Glock 17 combat. Encyclopedia of weapons. Glock pistols are the most common short-barreled weapons in the world.

Humanity has always gravitated towards a compact but powerful version of personal weapons, which, in fact, became the glock 17 pistol, created by the Austrian company of the same name. However, what made him legendary Active participation in Hollywood projects, which affected arms sales around the world. Various modifications are still used by the police and intelligence services of NATO countries.

Today we will talk about the founder of this line, the model under the index 17, which included only 34 parts, so a trained fighter could disassemble it without any effort in less than one minute. The weapon is small in size, light in weight, and also practical, because it has the ability to fire underwater.

The history of the creation and development of the Glock pistol

When World War II ended and Austria became an independent state, its newly created army was equipped with pistols of pre-war production - Walther P38 and Colt M1911A1. The police had a worse situation: they received a model produced in the 20s - Walther PP. However, Austria did not fight with anyone and maintained strict neutrality in the Cold War, so they started thinking about modernization only in 1980, when the state organized a competition to create a new pistol that would be available to both police and military personnel.

The new version of the service weapon had to meet the requirements issued by the country's military ministry:

• 9×19 mm Parabellum cartridges;
• the minimum number of cartridges in the magazine is 8 units;
• the gun must be safe, so even if dropped from a height of 2 meters there should not be a spontaneous shot;
• for every thousand shots there should be only 2 misfires;
• interchangeability of parts.

The Glock met or exceeded all of these requirements.

There was a lot of competition, and few expected that the tiny Austrian company, founded back in 1963 under the name Glock, would win. However, she has been involved in this project since 1970, which allowed her to present best option automatic pistol. I was also captivated by the fact that the model from this company, with its high specifications, was 25% cheaper than its competitors. As a result, Glock easily outperformed its competitors, and already in 1983 it was put into service Austrian army and the police.

However, perhaps if the pistol had been used only in Austria, it would have remained a locally successful option. However, the fact is that the Glock is almost entirely made of high-strength and heat-resistant plastic, so it was used by the screenwriters in the movie “Die Hard 2”. After which these weapons began to be shown in almost all films that were in one way or another related to shootings, which had a very good effect on sales and the overall popularity of the model.

In addition, another surge in popularity was that it began to be used in computer tactical shooters. Until now, it is Glock that remains the symbol of the legendary computer game Counter-Strike.

Pistol design

Structurally, the Glock had several innovations that ultimately made it one of the most popular pistols in the world. First of all, the automation, which was built into the first model, has almost never changed, and all variations are just an increase in the magazine, caliber and barrel length. There is only one exception - the model under the index 18 - it is capable of firing at speeds of up to 1100 rounds per minute, so the internal parts of the sample were changed.

In addition, the automatic safety design is original: it, being combined with the trigger, is removed only when two components of the structure are pressed simultaneously. The clip release button is located on the left side of the pistol, just below the trigger guard. Despite the large magazine volume (in some modifications, such as the glock 20 -13 rounds), the weight still remains one of the smallest in the world. The trigger guard was specially enlarged so that it could be fired with both hands.

Principle of operation

The whole point of how a pistol automatic works is the recoil of the barrel with a short stroke. The designers decided to use the proven, but somewhat modernized Colt-Browning scheme. The essence of the operation of this system is as follows: a tide with an inclined groove is created under the breech of the barrel; it coincides with the guide protrusion of the frame. The Austrian designers made a groove at the required angle, which causes the moving barrel to decline and it disengages from the bolt-casing. After which it stops, as a result of which the shutter rolls back.

Pistol Attachments

At the moment, there are two main additions to the Glock 17. The first is a sighting device, which is made of high-strength plastic and installed in special transverse grooves, which we know as a “dovetail”. To fire in low light, the designers added a luminous dot to the front sight and a luminous frame to the rear sight. Since 1988, a special guide element has been installed on the glock, on which a tactical flashlight or laser-type pointer is attached.

In addition, the weapon can be equipped with a silencer. However, only elite units receive this modification without using a glowing frame. There are, of course, custom additions that are made in an artisanal way, and always belong to the pneumatic versions of the weapon. The most popular option of these was the glock under the index 21.

Technical characteristics of the Glock 17 model

Performance characteristics of the first serial glock:

• Type: self-loading;
• Caliber - 9×19 mm Parabellum;
• Barrel length - 114 mm;
• Total length - 186 mm;
• Weight without clip - 0.625 kg;
• Weight with a full magazine - 0.905 kg;
• The standard number of rounds is 17, but can be increased to 33;
• The initial bullet speed is 375 meters per second;
• The maximum sighting range is 50 meters.

In general, in 1980, Glock was one of the best in terms of its characteristics.

Ammunition used

The Glock 17 uses the 9x19 mm Parabellum cartridge, which was developed back in 1902 by the legendary Austrian gunsmith Georg Luger, who used the projectile in his pistol of the same name. After the cartridge was adopted by the German Navy in 1904, it still remains relevant. At the moment, it is of interest not only to the NATO bloc, but also to the Russian Federation, whose gunsmiths are modifying Parabellum.

The design of the ammunition is a shortened cartridge case from 7.65x21 mm Parabellum. So it is shaped not like a bottle, but like a cylinder. The energy of the bullet is enough to seriously injure a person, but not kill him. Therefore, Glock is used by police and intelligence agencies, who must stop the criminal and not lead to death. Of course, the cartridge is not enough to penetrate a bulletproof vest, however, the resulting shock wave may well knock a person down.

Other ammunition:

1. Cartridge 10 mm Auto. It was developed specifically for FBI agents, had a caliber of 10.16 mm, was used in modifications under the index 20, 29, 40. It has great destructive power, as a result of which it was necessary to abandon the use of these cartridges when training cadets;
2. The .40 S&W cartridge is quite popular in the USA, created in 1990. The 10.16 mm caliber is essentially an analogue of the 10 mm Auto cartridge, with reduced bullet energy;
3. The Glock 21 used the .45 ACP cartridge, developed at the beginning of the 20th century by Browning. Essentially, it is a modernization of the even older .45 Colt cartridge. Caliber 11.51 mm;
4. Another cartridge developed by Browning, the .380 ACP 9mm, was used in the Glock 25;
5. One of the current modifications under the index 31 used the .357 SIG cartridge, developed in Switzerland, with a caliber of 9 mm.

