Glock 17,19 and hand size

[Larry Sellers]

Hey all,

I've been getting a ton of great information from the site over the last few years and wanted to pick everyone's brain with a question/issue I seem to be having. I've been a glock shooter for quite some time now and have always been a fan of the 4th gen 19 and the way in which it integrates with my hand and grip. I really feel as though I get a very solid grip on the pistol, as in there is no movement or wiggle as I fire the gun and it recoils. This leads me to my issue: I purchased a 4th gen 17 a few weeks ago and am noticing that I have to try very hard to control the pistol as well as I can control the 19. There feels to me like there is an increased "slop" in the way I grip the gun in a similar fashion to the 19. When I grip the 17 there is roughly 1/4" to 1/2' of grip that extends below my hands and for some reason I don't appear to have as solid a hold on the weapon as I do with the 19.
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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170603/33e17e79c41e18f9842f94b02d5b56cd.jpg

I shot both pistols including a glock 43 the other day at the range, all 3 with 147 grain speer lawman and the 17 was the most difficult for me to grip as firmly as I did with my 43 and 19. I've attached 2 photos of my SHO grip on the 19 and 17 as to illustrate how my hand interfaces with the frame of each pistol. I'm just curious if there's something aside from the hump on the backstrap, or the overall frame size that is effecting the way the gun performs in my hands. Both pistols are setup with the same trigger parts and connectors so I'm not sure that's a major factor. I may be in the minority or a complete nut job but the 19 points more naturally for me and again just fits my hand better.

As a benchmark I was shooting 3X5's at 10 yards and was struggling to keep the 17 on the cards but the 19 was grouping much tighter with less effort. I'm not opposed to picking up another 19 and eliminating the 17 if that's what ends up being the case, I just grabbed a 17 to see if the larger pistol helped with accuracy etc.

Curious if anyone has experienced the same issue or has any thoughts on what may or may not be going on. I bought the 17 as a range/HD gun, but I find the 19 taking that role on as it works better for me.

Thanks for any information you all can provide, apologies for any ramblings as I'm coming off the end of a 48 in the firehouse.

[M2CattleCo]

I kind of have the same issue.

I like a full size for all handling characteristics, but the compact locks my hand in better.

I found that removing the finger grooves and a little under cut makes the full size fall into my hand a lot more solid and they handle really well for me like that.

[Gary1911A1]

For me the hump at the bottom rear strap on the 17 makes my grip uncomfortable as it seems to weaken my grip as well as change the angle.

[Surf]

Hand size and shape play a role as the 17 and 19 grips are different enough to cause variation. Who likes what may be highly subjective. I much prefer the grip and frame of the Gen4 17 over the Gen4 19 and don't play as well with the 34 as I do the 17. Shoot whichever pistol works well for you.

[Gio]

I also "feel" like the 19 fits my hand better due to the placement of the backstrap "hump," however there is no measurable difference in actual performance for me between the full size frame and the 19. You may want to experiment with the medium or large backstrap on the 17 to see if that gives you a better feel.

[voodoo_man]

I shoot the 19 better than my 17. I don't know why, I just do. Once I put a magwell on the 19 I instantly have an ever better gripping gun.

[blues]

"Larry", as you and I have discussed, my Gen 4 G17, (my only Gen 4 and only 17), is the best feeling and shooting Glock I've ever trained with.

My recently upgraded to Gen 3 G19 is a close second. When it was still a Gen 2 I don't think it was as close. Whether it's the new frame, grip or internals, I can't say.

I used to shoot my G26 as well or better than my 19 but now it's behind its two bigger brethren. It's odd how much difference small and incremental changes can make.

All three of mine are configured the same...Trijicon HDs, Gadget and Glockmeister grip plug.

Keep experimenting with it and maybe even different ammo to see what develops.

[Nephrology]

I shoot the 19 better than my 17. I don't know why, I just do. Once I put a magwell on the 19 I instantly have an ever better gripping gun.

I am in the same camp. have yet to try the magwell, though.

[walker2713]

I shoot the 19 better than my 17. I don't know why, I just do. Once I put a magwell on the 19 I instantly have an ever better gripping gun.

Taran?

