Did I make the Right Choice For IDPA??? Need Opinions!

[GMAN40]

Yesterday I purchased a G17. It was between a G17 and a G34. The G34 no matter where I went to buy it was between $90 to $100 more. I could not justify spending the extra money, instead I used the $90 to buy 9mm ammo and extra mags. Is there really a big difference? Did I make the right choice?

How many of you IDPA shooters use the G17?, and what do you think of it?

[Glock Dave]

I actually switched from a 34 to a 17 for IDPA and I do much better with it. The targets are not that far in IDPA where the little extra in sight radius really makes a difference. I find the 17 balances and points better for me. I think you made a great choice. Now use that ammo and practice, practice, practice. Good luck.

[mike4045]

They are not that different. I prefer the 17 also it just points and feels better. Good choice to buy alot of ammo.

[SureThing]

To be honest, I have owned both and have the 34 now. But I would have not paid extra for it, I got mine used so I paid $450 for it. The 2 things I like for IDPA is the extended slide and mag release. That is $10 worth of parts you can add to your 17, or maybe even find free from an armoror.

The 34's sights still suck just like the 17's, so there is no advantage there.

[Bogey]

I prefer my 17s over 34s. That's just mt personal preference though.

[mpolans]

I prefer the longer sight radius of the 34/35. That said, the 17 isn't bad. Just practice.

[GMAN40]

Out of 6 gunshops, only one had a 17 and 34 in stock. I don't know how they stay in buisness. Anyway it seems both the 17 and 34 went up in price all over.(what isn't these days.)

[Bren]

Yesterday I purchased a G17. It was between a G17 and a G34. The G34 no matter where I went to buy it was between $90 to $100 more. I could not justify spending the extra money, instead I used the $90 to buy 9mm ammo and extra mags. Is there really a big difference? Did I make the right choice?

How many of you IDPA shooters use the G17?, and what do you think of it?

I think the 17 is THE gun. You can shoot it competitively in SSP or ESP and nothing really beats it, given equal skill. While people have been going toward the 34, there is a case to be made that the 17 handles faster and the sights rise less in recoil than the 34, while the extra sight-radius accuracy of the 34 is larghely wasted in IDPA. My wife has been shooting the 34 for eyars and during some recent training the instructor showed her she could be a lot afster with the 17, so she switched back. Now I ahve to buy a 17, since I have been using hers for years.

As Surething suggested, I added the extended slide release (we can call it that in the competition forum) and mag release to my (wife's) 17, but took the slide release back off after I accidentally locked it back on a half-full mag and did an unnecessary reload during a major match.

If you want to start shooting IDPA, Glock 17 is the ONLY gun I would recommend for your first one.

Next you can start looking for the perfect gun to shoot in each division - I still don't have an ESR gun.

[GMAN40]

The only immediate thing I need to do is find reasonably priced set of sights for my G17.

[SureThing]

Ready for the best deal on sights...... Here goes. Take your rear sight, and turn it around, so only the black is facing you. The cut out is .150. Then call Ameriglo and get the serriated front sight. If you ask you can get ......%25 off by using the GSSF code, and if you call he will put it into a maling bag for a couple of bux shipping. You will have $17 in it in. I suggest the .115 front sight.

[WellArmedSheep]

I use a G17 for IDPA and don't feel out-gunned by the guys that shoot 34's.

[Bren]

The only immediate thing I need to do is find reasonably priced set of sights for my G17.
I just bought the Sevigny ones, but I have shot for years with the Glock plastic sights, same as I used on my duty Glocks when I was a cop, and they work great.

[Suburban]

I have told new shooters to go with a 17 over a 34 pretty frequently. The extra money is better spent on ammo.

I like the 34, but have not gotten around to buying one yet, and it's not going to happen for quite a while. . . unless maybe I win the lottery. Not significantly better, if at all better, than my 17.

[Hozer]

I shoot a 17 better at IDPA, but for IPSC where the shots are further/tighter and there is more steel, I shoot a 34 better.

[Bogey]

Natchez has Tru Glo TFOs on sale for $85. I am ordering a set for my 30.

I have Heine Straight 8 Night sights on 2 17s and my 21.

[muncie21]

What I love about my long slide (g34/35) glock is that you can install a ported barrel to reduce recoil substantially!

Took my G17 and G35 (w/9mm ported conversion barrel) to the range the other day. The reduction in recoil with the ported barrel was definately noticable

For practical carry, I'd go with the G17. The long slides don't offer much of an advantage for defensive type shooting, IMO.

[AlphaMike]

The only immediate thing I need to do is find reasonably priced set of sights for my G17.

Black out the white crap on the stock rear and install a Hi-Viz green over-molded front sight. Perfect for the G17 IMHO. Hi-zoot stuff is fine for longer sight radius but overkill on short ones.

..disclaimer. I shoot USPSA only so I could be just goofy. :wavey:




Jim M

[SureThing]

Ported barrels are not IDPA legal.

A better solution is to turn the rear sight around. I have blacked them out in the past tho!

[shotgunred]

Black out the white crap on the stock rear and install a Hi-Viz green over-molded front sight. Perfect for the G17 IMHO. Hi-zoot stuff is fine for longer sight radius but overkill on short ones.

..disclaimer. I shoot USPSA only so I could be just goofy. :wavey:




Jim M

i did something similar on my 23.
sharpie the white on the back site and bought a green fiber optic site for the front.

So far i am quite happy with it in IDPA.

[Joe D]

I shoot a G34 because that's what the popular crowd uses and I want to fit in.

[rbgaynor]

I shoot my 34 better and faster than my 17 in IDPA, but not by much. In USPSA the spread is a little wider, but still close. Buy either and it will serve you well, shoot it a lot.

[Gryff]

Both are great IDPA guns, and neither will give you a particular advantage over the other in the sport. The barrel length is a non-issue, since IDPA doesn't allow shots over 35 yards (and rarely past 15).