The GLOCK Model 17L and Model 24 are two of my favorites from that plucky little Austrian company you may be familiar with. Yet they happen to be among their lowest sellers. I think GLOCK has sold more .45 GAPs over the past decade than these two models.
The G17L and the G24 never got the Gen4 treatment like the G34 and G35. Heck, the G34 even got the Gen5 treatment. And the .45 GAP G37 got a Gen4 upgrade.
The last I spoke with GLOCK, the six inchers aren’t made in regular numbers. GLOCK simply cranks out a few at a time and sits on them since orders are never very large or numerous.
When I got mine a while back, it took some time for Lou’s Police Supply in Hialeah, Florida to get their hands on one, even though they’re one of the largest Blue Label dealers in the state. But the wait was worth it.
That was over a decade ago now. If you look at the GLOCK 24, you can see that as a Gen 3 gun, it still has the original frying pan Tenifer finish they stopped using around 2010.
My GLOCK 17L was made right after they stopped the Tenifer finish.
So what’s the thinking behind these two guns? One reason and one reason only; competition shooting. GLOCK made the G17L and G24 for the gun golf matches. Folks were doing pretty well with the regular G17, so around 1987, GLOCK made the first GLOCK 17L. It was built off the Gen1 frame and came from the factory with adjustable target sights.
When GLOCK developed the .40 S&W chambered GLOCK 22 and GLOCK 23, the GLOCK 24 was made at the same time.
As the 1990s rode along, some 1911 shooters started to get angry that their $2,000 jam-o-matics kept being beaten by $600 factory plastic fantastics. So they lobbied for a rule change and the infamous “box change” happened. The GLOCK 17L and GLOCK 24 were ruled out since they no longer fit in the “box.” They were suddenly too big for USPSA and IDPA matches.
But there wre still gun golf league competitions that the GLOCK 17L and GLOCK 24 could play in…the GLOCK Shooting Sports Foundation matches. And they sure shoot great.
That’s where I shoot mine and they’re a hoot and a half. Nothing says fun like blowing through a few magazines of 9mm and .40 S&W with laser-like accuracy.
The 3.5lbs trigger connectors make them easy shooting and those long sight radiuses really help.
Even cooler — they don’t use any special parts other than the slide and barrel. The frame is a standard Gen3 and the recoil spring is the same one as the GLOCK 17 and GLOCK 22 use. This is achieved through the lightening cuts in the slide to make the weight the same as their duty size cousins.
Okay, so that’s great you say, what else can you use these six inchers for? Well, they’re pretty handy for home defense and handgun hunting, too. I keep my GLOCK 17L as my bedside gun.
My GLOCK 24 is my trusty handgun for hog hunting. A 180 grain Winchester Ranger SXT will easily put a Florida pig down if he decides to get ornery. Or just close.
The GLOCK 17L has even seen official service as a duty gun, one of its more famous uses was with the Brigada Antiteroristă, the tactical special operations unit of the Serviciul Român de Informaţii (Romanian Intelligence Service).
Other than that, the service life of the GLOCK 17L is fairly boring and didn’t see much in other nations’ main anti-terrorist units. I haven’t been able to find any reference to the GLOCK 24 seeing service with any law enforcement agency or military unit.
But none of that matters, I love both of these long slide guns and they’re a blast to shoot. The GLOCK 17L and GLOCK 24 are accurate and capable.
Because they aren’t that all common, they always seem to draw a crowd at the range. If you have one, cherish it. If you don’t, get ready to spend at least $1,000 right now since they are not easy to find.
Luis Valdes is the Florida Director for Gun Owners of America.
The use of the 17 recoil spring isn’t “cooler”; it’s a wasted opportunity. A spring assembly proportioned to the barrel length would provide a longer, softer recoil stroke – preventing the slide from bottoming out at the end, as well as providing more reliability on both the ejection and feed steps of the cycle.
Pretty sure the concept of constant recoil doesnt really translate to handguns.
Pretty sure the laws of physics don’t discriminate. If long spring travel softens impacts better in not only rifles and MGs, but also vehicle suspensions; and if suddenly bottoming out against a solid portion of the frame makes for a jarring impact in all of the above, why would handguns be exempt?
Two things in my mind:
1-A 357 Sig version of this would have been way cool.
2-The pick up lines you could have at the range.
I believe that one could get a 357 Sig barrel for the G24!
That’s exactly what I did with my G24. KKM 6″ barrel and some Trijicon HD’s. Love it. Would love it more with readily available ammo.
Indeed the rules suck on competition shooting.
NASCAR ain’t NASCAR anymore.
Pretty good grouping.
I just don’t see myself ever having Glocks. But who knows?
Not that they were forgotten……you just rarely saw them …..or see them.
I have a friend with both from the early Glocktillian days.
I can shoot a 5 inch or 4 inch Glock faster in most situations.
And the 5 inch carries better …. even in a shoulder holster.
The 40 benefits most from the longer barrel. You can roll some loads to really take advantage of the extra pipe.
Needs gen 4 and 5 grip texture. Glock 3rd gen is crap.
You forgot the fat kid in GLOCK’s six-inch stable: the G40 in .40 Magnum… er… Centimeter Chambering.
If we are digging that out may as well bring up the 9mm Dillon paired with silly handloads.
I was going to say the same thing. Why no love for the 40? I have one and i love her.
Not unknown but not very common. I did know about the 17L. I was not aware of the 24L.
And as for the competition, “rule booking” is common to restrict any perceived advantage someone may have. Bonus points if these rules are drafted and implemented the night before a match. And often created and enforced by those who bend, stretch, and even break the rules anyway.
I’d buy one if I saw one lol. You can’t sell what ain’t there
What’s the difference between the 17L and the 34? Thanks
Never mind, I just looked it up. Seems that the main difference is the barrel length: 6.02″ for the 17L, 5.31″ for the 34.
Acyually, the g24 and 17L can both be used in USPSA Limited division, and the g24 really shines there.
Louis
Please keep writing. You are the best on TTAG, excellent work, love it.
+1
Luis’ articles are a treat
I enjoy my 24 and the 17L.
Longer barreled handguns are just a joy to shoot.
When I read the headline, I wasn’t thinking about barrel length.
6 inches ain’t much, but with a fast cycling glock and a strong recoil spring, ,,? , it just might get the job done.
I have a G24 SBR in a B&T chassis. It is awesome!
Why didn’t author mention the G40 10MM MOS with the same 6.02″ barrel? Now, that is a shooter!!! Have all three long slide Glocks. Life is good!!!!
I was lucky enough over the weekend to purchase a new 24 from a customer who was looking to upgrade. He never shot it, looks brand new. I’m thrilled!!
Reminder to non-Glock owners: You can join the aforementioned GSSF for two (2) years to get a good discount. Also, Glock’s Blue Label program offers a discount to a wide variety of first responders and affiliated groups (armed guards, prosecutors, etc.). Details at the Glock website.
anyone has more vital information on G20 ?
Your writing style is both eloquent and approachable.
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