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, 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 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 weapons. 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 of more than 30 countries, for example, Austria, Sweden and Norway, this model is also approved by NATO leadership as one of the main models of personal small arms, "Glocks" of 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 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 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 there were shops that had to be changed every 5-10 thousand shots. Before that, none serial pistol did not show 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 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" for the thumb on their sides, as well as guides for attaching accessories (laser pointer, flashlight, etc.) to 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.

Sights are clearly visible

Open-type sights are mounted on a flat upper surface of the shutter-casing and include a front sight and a replaceable permanent sight mounted in a dovetail-type transverse 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.
- Effective use of weapons in almost all climatic zones, with the exception of the far north and areas with sharp 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 - deformation 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 9x19mm to .45, from ultra-compact concealed-carry police models to combat pistols and long-barrel sports models, and over 2 million pistols produced worldwide.



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 advanced hexagonal rifling for easier bullet penetration, increased muzzle velocity and reduced dirt build-up with a smoother 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. So, the company "Aro-Tech" began to equip pistols with an elongated barrel, an increased slide delay lever and more advanced sights, and the company "Robar" - applying high-strength coatings and changing the shape of the handles with a decrease in their coverage (such processing of weapons intended for female police officers is 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

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.

Number of Glock 17s on hand civilians, police departments and army units, is stunning 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. It will be difficult for you to distinguish this sample from the one that left for last week assembly line in Smyrna.

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's crisp and has a distinctly felt reset that allows for quick and accurate bursts of shots. Of course, trigger pull and feel is a matter of personal preference, but for myself I still haven't found a trigger that's 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. There is nothing unusual for me in three accurate hits three well-aimed shots, with the pistol drawn 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.

conclusions

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






The performance characteristics of the Glock 17:
Caliber, mm - 9x19 Parabellum
Length, mm - 204
Barrel length, mm - 114
Height, mm - 138
Width, mm - 30
Grooves - right-handed, hexagonal, pitch 250 mm
Weight without cartridges, gr - 710
Curb weight, gr - 910
Shop, cartridges - 17, optionally 10; 33

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 a firm 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.

As a result, Glock GmbH presented a sample of a 9-mm pistol, called Glock 17, to the competition for a new pistol for the Austrian army. 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. It consists of only 34 parts and can be completely disassembled in less than one minute with a hairpin or nail. 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 (up to 200 ° C) polymer plastic. The second feature was the absence of a fuse box and a trigger.

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 Heckler & Koch 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 channel for his pistol trunk.

Currently, there are several families of Glock pistols for all major pistol calibers (9 mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, 10 mm Auto, .357 SIG, .45 Auto, .380 Auto and .45 GAP).

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 shutter is made of steel by high-precision casting and subjected to special treatment to increase corrosion and wear resistance with a special tenifer coating (Tennifer). 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 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 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" for the thumb on their sides, as well as guides for attaching accessories (laser pointer, flashlight, etc.) to 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 10 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.

Striker-type trigger mechanism with pre-cocked striker of the so-called Safe Action (safe action), with 3 automatic fuses. A feature of the USM safe action (Safe Action) is that during the reload cycle of the pistol, the drummer is only partially cocked, while it is blocked by an automatic fuse. The cocking of the drummer occurs only when the trigger is pressed, while the drummer remains blocked from moving forward until the trigger is fully squeezed out. The trigger force is adjustable from 2.5 to 5 kgf by replacing the spring. Thus, it is possible to achieve a uniform force on the trigger from the first to the last shot, which has a positive effect on the accuracy of shooting.

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, the recess on the inside of the bolt moves and disengages the trigger rod from engagement with the uncoupler, 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.

Open-type sights are mounted on a flat upper surface of the shutter-casing and include a front sight and a replaceable permanent sight mounted in a dovetail-type transverse 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. On "sports" models (for example Glock17L) adjustable rear sight and front sight can be installed.

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.

For most modifications, versions with an integrated barrel toss compensator are available. The compensator is made in the form of a group of holes in the upper muzzle of the barrel, and corresponding cutouts in the bolt next to the front sight. The compensator is designed to reduce barrel vibrations. For such models, the letter "C" is added to the name. The following models are equipped with a compensator: G17C, G19C, G20C, G21C, G22C, G23C, G31C, G32C.



  • - 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.
  • - 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.
  • - The disadvantages of this design sometimes include the inability to re-fire a cartridge that has misfired.

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.

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 m/s. The muzzle energy is about 500 J. These characteristics determine the scope of this weapon model.

1. Remove the magazine, pull the bolt back and make sure there is no cartridge in the chamber by pointing the weapon in a safe direction, pull the trigger.
2. Move the bolt to its rearmost position and press down the barrel lock lever.
3. Remove the bolt with the barrel and return mechanism from the frame forward.
4. Turn the bolt over and remove the return mechanism (return spring with guide rod) from it.
5. Remove the barrel from the bolt by lifting it by the breech.
6. Assembly is carried out in the reverse order.



  • 78332 views

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 widespread as a civilian weapon of self-defense.

Glock 17 pistol - video

Glock produces modifications of this pistol in various options under different cartridges, for example: 9x19mm Parabellum Glock 19, .40 S&W - Glock 22, 10mm 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 gun 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 the competition called "M9" for the re-equipment of officers and non-commissioned officers of all branches of the US armed forces with personal service weapons (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 of the 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. While the 9mm models didn't need this reinforcing pin, they did get one to unify their processes. In the upper part of the handle began to make a recess for thumb, limited 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 in fact, it is 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 conditions low light 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 blowing the barrel, 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 a sharply continental climate, where air temperatures 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 under conditions low temperatures the plastic frame of the pistol turns from an advantage into a disadvantage due to the increased fragility of the plastic; pistol components and assemblies fail faster, and without proper regular maintenance with the replacement of plastic components in critical situation the gun may be incapacitated.

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 the event 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 - deformations 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 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 for many other models of pistols can lead to barrel deformation or serious damage to the components and parts of the weapon.