Glock 17 4th generation color feature. Need blueprints for Glock17

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

Glock 17 pistol - video

Glock produces modifications of this pistol in various options for different cartridges, for example: 9 × 19 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 fuse box and a 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 “grab and shoot”, there is no fuse, however, the shot will not occur without fully pressing the “safe action” trigger. It consists of 33 parts, and partial disassembly is carried out in seconds.

Story

After the end of World War II, the Austrian armed forces were armed with two main models of pistols Colt M1911A1 and Walther P38. The Austrian police were equipped with Walther PP and Walther PPK military and even pre-war years of production or released in the post-war years under license in France. To resolve the 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 contestants:

Ammunition type: 9x19mm Parabellum;
— minimum magazine capacity: 8 rounds;
- the ability to control the gun with the right and left hand;
- quick bringing into combat position (without the need to switch the fuse);
- the possibility of assembly and disassembly without special equipment, the number of parts in the gun - no more than 58;
- all parts must be interchangeable within the same model without mutual adjustment;
- for 10,000 shots there should be no more than 20 delays;
- the gun should preserve the 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 weapons manufacturers 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 the task of creating the simplest, most effective and reliable pistol for his designers.

Using the existing experience in the use of polymers in the manufacture 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, according to 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, production facilities were not ready for such a significant order, so subcontractors were involved until the full deployment of their own production facilities.

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

Pistols submitted to the M9 competition

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

The name "Glock 17", the pistol, most likely owes to the serial number (No. 17) of the package of technical drawings of the company, eventually accepted for production.

Production generations and variants

To date, there are four production generations of the 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 in late 1988, early 1989. On the front and rear surfaces of the handle, corrugations began to be made 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 available on the front surface of the trigger guard. The second generation pistols were adopted by the FBI, the Finnish police, the armies of Norway and the Netherlands. After some time, sub-finger recesses 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 an early version of the third generation.

third generation

The third generation, in addition to the corrugation and sub-finger recesses, also received a mount for underbarrel flashlights and laser designators, and in addition, an additional (second) pin that fixes the locking block (a metal insert in the case with a cross member, which, interacting with the figured cutout of the tide of the breech breech, leads to its lowering, and as a result - the 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 rounds introduced from this generation. While the 9mm models didn't need this reinforcing pin, they did get one to unify their processes. In the upper part of the handle, they began to make a recess for the thumb, bounded from below by an elongated protrusion.

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

The back of the handle is made in the form of a separate interchangeable part called the "back plate" (back strap). Part is installed as standard minimum size SF (short frame), 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. Detail M increases the distance to the trigger up to 72 mm, L - up to 74 mm. Thus, they allow better grip ergonomics for shooters with longer fingers. To change the part, you need to remove the mounting pin, for which a special tool is provided in the kit.

The store latch button has become larger and more convenient. It also became possible to rearrange it to the right side (more convenient for left-handed shooters). In this regard, a second window appeared on the magazines of the fourth generation pistols under the latch tooth, on the right side. pistol stores previous generations can be used in fourth generation pistols, but only if the button is set to the left.

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

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

Pistol automation

The automatics of the Glock 17 pistol work according to the scheme of using recoil with a short barrel stroke. The design used a modernized system Colt-Browning (Brauning Cam), which is a modernization of the Browning earring. Under the breech, a tide is made with an inclined groove, coinciding with the guide ledge of the frame. The groove is made at such an angle that, moving along the ledge, it causes the moving barrel to decrease, due to which the latter disengages from the shutter-casing, and then stops, allowing the shutter to roll back unhindered.

The bore is locked by means of a descending breech, which enters with its rectangular protrusion located above the chamber into the ejection window spent cartridges shutter-casing. The decrease occurs when the bevel of the lower tide of the breech breech interacts with the protrusion of the frame. After the shot, the bolt, moving backward, bends the uncoupler, thereby releasing the thrust, which then rises under the action of the thrust spring. When the bolt moves forward, the striker's hook encounters the thrust hook and returns the trigger through the thrust to the forward position. In this case, the drummer is pre-cocked. Pistols latest releases are equipped with an ejector, which also acts as an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber.

trigger mechanism

The trigger mechanism (USM) of the striker type with a preliminary partial cocking of the drummer when the shutter-casing moves back and additional cocking when the trigger is pressed. When the trigger is pressed, the firing pin block is first removed, then the sear releases the combat platoon, and a shot is fired. Glock calls the trigger of this design only self-cocking (DAO). However this system in fact, it is a classic single-action trigger with an additional firing pin.

