Bartholomew Roberts
Moderator
One of the members of our IDPA club had been shooting a Glock 26 with great success. Their spouse gave them a Glock 34 as a gift and determined to show their appreciation, they resolved to use the Glock 34. So far, it has been a problem though. They aren't handling the longer length well and they suffer regular malfunctions that may or may not be related to how firmly they grip the pistol. They are bound and determined to make the 34 work (even though it doesn't seem to be working). Do any of the knowledgeable crowd here have any good suggestions?
One reason I'd like to know is because I own a 26 and have looked at the 34 and 35 and experienced the same problems with the 34. The gun shoots perfectly for my friend who owns it and I have no problems with the 26 at all; but put his 34 in my hands and I get regular malfunctions. The 34 is extracting the round from the chamber but lots of stovepipes and related misfeeds. I am almost sure the problem is my grip on the 34 since if I pay careful attention to maintaining a firm grip, the problem disappears and the problem doesn't exist at all for my friend who has zero malfunctions with it.
At the same time, I can shoot the 19, 26 and the 35 with the same grip I have always used and I don't have any problems at all. My thinking is that the additional slide mass and the relatively low pop of the 9mm are combining to make the problem. I don't notice the problem in the 19 or the 26 because there isn't as much slide mass to move. The 35 seems to have enough pop to it that even limp-wristing the gun it can still function correctly.
Basically, I'd like to know if there are other possible causes for the problem, whether you think I've analyzed the source of the problem correctly, and corrective measures besides "pay attention to your grip". I use the same grip with success on .45s, BHPs and practically every other gun I've shot so I don't really want to try and change it now.
One reason I'd like to know is because I own a 26 and have looked at the 34 and 35 and experienced the same problems with the 34. The gun shoots perfectly for my friend who owns it and I have no problems with the 26 at all; but put his 34 in my hands and I get regular malfunctions. The 34 is extracting the round from the chamber but lots of stovepipes and related misfeeds. I am almost sure the problem is my grip on the 34 since if I pay careful attention to maintaining a firm grip, the problem disappears and the problem doesn't exist at all for my friend who has zero malfunctions with it.
At the same time, I can shoot the 19, 26 and the 35 with the same grip I have always used and I don't have any problems at all. My thinking is that the additional slide mass and the relatively low pop of the 9mm are combining to make the problem. I don't notice the problem in the 19 or the 26 because there isn't as much slide mass to move. The 35 seems to have enough pop to it that even limp-wristing the gun it can still function correctly.
Basically, I'd like to know if there are other possible causes for the problem, whether you think I've analyzed the source of the problem correctly, and corrective measures besides "pay attention to your grip". I use the same grip with success on .45s, BHPs and practically every other gun I've shot so I don't really want to try and change it now.