[voodoo_man]

Taran?

Used a zev pro for a bit but took it off recently. Gana try the Magpul.

[Wondering Beard]

Here's a possibly different explanation for your difficulty: your grip on the G19 isn't as strong/hard/tight as it should be in the first place.

Here's my reasoning: when you grip the G19, the size fits you so well and makes you feel so "locked in" that it gives you the illusion of gripping the gun as strongly as you should. The bigger size of the G17 doesn't "lock" your hand in as much and your "weaker" grip on that gun is giving you difficulties. There are quite a few threads on how to grip here that should give you some good pointers.

Without seeing you shoot, it's near impossible to diagnose what is going on, so I could very well be wrong in my attempt to diagnose what's happening with you. It may just simply be that the ergos are so different for your hand that the G17 will never work for you as well as the G19. Still, review the threads on gripping the pistol and start applying them to the G19 and 17 and I think you will start seeing improvements on your G17 shooting (as well as with your G19).

In any case, my suggestion is only worth what you paid for it :-)

[okie john]

It's easy to look at the Glock catalog and think that the G19 is just a slightly more concealable G17, but in practice, it's a completely different animal that happens to have some common parts.

If you shoot a G19 better than you shoot a G17 with less effort, then get a couple of more of G19's and you're set. Using G17 mags for reloads makes the G19 even sweeter.


Okie John

[rojocorsa]

It's easy to look at the Glock catalog and think that the G19 is just a slightly more concealable G17, but in practice, it's a completely different animal that happens to have some common parts.

If you shoot a G19 better than you shoot a G17 with less effort, then get a couple of more of G19's and you're set. Using G17 mags for reloads makes the G19 even sweeter.


Okie John

I never thought about it like that. I always felt comfortable with the notion that both shot exactly the same for me, but I never looked at it critically.

[psalms144.1]

I'll freely admit I haven't given the G17 the wring out it deserves, especially compared to the thousands and thousands and thousands of rounds I've put through various G19s over the last couple of decades. Lots of folks I trust implicitly tell me the G17 handles and shoots better, but I haven't found that to be the case, for me. Not sure if it's hand size, or familiarity, but it is what it is. If the G19 "works" better for you, then don't fight it, buy three and start trying to wear one out.

[Larry Sellers]

Thanks for all the help all! I have tried and tried to adjust my grip on the 17 to make it "fit" better and it just does not lock into my hand as well as the 19. I may tinker with the backstraps a bit more to see if I can get that vise like contact with the 17.

[ER_STL]

I have the exact same issue. In general, most compact/subcompact guns fit me better than their big brothers. That being said, a Gen4 G17 with a GFA or one of the beavertail backstraps cut short does help me quite a bit. It's still not that same fit that the 19/26 has but it's better.

Ironically I was recently watching video of me shooting both the 17 and the 26 and I have better recoil control on the 26....to the point where the gun barely moves. I'm just able to mash more of the meat of my support hand into the side-panel and that translates into a better grip on the gun.

[NH Shooter]

I shoot my 9mm PPS better than my Gen 3 G17, at least for the first few magazines.

[60167]

I've been shooting my 23 a lot lately. I can shoot it more accurately than my 22 during slow fire.

[Irelander]

Used a zev pro for a bit but took it off recently. Gana try the Magpul.

Are the MAG940 magwells available yet?

[voodoo_man]

Are the MAG940 magwells available yet?

Just got one for 17 gen3 yesterday and waiting on the gen 3 and 4 19s to come in.

[spinmove_]

I'm coming up on 5,000 rounds on my G19Gen4 soon. As soon as that happens I'll be detail stripping it, cleaning it, replacing all the springs, probably shoot another 100 rounds through it and then do nothing to it except carry it while I put close to 5,000 rounds through the G17Gen2 that I have. It's interesting that you bring fitment up between the G17 and G19 up as I've just recently discovered while doing a side-by-side comparison on drawing them from the holster that the G19Gen4 with no backstrap and G17Gen2 give me essentially the same LOP. I suspect this has something to do with where the hump on each of those pistols interfaces with my hand. It's definitely interesting though. I look forward to really working with the G17 over an extended period of time to see how it works for me. Who knows, I may end up preferring the G17 in the end.