Until now, Glock is being modernized for various ammunition, which confirms its relevance in the world of weapons.

Glock pistol models

At the moment, the line has grown to enormous proportions, but we will list only the main models:

1. 17L is the very first modification of the main pistol, the only difference being the elongated barrel. Was created in 1988;
2. 18 - a specialized version for firing in bursts;
3. 19 is a more compact model. It has a shortened barrel of 102 mm (the original version was 114 mm). Until 1990, this modification had the Compact designation, which was eventually abandoned;
4. 20 - this sample is distinguished by the fact that it was created specifically for the 10 mm Auto cartridge, and also has an enlarged magazine and a built-in compensator;
5. 21 - it is often thought that this is a special Glock model for 45 caliber, however, the .45 ACP cartridge, contrary to its name, has a caliber of 11.51 mm. The clip is increased to 15 charges;
6. 22 is a model that was specially created to be used by the FBI. This version was created for caliber 40 S&W. Created back in 1990, the model still remains relevant, and at the moment there is no news that they will change the service weapon in this US government agency;
7. 34 is one of the best modifications, which has an elongated barrel and has increased accuracy of fire. In fact, this model was created in Austria specifically in order to be exported. And now the US police are armed with it, in almost all its structures, as well as in Chile and Malaysia;
8. 39 is the penultimate Glock model, which is a shortened and smaller modification of it. In general, there is now a tendency to turn the Glock, which is already a small pistol, into some kind of “ladies’ weapon” of a completely miniature appearance.

Almost all options are goods for export, which are developed to order from other countries.

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Several decades ago, the Austrian armed forces were equipped with two models of handguns, some of which were issued during the Second World War, and some before it. Model 11 is the Austrian designation for the Colt M 1911 A1 automatic pistol (USA), and model 38 is the Austrian name for the Walter R 38 automatic pistol from Germany.

In the mid-seventies, the Austrian armed forces announced a tender among local and foreign companies for the production of new standard hand-held firearms. They needed a modern pistol that would meet the following requirements: the ability to quickly prepare for battle without the need to actuate the lever or safety; maximum possible safety for the user and large magazine capacity.

Many enterprises from Austria and other countries took part in the competition, and when the decision was made, the experts were extremely surprised. The winner was not an eminent manufacturer, but an Austrian enterprise completely unknown in the field of development and production of weapons. Until that time, the company produced only plastic and metal products and was known only for supplying the army with bayonet shovels and machine gun belts. But Gaston Glock, director of the family business, was ahead of all competitors by developing the Glock 17 automatic pistol.

And one more circumstance surprised the experts. The Glock pistol, which was loaded with 9x19 Parabellum cartridges and had a magazine capacity of 17 rounds (which gave the pistol its name), was generally not intended for military use, but was designed as a civilian weapon for free sale. After the company received subsidies in May 1980, designers began developing some experimental models that could be used for military purposes.
In May 1982, after appropriate testing, the Austrian military ordered 25,000 copies of the Glock 17 pistol for the army.

The pistol was made mainly of plastic and therefore had a small mass. For example, the handle, thanks to its rough surface, fits very comfortably in the hand and is made by flame spraying from polyamide artificial resin. In the production of parts that are subject to the greatest load, plastic parts were reinforced with steel plates. The bolt body and barrel are made of steel.
The Glock 17 automatic pistol can be used for single fire, and its automatic operation is based on the use of recoil energy from a moving barrel. Parabellum 9x19 cartridges are supplied from a two-row magazine, which is made of plastic. Shooting is carried out according to the single action principle. Designers and manufacturers equipped their weapons not with an external hammer, but with a firing pin, which is automatically cocked when reloading and moving the bolt forward after firing. Thus, to fire, the shooter only needs to pull the trigger.
The trigger resistance is approximately 3 kg and its free play is 5 mm. The resistance and trigger path remain the same with every shot, ensuring accurate shooting. Aiming even in poor visibility is also easy. The sighting device is made of plastic.

In 1980, it was decided to replace the old Walther P.38 pistol in the arsenal of the Austrian army with a new pistol chambered for the same cartridge (9x19 Parabellum). The main contender was the Steyr GB, which also had very serious rivals: the Italian Beretta 92 pistol, the German P98 and HK 97, as well as the German-Swiss P220. However, eminent, long-established companies have an unexpected competitor - the small company Glock GmbH. Already having experience in the production of shooting accessories and bladed weapons, Gaston Glock, having collected the wishes and opinions of various experts, released his pistol. The design of the new pistol was a combination of various solutions and ideas that had previously been tested in various German and Austrian models, but this combination gave the pistol new qualities. The Glock 17 was created as a fairly powerful, lightweight, extremely safe and easy to handle, always ready to fire combat pistol with a capacious magazine. The number 17 in the name indicated the magazine capacity. In 1983, the Glock 17 pistol was adopted by the Austrian army, as well as the police under the symbol P90. By 1985, the pistol entered service with the security forces of Sweden and Norway. However, the main demand for the Glock 17 was among law enforcement agencies. Subsequently, the Glock 17 pistol was supplied to the police and security forces of approximately 60 countries, including the USA, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, etc. In 1986, the pistol was introduced to the USA. At this time, police departments were just abandoning revolvers in favor of semi-automatic 9mm pistols of equal safety and combat readiness, and the Glock 17 attracted considerable interest. In 1996, about 1,200,000 of these pistols had already been sold in the United States, providing Glock with good advertising in the process.

The main distinguishing feature of the Glock 17 pistol is the extensive use of plastic in the design, although it should be noted that many companies and designers had previously experimented with the use of plastic in the design of weapons. The pistol frame is made entirely of durable plastic and can withstand temperatures up to 200°C. The guide frames are additionally reinforced with steel inserts. The total share of plastic in the pistol is about 40% of the entire design, which in turn gave rise to a legend regarding the “invisibility” of Glock pistols for metal detectors. In reality, the mass of the metal parts of the gun is quite enough to trigger any metal detector. Plastic frames, contrary to many rumors, also do not provide “recoil absorption”; in fact, they provide comfortable contact between the shooter’s palm and the handle, making the recoil perceived by the shooter “softer”. Their main advantage is the reduction in the weight of the weapon, corrosion resistance and reduced cost (high-strength plastic costs less than high-quality steel, and, in addition, unlike steel parts, plastic parts do not require additional processing). The pistol's bolt housing has a rectangular shape, flat top surface and does not have a muzzle sleeve. Impact mechanism, assembled in the bolt, covered at the back plastic cover. In general, the pistol turned out to be quite easy to use, extremely reliable and unpretentious, as well as relatively light and inexpensive. He is rightfully considered one of the best representatives of his class.

