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 the Glock company to further expand and improve the model range, but at the heart of the design existing models The pistols of this company still retain those successful technical solutions that were first successfully used in the 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.

On the pistol frame above the trigger guard on both sides there are latches, when pressed, it becomes available incomplete disassembly pistol, removing the bolt barrel and return spring from the frame.

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 amphibia 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. Also effective is shooting at close range from under the water, 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 holes directed upwards, 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 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 original model chambered in .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 of more than 30 countries, for example, Austria, Sweden and Norway, this model is also approved by the NATO leadership as one of the main types of personal small arms, Glocks various modifications are in service with the police and intelligence agencies of the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and many other countries.

This pistol is a typical self-defense weapon. Maximum effective range shooting 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

Flaws

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 extinguished very quickly 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 in 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 capability 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 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, which would lead to deformation and destruction of pistols made of 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 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 factors. environment. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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 -

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


appearance pistol Glock-17

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.

Peculiarities firearms

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 U-shape designs.

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.

Basic TTX pistol Glock-17 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 (Glock 17) is an Austrian pistol developed by Glock for the needs of the Austrian army. He became the first type of weapons developed by this company. The resulting sample turned out to be quite successful and convenient to use, thanks to which it was later adopted by the Austrian army under the designation P80. Due to its combat qualities and reliability, it has become widely used as a civilian weapons self defense.

Glock 17 pistol - video

Glock produces modifications of this pistol in various options for different cartridges, for example: 9 × 19 mm Parabellum Glock 19, .40 S&W - Glock 22, 10 mm Auto - Glock 20, .357 SIG - Glock 31, .45 ACP - Glock 36 and .45 GAP - Glock 37.

A design feature of the pistol is the absence of a fuse box and a trigger. The gun is mostly made of high-strength heat-resistant - up to 200 ° C - plastic. This makes the Glock 17 lightweight and extremely durable. The principle of operation is “grab and shoot”, there is no fuse, however, the shot will not occur without fully pressing the “safe action” trigger. It consists of 33 parts, and partial disassembly is carried out in seconds.

Story

After the end of World War II, the Austrian armed forces were armed with two main models of pistols Colt M1911A1 and Walther P38. The Austrian police were equipped with Walther PP and Walther PPK military and even pre-war years of production or released in the post-war years under license in France. To resolve this situation in 1980, it was decided to announce a competition for new pistol to equip the Austrian police and army.

The following requirements were imposed on the contestants:

Ammunition type: 9x19mm Parabellum;
— minimum magazine capacity: 8 rounds;
- the ability to control the gun with the right and left hand;
- quick bringing into combat position (without the need to switch the fuse);
- the possibility of assembly and disassembly without special equipment, the number of parts in the gun - no more than 58;
- all parts must be interchangeable within the same model without mutual adjustment;
- for 10,000 shots there should be no more than 20 delays;
- the gun should preserve the integrity and functionality as much as possible under external influences and temperature changes;
- maximum safety for the user: the shot should not occur when hitting a steel plate after falling from a height of 2 meters.

Various weapons manufacturers took part in the struggle for such a promising order. Among them was the then little-known company Glock, founded in 1963 in the town of Deutsch-Wagram, located near Vienna. At that time, the company was engaged in the production and supply of sapper shovels, bayonet-knives, belts and various ammunition for the Austrian army. Back in the mid-1970s, Gaston Glock, the founder and owner of the company, set the task of creating the simplest, most effective and reliable pistol for his designers.

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.

Around the same time, the pistol was presented, along with samples from other manufacturers, to participate in a competition called "M9" for the rearmament of officers and non-commissioned officers of all types with personal service weapons. armed forces USA (in the end, the Beretta model won).

Pistols submitted to the M9 competition

Soon after the arrival of the new pistol to the Austrian troops, this model gained considerable popularity, which prompted the Glock company to further expand and improve the model range, but the design of the existing pistol models of this company still retains those successful technical solutions that were first successfully used when developing the Glock 17 pistol.

The name "Glock 17", the pistol, most likely owes to the serial number (No. 17) of the package of technical drawings of the company, eventually accepted for production.

Production generations and variants

To date, there are four production generations Glock 17. Buyers are offered a choice of third or fourth generation pistols, the same applies to most other Glock models, but some models (Glock 17L, Glock 24, Glock 25, Glock 28, Glock 36, Glock 38, Glock 39, Glock 42 , Glock 43) are offered only in the third generation, and some (Glock 40 and Glock 41) only in the fourth.

First generation

Pistols of this generation were produced until 1988, mainly for the Austrian army. They were distinguished by a handle with a uniformly distributed rough texture. In total, about 500,000 copies were produced.

