If there is one brand of gun that is the top seller with both the law enforcement agencies:

In the United States and with civilians alike, it has got to be the Glock brand of handguns. And the Glock 17 happens to be popular, topping the sales chart internationally too.

The Glock 17 Gen 4 comes with improvements to the generation 3 of Glock 17 pistols that are already popular around the globe. Modular back straps lets modify the grip according to the hand size of the user.

It comes with a unique dual recoil spring design to increase the life span of the coil and also reduce the recoil effect. An enlarged reversible magazine catch has been designed to allow it to be easily used by both right-handed and left-handed shooters.

In this Glock 17 review, we dig deeper to see what makes the Glock 17 such a popular model.

Best features

Before we get in to the details, here is a quick look at the features of the Glock 17 Gen 4.

• Semi-automatic, full-sized Luger pistol
• Dual recoil spring assembly
• Short-recoil operation
• Enlarged magazine catch
• Magazine capacity of 17 rounds
• Large-frame and removable back straps to adjust the grip
• Rough-textured grip with finger grooves
• Safe-action trigger safety feature
• Fixed sight with a U-shape targeting system
• Rail for attaching accessories
• Field tested to withstand extreme conditions 

Size and design

The Glock 17 Gen 4 is a full-size hand gun and is yet popular with civilians due to its smooth firing capabilities. It uses a 9mm Luger caliber round that is as good as a .45 caliber but with more ease of use.

Its dual recoil assembly not only increases the life of the coil system but also reduces the recoil which means you have more control. The interchangeable back straps help you find the right grip for the size of your hand. 

Reliability

The Glock 17 handgun is produced with a Safe Action technology and involves only 34 parts in its design. This is much lower than other semi-automatic pistol models of other competing brands.

Reliability is one of the major reasons why the Glock brand of pistols is so popular. By reducing the number of component parts, the number of glitches arising can be reduced thereby increasing reliability.

This also reduces the number of spare parts that need to be changed with use. Therefore when you buy the Glock 17 you get a fantastic combination of a super-reliable and a super low-maintenance hand gun.

Compatibility

Even though you have a very capable handgun, what matters in the long run is how easy it is to use parts from other models of the same brand.

The parts of the Glock brand of pistols are designed in such a way that all internal component parts are 100% interchangeable among models. Computerized manufacturing processes make it possible to achieve this high level of interchangeability.

You can almost use any brand of ammo with this pistol and you even have the option to upgrade it from 17 rounds to either 10 or 33 rounds.

Maintenance

A cool feature of the Glock 17 is that you can disassemble the whole firearm without any tools and that too within a matter of minutes. So field stripping for cleaning and lubricating the handgun is a breeze.

Due to the same reason, almost all of the parts of the handgun can be replaced by the end user. This is a great reason for any armorer to invest in the Glock 17.

The gun is good to be used for thousands of shots without any cleaning in between. However, for the pistol to be in its top notch condition, it is advisable to change the small trigger spring and the recoil spring periodically. They easily last up to a 20, 00 shots but it is definitely safer to change them much before you reach that number.

Long-lasting

The Glock 17 is engineered to last many years, and you have Glocks that are even 25 years old and are still being used. So if you thought that Glock guns were all plastic and not sure if they will live up to their expectation, and then buy it from websites that have the Glock 17 for sale.

This way you will be able to try it out before investing in a brand new one. But we are sure that you will be buying more than just one.

Modifications

The Glock 17 is great to be used as is straight out of the box, but if you wish to modify it then there are a lot of options to choose from the various Glock 17 accessories. You can choose to add an extended length barrel or even add a tactical sight. The options are almost endless that you will wonder if there is something that is not possible with the Glock 17.

The pistol does not come with its own Glock 17 holster, but there are many different types of holders to match your iconic pistol, from concealed carry holsters to hybrid holsters to winged gun holsters that are ideal for everyday use.  Choose one to match your specific needs.

Price

If you take the Glock 17 price into consideration, you will find that it is the cheapest of the semi-automatic pistols that you can find in the market with similar features. This is the best tactical gun that you can get for $500.

What’s not great about the Glock 17 Gen 4?

No review is complete without the negative aspects of a product. Here is a list of things that are not great about the Glock 17, but you may see that these are very minor and far outweigh the positives of the handgun.

• The magazine will be very stiff when new and you might find loading it to full capacity to be a problem. But this can be overcome with a magazine loader that comes with the handgun. Most experienced shooters simply get away with this by not loading the magazine to full capacity and leaving the last one empty for a few thousand rounds.
• Some users have found that the front sight tends to slide off. If this happens you can either simply glue it in place or replace it. Another great option would be to upgrade it to a better sight option.
• In case you are not happy with the grip on the Glock 17, there is no way to change it.
• The recoil spring in some instances have been found to jam but with a brand like Glock, you can get an instant replacement of the entire product 

Glock 17 versus Springfield XDm

The Glock 17 is the best gun that law enforcement agencies love due to its power and ease of use as it is compact. When compared to the Springfield XDm, the Glock turns out to be very compact and even though it is a full-sized pistol, it can even be used for concealed carry.

Glock 17 Gen 4 versus Sig Sauer P226

As far as ergonomics is concerned, the Glock 17 is a sure winner when compared to the Sig Sauer P226 which is also a 9mm handgun.

For concealed carry, weight is very crucial and the Glock with its polymer frame construction wins it hands down against the steel P226. The grips too, though are not very stylish do their job very well. The textured grips not only allow for a comfortable grip but also allow for use with two hands.

Glock 17 Gen 4 versus Beretta 92 and the Colt 1911

The Glock 17 is more tactical when compared to the Beretta 92 or the Colt 1911. But it is very important to remember that the gun is always charged and that you should fire only when intended.

The Glock also wins over the Beretta and the colt with the first shot speed. It is also the fastest of the three when you draw it out of the holster or if you want to discharge the magazine.

Glock 17 versus Beretta 92FS

The grip on the Glock 17 is far superior to its rival Beretta 92FS which has a larger grip that is ideal only for those with large hands. The textured and checkered grip on the Glock 17 together with an ergonomic design makes it easy to hold even if your hands are wet.

Both the pistols have fixed sights for aiming at the target. While the 92FS uses the traditional three dot system which can be time consuming, the Glock 17 uses a U-shape system that is easy to use. All you need to do is align the dot to the center of the U and fire away.

Conclusion     

It is not without a reason that the Glock 17 is the #1 best selling handgun in the world that is popular with both law enforcement agencies and civilians alike. Whether it is for recreational shooting like hunting, personal defense or law enforcement, the Glock 17 is the perfect firearm for every mission.

When it comes to any firearm, reliability becomes the number one priority. The Glock 17 comes from a brand that engineers handguns specifically to meet the military and law enforcement needs worldwide. With quality and continuous improvement, being the brand’s motto and our Glock 17 review to help you understand the full range of the pistol’s capabilities, the Glock 17 is an easy choice for both a beginner and the seasoned shooter.

A great firearm sure can do wonders, but the Glock 17 Gen 4 is for those who like an extremely versatile hand gun that can do more than what it promises.