The Glock 17 pistol was first produced in 1982, starting what would become a revolution in the gun and military industry and forever changing the world of modern combat pistols.

The amount of Glock 17 in the hands of civilians, police departments and army units is staggering and second only to its little brother Glock 19. And for good reason: in the absence of a classic spirit and style, the Glock 17 pistol is a workhorse that will serve you faithfully for a lifetime.

With such a story, I can freely use the term "long-term operation". And I can guarantee that to this day, the first generation samples are used, thirty years old and hundreds of thousands of shots fired.

My third generation pistol has only 7000-8000 shots in five years. And again, there is nothing outstanding in these numbers, but I cannot remember what else I carried with me almost every day for five years and what other of my pistols can boast of such a record.

Comfort and appearance

Manufactured in 2009, this Glock 17 features a Tenifer finish, widely known for its corrosion resistance and surface hardness. Sometime in 2012, Glock switched to using a nitride coating on their guns, which drew criticism from some fans who claimed it wore out faster and was less resistant to corrosion than the Tenifer. But even with the well-proven Tenifer coating, my Glock 17 still has holster scuffs on the slide edges.

I would probably be disappointed if there were no individual marks left on my pistol: this is a tool, not a sample from a display case.

The resin frame, aside from my choice of dot-knurled overlay, is nearly flawless. While I've always been good with my pistol (I'm not a SWAT operator), it's seen climates ranging from the dry and dusty plains of Colorado to the hot and humid summers in New England. But there are no signs of fading, cracking or deformation on the frame.

The guides and internal parts of the gun are also in perfect condition. You'll have a hard time telling this one from the one that left the assembly line in Smyrna last week.

A cursory examination of the chamber and rifling also reveals nothing out of the ordinary, except that I should be more diligent in cleaning. This barrel will outlive me and will continue to serve.

Functioning

After 7000+ shots, I can honestly say that this Glock 17 never failed.. And we, who carry weapons every day, sometimes take this quality on faith, but we should not. If your trust and hopes are tied to any mechanism, its reliability must be supported by real (and personal) evidence.

Basically, my pistol was on a constant diet of Winchester Ranger 147gr JHP, Federal HST 124gr and 147gr JHP, and Army +P FMJs. This Glock 17 is truly omnivorous when it comes to ammo types and has yet to choke on anything.

Perhaps the most controversial feature of Glock pistols is their trigger. I can guarantee that the trigger of the Glock 17 doesn't even come close to the smooth action of a redesigned trigger. And rightfully so, since the Safe Action System used by Glock negates the need for external fuses.

That being said, I like the Glock trigger; it is crisp and has a distinctly felt reset that allows for fast and accurate bursts of fire. Of course, trigger pull and feel is a matter of personal preference, but for myself I still haven't found a trigger that is as comfortable as the Glock trigger. with a force of 2.49 kg.

The second controversial point in Glock pistols is the angle of the handle. And here I will be softer and agree that the criticism of the handle is quite legitimate. The curvature (and angle) of the handle is quite steep. Many owners, when shooting Glock pistols for the first time, hit a little higher, slightly lifting the muzzle when aiming. Having to lower the muzzle of the gun down makes me tense my wrist and makes the stance stiffer and more stable.

Being completely open, I decided to switch to professional grips from Business End Customs, which will allow me to more comfortably position my giant palms around the handle. But I wouldn't have to do that if I bought a fourth generation Glock 17 with interchangeable rear grips.

The longer length, added weight of a larger pistol, and 9x19 caliber make the Glock 17 a reasonably stable pistol, with very little muzzle flip even when firing in rapid bursts. It's not unusual for me to score three accurate hits with three well-aimed shots while drawing a pistol from its holster in less than two seconds. I am not an athlete, but this is a decent indicator for a similar series when firing full power cartridges.

Wearing a Glock 17

I don't think the Glock engineers were thinking about concealed carry when they created the G17. It was designed for open wear and official use, mainly due to the length of the bolt and handle. Although with the right holster and body type, the Glock 17 is very comfortable for concealed carry.

And if you're a bit petite, the equally popular Glock 19 is a better fit, as it's 2.5 centimeters shorter in both dimensions. My pistol is even bigger due to the built-in flashlight, the Surefire x300, which, in my opinion, is a must-have on any combat pistol.

The entire life of my Glock 17 has been spent in a Raven Concealment Phantom holster, with the exception of rare trips in the open hip Safariland. There are hundreds of holster options on the market now, but Raven is still at the top of the list and is a great fit for the Glock 17. Someday I will talk about Raven products, because they are really high quality things.

Aside from the large size of the pistol, the Glock 17 is an excellent choice to carry as a self-defense weapon. With a standard capacity of 17 plus one in the chamber, I rarely feel the need to carry a spare magazine with me.