Second generation; second and a half generation

The second generation Glock appeared in late 1988, early 1989. On the front and rear surfaces of the handle, corrugations began to be made in the form of small square protrusions forming horizontal and vertical lines, which increased the reliability of holding the pistol in the hand. The same corrugation is available on the front surface of the trigger guard. The second generation pistols were adopted by the FBI, the Finnish police, the armies of Norway and the Netherlands. After some time, sub-finger recesses began to be made on the front surface of the handles, this option was designated generation 2.5. Some authors prefer to call this frame an early version of the third generation.

third generation

The third generation, in addition to the corrugation and sub-finger recesses, also received a mount for underbarrel flashlights and laser designators, and in addition, an additional (second) pin that fixes the locking block (a metal insert in the case with a cross member, which, interacting with the figured cutout of the tide of the breech breech, leads to its lowering, and as a result - the disengagement of the barrel from the bolt). This change was made so that the locking block could withstand the recoil of the powerful .357 SIG rounds introduced from this generation. Although the 9 mm models did not need such a reinforcing pin, for unification technological processes they got it too. In the upper part of the handle, they began to make a recess for the thumb, bounded from below by an elongated protrusion.

As an option, third generation pistols are available in RTF2 (Rough Textured Frame). The handle of the pistol in this version is covered with convex points that increase the reliability of holding the weapon, including if it is wet. There are 64 points per square centimeter of the RTF2 frame surface. On the other hand, the constant wearing of a pistol in this version, for example in an underarm holster, leads to accelerated wear of the fabric of clothing in contact with the handle. In this regard, RTF2, for all its merits, is unattractive for professional bodyguards working in expensive suits.

fourth generation

The fourth generation has the most significant innovations among all existing generations. The handle is standard RTF, but compared to the RTF2 pistols of the third generation, there are larger gaps between the points - 25 points per cm², instead of 64 for the RTF, and the points themselves are larger.

The back of the handle is made in the form of a separate interchangeable part called the "back plate" (back strap). A part of the minimum size SF (short frame) is installed as standard, in this case the distance from the back of the handle to the trigger is 70 mm. The gun comes with two additional parts M (medium) and L (large), which can be installed instead of the standard one. Detail M increases the distance to the trigger up to 72 mm, L - up to 74 mm. Thus, they allow better grip ergonomics for shooters with longer fingers. To change the part, you need to remove the mounting pin, for which a special tool is provided in the kit.

The store latch button has become larger and more convenient. It also became possible to rearrange it to the right side (more convenient for left-handed shooters). In this regard, a second window appeared on the magazines of the fourth generation pistols under the latch tooth, on the right side. Previous generation pistol magazines can be used in fourth generation pistols, but only if the button is set to the left.

Instead of one return spring, fourth-generation pistols began to install two springs of different diameters (on the same guide rod). In this case, the load arising from recoil is distributed more evenly, the survivability of each individual spring increases, and the recoil felt by the shooter decreases.

Unlike previous generations, the fourth has a corresponding marking on the shutter - Glock 17 Gen4.

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

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 of the Browning earring. Under the breech, a tide is made with an inclined groove, coinciding with the guide ledge of the frame. 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.

The barrel bore is locked by means of a descending breech, which enters with its rectangular protrusion located above the chamber into the window for ejection of spent cartridge cases of the shutter-casing. The decrease occurs when the bevel of the lower tide of the breech breech interacts with the protrusion of the frame. After the shot, the bolt, moving backward, bends the uncoupler, thereby releasing the thrust, which then rises under the action of the thrust spring. When the bolt moves forward, the striker's hook encounters the thrust hook and returns the trigger through the thrust to the forward position. In this case, the drummer is pre-cocked. Pistols of the latest releases are equipped with an ejector, which also acts as an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber.

trigger mechanism

The trigger mechanism (USM) of the striker type with a preliminary partial cocking of the drummer when the shutter-casing moves back and additional cocking when the trigger is pressed. When the trigger is pressed, the firing pin block is first removed, then the sear releases the combat platoon, and a shot is fired. Glock calls the trigger of this design only self-cocking (DAO). However, this system is in fact a classic single-action trigger with an additional firing pin.

In Glock pistols, the drummer is cocked by moving the shutter-casing back, and the relatively long trigger stroke and slightly more than a conventional single-action trigger, the force required to cock the drummer, replace the manually controlled fuse. To ensure maximum ease of handling weapons in the design of this pistol, it was decided to abandon the use of manual safety catches, only automatic ones were left, which made it possible to significantly reduce the time interval from the moment the pistol was removed to the moment the fire was opened.

