Glock, The Perfect First Gun
What Is the Glock?
The Glock 17 is the handgun that changed handguns. When Austrian engineer Gaston Glock (who had never designed a firearm before) won the Austrian Army's pistol trials in 1982 with a polymer-framed 9mm, the industry laughed at the "plastic gun." Four decades later, the Glock is the most issued police sidearm on earth and the default by which every other pistol is measured. Learn to shoot one properly at Adrenaline Mountain's outdoor shooting range in the Mojave Desert, 40 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip with a free hotel shuttle.
Designation
Glock 17
Caliber
9×19mm Parabellum
Action
Semi-auto, Safe Action
Effective Range
50 meters
Weight
25 oz (loaded ~32 oz)
Feed System
17-round magazine
Service Years
1982–present
Manufacturer
Glock Ges.m.b.H. (Austria)
The Plastic Gun That Conquered the World
Gaston Glock was a curtain-rod manufacturer with zero firearms experience when he heard the Austrian military complaining about its aging pistols in 1980. He assembled Europe's leading handgun experts, asked them what the perfect service pistol would look like, and engineered it from scratch, a polymer frame to cut weight, a striker-fired mechanism with no external hammer, and just 34 parts where competitors used 50 or more.
The result won the Austrian trials in 1982 and triggered one of the fastest adoptions in firearms history. American police departments, frustrated with six-shot revolvers, switched to the 17-round Glock by the thousands through the late 80s and 90s. Today roughly 65% of U.S. law enforcement agencies issue Glocks, and it serves with militaries and police forces in over 48 countries.
Its three operating principles (consistent trigger, no manual safety to forget, utter reliability) are exactly what make it the ideal teaching pistol. There's a reason police academies worldwide put a Glock in every recruit's hands first.
At Adrenaline Mountain you shoot the Glock 17 with a 10-round magazine of 9mm on our outdoor climate-controlled range, with one-on-one Range Safety Officer instruction on grip, stance, and sight picture. Add more rounds on-site any time.
What It Feels Like to Shoot a Glock
The Glock is where shooting clicks. Your Range Safety Officer sets your grip, squares your stance, and walks you through the sight picture, then you press the trigger and a steel plate rings 15 yards downrange. That sound is instant, honest feedback, and it's addictive.
The 9mm's recoil is a quick, light snap (nothing like movies suggest) and the Glock's low bore axis brings the sights right back onto target. By your tenth round most first-timers are stacking hits, and the nerves they walked in with are gone.
That's the real value of starting with the Glock: every full-auto gun you fire afterward (the MP5, the AK-47, the belt-feds) builds on fundamentals you now actually have.
Who the Glock Is For
- First-time shooters, the Glock is the gun our Range Safety Officers reach for when teaching fundamentals
- Anyone curious about the world's most issued police pistol, carried by about two-thirds of U.S. law enforcement agencies
- Movie and TV fans, the Glock has appeared in more modern films than any other handgun
- Shooters who want a precision warm-up before stepping up to full-auto rifles and machine guns
- Couples and groups who want a manageable, confidence-building start to their range session
Why Learn It at Adrenaline Mountain
- Learn real handgun fundamentals one-on-one with a Range Safety Officer on our outdoor shooting range
- Steel targets that ring when you hit, instant feedback no paper target can match
- Climate-controlled covered firing line with open-air ventilation for year-round comfort
- Free roundtrip shuttle from Las Vegas Strip hotels, 40 minutes from the Strip
- Pick the Glock in any package from $160, then step up to the MP5, AK-47, or a belt-fed machine gun
- The Mojave Desert as your backdrop instead of an indoor concrete lane
Where to Go After the Glock
The classic progression: start with the Glock, then go full-auto with the H&K MP5, same 9mm round, very different experience. From there, step up in caliber to the M4 Carbine or the AK-47.
Browse all 90+ guns on our outdoor shooting range arsenal, or see every package and price on the Las Vegas outdoor shooting range page.
Glock, Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to shoot a Glock in Las Vegas?+
The Glock is included as a pick in any shooting package, choose it as one of your 3 guns ($160) or 6 guns ($265). A standard run is 10 rounds of 9mm, with more rounds available on-site.
Is the Glock good for someone who has never fired a gun?+
It's the best starting point on our line. The Glock 17 has light recoil, simple controls, and a consistent trigger, and your Range Safety Officer stays with you one-on-one, walking you through grip, stance, and sight picture before your first round.
Why do police forces use the Glock?+
Reliability and simplicity. The Glock's Safe Action system has no external hammer or manual safety lever to fumble, it fires the same way every time. That's why roughly two-thirds of U.S. police agencies issue it.
Should I shoot the Glock before or after the machine guns?+
Before. Most guests start with the Glock to learn fundamentals and build confidence, then step up to full-auto guns like the MP5 and AK-47. The progression makes every gun after it more fun.
Ready to Shoot a Glock?
Pick it in any shooting package from $160. Book direct, no booking fees. Free Las Vegas Strip hotel shuttle included.
