Competition Glock 17 - It's not often that we are given the opportunity to review custom firearms here at TFB. Not only are they expensive and in high demand, but they don't need any extra exposure because they tend to sell. So when Taran Tactical Innovations offered us the chance to borrow a fully customized GLOCK G17L Combat Master, it was a virtual battle to get the job done. Since I fight dirty and don't like to lose, I won (James is passionate and all, but I know his weaknesses). After all, I was the one who played John Wick for a few weeks - and I loved every minute of it.
A quick preamble: I'm going to waste little time talking about the inevitable comparison of the Combat Master's unique features and styling to a stock GLOCK 17L. This is a competition-ready firearm that incorporates premium upgrades for shooters looking to squeeze every ounce of performance out of an already proven platform. The analogies are numerous: Rolex versus Suunto, BMW M3 versus Toyota Camry, Brooks Brothers versus Men's Warehouse, hotdog with mustard versus hotdog with ketchup. You get the point.
Competition Glock 17
But first, a short anecdote. About eight years ago I started getting sick of the GLOCK magazine extensions on the G26. My favorite and most reliable compact carry pistol had a flaw - my +2 mag bases pinched my ring with every shot, enough to cause blood blisters. After searching for something new for a few months, I came across some stylish aluminum extensions that looked functional and comfortable.
Glock 34 Gen5 Mos Competition Pistol
However, since these extensions were going into a service pistol, I had some reliability concerns. I picked up the phone and called the company looking for reassurance. After 20 minutes of conversation, I ordered four baseplates for the G26 and G17. What I didn't know at the time was that the voice on the other end of the phone wasn't a nameless tech support agent – it was Taran Butler himself.
Jumping forward about ten years, I still have the same basic pads, cosmetically a little worse for wear, but functionally reliable. And it seems the customer service at Taran Tactical Innovations hasn't changed either. In the firearms industry, it's easy to see those who truly enjoy their craft compared to those who are just going through the motions. The people at TTI are lighter than they come. From a team that regularly trains Hollywood A-listers, is staffed with champion shooters, and builds high-quality guns and accessories, it would be pretty easy to just sweep a simple reviewer as under them. On the contrary, the good people at TTI are a real pleasure to interact with.
The base pistol is obviously a GLOCK 17L and the complete package comes in the original box with three magazines. Each magazine is equipped with an extension and a +5 TTI magazine spring. Original cleaning kit, lock and documentation are included in the box.
The 17 long slide is a bit of a rarity - rumor has it that GLOCK only produces the proverbial "handgun" for a few months every year or two. So if you get to see one in person, without being too dramatic, it's a bit mind-blowing.
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With a viewing radius of approximately nine inches, the G17L was born with precision in mind. Additionally, according to Ballistics By The Inch, a six-inch barrel offers nearly a 10 percent increase in velocity over a 4.5-inch barrel.
One piece of gear I'd like to have access to is a ladder - I'm assuming the Combat Master is lighter than a stock 17L, but I don't know by how much.
The TTI G17L is a beautifully refined gun. And I say this as a shooter who has no love for exotic cuts, pokes, or engravings that serve no purpose. The front and rear teeth are low enough to be thin, yet sharp enough to be useful with sweaty or stressed hands. Pulling or slinging is done with confidence.
The TTI fiber optic sight is bright enough in sunlight to be effective. I find it a little longer to raise it on a white target compared to a black target, but I'm used to a standard three-dot night sight setup. Given time and ammo, I could see that the fiber optic sight is very fast.
Zev Tech Oz9 Competition Gray Pistol 17 Rd 9mm Carry Optics Ready Bushnell First Strike 2.0
Of course, in complete darkness, the front view disappears, but show me a gun scene that includes a black camera and I'll show you a group of horrified onlookers.
The Grand Master (silicon carbide) grip structure is no joke; it's almost like the Combat Master's frame lights up like a skateboard at night and on weekends. If you plan to carry this weapon concealed outside or inside the belt holster, I would be concerned about clothing being torn. But with a proper, strong grip, this TTI gun is literally welded to your hand.
Seriously, at 110% humidity (I like to exaggerate for effect), the Combat Master showed no signs of movement in my sweaty palms (so it said).
The undercut is a feature I wish GLOCK would incorporate into their factory pistols, especially on the subcompact models. TTI did a great job designing and implementing their trigger guard in the Combat Master. It's functional and super clean - see the Taran "T" perfectly integrated into the front strap.
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Which brings me to the overall craftsmanship of the slide and frame. The TTI G17 Combat Master is as perfect as it gets when it comes to GLOCK mods. Each zone is designed with refinement, likely based on the TTI team's first-hand competition experience. Nothing is missing, and there is nothing excessive either - there is a reason for every update.
Stop looking for the aftermarket trigger that EVERYONE uses in these builds - there isn't one. Combat Master has an internal custom trigger that will give you flashbacks to your days learning to shoot with a "surprise pause". The pull is clean without being soft and if I had to guess I'd say the weight is close to half that of a stock GLOCK - maybe 3 lbs but I'll check with TTI for a more accurate number.
Yes, the magazine well is as big as it looks in the picture. Remember, this is a competition-focused racing rifle—a large flared stock helps with quick reloads, but also serves as a platform for a comfortable palm position. Reloads are quick and you start to feel like a professional competitor after a few training cycles.
During a recent training day, I took the TTI G17L Combat Master for a spin using some random factory mags and some Vickers Tactical wide base stocks. It should come as no shock that some aftermarket components do not work well with the TTI magazine. Like any good competitor, proper performance checks and field tests are required before putting anything into operation, even for something as small as a base.
Competition Glock 34 Coated With Tequila Sunrise, Graphite Black, Tungsten And Blue Titanium
As I noted at the outset, the basic TTIs are still my favorite aftermarket edition for my GLOCKs. They're smooth and snag-free, reliable, and have a little extra weight that helps magazines drop more easily.
The gold ion bonded stock barrel is easy to clean and resists sliding wear very well. I'm not normally a fan of colored barrels, but this one is slick.
At six inches, the G17L barrel begged to be threaded and fell into a smaller GLOCK with a silencer. Unfortunately, I refrained from throwing away the Dremel.
Most of the residue seen in the image above was removed with a cloth and some solvent. The ion-bonded barrel does the job well.
Igb Austria Barreltechnology
I won't pretend to know anything about the competitive shooting market. However, I feel like I know a quality blaster when I shoot one. This TTI G17 was a 9mm automatic of precision and performance.
Over the course of about a month, 750-1000 rounds, and a variety of weather conditions, the TTI G17L Combat Master had no failures. And it wasn't for lack of trying - at one point during a particularly dusty/pitted range session, I stopped to email TTI to make sure I wasn't setting up the Combat Master. Zero objections from TTI headquarters.
I was given the green light to use (not abuse) the gun as I saw fit. That meant reloading drills, magazine changes, shooting from behind barricades, from the 5-yard line, from the 100-yard line, the kneeling position, and in and out of a competition-style holster. Combat Master was flawless.
We used a variety of ammo types - from JHP carry rounds to bargain FMJ - this Taran Tactical creation happily accepted them all. My favorite is the new round Syntech 150gr from Federal Premium. Low recoil, no smoke or residue and works great on steel targets.
Tfb Review: Taran Tactical Glock G17l Combat Master The Firearm Blog
It was an honor
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