I love my S&W revolvers, but I shoot Glocks more than any other handgun.

I have two gen 3 Glocks. A G17 that I bought new over seven years ago. I used it for IDPA for about five years. Box stock except for sights. The other is a G34 I bought about a year ago and have been using it in IDPA and local multi-gun matches. It was lightly used and according to the seller, box stock also.

Right off the bat, the trigger in the G34 seemed different. I've searched over the interwebs and have never come across anything definitive stating that the triggers between the G17 and G34 should be different from the factory.

I spent about thirty minutes this afternoon trying both triggers to determine what exactly feels different.

The G17 trigger feels "thicker" and "heavier" after the take-up compared to the "thin" and "light" trigger of the G34 (as "thin" and "light" as a Glock trigger can feel).

Can someone enlighten me as to why one trigger feels better than the other on stock pistols?

Thanks folks.

The trigger on the 34 is indeed lighter. It has a different connector.

Glock pistols may have a 3.5, 5 or 8 lb connector, then there is also the NY trigger set up.

__________________
Tony

The G34 trigger connector has a shallower ramp making a lighter, longer trigger pull before the break. 'Mushier' is what comes to mind.

Stock G34 trigger is ~3.5lb and G17 is ~5.5 lb.

I personally prefer the 5.5lb connector as it is a shorter pull once the trigger bar is on the connector before the break, feels more 'positive' and has a crisper reset.

The main difference is that a factory OEM civilian market Glock 34 is issued with Glocks "-" connector. It brings down the trigger pull.

There is another difference in the stock trigger bars between the 2 different generation pistols you own. The new production Gen3 and Gen4 have a bump on the trigger bar that is supposed to keep proper engagement on the firing pin block when depressing the trigger. IMO, that bump adds an extra hitch and catch to the trigger. On my Gen4's I replace the trigger bar with a bump with a bump-less earlier generation trigger bar w/trigger assembly.

You also bought used guns. Maybe the owner of the 34 modified it. Could be that there could be an aftermarket connector and springs in it.

__________________
-John

The trigger with trigger bar is the same in both pistols. There are two parts in the Glock that can be changed to create a different trigger weight and feel. First is the connector. The connector for all standard models is the 90 degree connector. It creates a pull of around 6 to 6.5 pounds with the standard coil trigger spring. The standard connector used to be called the 5 lb. connector, and it is still known by that name, although it no longer produces a 5 lb. pull with the coil spring (if it ever did).

The minus connector (called the 3.5 lb. connector) with the same coil spring reduces pull weight to 4.5 or so (formerly to 3.5 lbs, or at least that is what was advertised), while the plus connector with the same coil spring increases weight to 8 or 8.5 pounds.

In addition to changing the connector, the coil trigger spring can be changed to a leaf spring. There are two leaf springs. The New York 1 (NY1) trigger spring (so called because it was made for the New York State Police), and the New York 2 (NY2) trigger spring (so called because it was made for NYPD).

The NY1 and NY2 springs have rules associated with them. You may only use them with the standard 90 degree connector (what used to be called the 5 lb. connector) or the minus connector (what used to be called the 3.5 lb connector). Use of the NY1 or NY2 springs with the plus connector will cause damage and is forbidden.

So, using the standard coil trigger spring, you can, by changing the connector, get a 4.5 lb. pull (formerly advertised as 3.5 lbs.), which is standard in the G17L, G24, G34, and G35, a 6 or 6.5 lb. pull (formerly advertised as 5 lbs), or an 8 or 8.5 lb. pull). The standard trigger pull (formerly advertised as 5 lbs, now 6 to 6.5 lbs. is standard on all of the other models. The 8 to 8.5 lb. pull is only available on special order, and usually by a department or agency.

Both of the NY trigger springs change the FEEL of the trigger. The coil spring gives a light, spongy take-up, then you hit a wall, then you pull through and it goes bang. The NY trigger springs give resistance all the way through the cycling of the trigger, much in the same way a DA revolver gives resistance in the same manner.

It is possible to combine the NY trigger spring with the 3.5 or 5 lb. connector. When used with the 90 degree connector, the pull is 8 or 8.5 lbs with NY1 and 12 or more lbs. with NY2. When used with the 3.5 pound connector, the pull still has resistance all the way through, but the trigger stroke is lighter.

A large number of experts now recommend the 3.5 pound connector with the NY1 trigger spring. It is the best of both worlds - resistance all the way through PLUS light weight.

So, the short answer, yes the G34 has a different trigger feel than the G17.

NYPD (NYC) Glocks have 12 pound triggers. UNFORTUNATELY they "dumbed - down" the guns for the least knowledgeable, least practiced and least adept Officer on the job INSTEAD of requiring more practice and familiarization. Apparently, there were too many Officers having accidental discharges and self inflicted wounds due to oopppss's.

I have actually shot some of these 12 pounders and believe me Boys, "they ain't pretty". And some here complain about 5 pound triggers on their guns........... LOL!! Not so funny though

Beginning with about Gen 3.75 to the Gen4, the trigger with trigger bar assembly is different. On the firing pin disconnect nub on the trigger bar, there is a dimple. That dimple is supposedly there to keep the the trigger bar disconnect nub aligned properly to contact the firing pin block properly. The earlier Gen3's and below do not have that bump.

__________________
-John

All of the above is true and correct info...the only thing I would add is that the Glock trigger "system" has several different friction areas or places that things rub or contact and depending on the fit and finish of any of these surfaces you can have soem real differences in the way a trigger "feels" even between two Glock handguns that are otherwise the same model. Easiest way to point you in the right direction is to say you should research the "Glock fifty cent trigger job."

I own a few Glocks..The 5.5 trigger pull works for me..
Whats the old adage ? If it's Glock keep it stock..

Thanks for all the input folks. Something I didn't put in the in the original post, I swapped the slides and frames. The "light" trigger pull followed the G34 slide to the G17 frame and the "heavy" trigger followed the G17 slide to the G34 frame. Striker components wouldn't determine trigger pull?