In the absence of cartridges, the shutter delay is turned on, fixing the shutter in the allotted position. The length and force of the stroke in this case prevent an accidental shot in the absence of a safety lever. The trigger pull is 2.5 kg and can be adjusted from 2 to 4 kg. A small effort required to pull the trigger allows you to increase the accuracy of fire even for a poorly trained shooter.

Circuit breakers

The gun is equipped with three independently operating automatic safety locks. Glock called this system Safe Action. The safety lever, which is equipped with the trigger, blocks its movement back and releases it only when the shooter is consciously pressed. The automatic fuse of the striker makes it impossible for the striker to hit the primer of the cartridge in the event of an accidental failure from the cocking sear. The trigger rod, with its special protrusion, raises the fuse, which is a cylinder with a groove, and opens the way forward for the drummer. The shockproof fuse is a protrusion of the trigger rod, which has a cruciform shape, which is included in the groove of the shutter-casing. It prevents the combat platoon from falling off the sear during an external impact.

Sights

The sights of Glock pistols, made of plastic, are removable and installed in transverse dovetail grooves, consist of a rear sight with the possibility of making horizontal adjustments by shifting it and a front sight, which can be replaced with another one with a different height for vertical correction. For ease of aiming in low light conditions, a luminous dot is applied to the front sight, and a luminous frame is applied to the rear sight. The rear sight can be adjustable, but this is not usually the case in military models. Since 1988, pistols of this model in most cases are equipped with a special guide for attaching a laser target designator (LTC) or a tactical flashlight.

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 maintenance and repair. Equipped as standard with a 17-round magazine; can also use magazines with a capacity of 19 and 33 rounds. 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 (for comparison: the weight of the Beretta 92 pistol with a magazine of 15 rounds is 950 g . in 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.

A distinctive feature of Glock pistols is also the high survivability of components and mechanisms. On average, a pistol is considered wear-resistant if it can fire about 30-40 thousand shots, and 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 stress, 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. On the pistol frame above the trigger guard on both sides there are latches, 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 amphibia is required: the mainspring of the striker with a plastic pallet with holes. Available only for pistols chambered in 9 mm Parabellum. However, for firing under water without the risk of barrel swelling, the use of cartridges with FMJ-type full-shell bullets is recommended. 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 not audible.

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 elongated barrel, appeared in 1988.

Glock 17C- modification equipped with a compensator cut in the barrel and casing.

Glock 17R- a variant of a pistol for training without cartridges with a red plastic case. Does not allow shooting, but practice/laser ammo can be used. The drummer himself is put on a platoon after each descent (Reset trigger).

Glock 17T- option with a blue body for training. Shoots markers with paint (Training).

Glock 18\18C- modification adapted for firing bursts.

Glock 19\19C- compact model with a shortened barrel (102 mm). Initially called Glock 17 Compact, since 1990 it has acquired the current designation.

Glock 20\20C- modification of the Glock 17 chambered for 10 mm Auto, has a magazine for 15 rounds and a built-in compensator.

Glock 21\21C- 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\22C- 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 pistol with tactical flashlight and laser pointer

Glock 23\23C- a shortened version of the Glock 22, is a regular weapon of operational staff.

Glock 24\24C- target modification of the Glock 22 with an elongated barrel and increased accuracy of fire.

Glock 25- modification of the Glock 22 model chambered for 380 ACP, a compact low-power weapon for civil self-defense. First presented to the general public in 1995.

Glock 26- a compact version of the Glock 17 with a magazine capacity of 10 rounds and a weapon length of 160 mm.

Glock 27- compact modification chambered for .40 S&W. Much like the Glock 26, but has a 9-round magazine due to the slightly thicker ammo used.

Glock 28- compact modification of the Glock 25.

Glock 29- a compact version of the Glock 20 model with a magazine capacity of 10 rounds.

Glock 30\30S- a compact version of the Glock 21.

Glock 31\31C- modification of the original model chambered for .357 SIG.

Glock 32\32C- a slightly shortened 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 elongated barrel and increased accuracy of fire. Introduced to the public in 1998.

Glock 35- target modification of the Glock 22 pistol, has an increased accuracy of fire, is specially designed for bench shooting and training of personnel. Introduced 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 10 rounds.

Glock 38- slightly shortened and with a smaller capacity magazine (8 rounds) modification of the Glock 37 pistol chambered for .45 GAP.

Glock 39- a significantly shortened and reduced modification of the Glock 37 chambered for .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, such as Austria, Sweden and Norway. The model was approved by the NATO leadership as one of the main types of personal small arms, "Glocks" of various modifications are in service with the police and intelligence services of the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, the 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.

