If you’re looking for a trusty sidearm to bring with you for your hunting needs, you can narrow your choices down between the Glock 34 vs 17. When you’re out in the wilderness, you may want a compact and reliable handgun by your side at all times. And both the models of Glock 34 vs Glock 17 are perfect for this purpose. However, the question is – which one should you buy this 2023? In our Glock model comparisons, you will be able to decide whether Glock 17 or 34 is right for you.
The Glock Brand Overview
Glock Ges.m.b.H., more commonly known as Glock, is an Austrian firearms and weapons manufacturer founded by Gaston Glock. Its most popular product by far is the Glock series of 9mm striker-fired, polymer-framed handguns that have become popular among both law enforcement and civilians due to their low cost, small size, and ease of use. It has become the go-to handgun of most military and law enforcement personnel in the United States.
What is a Glock 34?
The Glock 34 is a great target gun. One unique advantage of the 34 is its slide which most Glock enthusiasts prefer in comparison to other models from the same manufacturer. Its 5.31-inch barrel increases your sight radius to roughly 7.5 inches, though your mileage will vary depending on the sights you pick. When you combine the longer barrel with the sight radius it shouldn’t be hard to see why this is overall a more accurate gun than other handguns in the same weight class. Speaking of weight, it’s quite impressive that a gun of this size can still stay light. Needless to say, it’ll be easier to consistently hit the target when your arms aren’t strained from trying to aim something as heavy as the Pfeifer-Zeliska. Its trigger is also lighter than average at below five pounds which can make it more accessible to a wider range of shooters who don’t like heavy trigger pulls. The versatility doesn’t stop there since it can run both standard 17-round mags as well as extended 33-round variants if one desires. Gen 4 Glock 34s have modular back straps and can be ordered with a MOS package. This makes installing a reflex sight on the pistol possible which is useful both in range and tactical scenarios. The Gen 5 Glock 34 has the MOS as a standard inclusion.
Overall Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What is a Glock 17?
The Glock 17 is the tried and true, classic plastic, “Tupperware” polymer-framed handgun. Ever since the Austrian military and police forces started using it in 1982, it became a favorite among law enforcement and civilian gun owners. Notable for its reliability, the Glock 17 has been one of the top-rated beginner handguns in the market.
Don’t let its reputation as a beginner-friendly gun fool you though. There’s a reason why the Glock 17 is seeing widespread use in the military and police forces. This wide adoption also means that aftermarket parts and upgrade kits are more common for the Glock 17 vs Glock 34. In that regard, the biggest difference between Glock 17 and 34 is that the former is a lot easier to maintain.
Overall Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Glock 34. vs 17: Detailed Glock Comparison
| Glock 17 | Glock 34 | |
| Height | 5.47 inches | 5.47 inches |
| Weight (empty mag) | 24.87 ounces | 25.93 ounces |
| Length | 8.03 inches | 8.82 inches |
| Trigger | Striker-fired | Striker-fired |
| Barrel | 4.49 inches | 5.31 inches |
| Calibers | 9mm Luger | 9mm Luger |
| Capacities | 17/19/24/31/33 rounds | 17/19/24/31/33 rounds |
When talking about The Glock 34 vs Glock 17, it’s important to mention that both have the same frame. From the outside, they are basically identical, save for the longer barrel and slide. Designed on the get-go for competitive shooting, the Glock 34 is the best choice when you need accuracy. Another important point of difference between Glock 17 and 34 is that the latter is about 0.8 inches longer than the Glock 17, resulting in a longer barrel and larger sight radius. This effectively means that between Glock 34 vs 17, the former is a more accurate gun. The longer barrel also means a higher bullet escape velocity, increasing round penetration. Additionally, despite its larger size and weight, the Glock 34’s trigger is lighter to pull than the G17 at about 5.4 pounds. This lighter trigger pull weight means less shake and sway when firing. That allows for a more precise shooting experience.
Design
In terms of the design of the Glock 34 and 17, both are nearly identical: with a polymer frame and a single bottom rail for attachments. When you compare Glock models, the only notable thing to consider in terms of design is whether you need a longer or shorter handgun. The G34 in essence is an extended barrel variant of the G17 with a barrel length of 5.31 inches compared to the latter’s 4.47 inches. The increased barrel length helps rounds fired from the G34 to achieve a higher velocity. This increases bullet penetration and range. Additionally, since longer slide results in increased weight, the G34’s slide has a cutout at the top to shave off the weight that its additional length incurs. This is important to ensure that the slide works and moves reliably when cycling rounds from the magazine after firing.
Usage and Ease of Concealment
Choosing between the Glock 34 vs Glock 17 mainly comes down to your intended use for a handgun and what you want from it. Need a competition handgun that leaves your opponents in the dust as you fire at targets with accuracy, speed, and precision? Then in this battle of G34 vs G17, the former is your best bet, since it was designed and made entirely for this purpose. Meanwhile, the G17 is perfect if you need a full-size handgun you can conceal-carry and be an all-around performer. The shorter length of the G17 makes it easy to bring around.
Ammo
Both Glocks are chambered for 9mm ammo (Parabellum rounds) which are small and light. This makes both of them easy to shoot with a gentle and easily recoverable recoil. If you are looking for barrel conversions, it is easier, more reliable, and safer to convert down to smaller rounds. You can opt to go for .380 ACP or .22 LR as these are smaller than the 9mm. Also, a lot of people often wonder – “How much ammo should I have?”. Well, it mostly comes down to your use case and monthly budget for firearm-related expenditure.
Safety
There’s one important thing you must have to be able to safely shoot a Glock – TRIGGER DISCIPLINE. Both the Glock 34 vs Glock 17 have the brand’s signature Safe Action System. It is designed to prevent the gun from accidentally firing when dropped or when the trigger is not pulled by your finger. However, if you compare G34 vs G17, you’ll learn that both lack external safety. And that can be a huge concern if you’re out and about or in a panic while unholstering your firearm. This is not helped by the fact that both Glock 17 vs 34 have a light trigger pull, especially the latter model. So always make sure that your finger is not on the trigger if you don’t intend to fire.
Pricing
The price on Glock 34 is usually around $550-$650 while the Glock 17 goes for $450-$650. That’s a $100 average difference between Glock 17 and 34 for only a slightly longer barrel and lighter trigger pull. To add to that, the Glock 17’s age and popularity also result in stronger aftermarket support. That means that spare parts, attachments, and conversion kits are much more widely available and affordable for Glock 17 vs 34.
Conclusion
The Glock 34 vs Glock 17 are two largely similar handguns that are both great options as hunting sidearms. Both are small, light, and use 9mm ammo. Moreover, they’re reliable which is perfect when you want a light but effective and good weapon. Thus when you’re choosing between the Glock 34 vs 17 handgun, it is best to consider how you plan to use your weapon and what it is for. The Glock 34 is an amazing option in terms of accuracy. Meanwhile, the Glock 17 is an all-rounder that is both small and light that you can carry on long treks and can be easily concealed. So with that said, which model – Glock 17 or 34 you think would be the best for you? Perhaps you already have experience with these models, and you also have some recommendations? Feel free to let us know in the comments, we would love to learn from you too!