And in my case, the Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI) magazine heel adds two or three more rounds. This is great ammo for a concealed carry pistol. And another advantage of TTI heels is their smooth aluminum surface, which will not cling to a shirt or jacket.

findings

I strongly believe that there is no perfect pistol for self-defense. Each shooter will have their own priorities, and everyone will have to compromise based on their life situations. For me, the Glock 17 is probably the all-time favorite. This opinion is based on the feeling of confidence when you pick up a Glock 17 or just know that it is strapped to your hip.

In any case, this is a classic pistol with a good reputation and every weapon fan should have one in their arsenal, no matter if it will be used every day.

Take care of yourself!

Characteristics:

Price: $539+

Caliber: 9×19

Length: 20.3 cm

Height: 13.7 cm

Width: 2.99 cm

Weight (unloaded): 710 grams

Weight (charged): 910 grams

Magazine capacity: 17 rounds

Descent force: 2.49 kg

Modifications/Accessories:

Sights: Trijicon Night

Handle pads: Business End Customs

Shop heels: Taran Tactical Innovations

In the 80s of the 20th century, the Austrian military department announced a competition for the creation of a new pistol model. The new weapon was supposed to be more practical and better in all respects than the old weapons. Important criteria were reliability and ease of use.

appearance of the Glock-17 pistol

Several large arms companies took up the right to fulfill the departmental order. When demonstrating various models of small arms, the Glock GmbH company provided a model of its Glock-17 pistol for public viewing and, by the 82nd year, it was recognized as the best of the best, and subsequently adopted by law enforcement agencies.

Firearm Features

Small arms were so well thought out that they contained all the qualities necessary for the defense department. The main distinguishing feature is the materials used. The frame of the pistol with a handle was made of a polymer material that could withstand temperatures of 200 degrees Celsius, and was also not afraid of physical impact. All this gave the firearms the necessary margin of safety, despite its low weight.

A design feature of the Glock-17 is the presence of a special valve in the chamber from below. Thanks to him, in the event of excessive pressure, due to the influence of powder gases, they are removed through the pistol grip. The design feature of the casing is a U-shaped design.

On the surface of the gun there are the following factory markings:

on the casing - shutter and frame on the right on the casing - shutter on the left

A standard firearm magazine holds 17 rounds of . They are arranged in two rows in a checkerboard pattern. There are modifications of magazines for 33 or 10 ammunition. The latch that holds the magazine at the base of the handle is located at the point where the trigger guard and the handle of the weapon join.

Glock-17 firearms do not have a standard system fuse. Safety when using a pistol is ensured by a special system that has three independent automatic type fuses. The entire system is turned off during the application of force on the trigger. There are several types of fuses in the security system:

trigger;
combat;
shockproof.

As an aiming system in small arms, an open type of sight is used, the main elements of which are fixed on the flat surface of the bolt. The sighting system consists of a front sight and an interchangeable sight. The front sight has a special luminous marker, the slot in the sight also has a pleasant illumination.

The main performance characteristics of the Glock-17 pistol are presented in the table

As mentioned earlier, the frame of the firearm and the outer part of the body is made of a special polymer material - plastic, which can have different color shades. As a rule, the main color is black. However, it can be replaced with other colors. In places of heavy load, special iron inserts are mounted in the body of the pistol, which increases the strength of small arms.

The work of parts and mechanisms of weapons inevitably leads to the formation of unique traces of a shot on the ammunition. Traces characteristic of the Glock-17 pistol are presented below:

trace: 1 - reflector, 2 - the edges of the window in the shutter under the striker, 3 - ejector hook,
4 - striker (shape - rounded rectangle)

On the one hand, an additional dynamic trace from the tip of the striker adjoins the striker trace, which is displayed in the form of traces, the specified trace is formed when the barrel swings in a vertical plane.

Advantages and disadvantages of firearms

The assembly of the Glock-17 uses a large number of polymer parts, which avoids the adverse effects of corrosion. Also, the barrel undergoes a special processing technology. Polymer parts make it possible to achieve smoothness during firing, which, of course, increases accuracy.

The characteristics of the material make it possible to use small arms without much difficulty in any climatic conditions, with the exception of the far north and areas with sharp temperature fluctuations.

The weight of the Glock-17 is slightly less than that of short-barreled weapons of a similar class. This makes the new weapon a bargain, practical and easy to handle. The process of disassembling the gun does not require special tools.

The disadvantages include the fact that the ingress of various debris between parts of the mechanisms can lead to jamming of the gun during firing. Some experts do not consider the probability of jamming due to small debris to be too great. In order to avoid this, it is enough to periodically clean small arms.

The characteristics stated high rates of temperature effects on the Glock-17 pistol. However, at -40 degrees, small arms become brittle. And at a temperature of more than 200 degrees - parts and mechanisms can be deformed.

