Glock 34

[dakota954]

I've been looking at choices for my first handgun and I finally found one I like. I'm not new to shooting, I've just always used my dads guns but I feel it's time to get my own handgun. I saw the model 34 and I love it. Does anybody else have one? How do they shoot and how is their reliability? Pictures and range reports would be great!! Also, what upgrades would you put on? I plan to put a better barrel on and a trigger connector as this will be a gun for targets and home defense.

[GRIMJIM]

Isn't the 34 the target model? I'm not a big glock guy so I'm not sure.

If so it already has the lighter trigger pull and I think you'll be very happy with it without gutting it. I'd shoot it for a while first but that's just me.

Have fun.

[dakota954]

Yes it is a target model with a 4.5lb trigger

[HAMMERHEAD]

I had one a few years ago, good gun. I don't think you are going to improve on the barrel, they are quite accurate. We (local IPSC champ and myself) tested mine and it would shoot under 2" at 25 yards from a rest with quality ammo.
On mine I replaced the extended mag release with a standard one and added a NY-1 trigger spring and polished the connector for a smoother short DA type trigger pull and a firmer trigger reset. The stock sights were replaced with Heinie slant pros (great target sights).
Now my only 9mm is the G-19.

[dakota954]

The reason I want a new barrel is that I want to be able to shoot lead out of it as I am getting the casting supplies for my 45-70 anyway so I might as well get the mold for 9mm too. That'll make the cost of shooting very cheap and with how much I shoot, I'll pay for the barrel in no time plus I want to get a threaded barrel so that I could maybe get a silencer

[LocnLod]

I use a G34 in IDPA matches and like it.  I haven't touched the trigger or barrel but I understand why you would want to change your barrel for lead bullets.  I used mine for a while for home defense until I got a G17 for that and carry.  For a personal defense pistol I prefer the combination of NY-1 trigger return module with the 3lb connector.  But I only had 2 NY-1 connectors on hand so they went into my G26 and G17 and the G34 became my IDPA pistol.
 
The only other changes I made to the G34 was a standard slide release, standard magazine release (so it would be like my G26 and G17) and Ameriglo front night sight and rear plain black sight.  At a major match last weekend, I had a Winchester white box 9mm load with a crushed neck that wasn't obvious from the other side of the round when I loaded it.  It locked the gun up right in the middle of a stage and I couldn't rack the slide with my hands to clear it.  I happened to be near a strong upright (I was in an old schoolbus) and I was able to use the sharp front edge of the rear Ameriglo sight against the upright to rack the slide open and clear the stoppage.  It cost me 10 seconds but at least I was able to finish the stage.