The automatic operation of the Glock 17 pistol works due to the recoil of the barrel during a short stroke. The barrel bore is locked according to a scheme that is a modification of the Browning High-Power pistol scheme - lowering using the lower inclined protrusions of the breech of the barrel. The bolt-barrel engagement has been changed: the rectangular breech of the barrel engages with a groove located on the back of the window for ejecting spent cartridges. This solution simplified the production of shutter casings. The barrel is equipped with a polygonal rifling with significantly rounded edges. Such cutting is less susceptible to abrasion, reduces the risk of the bullet breaking off from the rifling and does not damage its casing. The barrel is set quite low, which improves the shooter's control of recoil, increasing the accuracy of fire. USM - striker type. The firing pin is always half-cocked before firing. The Glock 17 is not equipped with a non-automatic safety, but has 3 automatic ones. The first is presented in the form of a lever on the trigger. When this lever is released, it rests against the frame and blocks the trigger. Pressing the trigger (primary) first releases the safety, then (a stroke of about 5mm) the protrusion of the trigger rod raises the striker safety, after which the striker is cocked with the sear located at the end of the rod. The rod also turns off the locking lever (disconnector), which disconnects the firing pin from the trigger rod before the trigger is pressed. The subsequent movement (secondary) of the trigger removes the sear from the groove of the frame, interacts with the disconnector and lowers, after which the firing pin is released and the capsule is subsequently punctured. Speaking of the successful use of old solutions - a “half-cocked” striker was found in the Roth-Steyr pistol of 1907, and an automatic safety located on the trigger was found in the Sauer of 1930. Such a trigger circuit provides sufficient safety, since a pistol can only be fired when the bolt is locked and the trigger is pressed correctly. The Glock 17 trigger pull is 2-4 kgf and is set at the factory. After firing, the pistol is always automatically set to safety, which is removed the next time the trigger is pressed.
The handle of the Glock 17 is made integral with the frame, which provides it with a convenient shape and size with a fairly capacious magazine. The magazine is double-row, the cartridges are staggered, and in the neck of the magazine the cartridges are rearranged into one row. The angle of inclination of the handle to the axis of the barrel is 112°. The shape of the trigger guard at the front is designed to accommodate the index finger of the second hand when firing with both hands. The front and rear grips, as well as the front trigger guard, are grooved, giving the pistol greater stability when fired. At the point where the handle meets the trigger guard there is a magazine latch that is pressed forward. After all the cartridges have been used up by the magazine feeder, the bolt delay is activated. The shutter stop button is located on the left side of the frame above the handle. On the left above the trigger guard in the recess there is a barrel lock slide. The surfaces of the gun, made of metal, are treated with a protective matte “Tenifer” coating. In addition to its sleek design and light weight, the Glock 17 is distinguished by its overall simplicity: the design consists of only 33 parts, including the magazine. It can be completely disassembled with a nail or pin in just a minute or less. On the bottom side of the frame there is a mount that allows you to attach various accessories to the pistol (tactical flashlights, laser pointer, etc.). Sighting devices in the form of a front sight and a replaceable permanent rear sight are mounted on the bolt housing. They can be equipped with luminous inserts, simplifying the aiming process in low light conditions. The rear sight can be replaced with an adjustable one. Adjustable rear sights are included in the Glock 17L sports model pistol with an extended (153 mm) barrel, which is also used by some police special forces in the United States. In addition, there is a version of the Glock 17C with a compensator integrated into the barrel, which looks like a group of slots in the front on the top of the barrel, which correspond to longitudinal slots located on the upper side of the bolt near the rear sight. The commercial success of the Glock 17 pistol became an impetus for the company, prompting it to create a number of modifications based on it.

Characteristics:
Caliber - 9x19 Luger/Parabellum
Barrel length, mm - 114
Weapon length, mm - 186
Weapon height, mm - 138
Weapon width, mm - 30
Weight without magazine, kg - 0.625
Weight with loaded magazine, kg - 0.905
Sighting range, m - 50
Initial bullet speed, m/s - 360
Magazine capacity - 17 (standard), 19 or 33 rounds

Third generation Glock 17 pistol

Fourth generation Glock 17 Gen 4 pistol

The Austrian Glock 17 is currently one of the most popular and recognizable self-loading pistols, in constant high demand both among police and armed forces around the world, and among ordinary citizens buying weapons for sport shooting and self-defense. Many experts in the field of personal weapons and their combat use consider Glock pistols to be the best in the world due to the excellent combination of such qualities as reliability in the most difficult operating conditions, accuracy more than sufficient for combat shooting and self-defense, both aimed and high-speed “instinctive” shooting offhand, high safety, convenience, comfort during constant concealed or open carry, maximum ease of use, ease of maintenance, enormous service life, interchangeability of parts, very high strength and resistance of the coating of steel parts to corrosion and wear, and finally, comparatively low cost.

Update: in 2017-2018, the manufacturer released the fifth generation of pistols. More details about Glock 17 Gen5

This weapon is preferred by professionals participating in combat and special operations, and by fighters of the best special forces in the world. People living in countries where personal handguns are legal for sale to civilians are guided by the same principles when choosing a Glock for shooting practice or for carrying for self-defense as military and police officers. It's always better to own a gun that won't let you down on the range or on the street. It is better to have a weapon that is convenient and easy to use than one that is difficult to handle, which is especially important for those who do not have the opportunity to regularly train with their pistol on the use of weapons in extreme situations. It is no secret that owners, in conditions where there is simply no time to think, and all actions are performed automatically, sometimes simply forget whether the safety on their pistol is on or not, and often about its location. Of course this is not a problem for a trained professional, but for ordinary person, not accustomed to frequently dealing with extreme situations, ease of handling of his pistol is vital.