The energy of a bullet of 350-400 J is enough to inflict serious injury upon impact. The 9mm bullet has a pronounced stopping effect, which allows the shooter to inflict incapacitating, but not fatal, wounds. This quality is especially necessary for police and intelligence officers in cases where you need to stop the target, but there is no need to kill him. In the event that the enemy is protected by body armor, hitting the chest plate of the armor leads to strong concussion, and in some cases to loss of balance, which gives the shooter time to transfer fire to parts of the body that are not protected by armor.

Glock 17 can be effectively used in almost all climatic zones, with the exception of the Far North and areas with sharply continental climate where the air temperature can drop below −40 °C. This is due to its design features. Due to the wide use of polymers, this model is not afraid of the traditionally dangerous for pistols high humidity, dust, jungle and rainforests. But at low temperatures, the plastic frame of the pistol turns from an advantage into a disadvantage due to the increased fragility of the plastic; the components and assemblies of the pistol fail faster, and without proper regular maintenance with the replacement of plastic components in a critical situation, the pistol may not be combat-ready.

The initial velocity of the bullet, like all pistols, is relatively low, which limits the effective range of 50 m.

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 the crews of vehicles. In combat conditions, the Glock 17 is effective for self-defense when it is impossible to use the main weapon.

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 of the Glock 17 pistol

High resistance to corrosion, thanks to the use of a special patented Glock technology for processing barrels and a large number of polymer parts.
- Smooth recoil and high accuracy of fire due to the use of a large number of polymer parts.
- Less weight than pistols of the same class due to the manufacture of the body and frame of the pistol from plastic.
- High wear resistance of units and mechanisms. The barrel before burning out allows you to make 300-350 thousand shots (for other pistols, on average, this value is 40-50 thousand shots).
- Bringing into combat position does not require switching any fuse.
- Declared by the manufacturer, the possibility of firing in the aquatic environment without damaging the gun when changing the return spring.
- The gun can be easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance without the use of special equipment.
- Ability to use stores with a large number of rounds.
- This pistol has a comparatively larger handle slope than other pistols, which makes shooting more comfortable.

Disadvantages of the Glock 17 pistol

There is a possibility that when carried in a pocket for a long time without regular maintenance, small debris can jam the firing pin release lever, making it impossible to fire. But, according to some sources, this event is too unlikely to affect the actual combat capability of the pistol.
- Shutter guides, having a small area, wear out quickly, which leads to a gradual deterioration in accuracy and accuracy of fire due to the rocking of the bolt frame.
- Low resistance of important pistol components to high rates of fire.
- With prolonged use, microcracks in plastic almost inevitably appear.
- The standard front sight is too wide and covers the target.
- Like all pistols with a plastic frame, it requires a confident hold of the weapon to ensure the operation of the automation.
- The trigger mechanism does not allow re-pricking the cartridge primer in case of a misfire - you need to pull the bolt. The disadvantage is conditional, with a small number of cartridges. In general, when shooting, the cause of a misfire is not important - the way to eliminate it is important. In the presence of cartridges, it is easier to pull the bolt than to cock an open trigger, not knowing whether the striker will prick the primer of this cartridge, provided that it has not been pricked for the first time.
- Due to the use of polymer materials, the Glock becomes more brittle at temperatures below -40 ° C, which can lead to cracks in the receiver and frame under mechanical stress. At high temperatures- over 200 °C - deformation of the plastic components of the pistol may occur. In the technical recommendations of the Glock company, the operating temperature range is specified from -40 to 200 ° C, the use of a gun outside this temperature range can lead to failure of its main components and structural components.

Curious facts

A widely advertised feature of the Glock 17 is its ability to fire under water when retrofitting the pistol with a special reinforced return 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 in many other models of pistols can lead to barrel deformation or serious damage to the components and parts of the weapon.

In the early 1980s, the Austrian military department, in order to replace obsolete pistol models in service with Austria, announced a competition for the development of a new, as simple as possible, efficient and reliable model of short-barreled weapons.

Such well-known arms manufacturers as Beretta, Fabrique Nationale, Heckler & Koch, Sig-Sauer took part in the struggle for a promising order, among which was the company, previously unknown in the field of small arms production, Glock GmbH.