Glock 17 is the original creation of the Glock small arms company, released for the new needs of the Austrian army in 1979. The main goal was to replace obsolete samples with a fundamentally new model.

As a result, the Glock 17 turned out to be a very high-quality and comfortable-to-use development, thereby earning the recognition of the Austrian army and many policemen in the world. Also, due to its technical characteristics, the pistol gained great popularity among the civilian population, as an excellent tool for self-defense.

History of creation

Glock GmbH was founded in 1963 by an engineer named Gaston Glock. Based in Austria, the company manufactured steel and plastic parts. In the 70s, Glock began to produce knives, training grenades and other products for the Austrian military.

Thanks to his connections, which Glock maintained and constantly strengthened with the military, led him to new opportunities. In 1980, he received an official proposal from the Austrian military, which proposed the development of a new pistol.

The army wanted to replace their old World War II models (Walter P38).

The Austrian Ministry of Defense has formulated a list of a number of criteria for a new generation pistol:

The design had to be as simple as possible.
The pistol was to use NATO-standard 9×19mm parabellum rounds.
Magazines should not need any means of loading.
Stores were required to have a minimum of eight rounds.
The gun should be comfortable for shooting with the left and right hand.
The pistol must be absolutely safe from accidental firing due to impact from a fall from a height of 2 m onto a steel plate.
Disassembly of major parts for maintenance and reassembly must be possible without the use of any tools.
Maintenance and cleaning of the gun was carried out without the use of tools.
The design of the pistol must not exceed 58 individual parts (P38 equivalent).
Gauges, gauges, and precision test devices should not be necessary for long-term gun maintenance.
The manufacturer had to provide the Ministry of Defense with a complete set of engineering drawings. They had to be provided with all the necessary explanations for the manufacture of a pistol.
All components are fully interchangeable between pistols.
During the first 10,000 shots, no more than 20 delays were allowed, even the most minor ones, which could be eliminated without the use of any tools.
After firing 15,000 rounds of standard ammunition, the pistol had to be inspected for wear. The gun would then be used to run an overpressure test rig generating 5,000 bar (500 MPa, 73,000 psi). Normal operating pressure for 9mm NATO is rated at 2520 bar (252 MPa, 36,500 psi). Under this test, critical components must continue to function properly and meet specifications or the gun will be rejected.

Gaston Glock had no experience in designing firearms, but nevertheless accepted the order and set about creating a new pistol for the Austrian military. Glock put together a team to pinpoint the traits and qualities that make up the perfect pistol.

A few months later, Glock developed a prototype. The company introduced the semi-automatic model no. 17 for approval and review by the various committees of the ministry.

The model was so named because it was Glock's 17th patent.

The tests carried out by competing firms were rigorous and very demanding.

In the end, the Austrian Ministry of Defense decided to choose the Glock variant, and the Model 17 became the pistol for the Austrian military. Thus, Mr. Glock and his team became the winners in the competition to create a new pistol, ahead of many Austrian and international companies.

Video - history of creation

Since 1982, the Austrian military and police began to massively use this firearm, and after just a few years the brand has spread throughout the world. So, soon after the appearance of the Glock, the Norwegian and Swedish armed forces wanted to adopt it. To date, the army and police in more than 30 states are armed with this pistol.

Generations of Glock

The Glock 17 has gone through various modifications over the years. Glock users simply gave the nickname "generations". Since then, the company itself has adopted the term of generations and also released its latest Glock 17 as "Gen 4" meaning "Generation 4".

Temporary list:

1982 - Glock releases the Glock No. 17. A distinctive feature was the evenly distributed roughness on the handle. This is a model known as Gen 1. About 500 thousand samples were produced.
1988 - Gen 2. One major change is that the recoil spring is now one instead of two as on the Gen 1. The grip is also different, as Glock added knurling that forms vertical and horizontal lines, which greatly improved grip pistol in hand. In the second generation, the pistol was adopted by the FBI, as well as the armies of the Scandinavian countries.
1996 - Gen 3. In addition to the corrugations, the pistol received the ability to mount tactical flashlights and laser designators. For better grip in the hand, the company made a notch in the upper part of the handle for the thumb.
2010 - Gen 4 is released. This generation has changed the most in relation to the previous pistols in this line. In the corrugated handle, the distance between the points has increased, now there are 25 of them per square centimeter. Such a corrugation is called RTF2. The magazine latch button is made larger and more convenient. Also, on the fourth generation Glock 17, they began to install two springs of different diameters (on the same guide rod with a separator between them), instead of one return. Thus, the company has achieved a reduction in the effect of pistol recoil when firing and an increase in the survivability of each individual spring.