In Glock pistols, the drummer is cocked by moving the shutter-casing back, and the relatively long trigger stroke and slightly more than a conventional single-action trigger, the force required to cock the drummer, replace the manually controlled fuse. To ensure maximum ease of handling weapons in the design of this pistol, it was decided to abandon the use of manual safety catches, 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.

Turns on when out of ammo. shutter lag, fixing the shutter in the retracted position. The length and force of the stroke in this case prevent random shot in the absence of a flag fuse. The trigger pull is 2.5 kg and can be adjusted from 2 to 4 kg. A small effort required to pull the trigger allows you to increase the accuracy of fire even for a poorly trained shooter.

Circuit breakers

The gun is equipped with three independently operating automatic safety locks. 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 is consciously pressed. The automatic fuse of the striker makes it impossible for the striker to hit the primer of the cartridge in the event of an accidental failure from the cocking sear. The trigger rod, with its special protrusion, raises the fuse, which is a cylinder with a groove, and opens the way forward for the drummer. The shockproof fuse is a protrusion of the trigger rod, which has a cruciform shape, which is included in the groove of the shutter-casing. It prevents the combat platoon from falling off the sear during an external impact.

Sights

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

Design features

The gun has a simple and reliable design. When completely disassembled, it consists of 33 parts, including a magazine. Maintenance can be carried out without the use of special equipment using improvised means, 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 the generally accepted design features, the Glock 17 also has a number of specific technical solutions that 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 cover), which made it possible to reduce the weight of the weapon to 900 g in running order (for comparison: the weight of the Beretta 92 pistol with a magazine of 15 rounds is 950 g . in unloaded state). Moreover, the mass of the equipped store in 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 wear-resistant if it can fire about 30-40 thousand shots, and 300-350 thousand shots can be fired from the Glock 17. Such superiority in wear resistance is due to the extensive use of polymer parts and the unique barrel manufacturing technology patented by Glock.

The outer body and frame can be made of plastic in various colors. The most famous is classic black, there is also a Glock 17 in camouflage. In the production of parts subjected to the greatest stress, 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 is a small metal plate stamped with the gun's factory serial number. On the pistol frame above the trigger guard on both sides there are latches, when pressed, incomplete disassembly of the pistol, removal of the bolt barrel and return spring from the frame becomes available.

Shooting underwater

An interesting feature of Glock pistols is the ability to fire underwater. In this case, not only rupture, but also swelling of the trunk does not occur. However, for stable operation of the primer, a special striker with transverse grooves or a set of Spring cups amphibia is required: the mainspring of the striker with a plastic pallet with holes. Available only for pistols chambered in 9 mm Parabellum. However, for firing under water without the risk of barrel swelling, the use of cartridges with FMJ-type full-shell bullets is recommended. Glock pistols can be fired underwater at depths up to three meters. The bullet retains great energy at a distance of up to two meters when fired at a depth of one meter. Shooting at close range from under the water is also effective, while the sound of the shot is not audible.

Existing modifications manufactured by Glock

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

The following derivatives of the Glock 17 pistol currently exist:

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

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

Glock 17R- a variant of a pistol for training without cartridges with a red plastic case. Does not allow shooting, but practice/laser ammo can be used. The drummer himself is put on a platoon after each descent (Reset trigger).

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

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

Glock 19\19C- compact model with a shortened barrel (102 mm). Initially called Glock 17 Compact, since 1990 it has acquired the 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, in this regard, it has a number of design differences. The profile of the barrel has changed, which has become octagonal with right-hand cutting, the magazine capacity has decreased 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 a standard weapon for duty officers.

Glock 23 pistol with tactical flashlight and laser pointer

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

Glock 24\24C- target modification of the Glock 22 with an elongated 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 presented to the 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 ammo used.

Glock 28- compact modification of the Glock 25.

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

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

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

Glock 32\32C- a slightly shortened version of the Glock 31 pistol with a smaller magazine.

Glock 33- a significantly shortened and reduced modification of the Glock 31, positioned as an "ultra-compact pistol".

Glock 34- target modification of the Glock 17 pistol with an elongated barrel and increased accuracy of fire. Introduced to the public in 1998.

Glock 35- target modification of the Glock 22 pistol, has an increased accuracy of fire, is specially designed for bench shooting and training of personnel. Introduced 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 has a small thickness, which facilitates covert carrying.

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

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

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

Usage

Due 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 in more than 30 countries, such as Austria, Sweden and Norway. The model was approved by the NATO leadership as one of the main models of small arms, "Glocks" of various modifications are in service with the police and intelligence agencies of the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and many other countries.