Today on the arms market around the world there are a lot of easy-to-handle models from large and well-known manufacturers that have earned a good reputation. Compliance with this requirement is achieved primarily by the presence of only a self-cocking firing mechanism and the absence of a manually controlled safety lever, or the pistol is equipped with a double-action trigger with a lever for safely decocking the hammer and, again, without a safety lever. There are, of course, a lot of options. But the choice of police, military and civilians is dictated not only by ease of use, but also by the presence of the other advantages stated above in Glock pistols, which make these weapons practical and suitable for any task.

Shooters participating in practical shooting competitions in IPSC, in the class of mass-produced weapons, also often prefer the simple, accurate, reliable and convenient Glock 17 to more expensive pistols. Of course, the design features of its trigger and the need to ensure safety in handling require a fairly large force and travel length of the trigger, which are generally quite acceptable, but nevertheless negatively affect the accuracy of aimed shooting, say, at a distance of 14 meters, in comparison with pistols equipped with a double or single action trigger. However, not to mention the advantages in a combat situation over such classic designs, it should be noted that Glock pistols consistently demonstrate quite good performance for combat pistol accuracy with a wide variety of shooter stances and weapon holding methods. In addition, its accuracy is quite sufficient even for those who like targeted shooting from serial pistols and achieving maximum results. With a new, just purchased Glock pistol, you can immediately go to the shooting range and it will shoot accurately.

However, controversy continues over the design of these popular Austrian pistols. Let's just say that most of the self-loading pistols on the weapons market today are more visually pleasing than the monotonous Glocks with a strictly functional and, so to speak, ascetic design. Although many people like strict forms more than elegant models. But this is a matter of taste. This controversy continues in the gun press, shooting clubs and on Internet forums. Moreover, shooters and gun lovers are mostly divided into those for whom Glock is the best pistol in the world, and those who hold the opposite opinion, or argue in favor of other manufacturers and their models that are superior to Glock in certain qualities.

Sometimes those who prefer the Glock 17 choose another weapon as their main pistol, and opponents of these Austrian pistols become their ardent supporters. At the very beginning of their introduction to the market, there were many legends about the pistols of this company that these weapons could not be recognized by detectors at airports. Of course, this was pure fiction, exaggerated by incompetent journalists. There are more than enough metal parts in the gun to detect it. However, Gaston Glock had to personally demonstrate publicly the “visibility” of his company’s pistol detectors, as a result of which the myth was dispelled. In any case, the Glock company has achieved enormous success, supplying gun markets in various countries around the world with its products. And those who have tried these pistols in shooting, even if they do not have a particularly positive attitude towards their design, choose Glock for use as their main, one of the main or backup weapons.

Glock was created in 1980 by a group of designers with the participation of Friedrich Dechant under the leadership of Gaston Glock at an Austrian company founded in 1963 that had never before been involved in the design and manufacture of weapons. At first, the company specialized in the manufacture of tools, then began producing military goods - machine gun belts, grenades and knives. By the way, the company still produces high-quality knives. And Gaston Glock was prompted to produce pistols by the Austrian army’s search for new personal weapons in 1980. The designers managed to implement revolutionary solutions at that time, which, as practice has shown, work great in combat pistols. The result was one of the company's leading positions in the global arms market and the widest popularity of its products. The Glock 17 is the first plastic frame pistol to earn big success on the global arms market. The frame, trigger and magazine are made of high-strength polymer.

For the first time, the pistol combined light weight, large magazine capacity, compactness and safety in use when carried with a cartridge in the chamber. The Austrians borrowed the barrel locking mechanism from the Sig Sauer P220 pistol. The designers abandoned the manually controlled flag fuse in favor of automatic ones. The trigger mechanism was the simplest, created on the basis of the Austrian Roth-Steyr M1907 pistol. It should be clarified that index 17 does not indicate the number of cartridges in the magazine. This is Gaston Glock's patent number. In 1982, under the designation P-90, the pistol was adopted by the Austrian army and police. The Glock 17 was equipped with the anti-terrorism unit of the Austrian Federal Police EKO Cobra (Einsatzkommando Cobra).

Later, the Glock 17 pistol began to be used by the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and special forces of Sweden and Finland, and since 1986 it was adopted by the Norwegian army. Since the start of production of the first Glock model, there have already been three generations of these pistols, and the fourth generation is currently in production - Gen 4. The first generation did not have a notch on the front and rear surfaces of the handle, which appeared on the second, which began production in 1990. The third generation, in addition to notches and chaotic corrugation on the sides of the handle, also received recesses for fingers on the front surface of the handle and recesses with a lower protrusion for the thumb, both in the left and right surfaces of the handle, as well as guides in the front part of the frame for fastening of additional devices.

In the late 1990s, the Glock 17 replaced the Jericho 941 in YAMAM, a special unit of the Israeli police. After this, some special forces of the Israeli Defense Forces adopted it to replace the Sig Sauer P226 and Sig Sauer P228. Currently, Glock pistols are used in the armies and various security forces of about 60 countries. In 1986, Austrian pistols began to be imported to the United States. The first law enforcement agency to adopt Glock 17 pistols was the police department in Colby, Kansas, and the first large batch was delivered to the department in St. Paul, Minnesota. Noteworthy are the tests of Austrian pistols conducted by 25 police officers from Miami.

The weapon was tested for safety when dropped onto steel and concrete from a height of 18 meters with a cartridge in the chamber. There was no shot. The weapon was kept in salt water and a fully loaded magazine was fired at a high rate. There was not a single delay. It fired 1,000 rounds of hollow-point bullets continuously over 45 minutes without any problems. After these tests, the Miami Police Department adopted Glock 17 pistols. Currently, various versions of Glock personal short-barreled weapons are in service with the US FBI (models 22, 23 and 27), New York police (with the New-York Trigger trigger, which has a greater trigger force), police departments in Florida, Miami, Boston, the state police of Kansas and South Carolina (the South Carolina police first adopted the Glock 22 pistol) and Mississippi, the Customs Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as various special forces, for example the US Navy Seals and Delta. About 5,000 US federal and local police departments have adopted it.