At that time, the small company Glock GmbH was owned by the engineer Gaston Glock, who himself founded it in 1963 in the town of Deutsch-Wagram near Vienna. Initially, Glock was engaged in the production of machine tools for completely peaceful purposes, and later retrained as a manufacturer of military products - combat knives, trench tools, sapper shovels, spare parts for machine guns, hand grenades and machine gun belts. In the course of his activities, Glock graduated from the Ferlach Higher Weapons Technical School and decided to try his hand at the weapons field. In the mid-1970s, Gaston Glock set his designers the task of creating the perfect pistol, which should be as easy to handle and maintain as possible, have a small mass, have high reliability and firepower.



Glock 17 (P80)
early release

As a result, Glock presented a sample of a 9-mm pistol to the competition for a new pistol for the Austrian army, called the Glock 17 (the number 17 meant the capacity of cartridges in the magazine).

The main feature of the Glock 17 pistol was that its frame, together with the handle and trigger guard, as well as a number of small parts, were made of high-strength, heat-resistant polymer materials. However, in fairness, it should be noted that the pioneer in this area was the company "Heckler & Koch GmbH", which in 1973 released a pistol with a polymer frame VP 70. But the use of an inertial method of locking the bore with a shutter mass in this weapon when using a fashionable 9x19 mm cartridge required to make the shutter very heavy, which did not give a gain in weight, and the VP 70 pistol was discontinued. Gaston Glock, having studied the experience of the HK company and appreciating the future role of plastics in the production of personal weapons, reoriented his company to the development and further production of pistols for powerful cartridges using plastics, choosing the Browning system for locking the barrel bore for his pistol.



In May 1982, according to the results of tests, the Glock 17 pistol was adopted by the Austrian army under the designation P80.

The new pistol turned out to be extremely reliable and convenient, light and durable, with a simple design. The design feature of the pistol was the absence of a fuse box and a trigger. The principle of operation is "snatch and shoot." The gun is mostly made of high-strength heat-resistant (up to 200 ° C) plastic. It consists of only 34 parts and can be completely disassembled in less than one minute with a hairpin or nail.

Glock 17 automatics work due to the recoil of the barrel during its short stroke. The barrel bore is locked by entering the upper protrusion of the barrel into the window of the casing-bolt. The barrel bore is unlocked by lowering its breech down with the help of the lower tide of the breech and the axis during the recoil of the barrel.



The barrel inside has a hexagonal cut and a chamber, outside it has a cylindrical surface and a square breech, which has a protrusion at the top in the shape of the upper part of the casing-bolt window for removing spent cartridges, and at the bottom there is a tide with a figured cutout for contact with the axis of the frame and a bevel for guiding the cartridge from magazine to chamber.


In the lower part of the chamber there is a valve that ensures the removal of powder gases that have broken through into the pistol grip when the pressure in the barrel is exceeded by 150-200%.

The shutter casing has a U-shape.

The barrel and casing-bolt are covered on the outside and inside with a special tenifer coating.

The frame of the pistol, together with the handle and the trigger guard, is made of high-strength polymer material (plastic) like a monocoque, which ensures structural strength and some softening of the recoil action. The guide frames along which the steel shutter-casing moves are reinforced with steel inserts.

The pistol grip is part of the frame, which ensured its relatively small size and convenient shape with a high-capacity double-row magazine. The angle of the handle to the bore axis is 108°. Early releases of pistols had handles with flat cheeks and corrugated front and back surfaces. Pistols of later releases received notches for fingers on the front side of the handle and small "shelves" under thumb on their sides, as well as guides for mounting accessories (laser designator, flashlight, etc.) on the frame under the barrel.

The shape of the front bend of the trigger guard is designed for imposing the index finger of the second hand when shooting from two hands. The front edge of the trigger guard is knurled for better stability of the weapon in the hand when firing.


The pistol is fed with ammunition from a detachable box magazine with a two-row arrangement of 17 rounds in a checkerboard pattern. Although regular stores are designed for 17 rounds, magazines with a capacity of 19 and 33 rounds can also be used.

The magazine latch is located at the junction of the trigger guard with the handle and is pressed forward.

When the cartridges are used up in the store, the casing-bolt remains in the rear position on the slide delay, the head of which is displayed on the left side of the frame above the handle. The barrel lock with its lever is located on the left side of the frame above the trigger.


The pistol does not have manual safety catches, but is equipped with an integrated safety system consisting of three independently acting automatic safety catches, which are switched off only when the trigger is pulled. It includes the following fuses: trigger fuse. It is located on the trigger, blocks it and does not allow you to move back. It turns off only when the trigger is pressed hard with a finger; combat fuse. He blocks the firing pin. It is turned off by a special protrusion on the trigger rod when the trigger is pressed; anti-shock fuse. It is designed in the form of a cross-shaped protrusion on the trigger rod, which on one side lies in the figured window of the bolt body in the upper position. Before the shot, a special protrusion on the back of the striker is pinched with a tooth at the end of the trigger rod.