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

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

Glock 17 can be effectively used in almost all climatic zones, with the exception of the Far North and areas with a sharply continental climate, where air temperatures can drop below -40 ° C. This is due to its design features. Due to the wide use of polymers, this model is not afraid of the traditionally dangerous for pistols high humidity, dust, jungle and 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; the components and assemblies of the pistol fail faster, and without proper regular maintenance with the replacement of plastic components in a critical situation, the pistol may not be combat-ready.

The initial velocity of the bullet, like all pistols, is relatively low, which limits the effective range of 50 m.

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

In army structures, the Glock 17 is an additional weapon for officers, in some cases sergeants. They can also arm the crews of vehicles. In combat conditions, the Glock 17 is effective for self-defense when it is impossible to use the main weapon.

It is thanks to the fact that the Glock 17 effectively copes with the 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 a special patented Glock technology for processing barrels and a large number of polymer parts.
- Smooth recoil and high accuracy of fire due to the use of a large number of polymer parts.
- Less weight than pistols of the same class due to the manufacture of the body and frame of the pistol from plastic.
- High wear resistance of units and mechanisms. The barrel before burning out allows you to make 300-350 thousand shots (for other pistols, on average, this value is 40-50 thousand shots).
- Bringing into combat position does not require switching any fuse.
- Declared by the manufacturer the possibility of firing at aquatic environment without damage to the gun when changing the return spring.
- The gun can be easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance without the use of special equipment.
- Ability to use stores with a large number of rounds.
- This pistol has a comparatively larger handle slope than other pistols, which makes shooting more comfortable.

Disadvantages of the Glock 17 pistol

There is a possibility that when carried in a pocket for a long time without regular maintenance, small debris can jam the firing pin release lever, making it impossible to shoot. But, according to some sources, this event is too unlikely to affect the actual combat capability of the pistol.
- Shutter guides, having a small area, wear out quickly, which leads to a gradual deterioration in accuracy and accuracy of fire due to the rocking of the bolt frame.
- Low resistance of important pistol components to high rates of fire.
- With prolonged use, microcracks in 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 operation of the automation.
- The trigger mechanism does not allow re-pricking the cartridge primer in the event of a misfire - you need to pull 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 way to eliminate it is important. In the presence of cartridges, it is easier to pull the bolt than to cock an open trigger, not knowing whether the striker will prick the primer of this cartridge, provided that it has not been pricked for the first time.
- Due to the use of polymer materials, Glock becomes more brittle at temperatures below -40 ° C, which can lead to cracks in the receiver and frame under mechanical stress. At high temperatures - over 200 °C - deformations of the plastic components of the pistol may occur. In the technical recommendations of the Glock company, the operating temperature range is specified from -40 to 200 ° C, the use of a gun outside this temperature range can lead to failure of its main components and structural components.

Curious facts

A widely advertised feature of the Glock 17 is its ability to fire under water when retrofitting the pistol with a special reinforced return 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 environmental resistance. The practical value of this ability is low - this is due to the fact that in water the energy of the bullet is extinguished very quickly due to the high density of the medium, and the effective firing range does not exceed 1-2 meters. But despite the low efficiency 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 capability of the Glock 17 in conditions of any, arbitrarily high humidity, and even the ability to fire when there is water in the barrel bore , which for many other models of pistols can lead to barrel deformation or serious damage to the components and parts of the weapon.

And a little about the gun...

One of the features of the Glock is its ability to fire under water when retrofitting the pistol with a special reinforced return 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 environmental resistance. The practical value of this ability is not great - this is due to the fact that in water the energy of the 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 capability of the Glock in conditions of any, arbitrarily high humidity, and even the ability to fire when there is water, which in many other models of pistols can lead to barrel deformation or serious damage to the components and assemblies of the weapon.

There is a widespread misconception that due to the widespread use of polymers in the design of the Glock-17 pistol, it is not detected by metal detectors. In reality, this is not at all the case. This misconception was personally refuted by Gaston Glock, when he passed through the frame of a metal detector several times with a pistol, and each time the weapon was correctly detected. This is due to the fact that, despite the widespread use of polymers, the mass of metal components in it is about 400 grams.

There is a myth about the high fragility of pistols in this series: supposedly if you drop a pistol on a hard surface, it can split or crack. The falsity of this myth is easily refuted: just look at the conditions for passing the competition, formulated by the Austrian army, for a new pistol. Among others, there is an item - without consequences for combat capability and spontaneous shots, withstand a fall, onto a metal plate, from a height of 2 meters. If the pistol did not meet this requirement, it would not have won the competition.
In fact, cracks and deformations of plastic components can occur under mechanical stress, but usually at temperatures below -40 ° C or under severe mechanical stress, which would lead to deformation and destruction of pistols made of conventional materials.