Glock pistols make up a little more than half of all short-barreled weapons purchased law enforcement agencies USA. They are used by police all over the world, for example, the Glock is in service in Canada, Holland, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, India and the Philippines. The Glock 17 is used by the Hong Kong Police Force. Iraqi police also use Glock pistols along with other short-barreled weapons, such as those made by Beretta and Sig Sauer. In Germany, the Glock 17 is in service with the famous Special Forces Unit of the German Federal Police GSG9 (Grenzschutzgruppe 9 - Border Security Group 9) and SEK - the special forces of the German police (Saxony-Anhalt Spezialeinsatzkommando). In France, Glock 17, along with models 19 and 26, are in service with the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group GIGN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale), the anti-terrorism special unit "Search, Assistance, Intervention, Dissuade" RAID and the Investigation Group of the French National Police GIPN .

In Belgium, Glock is used by the assault unit of the National Gendarmerie - ESI (Esquadron d'Intervention Special) and the BBT special unit of the Antwerp Police Department. Glock pistols are used by the Polish Mobile Rapid Response Team GROM (Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno-Manewrowego). Glock 17 is used in law enforcement agencies and departments of the Russian Federation, along with other Western models, such as the CZ 75 B, and Russian ones - SPS, PYA, GSh-18, firing 9 × 19 cartridges. For example, these pistols are adopted by the FSB, GRU, FSO, Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation and special forces Ministry of Internal Affairs The success of the pistol is also contributed to no small extent by the wide advertising company manufacturer. But not only. In comparative tests, Glock always passed tests for reliability, ease of use and safety, and shooting accuracy. Glock is famous for good service. All defective parts are easily replaced with new ones, and instead of the old coating with a worn outer black layer, a new one is applied for a nominal fee. At the moment, the manufacturer has sold more than 2,000,000 pistols of various modifications.

How the Glock 17 pistol works

The automation works according to the scheme of using recoil with a short barrel stroke. Locking is carried out using the lowering breech of the barrel, which enters with its rectangular protrusion located above the chamber into the window for ejecting spent cartridges of the bolt-casing. The reduction occurs when the bevel of the lower tide of the barrel breech interacts with the protrusion of the frame. The trigger mechanism is striker-type, with preliminary, partial cocking of the firing pin when the bolt-casing moves back and additional cocking when the trigger is pressed. The Glock company calls the trigger of this design only self-cocking (DAO). However this system in fact, it is a classic single-action trigger with additional additional cocking of the firing pin. In Glock pistols, the striker is cocked by moving the bolt-casing backwards, and the relatively long travel of the trigger and the force required to cock the striker, which is slightly greater than that of a conventional single-action trigger, replace a manually controlled safety. The stroke length and force in this case prevent accidental shot in the absence of a flag fuse.

In addition to this, the trigger of Glock pistols does not allow the shooter, after a misfire, to re-squeeze the trigger and try to fire the primer again. It is necessary to extract the defective cartridge, thereby placing the firing pin on a preliminary cock, and send a new cartridge from the magazine into the chamber to fire a shot. This is also a sign of a classic single-action trigger, it’s just that in this case the stroke and trigger force are greater. The pistol is equipped with three independently operating automatic fuses. Glock called this system Safe Action. The trigger safety lever blocks the rear movement of the trigger and releases it only when the shooter consciously presses it. The automatic firing pin safety makes it impossible for the firing pin to strike the cartridge primer in the event of an accidental de-cocking of the sear due to external impact. The trigger rod, with its special protrusion, lifts the fuse, which is a cylinder with a groove, and opens the way forward for the striker. The shockproof fuse is a cross-shaped protrusion of the trigger rod that fits into the groove of the bolt-casing. It prevents the sear from being de-cocked during an external strike.

In practice, this design turned out to be very simple and effective. It ensures the firing of a shot in the shortest possible time and safety in handling. The latest pistols are equipped with an ejector, which also serves as an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber. The trigger pull is 2.5 kg and can be adjusted from 2 to 4 kg. The polymer frame is equipped with four steel guides along which the shutter-casing moves. The ergonomically shaped handle has an inclination of 112 degrees. On the left side of the frame there is a small slide stop lever. Its small surface area is often a source of criticism, but the original lever can easily be replaced with a larger one if necessary. The barrel lock is double-sided and is located above the trigger guard. The magazine latch is located at the base of the trigger guard.

Right-hand rifling has a hexagonal profile with rounded side edges, which reduces friction and more evenly distributes the load on the barrel when a bullet passes through it. A barrel with such a profile lasts longer, and the barrel bore is less covered with a layer of brass or copper from the bullet casings and deforms the casings themselves less. That is, such a barrel is easier and faster to clean, and the integrity of the bullet casing increases accuracy. The bullet casing fits more tightly to the edges of the barrel, creating a better obturation of the powder gases, due to which they impart to it slightly greater energy and initial velocity, but in general this is hardly noticeable. Sights, made of plastic, consist of a rear sight with the ability to make horizontal corrections by moving it, and a front sight, which can be replaced with another one with a different height for vertical correction. The double-row magazine holds 17 rounds, but larger ones can be used. The gun consists of only 34 parts and can be completely disassembled with a pin or nail in one minute. Glock pistols are currently chambered in .380 ACP, 9mm Parabellum, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto and .45 ACP.

Customization of Glock 17 pistols

Today on the weapons market there is a huge number of parts for “customization”, various additional devices and accessories from enlarged safety levers or bolt stop to adjustable sighting devices and even steel frames produced by both large and well-known and small private companies. The most popular parts for Glock pistols are oversized magazine latches, variable recoil springs, steel front sights and adjustable rear sights with tritium inserts. Practice has shown that replacing a standard magazine latch with an enlarged one for faster replacement can lead to its spontaneous falling out in the holster and when removing the weapon. It is advisable to replace the return spring only if firing will be carried out with the same, usually reinforced, cartridges, since when using less powerful ammunition there will be delays in firing due to insufficient opening of the shutter-casing.

The best solution to improve and increase the effectiveness of a pistol would be to replace the standard front and rear sights with sights such as TFO (Tritium Fiber Optic) from Truglo, equipped with green light-collecting fiber optic inserts containing tritium. Green is distinguished better than red and white in good lighting. Plastic with optical fiber properties directs most of the light flow along the axis of the cylinder of the inserts, as a result of which the shooter’s attention is instantly concentrated on them and aiming is much faster. In this case, in twilight or a dark room, aiming is carried out using brightly glowing tritium. These sighting devices, for obvious reasons, are of course more expensive than conventional ones, but they work perfectly both day and night, significantly increasing the speed of aiming.