Trigger mechanism of striker type with preliminary cocking of the striker. This is the so-called pre-cocked trigger, in which the firing mechanism is partially cocked when reloading, and partially when the trigger is pressed.

The trigger mechanism works as follows. When you press the trigger, the trigger safety is first squeezed out. When the trigger is pressed further, a special protrusion on the trigger pull raises the combat fuse up and releases the channel through which the striker moves. The rear end of the trigger rod has a cruciform shape and one side of the "cross" lies in the figured window of the bolt body in the upper position. When the weapon is ready to fire, a special protrusion on the back of the striker is engaged with a tooth on the end of the trigger rod. When you press the trigger, the trigger rod moves back and cocks the firing pin with the mainspring. At the last stage of the movement, the trigger pull rests on the uncoupler and lowers to the lower position, the striker is released and goes forward under the action of the mainspring and breaks the primer. There is a shot. During the working cycle, excavation for inside the bolt moves and disengages the trigger rod from the disconnector, allows it to rise to the upper position under the action of the trigger spring, and the tooth at its end again engages the protrusion at the end of the striker. As the trigger rod moves forward, the striker spring returns to its normal state and the safety resumes its action.

Well visible sights

Sights open type mounted on a flat upper surface of the shutter-casing and include a front sight and a replaceable permanent sight mounted in a transverse dovetail groove. The front sight is equipped with a luminous dot, and the rectangular slot of the sight is framed by a luminous frame. The sight can be replaced by an adjustable one, but this is not practiced for military pistols. Adjustable sights are completed with the "sports" model Glock 17L.

On the pistol frame above the trigger guard on both sides there are latches, when pressed down, the pistol is partially disassembled (removal of the barrel, return spring and bolt from the frame). Dismantling into the main components and parts (handle, bolt, barrel and reciprocating mainspring with a guide rod) is carried out without special tools.

Partial disassembly

All metal parts of the Glock 17 pistol are processed using Tennifer technology, which is a unique development of Glock GmbH and its carefully guarded secret. As a result of such treatment, the surface to a depth of 0.05 mm acquires a hardness of about 69 Rockwell units (for comparison, the hardness of technical diamonds is 71-72).

The outer body and frame of the gun can be made of plastic in various colors. The most famous classic black, there is also a variant 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.


The advantages of the Glock 17 pistol include:
- High resistance to corrosion due to the use of Glock's special patented barrel processing technology and a large number of polymer parts.
- The effective use of weapons in almost all climatic zones, with the exception of the far north and areas with a sharply continental climate, where the air temperature can drop below -40 ° C.
- Smooth recoil and high accuracy of fire due to the use of a large number of polymer parts.
- Less than pistols of a similar class, weight due to the manufacture of the body and frame of the pistol from plastic.
- High wear resistance of units and mechanisms. The barrel before burning out allows you to fire 300-350 thousand shots (for other pistols, on average, this value is 40-50 thousand shots).
- Bringing into combat position does not require switching any fuse.
- Declared by the manufacturer, the possibility of firing in the aquatic environment without damaging the gun when changing the return spring.
- The gun can be easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance without the use of special equipment.


At the same time, the Glock 17 is not without its shortcomings, which are as follows:
- The small area of ​​the guides becomes the reason for their relatively rapid wear, which leads to the appearance of lateral play in the shutter casing, and as a result, to a decrease in the accuracy of fire.
- There is a possibility that when carried in a pocket for a long time without regular maintenance, small debris can jam the firing pin release lever, making it impossible to fire. But, according to individual sources, this event is too unlikely to affect the actual combat capability of the pistol.
- Due to the use of polymer materials, the pistol becomes more brittle at temperatures below -40 ° C, which can lead to cracks in the receiver and frame under mechanical stress. At high temperatures - over 200 °C - deformations of the plastic components of the pistol may occur. The technical recommendations of the Glock company indicate the operating temperature range from -40 to +200 ° C, and the use of a gun outside this temperature range can lead to failure of its main components and structural components.
- With prolonged use, microcracks appear due to the "fatigue" of the plastic.
- The coating from the casing-bolt is erased, which gives the weapon a sloppy look.

A widely advertised feature of the Glock 17 pistol was its ability to fire under water when retrofitting the pistol with a special reinforced return 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 not great - this is due to the fact that the energy of the bullet is very quickly extinguished in water 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 weapon 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 assemblies of the weapon.