Specifications

Weight	650 gr., (without cartridges) 900 gr., (equipped)
Length	186 mm
barrel length	114 mm
Width	33 mm
Height	138 mm
Cartridge	9×19 mm Parabellum (+P, +P+)
Caliber	9 mm
Work principles	recoil of the barrel with its short stroke
starting speed bullets	375 m/s
Sighting range	50 m
Type of ammunition	magazine for 17+1 (standard), 19+1 or 33+1 rounds
Aim	removable open

Design features

Most parts of the Glock are made of high-strength nylon-based polymer. The rest of the pistol is made of steel. The polymer (called polymer-2) in the weapon is an invention of Gaston Glock himself. The substance was unconventional when it was first introduced.

Over time, it became clear that Glock knew what he was doing when the company released this revolutionary new pistol. Polymer-2 is a substance that is primarily stable. It is more elastic than most of the various steel alloys. This substance can withstand very high temperatures, impacts and various liquids.

The pistol is treated with Tenifer, a substance that is also extremely resistant and is the standard in the gun industry.

Once finished, the gun has a matte gray appearance to its surface, and that is when the final finish is applied to the gun to give it its final look.

Tenifer treatment of the pistol helps to protect the steel parts that are inside. This means that you can even technically fire these weapons underwater. Glock steel parts using the Tenifer treatment are more resistant to corrosion than similar parts of the pistol with other finishes or treatments, including Teflon, blue, hard chrome or phosphate.

During 2010, Glock switched from the Tenifer nitriding process to a salt bath. After completion of the nitriding process, a black decorative surface is applied. The nitriding treatment will remain, protecting the parts of the gun, even if the decorative surface wears off. Due to the simplicity and reliability of the design, the gun can be completely disassembled and assembled and carried out a technical inspection without improvised means.

The disassembled pistol has 33 parts, along with a magazine.

The pistol is equipped with a standard magazine for 17 rounds, but if necessary, it is possible to use enlarged magazines for 19 and 33 rounds.

Thanks to the innovative solutions of Glock in the field of polymers, it was possible to significantly reduce the weight of the pistol. For comparison, at 15 rounds it weighs 950 g unloaded, while the Glock 17 has a clean entire pistol at 650 g, and with a full magazine 900 g. The pistol is so light that 25% of its total weight is ammunition.

The Glock 17 pistol has earned worldwide fame and respect due to its high reliability of all components and mechanisms. At the end of the 20th century, it was believed that if a pistol could fire up to 40,000 shots without any problems, then it could be considered durable and reliable, but the Glock pistol exceeded all expectations, firing up to 350,000 shots, which is many times higher than the standard indicators. This advantage is due to the widespread use of polymer components and the unique barrel manufacturing technology patented by Glock.

In parts that are subjected to the greatest load, plastic is reinforced with special metal plates.

Steel inserts are inserted in the guide frame along which the shutter casing moves. To carry out incomplete disassembly of the pistol (disconnecting the bolt barrel together with the return spring from the frame), there are special latches that are located on the pistol frame, near the trigger guard.

Possible additional gadgets and tuning

The Glock 17 pistol has a wide range of magazines that have increased ammo capacity and weight for quicker removal of the magazine from the shaft of the handle, which can save important fractions of a second at critical moments.

One of the most common pistol upgrades is the installation of flashlights or laser designators on it by attaching them to a bar under the barrel. Such devices began to appear in the 3rd generation of Glock pistols. It has become a modern fashion to install a knife rail bar.

There are several complex tuning models for the Glock pistol line.

Viridian C5L is a device that includes a flashlight with a power of 110 lumens and a green laser pointer, its brightness and clarity is determined by 5 mW. Thanks to this device, you can point the target at a distance of up to 100 meters during the day and at night up to 1500 meters.

Tactical buttstock GRL-400, thanks to the buttstock, the pistol will become more comfortable to wear and stable during assault operations. The clear advantages of this device are as follows:

improve accuracy over long distances
perfect for concealed carry
folds easily and quickly
polymer construction provides the necessary strength.

Stock compatibility is possible with all generations of Glock pistols, except for the fourth and other subcompact models.

Tactical kit Kpos G2. Such a device, weighing almost 1 kg, will make the pistol an excellent weapon for special operations, turning it into a real carbine. This layout is used by elite special forces to maximize the intensity and accuracy of shooting at medium and short distances, without significantly increasing the length of the weapon. The advantages of this design:

durable aluminum frame made from a single sheet;
fire transfer handle;
removable flame arrester;
ease of removal and installation, no additional tools or modifications to the gun are required;
all parts are on the same frame.

Various modifications

Glock 17 laid the foundation for the development of the entire line of Glock pistols. All models, on the designation of which there is a symbol "C", were produced with a recoil compensator.

Thanks to this, it was possible to improve the accuracy of fire and, of course, reduce recoil.