The Glock lineup includes a series of pistols with integrated compensators. These pistols are designated by the letter C (Compensated) in addition to the index of the original model - Glock 17C. Such models are intended mainly for practical shooting competitions, as well as for novice shooters. The main function of the compensator is to reduce the toss of the weapon when fired. The jet stream of powder gases, directed upward, counteracts the tossing of the pistol. As a result, the rate of fire and accuracy of rapid fire increases. The downside is the strong flash. In low light, the image of this flash is briefly stored in memory, making it difficult to fire the next shot quickly and accurately. Such a pistol gets dirty faster, and when firing from the hip, the flow of powder gases unpleasantly hits the shooter's face. Delays also occur if weak cartridges are used.

The frame, made of polymer, makes the weapon lightweight and at the same time highly durable. Early production pistols had handles with flat side surfaces and grooved front and rear surfaces. The high-angle handle is very comfortable to hold and has finger tabs on the front surface, thumb rests on both sides, and is also equipped with front and rear serrations. This grip makes the weapon well controllable and ensures accuracy, both during careful aiming and during high-speed shooting. When firing a doublet, all full-size and compact models are characterized by high accuracy and strictly vertical placement of hits. Glock pistol grips do not “cool” the hand at low temperatures. On the front of the frame there are grooves for attaching tactical flashlights and laser designators. The shutter-casing is produced by high-precision casting. A special treatment of steel parts called Tenifer, which is carbonitriding, increases their surface strength to 64 Rockwell units, and also greatly increases corrosion resistance.

The impact trigger trigger was chosen by the designers not only because of its ease of production. It allows you to reduce the distance from the butt plate of the frame to the axis of the barrel to a minimum. In turn, the recoil shoulder and, accordingly, the toss of the weapon when firing are reduced. This design also does not require reinforcement of the frame with steel inserts, which increase weight. The Glock 17 was the first pistol to use a rectangular coil recoil spring. In modern models, this spring is fixed on its own guide, which simplifies and facilitates the disassembly and assembly of the weapon. The magazine has a plastic body - the result of the lack of production equipment for making magazines from sheet steel at the time the pistol was produced. The steel magazine was no longer produced due to deunification.

Like any weapon, Glock pistols have their drawbacks. Often the cause of misfires is contamination of the firing pin channel, usually due to sand trapped there. With a weak grip, sometimes there are cases of the cartridge not being fired. The plastic front sights turned out to be not durable and are knocked off the bolt-casing when hit from behind, but this drawback can be easily eliminated by replacing the sighting devices with steel ones. Another disadvantage is the small dimensions of the bolt stop and magazine latch, but this is again eliminated by replacing them with larger ones. 17C pistols and other versions with integrated compensators, when using insufficiently powerful cartridges or loaded with light bullets, often do not extract spent cartridges and do not chamber cartridges due to the fact that part of the energy required for stable operation automation is consumed by the compensator. There were problems with guides that broke due to side impacts, which arose due to manufacturing errors, but were quickly eliminated. Glock pistols are easy to shoot, but require quite a bit of practice to shoot very accurately. Part failures and frame destruction are caused by overly powerful cartridges, usually loaded manually, but this is no longer a direct drawback of the design itself. Disadvantages can also indirectly include the looseness of parts relative to each other, for example, the bolt on the frame and the magazine in the neck of the handle.

An interesting feature of Glock pistols is the ability to fire underwater. In this case, not only there is no rupture, but also no swelling of the barrel. However, for stable firing of the primer, a special firing pin with transverse grooves or a set of Spring cups amfibia is required - a firing pin mainspring with a plastic tray with holes. Available only for pistols chambered for 9mm Parabellum. But for shooting underwater without the risk of barrel inflation, it is recommended to use cartridges with FMJ-type full-jacket bullets. Glock pistols can be fired underwater at a depth of up to three meters. The bullet retains more energy at a distance of up to two meters when fired at a depth of one meter. Shooting at close range from under water is also effective, without the sound of a shot. This method of shooting is taught in many special forces.

Tests under different conditions

It is necessary to mention the series of tests that the production Glock 17 successfully passed. Ice: The pistol with a loaded magazine was frozen in an ice cube for 60 days. After that, he was removed from the ice and 100 shots of 10 rounds were fired. Mud: The gun was lubricated, closed and immersed in mud of various consistencies: dry sand, clay, wet river sand. After each such procedure, repeated 5 times, 100 shots were fired. In the mud: the gun was completely wetted with water and immersed in river mud. After shaking the gun once with the remaining sludge, 10 series of 10 shots were fired. Water: The fully loaded pistol was immersed in water to a depth of 1 meter for 1 hour, then the pistol was removed from the water and 10 series of 10 shots were immediately fired. Durability: A loaded pistol was placed on coarse gravel and then driven over by a heavy truck. The truck was then left parked with its wheel on the gun for an hour. After this, 100 shots were fired. All tests were carried out in the specified sequence with the same pistol and one magazine. There were no delays in any of them.

Glock 17 (Glock 17) is an Austrian pistol developed by Glock for the needs of the Austrian army. It became the first weapon developed by this company. The resulting model turned out to be quite successful and convenient for 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 self-defense weapon.

Glock 17 pistol - video

Glock produces modifications of this pistol in various options for different cartridges, for example: 9x19 mm Parabellum Glock 19, .40 S&W - Glock 22, 10 mm Auto - Glock 20, .357 SIG - Glock 31, .45 ACP - Glock 36 and .45 GAP - Glock 37.

A design feature of the pistol is the absence of a safety catch and 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 “snatch and shoot”, there is no safety lock, but the shot will not occur without fully pressing the “safe action” trigger. Consists of 33 parts, and partial disassembly is carried out in seconds.

Story

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

The following requirements were imposed on the competitors:

Ammunition type: 9x19 mm Parabellum;
- minimum magazine capacity: 8 rounds;
- the ability to control the pistol with the right and left hand;
- quick activation to the firing position (without the need to switch the fuse);
- the ability to assemble and disassemble without special equipment, the number of parts in the gun is no more than 58;
- all parts must be interchangeable within one model without mutual adjustment;
- for 10,000 shots there should be no more than 20 delays;
- the gun must maintain its 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 arms manufacturing companies 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 his designers the task of creating the simplest, most effective and reliable pistol possible.