[LSP552]

I wonder how much of this is hand size related? For me, with XL size hands, the only 19 I can shoot without Dremel work is a 2nd Gen. The 4th Gen 19s are better than the 3rd, requiring less surgery. The smaller finger groove spacing on top simply kills my hands on an unmodified 3rd or 4th Gen 19. The 17 and 26 fit me fine. Because of the fit, I shoot the 17 noticeably better. I'd have to take a 26 over an unmodified 19 just because of fit.

[spinmove_]

I wonder how much of this is hand size related? For me, with XL size hands, the only 19 I can shoot without Dremel work is a 2nd Gen. The 4th Gen 19s are better than the 3rd, requiring less surgery. The smaller finger groove spacing on top simply kills my hands on an unmodified 3rd or 4th Gen 19. The 17 and 26 fit me fine. Because of the fit, I shoot the 17 noticeably better. I'd have to take a 26 over an unmodified 19 just because of fit.

I imagine that hand size as well as hand shape and grip technique play a huge role. In general the 19 feels chunkier simply because of where the hump is and how it's shaped. I can get a grip on a gen 2 or gen 3 17 easier than I can a 19 of the same generations. I really need to start pitting my 17 and 19 against each other on a timer to see how I do. The finger grooves on gen 3 and gen 4 pistols don't bother me at all. I usually wear a medium sized glove which fits well to slightly snug, usually have some room in the fingertips.


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[M2CattleCo]

I can get splits faster with a 19, but I get hits better with a 17 or 34.

I can reload much more consistently with the full size.

Past 15 yards or so, the 34 pulls away and runs off from the 19 in speed and accuracy.

There's so many different metrics for performance you have to decide what's best for you.

[willie]

I shoot my 26 better than the 19. I can only guess reasons. Perhaps your 17 and 19 have different recoil impulses which makes the 17 feel different. At the risk of stating the obvious, the two pistols feel different because they do indeed have slightly different though similar grips. You may be more in tune to this stuff than others. I have the ability to feel the most minute diferences between Smiths having so called exact d.a. trigger pulls. Some have accused me of faking this. I have a G gen 4 10mm. After switching back sraps around, the one I chose has the slightest almost imperceptible movement. It drives me nuts. Nobody else feels it.

[Kyle Reese]

I shoot my 26 better than the 19. I can only guess reasons. Perhaps your 17 and 19 have different recoil impulses which makes the 17 feel different. At the risk of stating the obvious, the two pistols feel different because they do indeed have slightly different though similar grips. You may be more in tune to this stuff than others. I have the ability to feel the most minute diferences between Smiths having so called exact d.a. trigger pulls. Some have accused me of faking this. I have a G gen 4 10mm. After switching back sraps around, the one I chose has the slightest almost imperceptible movement. It drives me nuts. Nobody else feels it.Have you tried running a 17/19/26 on a timer?

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[willie]

I have not, and I admit that my experience omits an essential criterion.

[EJO]

I wear size medium gloves and I can run a 17 and a 26 far better than a 19. This is both at speed on a timer as well as slow fire at 25 yards. I don't know why but that 17/26 combo just works for me.

[rojocorsa]

Since the last time I participated in this thread, I acquired and began to shoot a G/34 more than my G.19s.

I noticed that the G.34 Gen 4 does not give me glock knuckle or callouses the way a G.19 does. YMMV.

[HCM]

.

I noticed that the G.34 Gen 4 does not give me glock knuckle or callouses the way a G.19 does. YMMV.

That is due to the reduced spacing on the top finger groove of the gen 3/4 G19's. Hence my preference for the Gen 2 and M model G19's.

[vcdgrips]

I have more trigger/carry time with a 35 than 34. and far more trigger time with a 17 than a 19. I have always favored the full size frame because when a I train at speed with a G19 using G19 sized magazines, it is only a matter of time before I pinch some flesh just under my pinky causing a blood blister etc. My carry solution is to have a G17 sized reload. I suppose I could use that for training as well though I like the idea of a lot of practice manipulating the smaller magazine under "pressure" and then having a built in margin of error when I infrequently carry the G19.


YMMV Greatly