Glock 17L - A model that appeared in 1988 with an extended barrel. Used in sports competitions
Glock 17C - Model equipped with built-in compensator
Glock 17R - Model designed for shooting practice without cartridges
Glock 17T - Model with a blue case, also intended for training purposes. When shooting, uses blue balls
Glock 17A - Model designed for the Australian market to meet local barrel length requirements. The only differences between the Glock 17 and the Glock 17A are that the 17A has a 120mm barrel that protrudes noticeably from the frame and the magazine capacity is 10 rounds.
Glock 17Pro is a special edition released only for the Finnish market
Glock 17P80 - used by the Norwegian Armed Forces

A distinctive feature of Glock pistols was the ability to shoot under water. Fire can be fired without fear for the barrel itself, it does not inflate and, moreover, does not break. But for practical effectiveness, a striker with transverse grooves is required in order for the primer to fire constantly. This problem can also be solved by installing the amphibious Spring cups kit.

The peculiarity lies in the fact that shooting can be carried out exclusively with a 9 mm Parabellum cartridge. Bullet energy efficiency is highest when fired to a depth of one and a half meters, but the practical threshold is 3 meters. If you shoot at close range from under the water, then you will not hear the sounds of shots.

There is an erroneous stereotype that, allegedly due to the widespread use of plastic components in the Glock 17 pistol, it poses a threat to society, since metal detectors do not fix it. In fact, everything is completely different, because the gun used a lot of metal parts, with a total weight of 400 grams. Gaston Glock himself dispelled this myth, passing through a metal detector with a pistol, and he was detected in a timely manner.

The second common myth is that supposedly Glock pistols have increased fragility due to the predominance of plastic parts. However, people who claim this are simply ignoring the fact that during state tests, the pistol withstood a two-meter drop onto a metal surface.

If the gun broke, then it would not have been adopted by the Austrian army.

The Glock 17 pistol was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as a pistol that passed extremely tough tests while maintaining full combat capability.

The Glock 17 has the unique ability to fire under water, under heavy dust, in high humidity, and even after being completely submerged in liquid mud or sand. According to these criteria, it can be compared with a Kalashnikov assault rifle. We can say that the Glock 17 is a Kalashnikov in the pistol world.

Video

9 Work principles : recoil of the barrel with its short stroke Muzzle velocity, m/s: 350-360 Sighting range, m: 50 Type of ammunition: magazine for 17 (standard), 19 or 33 rounds Sight : removable open Pictures on Wikimedia Commons: Glock 17

History of occurrence

Using the existing experience in the use of polymers in the manufacture of weapons, the Glock 17 pistol was created. The fundamental innovation of this model was the widespread use of polymer materials in its design, mainly impact-resistant polyamide was used. In 1982 according to the results of military tests, the Glock 17 pistol was adopted by the Austrian army under the designation P.80. Glock was ordered 25,000 pistols, production facilities were not ready for such a significant order, so subcontractors were involved until the full deployment of their own production facilities. Soon after the arrival of the new pistol to the troops, this model gained considerable popularity, which prompted Glock to further expand and improve the model range, but the design of existing models of pistols from this company still retains those successful technical solutions that were first successfully used during development of the Glock 17 pistol.

Design

This type of pistol is a fairly simple and reliable design, consisting of 33 parts and can be disassembled without the help of special equipment.

Pistol automation

Schematic diagram of the operation of the Colt-Browning Cam system

The automatics of the Glock 17 pistol work according to the scheme of using recoil with a short barrel stroke. The design used a modernized system Colt-Browning (Brauning Cam), which is a modernization browning earrings. Under the breech the barrel is made tide with an inclined groove, coinciding with the frame guide. The groove is made at such an angle that, moving along the ledge, it causes the moving barrel to decrease, due to which the latter disengages from the shutter-casing, and then stops, allowing the shutter to roll back unhindered.

Design features

The gun has a simple and reliable design. When completely disassembled, it consists of 33 parts, including a magazine. Maintenance can be carried out without the use of special equipment using improvised means, which greatly facilitates the maintenance and repair of this weapon model.

Equipped as standard with a 17-round magazine, it can also use magazines with a capacity of 19 and 33 rounds.

Partial disassembly of the Glock 19 pistol

In addition to the generally accepted design features, the Glock 17 also has a number of specific technical solutions that were then used in pistols of subsequent models.

Many parts of the pistol were created using polymer materials, including the frame (except for the barrel and bolt cover), which made it possible to reduce the weight of the weapon to 900 g in running order, compared to a pistol Beretta 92 with a magazine of 15 rounds, the mass of which is 950 g in an unloaded state. Moreover, the mass of the equipped store in the Glock 17 is 250 g, that is, about 25% of the weight is ammunition.

Also, a distinctive feature of Glock pistols is the high survivability of components and mechanisms. If, on average, a pistol is considered wear-resistant, if about 30-40 thousand shots can be fired from it, then 300-350 thousand shots can be fired from the Glock 17. Such superiority in wear resistance is due to the extensive use of polymer parts and the unique barrel manufacturing technology patented by Glock.