Using existing experience in the use of polymers in the production 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, based on 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; the production facilities were not ready for such a significant order, so until the full deployment of its own production facilities, subcontractors were involved.

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

Pistols submitted to the M9 competition

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

The pistol most likely owes its name “Glock 17” to the serial number (No. 17) of the company’s package of technical drawings, which were eventually accepted for production.

Production generations and variants

Today there are four production generation 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 at the end of 1988, beginning of 1989. On the front and rear surfaces of the handle, they began to make corrugations 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 also present on the front surface of the trigger guard. Second-generation pistols were adopted by the FBI, Finnish police, and the armies of Norway and the Netherlands. After some time, finger grooves 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 early version third generation.

Third generation

The third generation, in addition to corrugation and finger recesses, also received a mount for under-barrel flashlights and laser designators, and in addition an additional (second) pin that secures the locking block (a metal insert in the body with a cross member, which interacts with the figured cutout of the breech lug, leads to its lowering, and as a consequence - 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 cartridges that went into production with this generation. Despite the fact that the 9 mm models did not need such a reinforcing pin, they also received one to unify the technological processes. In the upper part of the handle they began to make a recess for thumb, limited below by an oblong protrusion.

As an option, third generation pistols are available in RTF2 (Rough Textured Frame) design. The pistol grip in this version is covered with convex dots, which increase the reliability of holding the weapon, including if it is wet. There are 64 points on one square centimeter of the surface of the RTF2 frame. On the other hand, constantly carrying a pistol in this version, for example in an armpit holster, leads to accelerated wear of the fabric of clothing in contact with the handle. In this regard, RTF2, for all its advantages, 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 as standard has an RTF design, but compared to the RTF2 of third-generation pistols, there are larger gaps between the dots - 25 dots per cm², instead of 64 for the RTF, and the dots themselves are larger.

The back of the handle is a separate, replaceable part called the back strap. The minimum size part 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. Part M increases the distance to the trigger to 72 mm, L - to 74 mm. Thus, they provide improved grip ergonomics for shooters with longer fingers. To change the part, you need to remove the fastening pin, for which a special tool is provided in the kit.

The magazine release button has become larger and more convenient. It also became possible to move it to the right side (more convenient for left-handed shooters). In this regard, on magazines of fourth-generation pistols, a second window appeared for the latch tooth, on the right side. Magazines from previous generation pistols can be used in fourth generation pistols, but only if the button is installed on the left.

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

Unlike previous generations, the fourth has the corresponding marking on the slide - 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.

Automatic pistol

The automatic operation of the Glock 17 pistol works according to the scheme of using recoil with a short barrel stroke. The design used the upgraded Colt-Browning Cam system, which is a modernization of the Browning earring. A lug with an inclined groove is made under the breech of the barrel, coinciding with the guide protrusion of the frame. The groove is made at such an angle that, moving along the protrusion, it forces the moving barrel to decline, due to which the latter disengages from the bolt-casing, and then stops, allowing the bolt to roll back unhindered.

The barrel bore is locked using the descending breech of the barrel, which enters with its rectangular protrusion located above the chamber into the window for ejecting spent cartridges of the bolt-casing. The reduction occurs when the bevel of the lower tide of the breech of the barrel interacts with the protrusion of the frame. After the shot, the bolt, moving backward, bends the disconnector, thereby releasing the rod, which then rises under the action of the rod spring. When the bolt moves forward, the striker hook encounters the rod hook and returns the trigger through the rod to the forward position. In this case, the drummer is pre-cocked. The latest pistols are equipped with an ejector, which also serves as an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber.

Trigger mechanism

The trigger mechanism (trigger mechanism) is striker-type with preliminary partial cocking of the firing pin when the bolt-casing moves back and additional cocking when the trigger is pressed. When you press the trigger, the striker lock is first released, then the sear releases the firing pin, and a shot is fired. The Glock company calls the trigger of this design only self-cocking (DAO). However, this system is in fact a classic single-action trigger with additional additional cocking of the firing pin.

In Glock pistols, the firing pin is cocked by moving the bolt-casing backwards, and the relatively long travel of the trigger and the force required to cock the firing pin, somewhat greater than that of a conventional single-action trigger, replace a manually controlled safety. To ensure maximum ease of handling when designing this pistol, it was decided to abandon the use of manual safeties; 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.

If there are no cartridges, the bolt stop is activated, locking the bolt in the retracted 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. The small force required to pull the trigger allows for increased accuracy of fire even for a poorly trained shooter.

Circuit breakers

The pistol is equipped with three independently operating automatic fuses. 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 consciously presses it. The automatic firing pin safety makes it impossible for the firing pin to hit the cartridge primer in case of accidental de-cocking of the sear. The trigger rod, with its special protrusion, lifts the safety, which is a cylinder with a groove, and opens the way forward for the striker. The shockproof fuse is a cross-shaped protrusion of the trigger rod that fits into the groove of the bolt-casing. It prevents the combat platoon from falling off the sear during an external strike.

Sights

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

Design features

The pistol has a simple and reliable design. At complete disassembly it consists of 33 parts, including the magazine. Maintenance can be carried out without the use of special equipment using available tools, 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 generally accepted design features, the Glock 17 also has a number of specific technical solutions, which 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 casing), which made it possible to reduce the weight of the weapon to 900 g when loaded (for comparison: the weight of a Beretta 92 pistol with a magazine of 15 rounds is 950 g . in an unloaded state). Moreover, the mass of the loaded magazine for 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 durable if it can fire about 30-40 thousand rounds, and a Glock 17 can fire 300-350 thousand rounds. This superiority in wear resistance is due to the widespread use of polymer parts and unique barrel production technology patented by Glock.

The outer casing and frame can be made of plastic in various colors. The most famous is the classic black, there is also a Glock 17 in camouflage. In the production of parts subject to the greatest load, the plastic is reinforced metal plates. The guide frames along which the shutter casing moves are reinforced with steel inserts. At the bottom of the frame there is a small metal plate on which the factory serial number of the pistol is stamped. On the pistol frame above the trigger guard on both sides there are latches, when pressed, it becomes possible to partially disassemble the pistol, remove the bolt barrel and the return spring from the frame.