In modern films, the Glock-17 and its modifications often flash. It was not without myths.
For example, "Die Hard 2", where John McLain, played by Bruce Willis, after finishing off one of the villains, says after the fight at the airport:
“You see, this jerk had a Glock. A German china pistol that won't catch metal detectors and is worth more than your monthly salary."

There are 4 errors in this phrase alone:
1) the pistol is not German, but Austrian;
2) the design of the Glock pistol does not include porcelain (?!)
3) "Glock-17" is perfectly visible on the metal detector;
4) Glock pistols are relatively cheap.

Many heroes of Hollywood films were armed with Glock-17 pistols: Michael Douglas (“Basic Instinct”), Tommy Lee Jones (“The Fugitive”), Denzel Washington (“Virtuosity”), Arnold Schwarzenegger (“Eraser”), etc.

Advantages:
* High resistance to corrosion, thanks to the use of a special patented by Glock technology for processing trunks and a large number of polymer parts.
* Smooth recoil and high accuracy of fire due to the use of a large number of polymer parts.
* Less than pistols of a similar class, weight due to the manufacture of the body and frame of the pistol from plastic.
* High wear resistance of units and mechanisms. The barrel before burning out allows you to make 300-350 thousand shots (for other pistols, on average, this value is 40-50 thousand shots).
* Bringing into combat position does not require switching any fuse.
* Declared by the manufacturer, the possibility of firing in the 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.

Flaws
* The small area of ​​the guides becomes the reason for their relatively rapid wear, which leads to the appearance of lateral play in the shutter casing, and as a result, to a decrease in the accuracy of fire.
* There is a possibility that when carried in a pocket for a long time without regular maintenance, small debris can jam the firing pin release lever, making it impossible to fire. But they believe that this event is too unlikely to affect the actual combat capability of the pistol.
* Due to the use of polymer materials, the Glock becomes more brittle at temperatures below -40 ° C, which can lead to cracks in the receiver and frame under mechanical stress. At high temperatures - over 200 ° C - deformation of the plastic components of the gun may occur. In the technical recommendations of the Glock company, the operating temperature range is specified from -40 to 200 ° C, the use of a pistol outside this temperature range can lead to failure of its main components and structural components

Therefore, Glock-17 can be effectively used in almost all climatic zones, with the exception of the far north and areas with a sharply continental climate, where the air temperature can drop below -40 ° C. Due to the wide use of polymers, this model is not afraid of high humidity, dustiness, jungles and rainforests, which are traditionally dangerous for pistols. But at low temperatures, the plastic frame of the pistol turns from an advantage into a disadvantage.

What models were produced and produced by the company:

* Glock 17L - the target version of the model with an extended barrel, appeared in 1988.
* Glock 17C - a modification equipped with a compensator cut in the barrel and casing.
* Glock 17R is a version of the pistol with a red plastic body.
* Glock 17T - blue body variant.
* Glock 18 - a modification adapted for firing bursts.
* Glock 19 is a compact model with a short barrel (102 mm). Initially called Glock 17 Compact, since 1990 it has acquired the current designation.
* Glock 20 - modification of the "Glock-17" chambered for 10 mm Auto, has a magazine for 15 rounds and a built-in compensator.
* Glock 21 - modification chambered for .45 ACP (colt 45 caliber), in this regard, it has a number of design differences. The profile of the barrel has changed, which has become octagonal with right-hand cutting, the magazine capacity has decreased to 13 rounds.
* Glock 22 - modification chambered for .40 SW. This model was released in 1990. In May 1997, this model was adopted by the FBI as a service weapon. It is a standard weapon for duty officers.
* Glock 23 - represents a shortened version of the "Glock-22", is a regular weapon of operational staff.
* Glock 24 - is a target modification of the Glock-22 with an elongated barrel and increased accuracy of fire.
* Glock 25 - is a modification of the model "Glock-17" chambered for 9 mm "Browning short", a compact low-power weapon of civilian self-defense. First presented to the 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 SW. In many ways, it resembles the Glock-26, but has a 9-round magazine due to the somewhat thicker ammunition used.
* Glock 28 - a compact modification of the Glock-25.
* Glock 29 - a compact version of the Glock-20 with a magazine capacity of 10 rounds.
* Glock 30 - a 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 version of the Glock 31 pistol with a smaller magazine.
* Glock 33 - a significantly shortened and reduced modification of the Glock-31, positioned as an ultra-compact pistol.
* Glock 34 - is a target modification of the Glock-17 pistol with an elongated barrel and increased accuracy of fire. Introduced to the public in 1998.
* Glock 35 - is a target modification of the Glock-22 pistol, has an increased accuracy of fire, is specially designed for clay target shooting and personnel training. Introduced to the public in 1998.
* Glock 36 - is a compact modification of the Glock-21 model, the magazine capacity is only 6 rounds, due to their single-row arrangement it has a small thickness, which facilitates covert carrying.

