What gun can I use for competition shooting? Well that is a loaded question, however I can consider it based on my own experience with USPSA (US Practical Shooting Association). The logical entry point would be Production Division, which is utilizing an “out of the box” handguns. Not the bell and whistle optics and oversized mag wells. This is using a production gun to throw lead downrange. Once those restrictions are in place there is really one choice. Well…not just one, but just
one popular choice. The Glock 34. There are others like the S&W M&P Pro, CZ Shadow 2, Sig P320 and the Canik that come ready out of the box for production. Ultimately, you will find more people starting with the Glock 34 as then moving to things like the Stock 3 or Shadow 2. Shooting Sports USA reports that 25% of shooters use the Glock with CZ edging them out at 33%. This is where I started and this is why.
The G34 is the first handgun that I truly put thousands of rounds thru it. I also have spent hours and hundreds of dry fire practice sessions. Of all the handguns I have had, I used and abused this one. I really was able to see Glock as a reliable platform and capable of helping me thru the learning process. It is relatively cheap especially when compared to a CZ Shadow 2 ($600 vs $1200).
The ergonomics are typical Glock. Accept it. It will fit or it won’t. With many of us using a Glock for carry, its no big deal. I have to cant the gun inferior slightly to get sight alignment, but that is the same for my G19. The Specs:
Length 222 mm/8.74 in
Width: 30mm/1.18 in
Length between Sights: 192 mm/7.55 in
Height: 138 mm /5.43 in
Barrel Length 135mm/ 5.31 in
Just the other day, I was out at the range and decided to shoot the G34 on a stage after I ran the CZ Shadow 2 for a few runs. Something I had never noticed before, the G34 was jumping out of my hands like a trying to hold on to wet fish. It was flying all over the place. After a couple rounds I settled back in to the Glock rhythm but it took some thought. For those who don’t know the CZ (more on that one another time) it is significantly heavier 46.5 oz vs 29.95 oz. Once you remember the snap, it does settle in and sight alignment and acquisition is as fast as anything else.
The G34 offers the longer slide for a longer sight radius. Most all of the competition guns out there utilize a longer barrel (5+ inch) and therefore a longer slide to produce this effect. Yes, I get it. The difference between a G19 4 inch barrel and a G34 5 inch barrel can’t make that much difference. Well it does. The sight radius (distance from front to rear sight) is 6.02 in on the G19 and 7.55 inches on the G34. Does that mean you can’t compete with a G19? No, you can. As with any sport there are little competitive advantages that people have discovered thru the years.
The G34 like all Glocks is striker fired. This makes some of the process of competing easier. Without a safety, you don’t have to think about disengaging it when you run a stage. You also do not have to deal with that double action/single action switch. That is a subject in itself, but quickly, with a gun like the CZ Shadow or EEA Stock 3 you have a double action/single action. In production, you must start with the gun in double action, then the subsequent shots can be taken in single action. Why is this an issue? That double action trigger pull can be 6-10 lbs with the single action 2 to 5 lbs. Training to adjust that difference has a learning curve.
With that out of the way, that’s all the G34 has to offer. The trigger sucks as do the sights. This is where the G34 both sucks and is amazing. It is so easy to smith a Glock and there are so many aftermarket parts available that the G34 is a blank slate. You can make it fit your needs. Drop in a trigger and change the sights for about $250 to $400 or so. You can get stupid with this process. For example, Taran Tactical will “Wick out” a G34 for a little over $1000. Remember it is still a $600 Glock….but a cool ass one.
With the trigger pull closer to 2.5 lbs from the stock 4 lbs, it becomes a smooth operator. You can change out the recoil spring and the rod to a lighter one as well. There are lists of the mods you can do but the most important is the trigger and sights. Really you can go shoot out of the box and that is the intent of Production Division competition in anyway.
I have moved on to the CZ Shadow 2 as my competition pistol, however, the G34 remains a part of my training and hopefully will see use in 3Gun matches. I would strongly recommend a Glock as a starter for USPSA competition. This can be the 17, 19 or G34. They are simple, reliable and cheap to upgrade.