The outer body and frame can be made of plastic in various colors. The most famous is classic black, there is also a Glock 17 in camouflage. In the production of parts that are subjected to the greatest load, plastic is reinforced with metal plates. The guide frames along which the shutter casing moves are reinforced with steel inserts. At the bottom of the frame is a small metal plate stamped with the gun's factory serial number.

There are latches on the pistol frame above the trigger guard on both sides, when pressed, incomplete disassembly of the pistol, removal of the bolt barrel and return spring from the frame becomes available.

Shooting underwater

An interesting feature of Glock pistols is the ability to fire underwater. In this case, not only rupture, but also swelling of the trunk does not occur. However, for stable operation of the primer, a special striker with transverse grooves or a set of Spring cups amfibia is required: the mainspring of the striker with a plastic pallet with holes. Available only for pistols chambered in 9mm Parabellum.

However, for firing under water without the risk of blowing the barrel, it is recommended to use cartridges with full-shell bullets of the FMJ type. Glock pistols allow shooting underwater at a depth of up to three meters. The bullet retains great energy at a distance of up to two meters when fired at a depth of one meter. Shooting at close range from under the water is also effective, while the sound of the shot is absent. This method of shooting is taught in many special forces.

Existing modifications manufactured by Glock

The Glock 17 pistol served as the basis for the entire range of pistols manufactured by Glock. Glock pistols, which have the “C” index in the model designation, are equipped with a built-in compensator, made in the form of several upwardly directed holes located at various intervals in the muzzle of the barrel, and an elongated cutout in the upper part of the casing-bolt. The presence of this device made it possible to reduce the recoil when fired, which somewhat increased the accuracy of fire.

The following derivatives of the Glock 17 pistol currently exist:

Glock 17L - the target version of the model with an extended barrel, appeared in 1988.
Glock 17C - a modification equipped with a compensator cut in the barrel and casing.
The Glock 17R is a variant of the pistol with a red plastic body.
Glock 17T - blue body variant.
Glock 18 - a modification adapted for firing bursts.
Glock 19 is a compact model with a short barrel (102 mm). Originally called the Glock 17 Compact, with 1990 acquired its current designation.
Glock 20 - modification of the Glock 17 chambered for 10 mm Auto, has a magazine for 15 rounds and a built-in compensator.
Glock 21 - modification chambered for .45 ACP, in this regard, it has a number of design differences. The profile of the barrel has changed, which has become octagonal with right-hand cutting, the magazine capacity has decreased to 13 rounds.
Glock 22 - modification chambered for .40 S&W. This model was released in 1990. In May 1997 This model was adopted by the FBI as a service weapon. It is a standard weapon for duty officers.
Glock 23 - a shortened version of the Glock 22, is a standard weapon for field officers.
Glock 24 - target modification of the Glock 22 with an elongated barrel and increased accuracy of fire.
Glock 25 - modification of the Glock 22 model chambered in .380 ACP, a compact, low-powered civilian self-defense weapon. First presented to the general public in 1995.
The Glock 26 is a compact variant of the Glock 17 with a magazine capacity of 10 rounds and a weapon length of 160mm.
Glock 27 - compact modification chambered in .40 S&W. Much like the Glock 26, but has a 9-round magazine due to the somewhat thicker ammunition used.
Glock 28 is a compact modification of the Glock 25.
The Glock 29 is a compact version of the Glock 20 with a magazine capacity of 10 rounds.
The Glock 30 is a compact version of the Glock 21.
Glock 31/31C - modification of the original model chambered for .357 SIG .
The Glock 32/32C is a slightly shorter version of the Glock 31 pistol with a smaller magazine.
Glock 33 - a significantly shortened and reduced modification of the Glock 31, positioned as an "ultra-compact pistol".
Glock 34 - target modification of the Glock 17 pistol with an extended barrel and increased accuracy of fire. Presented to the public in 1998.
Glock 35 is a target modification of the Glock 22 pistol, it has an increased accuracy of fire, it is specially designed for clay target shooting and personnel training. Presented to the public in 1998.
Glock 36 - a compact modification of the Glock 21, the magazine capacity is only 6 rounds, due to their single-row arrangement it has a small thickness, which facilitates covert carrying.
Glock 37 - modification of the original model chambered for .45 GAP magazine capacity of 10 rounds.
Glock 38 - slightly shorter and with a smaller magazine capacity (8 rounds) modification of the Glock 37 pistol chambered in .45 GAP.
Glock 39 - a significantly shortened and reduced modification of the Glock 37 chambered in .45 GAP, positioned as an "ultra-compact pistol" (SUBCOMPACT).

Usage

Due to its successful design, the pistol has become widespread throughout the world. Various modifications of the Glock 17 pistol are in service with the army and police in more than 30 countries, for example, Austria, Sweden and Norway, this model is also approved by the NATO leadership as one of the main models of personal small arms, Glocks of various modifications are in service with the police and special services USA, Canada, Mexico, India, Philippines, Saudi Arabia and many other countries.