It remains to be glad for the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
And sympathize with the Russian gunsmiths.

". Instead, an ordinary engineer with experience in polymer materials wanted to design a pistol that met the strict criteria of the Austrian army, to replace the outdated designs that were in service.

The first version of the pistol project called "Patent No. 17", now known to all gun lovers as Glock 17 caliber 9×19, won in 1982 and soon became the most sought after pistol in the world. Glock 17 still remains the standard weapon of NATO troops.

Millions of people around the world trust their lives to the quality of handguns. Glock but are usually mutually exclusive.

There are no perfect ways to satisfy every customer, but thanks to Gaston Glock, every gun owner Glock can, based on its polymer platform, assemble its own, unique pistol to suit its needs. There are a huge number of modifications Glock 17, from adding a night sight to changing the trigger pull. People create their own "perfect gun" in parts, like a plastic surgeon restores the face of a patient after an accident.

While some modifications require the input of an experienced gunsmith, most upgrades are available to even the average gun wielder in a matter of minutes. Knowing this, I article author, Dusty Gibson — ed.) eagerly set out to find and test the most popular modifications for pistols Glock that improve this polymer "miracle".

Aim

So, the first thing I thought about was the scope. Standard front sight and rear sight Glock 17 made of plastic, which in itself is not so bad, but if you are a shooter or a person who constantly carries a weapon, this option is not suitable for you. Plastic sights quite suitable for shooting, but with frequent removal of the pistol from the holster and during transportation, they wear out over time, which can become a problem. In addition, at night, standard plastic sights with not very bright paint is practically useless.

Well, there is a way out: on the right you can see the metal sights from company Trijicon; the model in the photo is called GL11. Trijicon sights with bright tritium grades are made of metal, have good resistance to mechanical stress and are clearly visible in the dark, just what a shooter needs.

Installation of such sights usually does not require the use of a gunsmith, you can install them yourself with the usual tools and a steady hand.

The next thing I noticed was...

Trigger

regular trigger, which is factory installed, is very comfortable and meets the requirements of most shooters for weapons to be worn all the time. The trigger pull is 2.5 kg, which is quite reasonable and safe.

The site GlockTriggers.com presents several systems for various purposes for modifying your Glock 17. Including the system EDGE approved by sport shooting associations IDPA and USPSA. This system features a trigger load of just 1.6 kg and greater durability, allowing you to achieve the best results in shooting competitions. There are 7 parts in the kit, but it is quite possible to install it in just 15 minutes.

pistol grip

Different arrows improve in different ways pistol grip. Make the handle wider or rougher for a more secure grip. Someone uses ordinary self-adhesive skateboard skin, cutting it into shape. But a more suitable option are special granular or rubberized pads, such as from the company Talon. These covers are easy to install with a regular hair dryer.

To avoid injury from improper grip by firm Grip Force Products adapter is produced GFA, which is installed directly on the pistol grip using a special clip.

And now…

Trunk

Usually shooters have no complaints about the quality of factory trunks companies Glock but if you want to install muzzle compensator, muffler, or use a different caliber, you will definitely have to replace trunk, and in the case of a change in caliber, often a store.

Some shooters also use stainless steel barrels such as Lone Wolf and Storm Lake, which improves barrel durability and accuracy when using other ammunition.

Replacing the barrel does not require special skills and is easily done by anyone.

Shutter Reset Button

Usually shutter release button very tight, especially on new pistols, and has a low profile that can be uncomfortable.

It is quite easy to replace it with a high-profile one, such a button is included in the standard package. Glock 34 and Glock 35. Since the main components of pistols Glock identical in all models, you can easily buy a spare shutter release button from Glock 34 or Glock 35 and install it on your pet Glock 17 th model.

Magazine reset button

In the first 3 generations of pistols Glock magazine reset button was low-profile, which did not always suit. Noting this, the company Glock used a high profile button in the 4th generation of pistols, which also did not please everyone, and some owners complained about its sharp edges. You can’t please everyone, and if you are unhappy with the regular button, then you should pay attention to magazine reset buttons from firms TangoDown or JP.