Explosion diagram

There is a widespread misconception that due to the extensive use of polymers in the Glock 17's construction, the "plastic gun" is not detected by metal detectors. This misconception was refuted, including personally by Gaston Glock himself. Despite the widespread use of polymers, the mass of metal components in a gun is about 400 grams.

There is also a false myth about the high fragility of the gun: supposedly if you drop the gun on a hard surface, it can split or crack. 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, which would lead to deformation and destruction of pistols made of conventional materials.

The Glock 17 is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the pistol that was subjected to the most severe tests and retained its combat effectiveness after that. He is able to fire from under water, in conditions of heavy dust, in mud, in conditions of any humidity, after being removed from liquid mud and sand.

This pistol is a typical self-defense weapon. The maximum effective firing range is 50 meters, for effective shooting at such a distance, good shooting training and experience in handling the weapon from which the fire is fired are required. 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 meters per second. The muzzle energy is about 500 J. These characteristics determine the scope of this weapon model.




In addition to the main model Glock 17, a variant of the Glock 17C was created. The Glock 17C pistol is equipped with a built-in compensator, made in the form of several upwardly directed holes located in the muzzle of the barrel, and their corresponding elongated cutouts 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.

In 1988, the Glock 17L model was created for sports (practical) shooting. The Glock 17L differs from the base Glock 17 model in a barrel extended to 153 mm (as a result, an increase in the overall length of the pistol by 39 mm and an increase in weight without a magazine by 45 g), a shutter housing, an adjustable sight, an enlarged magazine latch, and a special trigger mechanism. with a reduction in the effort on the trigger to 2 kg. The "window" in the upper part of the casing-shutter compensates for the excess weight, providing the necessary mass for the operation of automation.


After the adoption of the Glock 17 pistol in 1982, the Austrian company Glock ordered 25,000 pistols. The production facilities were not ready for such a significant order, therefore, until the full deployment of their own production facilities, subcontractors were involved.

Soon after the arrival of the new pistol to the troops, this model gained considerable popularity, which prompted the Glock company to further expand and improve the model range, based on the design, which still retained those successful technical solutions that were first successfully used in the development of the pistol. Glock 17.

In the first 25 years alone, Glock created more than 20 models for the entire range of modern pistol cartridges from 9x19 mm to .45, from police ultra-compact models to concealed carry to combat pistols and sports models with an extended barrel and more than 2 million pistols have been produced, distributed throughout the world.



All pistols of the Glock family differ slightly from the basic Glock 17 sample. They consist of 34 main parts, which is much less than other pistol models. A significant number of parts of different pistol designs are interchangeable. This unification ranges from 65% to 94% and eliminates the need to produce a large number of different spare parts for different models. The design of all pistols is very ergonomic. The handles have a 108° angle and finger grooves. The casing-bolt is equipped with a convenient notch and is made according to the hammerless scheme. The barrels use an improved hexagonal rifling, which provides easier bullet penetration, increased initial speed bullets and reduces dirt build-up due to its smooth profile. To reduce the toss of the weapon when fired, the barrel of the pistol has a low position relative to the shooter's hand, which used to be more typical for sports pistols. In pistols of the same caliber, regardless of frame size, magazines of different capacities are interchangeable. The same ammunition can be used in all models of the same caliber. The production of pistols of the Glock family was launched in seven basic versions: standard; compact; ultra-compact; practical (long-barreled for sports and combat shooting); sports; "thin" (ultra-compact with a single-row magazine for concealed carry); automatic (with the possibility of firing single and automatic fire).



Assessing the success of the Glock pistols, all the leading companies in the world began developing their models of pistols using polymers: in the USA - the Sigma pistol, in Germany - the R-99, P-95 DAO pistols, in Russia - the Skif and GSh-18 pistols , Czech Republic - CZ-100, etc.

A number of firms began to carry out tuning and fine-tuning of Glock pistols. Thus, the Aro-Tech company began to equip pistols with an elongated barrel, an increased slide stop lever and more advanced sights, and the Robar company began to apply high-strength coatings and change the shape of the handles with a decrease in their coverage (such processing of weapons intended for women - police officers are often ordered by police departments).

Started with Glock pistols new era in the history of personal small arms, and the company has world fame. For several years, Glock GmbH has become one of the leading manufacturers of weapons, and Glock pistols, after appropriate tests and competitions, have been accepted by armies and law enforcement agencies in more than 60 countries.

  • Weapons » Pistols » Austria
  • Mercenary 36213 4

". Instead, an ordinary engineer with experience in polymer materials wanted to design a pistol that met the strict criteria of the Austrian army, to replace the outdated designs that were in service.

