Honestly, I would suggest the Glock 17 over the Glock 34. And I say that as someone who loves the 34, and used it as my daily carry and match gun for four years. But the truth is there's nothing you can do with a G34 that you can't do with a G17. In testing, I've found I shoot identical scores on the IDPA classifier with both guns. For concealed carry, obviously the smaller gun will be the way to go. Also, one thing no one ever seems to mention: the G34 has more recoil than the G17 because the longer barrel gives you a higher velocity therefore more recoil impulse. All else being equal, a G34 will kick harder than a G17.

Now, if you handload, you can load a G34 to the same power level as a G17 with less powder, which could be an advantage.

Also, if cost is a consideration, the G17 is the obvious choice over the G34. Even new, the G17 is considerably less expensive than the G34. But even above and beyond that, used G17s can often be found at great prices. You rarely come across a used G34 for sale, certainly not at the $400 or so that you see G17s. Also, holsters for the G17 practically litter the streets but getting a rig for a G34 is, in all likelihood, going to be a custom proposition.

And remember, all this is coming from a guy who loves the G34. It's just that, with experience, I've found I love the G17 even more.

[boz1911]

In USPSA Production division, the G34 is king around these parts. Used ones pop up occasionally but still command near new prices. If shooting cost is a factor, 9mm ammo is generally much cheaper than 40, especially if you reload.

[Singlestack]

I sold my 34 and kept my 17.

[danscrapbags]

I love my G34 as you can tell by my avatar, it is the only gun that I have ever used for competitive shooting so I have to admitt that I am ignorant in reguards to other platforms. I like the reliablity and the fact that accessories are everywhere, everyone sells something Glock related, that's important to me. My carry gun is a G27, I love it too.

[G-ManBart]

bagman, on Jul 5 2009, 08:58 PM, said:

Where is a good place to purchase a Glock 34? Price being a purchase point.

Right now finding one is more of the problem than who has the best price. Buds Gun Shop usually has good prices but it doesn't look like they have any. Heck there are only two of them listedon Gun Broker!

[TRev1911]

I highly recommend a 34 as 9mm ammo is cheaper than .40 and you can get an Advantage Arms Conversion kit - so you can practice using the trigger you are going to shoot at matches.

[Sam815]

TRev1911, on Jul 6 2009, 09:09 AM, said:

I highly recommend a 34 as 9mm ammo is cheaper than .40 and you can get an Advantage Arms Conversion kit - so you can practice using the trigger you are going to shoot at matches.

I've been using a 34 in Production division this year since I don't reload. For Ltd/L-10 I tend to use my Para P-16 (.40) and just switch between 10 rd. mags and hi-caps with Arredondo basepads.

[SA Friday]

G34... G17... Doesn't matter really, IMO. Pick one up and shoot the piss out of it. I own both and shoot the G34 better than the G17, but not by much. I've shot the G34 more, so it comes down to comfort. Stick with 9mm to start off with. Ammo is hard to come by these days.

[Graham Smith]

bagman, on Jul 5 2009, 08:46 PM, said:

Would a Glock 34 be a good first purchase?

Just my 5¢ here... You will likely not get much more out of a G34 than you will a G17 as a first gun. G17's, both new and (particularly) used are a lot easier to come by and are less expensive and if you join the GSSF, you can get a certificate for a discounted G17 from an LE dealer. And the mags and other accessories that work with a G17 will work with a G34 if you decide to get one later.

Get a G17, take the extra bucks and put it toward additional mags, mag holders, belt, holster and ammo - then get out there and have fun.

[Houngan]

I've been shooting a G17 lately to build classifiers in production, and I have to say that I love it. At 135pf, it shoots so quickly and crisply, I'm debating whether to bother with a G34. If some long distance testing doesn't show the difference, I think I'm going to stick with it.

H.

[Mike Singer]

I started shooting a Sig226 and Moved to a Glock 34 and Love the results. Better trigger of course and I like the 34 more than the 17, but I really like the 17L as well. If you already have a 17 I would save the money and not get the 34.

[twodownzero]

I would go with the 34 if you want a Glock. Guys here are telling you to save your money, but it's less than $100 difference and the increased sight radius will make it easier to shoot.

[nphd2000]

Houngan, on Jul 13 2009, 09:24 AM, said:

I've been shooting a G17 lately to build classifiers in production, and I have to say that I love it. At 135pf, it shoots so quickly and crisply, I'm debating whether to bother with a G34. If some long distance testing doesn't show the difference, I think I'm going to stick with it.

H.

I used to shoot a G17 in production and a G22 in Lim 10. Like you stated, I liked the quick crisp handling of the shorter guns. In fact, I first started shooting a G35 downloaded in production but felt I was always waitng for the slide to return to battery for the next shot. The gun felt slow and sluggish like I was shooting in slow motion (I did shoot a few stages clean though) but I thought I prefered a "snappier" recoil so I switched to the shorter guns. I sat out last year but decided to shoot again this year. I picked up a G34 and I love the way it shoots. What seemed slow and sluggish to me before now seems controlled and precise. It's like I am watching a video from behind the gun. Now I shoot a G34 in production and G35 in Lim 10. I'm only a C shooter but this has been my experience.

[Duane Thomas]

Quote

and the increased sight radius will make it easier to shoot.

That's the theory, anyway. In my experience I can shoot identical Master scores on the classifier with either gun.

[bagdrag]

As Duane mentioned, I like the versatility of the G17. Another bonus is you can convert the G17 to an open class gun should you so desire. If you're gonna go for the bigger/longer gun I'd side with the G35. You can shoot downloaded .40 for production and easily move up to limited/L10 class later.

[twodownzero]

Duane Thomas, on Jul 14 2009, 03:37 PM, said:

Quote

and the increased sight radius will make it easier to shoot.

That's the theory, anyway. In my experience I can shoot identical Master scores on the classifier with either gun.

If you're a master, I'm pretty sure it doesn't make any difference what kind of gun you're shooting. TGO kicks the crap out of people in open with a production or SS gun all the time.

[Duane Thomas]

It makes a difference if the two guns are significantly different. But the Glock 34 IS the Glock 17 with a barrel 0.83" longer (and slightly longer slide too, natch). Big whoop. Again, don't get me wrong, I love my Glock 34. I just can't shoot it any better than a Glock 17 because, for all practical purposes, it's the same gun. Same magazine, same grip shape, same trigger pulls, same recoil spring, same.....well, just about everything.

[Nik Habicht]

Duane Thomas, on Jul 14 2009, 04:37 PM, said:

Quote

and the increased sight radius will make it easier to shoot.

That's the theory, anyway. In my experience I can shoot identical Master scores on the classifier with either gun.

Duane,
I'll give you that --- as you become a better shooter the differences matter less and less. Starting out though, I shot the 34 significantly better than the 17. The extra sight radius seemed to leave more margin for error.....