Score

This seems to be the most simple modification your pistol. For Glock 17 there are many different shops: high capacity, increasing the grip area of ​​the handle, as well as with increased weight, for easy falling out of the shaft shop, which saves important fractions of a second in shooting competitions.

So, we come to the last improvement in our list today and it is installed on underbarrel rail.

Lantern and LCC

Such rails appeared in the 3rd generation of pistols. Glock in the late 90s.

All sorts of flashlights and laser sights can be mounted on the rail-bar, and the installation of a mini-knife has become a recent fashion.

One of the options for a multifunctional device for rails is a complex device Viridian C5L, including a fairly powerful flashlight at 100 lumens and bright 5 mW green laser pointer, which is visible during the day at a distance of 90 meters, and at night for all 1.6 kilometers.

All this many improvements can be useful for you, so without wasting time, buy and install what will make your Glock more perfect.

Glock is perhaps the most popular and recognizable pistol, one of the most reliable, invariably in high demand both from law enforcement agencies and the armed forces around the world, and from ordinary citizens who buy weapons for shooting sports and self-defense. Because of this, it is often shown in movies and computer games.

History of creation

In 1980, the Austrian military decided to upgrade their weapons and announced an order for the development of a new pistol to replace the Steur model. The future star of Austrian gunsmiths, engineer Gaston Glock at that time owned a small company Glock GmbH, which he himself founded back in 1963 in the town of Deutsch-Wagram near Vienna. Initially, Glock was engaged in the production of machine tools for completely peaceful purposes, and later retrained as a manufacturer of military products - combat knives, trench tools, sapper shovels, spare parts for machine guns, hand grenades and machine gun belts. In the course of his activities, Glock graduated from the Ferlach Higher Weapons Technical School and decided to try his hand at the weapons field. He did not himself design a pistol under the order of the military, but recruited a team of gunsmiths from all over Europe.
Ready in 3 months prototype 9mm pistol, dubbed the Glock 17 (because the magazine had a capacity of 17 rounds). After passing the tests, in 1982 the pistol was adopted by the Austrian army. After some time, Glock was already in the service of the armies of Norway and Sweden, and in 1985 Gaston Glock's company began to take an active interest in the American market. In the same year, the Glock GmbH product manufacturing company was established in Georgia, and in January 1986, final approval was received to import the pistol into the States.

Design

The automatics of the Glock 17 pistol work according to the scheme of using recoil with a short barrel stroke. The design used a modernized system Colt-Browning (Brauning Cam), which is a modernization of the Browning earring. Under the breech, a tide is made with an inclined groove, coinciding with the guide ledge of the frame. The groove is made at such an angle that, moving along the ledge, it causes the moving barrel to decrease, due to which the latter disengages from the shutter-casing, and then stops, allowing the shutter to roll back unhindered.
The barrel bore is locked with the help of a descending breech, which enters with its rectangular ledge located above the chamber into the window for ejection of spent cartridge cases of the shutter-casing. The reduction occurs when the bevel of the lower tide of the breech breech interacts with the protrusion of the frame. After the shot, the bolt, moving backward, bends the uncoupler, thereby releasing the thrust, which then rises under the action of the thrust spring. When the bolt moves forward, the striker's hook encounters the thrust hook and returns the trigger through the thrust to the forward position. In this case, the drummer is pre-cocked. Pistols of the latest releases are equipped with an ejector, which also acts as an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber.
The trigger mechanism (USM) of the striker type with a preliminary partial cocking of the drummer when the shutter-casing moves back and additional cocking when the trigger is pressed. When the trigger is pressed, the firing pin block is first removed, then the sear releases the combat platoon, and a shot is fired. Glock calls the trigger of this design only self-cocking (DAO). However, this system is in fact a classic single-action trigger with an additional firing pin.
In Glock pistols, the drummer is cocked by moving the shutter-casing back, and the relatively long trigger stroke and slightly more than a conventional single-action trigger, the force required to cock the drummer, replace the manually controlled fuse. To ensure maximum ease of handling weapons in the design of this pistol, it was decided to abandon the use of manual safety catches, 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.
In the absence of cartridges, the shutter delay is turned on, fixing the shutter in the allotted 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. A small effort required to pull the trigger allows you to increase the accuracy of fire even for a poorly trained shooter.
The gun is equipped with three independently operating automatic safety locks. 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 is consciously pressed. The automatic fuse of the striker makes it impossible for the striker to hit the primer of the cartridge in the event of an accidental failure from the cocking sear. The trigger rod, with its special protrusion, raises the fuse, which is a cylinder with a groove, and opens the way forward for the drummer. The shockproof fuse is a protrusion of the trigger rod, which has a cruciform shape, which is included in the groove of the shutter-casing. It prevents the combat platoon from falling off the sear during an external impact.
The sights of Glock pistols, made of plastic, are removable and installed in transverse dovetail grooves, consist of a rear sight with the possibility of making horizontal adjustments by shifting it and a front sight, which can be replaced with another one with a different height for vertical correction. For ease of aiming in low light conditions, a luminous dot is applied to the front sight, and a luminous frame is applied to the rear sight. The rear sight can be adjustable, but this is not usually the case in military models. Since 1988, pistols of this model in most cases are equipped with a special guide for attaching a laser target designator (LTC) or a tactical flashlight.