This pistol is a typical self-defense weapon. The maximum effective firing range is 50 m, effective shooting at such a distance requires good shooting training and experience in handling the weapon from which the fire is fired. On average, the Glock 17 is most effective at a distance of 20-25 m, due to the fact that even a poorly trained shooter is able to hit a target at such a distance. The muzzle velocity of a bullet fired from a Glock 17 at the muzzle is 350-360 m/s. The muzzle energy is about 500 J. These characteristics determine the scope of this weapon model.

In law enforcement forces, the Glock 17 is used as the main weapon on peacetime patrols.

In army structures, the Glock 17 is an additional weapon for officers, in some cases sergeants. They can also arm crews of vehicles. In combat conditions, the Glock 17 is effective for self-defense when it is impossible to use the main weapon.

In civil security structures and for private individuals, this pistol, as well as for the police, is a weapon of self-defense and a means of protecting entrusted property.

It is thanks to the fact that the Glock 17 effectively copes with the tasks in all three main areas of its application that it has become so widespread in the world.

Advantages and disadvantages

This model, like any other weapon, has its pros and cons.

Advantages

disadvantages

Curious facts

A widely advertised feature of the Glock 17 is its ability to fire underwater when retrofitting the pistol with a special reinforced recoil spring. This effect is achieved due to the strength of the barrel and simple and reliable automation that does not use complex gas exhaust systems, and replacing the standard return spring with a reinforced one allows you to return the bolt back to the firing position even with a significantly increased environmental resistance. The practical value of this ability is low - this is due to the fact that in water the energy of the bullet is very quickly extinguished due to the high density of the medium, and the effective firing range does not exceed 1-2 meters. But despite the low efficiency of the pistol in this situation, the very presence of this ability indicates the high reliability and wear resistance of components and mechanisms, the preservation of the combat capability of the Glock 17 in conditions of any, arbitrarily high humidity, and even the ability to fire when there is water in the barrel bore , which for many other models of pistols can lead to barrel deformation or serious damage to the components and parts of the weapon.

There is a widespread misconception that due to the extensive use of polymers in pistol construction, the Glock 17 is not detectable by metal detectors. In reality, this is not at all the case. This misconception was personally refuted by Gaston Glock when he passed through the frame of a metal detector several times with a pistol, and each time the weapon was correctly detected. This is due to the fact that, despite the widespread use of polymers, the mass of metal components in it is about 400 g.

There is a myth about the high fragility of pistols in this series: supposedly if you drop a pistol on a hard surface, it can split or crack. The falsity of this myth is easily refuted: just look at the conditions for passing the competition, formulated by the Austrian army, for a new pistol. Among others, there is a clause - without consequences for combat effectiveness and spontaneous shots, withstand a fall onto a metal plate from a height of 2 m. If the pistol did not meet this requirement, it would not have become the winner of the competition.

In fact, cracks and deformations of plastic components can occur under mechanical stress, but usually at temperatures below -40 ° C or under severe mechanical stress that would lead to deformation and destruction of guns made from conventional materials.

The theoretical wear resistance of the Glock 17 is 300-350 thousand shots, but the record for the number of shots fired from this pistol belongs to the American Chuck Taylor, who, having decided to check the veracity of the technical description, fired about 100 thousand shots over 3 years. At the same time, the pistol retained the accuracy of the battle and combat effectiveness. The only weak point was the stores, which had to be changed every 5-10 thousand shots. Before that, not a single serial pistol showed such combat survivability.

Usage in popular culture

Cinema

Pistols "Glock-17" were armed with many heroes of Hollywood films.

Ashton Kutcher in "Killers"

This is not a complete list of films where the Glock 17 and its modifications appear.

Computer games

Due to its popularity, the Glock 17 has become widespread in computer games that display modern reality or myths based on it. Most often, a pistol of this type is found in shooters and tactical simulators. Below are examples of some of the games in which you can meet the Glock 17 or its modifications.

Conclusion

The Glock 17 pistol is the ancestor of a new, previously non-existent, design tradition of the widespread use of polymer materials in the production of weapons. Despite the lack of experience of the Glock company, which had not previously produced pistols, this model turned out to be very successful. It combines a number of positive qualities, such as lightness, high wear resistance, reliability, satisfactory accuracy of fire, simplicity and ease of maintenance, resistance to corrosion and harmful environmental factors. It is thanks to its successful design and the presence of undoubted advantages that the Glock 17 gained worldwide fame and became so widespread.