Shooting underwater

An interesting feature of Glock pistols is the ability to fire underwater. In this case, not only there is no rupture, but also no swelling of the barrel. However, for stable firing of the primer, a special firing pin with transverse grooves or a set of Spring cups amfibia is required: a firing pin mainspring with a plastic tray with holes. Available only for pistols chambered for 9 mm Parabellum. However, for underwater shooting without the risk of barrel inflation, it is recommended to use cartridges with full-jacket FMJ bullets. Glock pistols can be fired underwater at a depth of up to three meters. The bullet retains more energy at a distance of up to two meters when fired at a depth of one meter. Shooting at close range from under water is also effective, without the sound of a shot being heard.

Existing modifications produced by Glock

The Glock 17 pistol served as the basis for the entire range of pistols produced by Glock. Glock pistols, which have the index “C” in the model designation, are equipped with a built-in compensator, made in the form of several upward-directed holes located at various intervals in the muzzle of the barrel, and an oblong cutout in the upper part of the bolt casing. The presence of this device made it possible to reduce recoil when firing, which somewhat increased the accuracy of fire.

Currently, the following derivatives of the Glock 17 pistol exist:

Glock 17L- target version of the model with an extended barrel, appeared in 1988.

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

Glock 17R- version of the pistol for training without cartridges with a red plastic body. Does not allow shooting, but can use practice/laser ammo. The drummer is cocked himself after each release (Reset trigger).

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

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

Glock 19\19C- compact model with a short barrel (102 mm). Initially called Glock 17 Compact, since 1990 it acquired its 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 cartridge, and therefore has a number of design differences. The profile of the barrel has changed, which has become octagonal with a right-hand thread, and the magazine capacity has been reduced 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 the standard weapon for duty officers.

Glock 23 pistol with tactical flashlight and laser target

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

Glock 24\24C- a target modification of the Glock 22 with an extended 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 introduced 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 ammunition used.

Glock 28- compact modification of Glock 25.

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

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

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

Glock 32\32C- a slightly shorter modification of the Glock 31 pistol with a smaller magazine capacity.

Glock 33- a significantly shortened and smaller modification of the Glock 31, positioned as an “ultra-compact pistol.”

Glock 34- a targeted modification of the Glock 17 pistol with an extended barrel and increased accuracy of fire. Presented to the public in 1998.

Glock 35- a targeted modification of the Glock 22 pistol, has increased accuracy of fire, and is specially designed for bench 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 is thin, which makes it easier to carry concealedly.

Glock 37- modification of the original model chambered for .45 GAP; Magazine capacity 10 rounds.

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

Glock 39- a significantly shortened and reduced modification of the Glock 37 chambered for .45 GAP, positioned as an “ultra-compact pistol” (SUBCOMPACT).

Usage

Thanks 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. The model was 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 services of the USA, Canada, Mexico, India, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and many other countries.

This pistol is a typical self-defense weapon. The maximum target firing range is 50 m; effective shooting at such a distance requires good marksmanship training and experience in handling the weapon from which 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 initial speed of a bullet fired from a Glock 17 at the muzzle of the barrel is 350-360 m/s. The muzzle energy is about 500 J. These characteristics determine the scope of application of this weapon model.

The energy of a bullet of 350-400 J is quite enough to cause serious injury when hit. 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 it is necessary to stop the target, but there is no need to kill him. In the event that the enemy is protected by body armor, a hit to the chest plate of the armor leads to a strong concussion, and in some cases, to loss of balance, which gives the shooter time to transfer fire to parts of the body not protected by armor.

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

The muzzle velocity, like all pistols, is relatively low, which limits range effective application 50 m.

In law enforcement, the Glock 17 is used as the main weapon during peacetime patrols.

In the military, the Glock 17 is an additional weapon for officers, and in some cases sergeants. Vehicle crews can also be armed with it. In combat conditions, the Glock 17 is effective for self-defense when it is impossible to use the main weapon.

It is precisely due to the fact that the Glock 17 effectively copes with the assigned 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 special barrel processing technology patented by Glock and a large number of polymer parts.
- Smooth recoil and high accuracy of fire, thanks to the use large quantity polymer parts.
- Less weight than pistols of a similar class due to the body and frame of the pistol being made of plastic.
- High wear resistance of components and mechanisms. The barrel allows you to fire 300-350 thousand shots before burning out (for other pistols, on average, this value is 40-50 thousand shots).
- Putting into firing position does not require switching any fuse.
- Manufacturer's stated ability to shoot at 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.
- Possibility of using magazines with a large number of cartridges.
- This pistol has a comparatively greater grip angle than other pistols, which makes shooting more comfortable.

Disadvantages of the Glock 17 pistol

There is a possibility that if carried in a pocket for a long time without regular maintenance, small debris may jam the striker stop release lever, which will make it impossible to fire. But, according to some sources, this event is too unlikely to affect the real combat effectiveness of the pistol.
- The bolt guides, which have a small area, wear out quickly, which leads to a gradual deterioration in accuracy and shooting accuracy due to the swinging of the bolt frame.
- Low resistance of important components of the pistol to high rates of fire.
- With prolonged use, microcracks in the 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 automatic operation.
- The trigger mechanism does not allow re-piercing the cartridge primer if it misfires - you need to jerk 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 method of eliminating it is important. If there are cartridges, it is easier to jerk the bolt than to cock an open hammer, not knowing whether the firing pin will puncture the primer of a given cartridge, provided that it did not puncture the first time.
- Due to the use of polymer materials, Glock becomes more fragile at temperatures below −40 °C, which can lead to cracks in the receiver and frame under mechanical stress. At high temperatures - above 200 °C - deformation of the plastic components of the gun may occur. The technical recommendations of the Glock company indicate the operating temperature range from −40 to 200 °C; using the pistol outside this temperature range can lead to failure of its main components and structural components.

Curious facts

A widely touted feature of the Glock 17 is its ability to fire underwater when equipped with a special heavy-duty 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 resistance of the environment. The practical value of this ability is small - this is due to the fact that in water the energy of a bullet is very quickly extinguished due to the high density of the medium, and the effective firing range does not exceed 1-2 meters. But despite the low effectiveness 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 effectiveness of the Glock 17 in conditions of any, no matter how high humidity, and even the ability to fire when there is water in the barrel bore , which in many other models of pistols can lead to deformation of the barrel or serious damage to components and parts of the weapon.