Overall score

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 of operation in the most difficult operating conditions, accuracy more than sufficient for combat shooting and self-defense, both aimed and high-speed "instinctive" offhand shooting, high safety, convenience, comfort during constant hidden or open wear, maximum ease of use, ease of maintenance, huge service life, interchangeability of parts, very high strength and resistance of the coating of steel parts to corrosion and wear, and finally, relatively low cost.
This is a really great weapon, which is preferred by professionals involved in real combat and special operations, fighters of the best special forces in the world. The Glock is also very much loved by those who simply love guns and shooting, and especially those who prefer guns with no problems. People living in countries where personal handgun authorized for sale to civilians, choosing a Glock for shooting practice or for wearing in self-defense is guided by the same principles as the military and police. 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 difficult to handle, which is especially true for people who do not have the opportunity to regularly train with their pistol in the use of weapons in extreme situations. It's no secret that owners in such conditions, where there is simply no time to think, and all actions are performed automatically, simply forget about whether the fuse 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 who is not accustomed to often encounter extreme situations, the simplicity of his pistol is vital.

1. High wear resistance of units and mechanisms. The barrel before burning out allows you to make 300-350 thousand shots (for other pistols, on average, this value is 40-50 thousand shots).

2. An interesting feature of Glock pistols is the ability to fire underwater. In this case, not only rupture, but also swelling of the trunk does not occur. However, for stable operation of the primer, a special striker with transverse grooves or a set of Spring cups amphibia is required: the mainspring of the striker with a plastic pallet with holes. Available only for pistols chambered in 9 mm Parabellum. However, for firing under water without the risk of barrel swelling, the use of cartridges with FMJ-type full-shell bullets is recommended. Glock pistols allow shooting underwater at a depth of up to three meters. The bullet retains great energy at a distance of up to two meters when fired at a depth of one meter. Shooting at close range from under the water is also effective, while the sound of the shot is not audible.

3. There is a widespread misconception that due to the extensive use of polymers in the design of the pistol, the Glock 17 is not detected by metal detectors. In reality, this is not at all the case. This misconception was personally refuted by Gaston Glock, when he passed through the frame of a metal detector several times with a pistol, and each time the weapon was correctly detected. This is due to the fact that, despite the widespread use of polymers, the mass of metal components in it is about 400 g.

4. The Glock 17 is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the pistol that was subjected to the most severe tests and retained its combat effectiveness after that. The Glock 17 is capable of firing from under water, in heavily dusty conditions, in mud, in conditions of any humidity, after being removed from liquid mud and sand.

5. Since January 31, 2009, the Glock 17, among other pistols chambered for 9 × 19 mm Parabellum, has been included in the list of weapons allowed in Russia by investigators and employees of the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to use as a weapon of self-defense.

Glock brand pistols, with their birth, revolutionized the production of small arms. What legends about them did not go - and go so far. Bruce Willis, as hero cop John McClain in Die Hard 2 (1990), authoritatively explains to an airport security officer that the Glock is a German china pistol that can't be picked up by metal detectors and costs a fortune.

In fact, the Glock is not at all German, but an Austrian pistol, porcelain and ceramics are completely absent in its design, but plastic is present in a considerable amount, and plastic has always been cheaper than steel.

Previously, gunsmiths have already tried to create weapon with plastic elements. Back in the late 1960s - early 1970s, the designers of the German company Heckler & Koch developed pistols of the VP 70 and P9S models, some of the parts of which were made of plastic, or rather, of plastic reinforced masses. However, then the idea was not approved - there was an opinion that the weapon should be made of steel, and other materials only reduce the strength of the unit.

