Just bought a Glock 17: What do I need to know?

I shoot a G34 in USPSA practical pistol and 3 gun competition, and carry a G17... the Glock family suffers from a need for better sights unless your pistol came with the metal or tritium sights...addition of good high visibility sights is one modification I would recommend... additionally I use an un captured guide rod system, but the internet experts tell me I'm incorrect.... as you skill improves, check out some pistol competition like USPSA...it will greatly improve your gun handling skills...enjoy and be safe... Les L747
 
Happy birthday and congratulations!
a gun is a HUGE responsibility; I didn't want to buy one until I was 27 since I was still too crazy lol
Do you plan on getting a CHL?

Plenty of good advice so far so I will reiterate the training/becoming familiar with your gun and try to absorb as much knowledge as possible. Join forums, watch videos and practice, practice, practice.

As mentioned get some formal training and if you like compete. I recommend IDPA (international defensive pistol association) since shooting in a "stress based scenario" will be a more realistic training than just pointing at a immobile target. Practice drawing and master dry fire (essential aspects)
Learn the laws. It is mandatory to know when and where the law would have your back when/if (hope not) you happen to use your gun.

Keep it to yourself and your close ones (don't tell everyone you carry). no one needs to know so YOU decide when or if to use it since YOU will be the one responsible for the actions.

always ask questions; there is no stupid question

Great gift ;-)
 
HWF said:
Pistol-training.com is great and pistol-forum.com is one of the best as far as the noise/solid info ratio goes. Good luck!
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This ^. Plus get some hands-on quality training from the best local trainer you can find. Practicing without doing it right can do more harm than good as you develop your shooting skills. Once you have gun handling and the shooting fundamentals down, consider participating in an action pistol game such as IDPA or USPSA. These gun games will keep you from getting bored with shooting and provide an incentive for you to become a better shooter.
 
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Great pistol. Just follow the Glock rules that came with the gun. If you don't have an operating manual go to their website and download one. it requires very little maintenance. Just remember, on all guns your trigger finger is the safety. If not on the trigger the gun will not shoot. And don't aim the gun at anything you don't want to destroy. Lots of folks are injured by "unloaded" guns.

And be sure to join the NRA and take some of their great classes and get involved with the local gun club, great way to make some good friends and have fun.
 
^^^^All this instructional about cleanliness and safety and ammo........after the OP stated he has handled firearms before. Thanks for treating him like a moron!!


Here is what you need to know about the G17: After a while you're gonna want the G19........just letting you know
 
Sell and buy a 1911

Just kidding, the 17 is a good gun and that is the glock I'll eventually get.

Shoot it a lot clean it a little and take a couple of courses

I'd reccomend a concealed carry course, get you carry permit and learn a little more about the gun itself as well
 
Cheaperthandirt.com and ammotogo.com good for bulk ammo right to your door depending on state you live in.
 
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I would say (like everyone else) Get a good cleaning kit, get a safe or have a safe lockable place to store it.
Get yourself at least 2-3 extra mags (factory Glock only)
Get some Snap Caps so you can practice pulling the trigger... What really helped me was getting an inexpensive Laser Bore Sighter (from walmart) it lets you know where your projectile will hit relative to what the sights say. My sights were off to the left by just a hair, got it sighted properly (by moving the rear sight over accordingly) and BAM! She was hitting dead on with normal reloads... nothing fancy.
What's really interesting is putting a snap cap in while having the laser bore sighter installed.... pull the trigger while keeping an eye on the red dot hitting your target. You'll be surprised just how much it moves (or not moves) once the trigger breaks. The first thing i thought was... geese no wonder my grouping was shiite! This technique really helped me.
Have fun... Stay Safe!
 
Firestrike said:
Sell it.
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There is always at least one that offers great insight.... :grumpy:

Spend time getting use to the pistol. How it functions, and how to disassemble. I know it's been said a million times, but double triple check to make sure the magazine is out of the gun, or at least empty, and nothing is in the chamber. Glocks have a loaded chamber indicator that is a great quick check, but don't rely on it 100%...

Don't get sucked into the mindset that you have to start replacing parts. They are perfectly reliable out of the box, and are more accurate than most people can shoot.
Enjoy. They are great pistols...
 
338375 said:
There is always at least one that offers great insight.... :grumpy:

Spend time getting use to the pistol. How it functions, and how to disassemble. I know it's been said a million times, but double triple check to make sure the magazine is out of the gun, or at least empty, and nothing is in the chamber. Glocks have a loaded chamber indicator that is a great quick check, but don't rely on it 100%...

Don't get sucked into the mindset that you have to start replacing parts. They are perfectly reliable out of the box, and are more accurate than most people can shoot.
Enjoy. They are great pistols...
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Don't start confusing the OP so soon... NO chamber indicator on glocks
 
BBW said:
Don't start confusing the OP so soon... NO chamber indicator on glocks
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The extractor has a LCI on it as of several years ago.

I'd also agree that you should not add any aftermarket parts (with the exception of sights as Les suggested). If it's not broke don't fix it.
 
338375 said:
There is always at least one that offers great insight.... :grumpy:

Spend time getting use to the pistol. How it functions, and how to disassemble. I know it's been said a million times, but double triple check to make sure the magazine is out of the gun, or at least empty, and nothing is in the chamber. Glocks have a loaded chamber indicator that is a great quick check, but don't rely on it 100%...

Don't get sucked into the mindset that you have to start replacing parts. They are perfectly reliable out of the box, and are more accurate than most people can shoot.
Enjoy. They are great pistols...
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This gentleman has given you great advice except the reference to the loaded chamber indicator as it is difficult to determine with certainty via a tactile and visual check on this particular firearm at all. (It ain't a Walther.) I would counsel that you always inspect the magazine well and chamber with a visual and tactile check. If you are going to rely upon the loaded chamber indicator then I would just always assume that it is loaded. Enjoy and please be safe!
 
1st clean it before you shoot it then put lots of good quality ammo in it and put rounds down range ( I like to put 500-700 rounds through a gun to break it in and then say it's reliable just my preferance) get training from a NRA instructor it's worth every penny to be trained properly and not pick up bad habits. I always visually and physically with my pinky check the chamber when I unload better safe than sorry. Practice your draw don't worry about speed focus on form and reloads and practice for jams. And don't listen to people on the internet find the best instructor you can and let them teach you and ask them and learn from them.....lol
 
Freedom munitions for inexpensive bulk 9mm
Winchester 147g Ranger T or 124g Speer Gold Dots
Night sights
Vickers slide stop
Vickers mag release if you bought a gen 3
Vickers baseplates
Streamlight TLR-1H
Crossbreed holsters, Bravo Concealment
FireClean, but don't clean too much; seriously, it's a Glock. Check out BigBore's G21 torture test
half dozen more mags and a few G18 mags for gigs.
Ares, Volund, OSOE, wilderness instructor, beltman, etc - find a good belt. Carrying sucks in a $11 walmart belt
AR15.com --> handguns --> Glock
glocktalk
 
I have the 17 and 26. First and only thing I did directly to the guns themselves, was a $10 grit tape kit. That made a huuuuuuge difference. At least for me.
 
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