Notes

Special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia are armed with a Glock-17 pistol (Russian). Press service of the Logistics Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (11.12.2009). Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
Hogg, I., Wicks, D."Glock" (Austria) // All pistols of the world. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Pistols and Revolvers = Pistols of the World. The definitive illustrated guide to the world "s pistols and revolvers. - M .: ZAO EKSMO Publishing House, 1997. - S. 142. - 384 p. - 25,000 copies -

legendary pistol Glock is of increasing interest in Russia, it is used both for sports (without the ability to take a gun home from the shooting range) and by special services. Since we are trying to keep up with modern trends, we consider it necessary to tell you about four very interesting models of this pistol. Glock 17, Glock 19, Glock 26, Glock 34- all these models are structurally very similar, many of their spare parts are interchangeable, and the caliber for all is 9x19 Parabellum.

Studying the awareness of our fellow citizens about this wonderful pistol, we noticed that Glock 17 is often confused with Glock 19, and very few people have heard about models 26 and 34. In this article, we will collect information on Glocks 17, 19, 26, 34 in one place, see how the pistols differ and which one was originally designed for what.

Glock 17 was developed by Glock specifically for the Austrian army, later the pistol was adopted by the armies of several more countries, entered the FBI, the police and was put on sale among citizens of countries where the COP was legalized.

Video diagram of the Glock 17

Generations (generations) of the Glock 17 pistol

Since the pistol was put into production in the early 80s, and the requirements for weapons have been constantly increasing since then, the company had to periodically make changes to the design to keep up with the times. In total, there are currently 4 generations of Glock 17, moreover, now in the wide sale of zero Glocks (not secondary) there are pistols of only 3 and 4 generations, that is, Glock 17 Gen3 and Glock 17 Gen4. Let's take a closer look at what's happening with generations.

Glock 17 Gen1

The main consumer of the first generation Glock 17 was the Austrian army. Pistols were produced until 88. The main visual difference of the 1st generation can be considered a handle without recesses for fingers and the absence of corrugation on the back and front of the handle.

Glock 17 Gen2

Corrugation appeared on the front and back of the handle, pistols began to actively enter the FBI, the Finnish police and some European armies. Later, subfinger recesses appeared on the handle - this is also the second generation.

Glock 17 Gen3

If the first generation differed little from the second, then in Gen3 there was a bar for flashlights or a laser pointer, an additional pin that holds in place a part installed in a frame that interacts with the barrel. In addition, depressions appeared on the top of the handle, which allow you to better hold the gun. Pistols Gen 3 can be found both standard and with a notch on the handle type RTF2 (Rough Textured Frame). This notch increases the confidence of holding the gun with wet hands, but causes discomfort when wearing the gun while wiping clothes.

Glock 17 Gen4

Visually, Glock Gen 4 differs from Gen 3 primarily in the inscription on the shutter “GEN4”, the RTF surface (large dots, rarely stand) and not RTF2 (small dots, often stand), and interchangeable “backs” of the handle: the back is thin from the factory, for those who are uncomfortable, they take a thicker or very thick back from the kit and put it on themselves. Besides Glock 17 Gen4 has an extended magazine reset button that can be rearranged to the other side (finally by the 4th generation they thought about lefties). After rearranging the magazine reset button to the right side, magazines from previous generations no longer fit. Instead of one bolt return spring, two springs are put on the rod, which increases the resource of each of the springs and reduces the pistol toss after firing.

The Glock 17 model is, as it were, the base model, many Glocks of various calibers have been developed on this basis, but we will talk about the Glock 19, Glock 26, Glock 34 in 9x19 caliber.

Glock 19

In fact Glock 19 is a more compact version of the Glock 17 pistol, the barrel has been reduced (102 mm instead of 114 mm for 17) and the handle, which is standardly designed for a 15-round magazine (instead of 17 for the Glock 17). Otherwise, the pistol is almost completely identical to the Glock 17. It is popular with the police, special services, and citizens. It is a very balanced model in the sense that it is quite convenient to carry it hidden, but it has sufficient accuracy and power: that is, the golden mean between a military pistol and something subcompact.

Glock 26

A sub-compact pistol based on the Model 17, but more stripped down than even the Model 19: the barrel Glock 26 88 mm long, and a 10-round magazine is standardly placed in the handle. It was developed for the civilian market, but is also in some demand among employees. This pistol is so short that a telescoping recoil spring had to be developed. The rest of the design is the same Glock 17.

Glock 34

Version of the Glock 17 with an elongated barrel and a cutout in the front upper part of the bolt. The barrel length is 135 mm, which is 21 mm more than the base model 17, the bolt and return mechanism have been changed accordingly. Otherwise, the pistol is identical to the Glock 17. Pistol Glock 34 was created for sports, but also came in handy in the armies and special forces of Malaysia, the USA and Chile.

In the following materials, we plan to talk about tuning Glock 17, Glock 19, Glock 26, Glock 34:

Fortunately, a huge number of tuning kits are suitable for all these pistols, because they are developed on the same basis.