In 1980, the Austrian military decided to upgrade their weapons and announced an order for the development of a new pistol to replace the Steur model. The future star of Austrian gunsmiths, engineer Gaston Glock at that time owned a small company Glock GmbH, which he himself founded back in 1963 in the town of Deutsch-Wagram near Vienna. Initially, Glock was engaged in the production of machine tools for completely peaceful purposes, and later retrained as a manufacturer of military products - combat knives, entrenching tools, sapper shovels, spare parts for MG74-3 and MG42 machine guns (7.62 mm NATO), hand grenades and machine gun belts. In the course of his activities, Glock graduated from the Ferlach Higher Weapons Technical School and decided to try his hand at the weapons field. He did not himself design a pistol under the order of the military, but recruited a team of gunsmiths from all over Europe.

After 3 months, a prototype 9-mm pistol was ready, called the Glock 17 (since the magazine had a capacity of 17 rounds). After passing the tests, in 1982 the pistol was adopted by the Austrian army. After some time, Glock was already in the service of the armies of Norway and Sweden, and in 1985 Gaston Glock's company began to take an active interest in the American market. In the same year, the Glock GmbH product manufacturing company was established in Georgia, and in January 1986, final approval was received to import the pistol into the States.

Glock pioneered the production of "plastic" pistols. The use of plastic in the manufacture of most parts turned out to be logical in a world where plastic was steadily gaining ground in industrial production.

First of all, the plastic body significantly reduced the weight of the pistol - the Glock 17 with a full magazine weighs only 870 grams. For comparison, the weight of the Beretta 92 with 2 rounds less magazine is 950 grams.

For the manufacture of the frame and magazine of the pistol, a high-strength polymer is used, like a monocoque, which is able to withstand temperatures up to 200 degrees. True, severe frost remains a threat - if the frozen Glock is unsuccessfully dropped, then it can simply split.

Plastic is an order of magnitude more durable than steel, and the steel parts of modern Glocks are processed using Tennifer technology, which is a unique development of Glock GmbH. As a result of such treatment, the surface to a depth of 0.05 mm acquires a hardness of about 69 Rockwell units (the hardness of technical diamonds is 71-72). Even the Americans assemble Glocks in their factories only from parts sent from Austria, since this technology is a closely guarded secret of the company.

The special processing of the parts makes the gun exceptionally resistant to corrosion. He is not afraid salty water and sand. Unlike many other pistols, the Glock can shoot even underwater, though not far and slightly.

The tale about the Glock's elusiveness for a metal detector was refuted by Gaston Glock himself. He personally paraded several times with a pistol in his hand through the metal detector arch at the airport in front of US Secretary of Defense Kasper Weinberger. The metal detector honestly pointed to the presence of weapons with each pass.

In addition to the above, it should also be noted that other advantages of Glocks, which were also appreciated by civilians. All pistols of this brand consist of only 34 parts, including the magazine. Parts from one model are mostly suitable for other Glock models. The plastic frame provides unusually soft feedback. Glock shoots accurately and accurately, while the barrel can withstand up to 350 thousand shots.

Modifications of Glock brand pistols differ mainly in caliber, barrel length and sights.

There is a heated debate about the safety of Glocks. Proponents of this weapon claim that in the US, in 99.9% of cases, the cause of the "crossbow" with the participation of Glock pistols is mishandling it. This is motivated by the fact that the pistol uses the Safe Action system - a proprietary development with a DAO (Double Action Only) trigger, consisting of three independent fuses. However, according to official statistics there are too many accidents. The Glock 21 is especially famous in this regard. It is this model that takes the first place in the statistics of misfires and spontaneous firing, and Glock GmbH is on the list of 15 weapons manufacturing companies that have been sued for damages.

Gaston Glock's website reports that in the United States alone, 65% of government agencies use his weapons, the largest of which are the FBI, the DEA and the New York Police Department. At the same time, the Glock company is actively promoting supported pistols to civilians. And they get used pistols from the same policemen in exchange for newer models. Here's a marketing ploy. One trouble. Weapons that have already served their time fall into the hands of civilians, which again leads to new victims - this time among a peaceful, but weapon-loving population. Naturally, Glocks are also spreading among the criminal community. Perhaps that is why the Glock appears so often in American action films. It is Glocks that are armed with Michael Douglas in Basic Instinct, Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Eraser, Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive, etc.

It should be noted that Mr. Glock himself turned out to be no less stable than his famous weapon. In March 2003, an attempt was made on his life. 70-year-old Glock received 7 blows to the head with a rubber mallet, rested in the clinic and returned to the post of head of his company. The attacker turned out to be Charles Ewert, a stealing Glock financier.

The performance characteristics of the pistol Glock 17

And I would take the Glock-18, it has the ability to conduct automatic fire ...