The first version of the pistol project called "Patent No. 17", now known to all gun lovers as Glock 17 caliber 9×19, won in 1982 and soon became the most sought after pistol in the world. Glock 17 still remains the standard weapon of NATO troops.

Millions of people around the world trust their lives to the quality of handguns. Glock but are usually mutually exclusive.

There are no perfect ways to satisfy every customer, but thanks to Gaston Glock, every gun owner Glock can, based on its polymer platform, assemble its own, unique pistol to suit your needs. There are a huge number of modifications Glock 17, from adding a night sight to changing the trigger pull. People create their own "perfect gun" in parts, like a plastic surgeon restores the face of a patient after an accident.

While some modifications require the input of an experienced gunsmith, most upgrades are available to even the average gun wielder in a matter of minutes. Knowing this, I article author, Dusty Gibson — ed.) eagerly set out to find and test the most popular modifications for pistols Glock that improve this polymer "miracle".

Aim

So, the first thing I thought about was the scope. Standard front sight and rear sight Glock 17 made of plastic, which in itself is not so bad, but if you are a shooter or a person who constantly carries a weapon, this option is not suitable for you. Plastic sights quite suitable for shooting, but with frequent removal of the pistol from the holster and during transportation, they wear out over time, which can become a problem. In addition, at night, standard plastic sights with not very bright paint is practically useless.

Well, there is a way out: on the right you can see the metal sights from company Trijicon; the model in the photo is called GL11. Trijicon sights with bright tritium grades are made of metal, have good resistance to mechanical stress and are clearly visible in the dark, just what a shooter needs.

Installation of such sights usually does not require the use of a gunsmith, you can install them yourself with the usual tools and a steady hand.

The next thing I noticed was...

Trigger

regular trigger, which is factory installed, is very comfortable and meets the requirements of most shooters for weapons to be worn all the time. The trigger pull is 2.5 kg, which is quite reasonable and safe.


The site GlockTriggers.com presents several systems for various purposes for modifying your Glock 17. Including the system EDGE approved by sport shooting associations IDPA And USPSA. This system features a trigger load of just 1.6 kg and greater durability, allowing you to achieve best results in shooting competitions. There are 7 parts in the kit, but it is quite possible to install it in just 15 minutes.

pistol grip

Different arrows improve in different ways pistol grip. Make the handle wider or rougher for a more secure grip. Someone uses ordinary self-adhesive skateboard skin, cutting it into shape. But a more suitable option are special granular or rubberized pads, such as from the company Talon. These covers are easy to install with a regular hair dryer.


To avoid injury from improper grip by firm Grip Force Products adapter is produced GFA, which is installed directly on the pistol grip using a special clip.

And now…

Trunk

Usually shooters have no complaints about the quality of factory trunks companies Glock but if you want to install muzzle compensator, muffler, or use a different caliber, you will definitely have to replace trunk, and in the case of a change in caliber, often a store.


Some shooters also use stainless steel barrels such as Lone Wolf And Storm Lake, which improves barrel durability and accuracy when using other ammunition.

Replacing the barrel does not require special skills and is easily done by anyone.

Shutter Reset Button

Usually shutter release button very tight, especially on new pistols, and has a low profile that can be uncomfortable.


It is quite easy to replace it with a high-profile one, such a button is included in the standard package. Glock 34 And Glock 35. Since the main components of pistols Glock identical in all models, you can easily buy a spare shutter release button from Glock 34 or Glock 35 and install it on your pet Glock 17 th model.

Magazine reset button

In the first 3 generations of pistols Glock magazine reset button was low-profile, which did not always suit. Noting this, the company Glock used a high profile button in the 4th generation of pistols, which also did not please everyone, and some owners complained about its sharp edges. You can’t please everyone, and if you are unhappy with the regular button, then you should pay attention to magazine reset buttons from firms TangoDown or JP.


Shop

This seems to be the simplest modification to your pistol. For Glock 17 there are many different shops: high capacity, increasing the grip area of ​​the handle, as well as with increased weight, for easy falling out of the shaft shop, which saves important fractions of a second in shooting competitions.


So, we come to the last improvement in our list today and it is installed on underbarrel rail.

Lantern and LCC

Such rails appeared in the 3rd generation of pistols. Glock in the late 90s.

On the bar-rail, you can install all kinds of lights and laser sights, and a recent fashion has been to install a mini-knife there.


One of the options for a multifunctional device for rails is a complex device Viridian C5L, including a fairly powerful flashlight at 100 lumens and bright 5 mW green laser pointer, which is visible during the day at a distance of 90 meters, and at night for all 1.6 kilometers.

All this many improvements can be useful for you, so without wasting time, buy and install what will make your Glock more perfect.