Range Report: "GLOCK 17 GEN 4"

I recently purchased a Glock Generation 4 model 17, I was looking forward to taking it to the range. I listen to many different gun related podcast's and one in particular that I enjoy is Michael Bane. He was recently at SHOT show and had the chance to shoot a Generation 4 Glock 17. Now let me say that I have owned several Glocks and they all shoot, you pull the trigger and they go BANG! Did I shoot them well? Not really I tend to pull the shots to the left in a Glock.

So After listening to Michael Bane's podcast I decided I had to have an new gen 4 Glock. From Michael's Podcast "the 4th Generation Glock, which he says is sweet sweet sweet". So I went to my Local Gun shop and found that they had one (534.99 plus tax and 10.00)and now I have one. I carried my new Gun to the range intent on cutting one hole in my target.

Let me give you some details on the new Glock, there is the new dual recoil spring, the changeable mag release for left handed or right handed people. New texture to the grip, backstaps that you can add to make the grip larger. There is a larger mag release button, it comes with three hi cap mags instead of two. The same Glock safe action trigger with a 5.5 lb pull. So that is the quick and sleazy details of the new Gen 4, there is still not alot of information out there about them.

Now off to the range. When I arrived at the range I had intended to shoot 250 rnds through the new Glock so I purchased a 250rnd box of 115 grain reloads. I loaded 2 of the three mags and took aim at my target 10 yards away. My first shot hit center target to the left. I though here I go with the left pull on the Glock again. My next shot hit center target. WOW I actually hit the bulls eye with a Glock Michael must have been right about this new miracle Glock.

My next round hit center target a tad high, what just happened? My new Glock jammed??? Yes it did I had a FTF (failure to feed), that is strange for a Glock. So over the next 80 or so rounds I had multiple FTF's I found this strange since I have never had a Glock that would not shoot. I have a G32 in .357 sig that I have never cleaned in the 8 years I have had it and it still goes BANG when I pull the trigger.

So I headed home to do some internet research. I found a few posts and articles about this problem on the Gen4 G17 and most of the answers were that the shooter must be limp wristing the gun. Now let me start by saying I have never limp wristed any thing. I have shot many guns of all types and sizes and never once a limp wristed shot. So I take issue with people saying that someone is limp wristing a gun. First of all a gun should shoot even though you don't have a perfect two hand grip and a nice weaver stance.

If you are fighting someone for your life you can't stop and tell them wait just a minute while I get a manly hold on my gun. A gun should fire if you can get your hand on it and pull the trigger. If it won't how can you trust your life with it?

After doing some more research it seems that Glock in it's infinite wisdom has put the same recoil spring in the G17 as is in the G22. The difference being the G17 is firing a 115 to 147 grain projectile and the G22 is firing a 135 to 200 grain projectile. So the recoil spring may be a bit heavy for the lighter loads of the 9mm. as you can see in the picture the slide appears to be short cycling and not catching the rim of the round. It is hitting in front of the rim and pushing the nose of the round up and the rim down causing a FTF.

So all in all I like the look and feel of the new Glock it shoots well with very manageable recoil. I will be calling Glock tomorrow to see what they have to say. Stay tuned for Their answer.

Take someone shooting you may just convert the Liberal.