Choice: P-30 or G19

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

Given a choice which is a better choice overall?
A lightly used HK P-30, the DA/SA version or a new blue label Gen 4 or 3 G19?

I have experience with the DA/SA system with the Beretta M9 and lots 'o time behind DA revolvers. I also use a Browning P-35 from time to time.

I believe the issues with the Gen 4 Glocks to be largely resolved by this time. The HK is a proven quality. My primary use is carry with some competition thrown in for fun. I recently rented a Glock 17 and found it easy to transition from my Browning. The HK has a long heavy DA pull which doesn’t deter me but the SA has a long take up to a light let off. I think the HK more accurate out at 25 yards. The HK already has Trijicon HD sights.

What would be your choice and why?

Thanks!

2

G19 for me. More aftermarket support and ease of maintenannce. Mags are cheaper as well.

3

From the ask the SME section of this forum : https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?140765-which-modern-pistol

4

P30 then I’d convert it to light LEM.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

5

G19. It’s idiot proof which I need from time to time. :smiley:

6

I like both, I have owned both.

But I like the P30L (with light LEM) just a little bit better than the G19 or the P30.

7

G19 if nothing else for accessibility to parts and accessories.

8

G19 would be my choice much cheaper better after market, I like the p30 but always talk myself out of them. If I did a p30 it would only be a LEM but until mags drop in price ill stick with glocks.not to mention getting all the other kit for it.
Also a g19 is more than accurate at 25m

9

To be fair dollar to dollar… The question should be p30 or 2 g19s.

10

P-30 with Light LEM…and let’s be honest here, the difference in price for mags isn’t THAT much…typically $7-10. Grant has P-30 mags for $35… I bought mine this spring from HKUSA, for $33. I certainly wouldn’t let a few dollars difference in the price of mags, deter me from a higher quality, more accurate pistol, with no known issues, unlike some Glocks…

11

When the answer has a possibility of being a G19 in it, then the answer is always a G19.

12

Glock. Parts are cheap. Parts are plenty.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

13

P30. No need to worry about parts.

14

I’ll throw my .02 out there, I am in no way some high speed badass or anything, but I’ve owned both and shot 2k+ rounds through both (much more through a 19 though). I will say up front that I am biased towards glock, I learned on 17’s with hundreds of thousands of rounds through them (LE training guns). I’ll break it down to pros and cons (my opinion).
HK P30:
Pros- very smooth/light recoil, customizeable grip size, “paddle” mag release, won’t malfunction shooting without a mag in (1911 extractor test), and crazy high round count before parts breakages ( pistol training.com test).
Cons- squishy grip panels (never felt solid to me, could have been a fluke on mine), trough under the trigger would rub my trigger finger raw, I would short stroke the trigger reset often (on me, being more used to glock), less availability of holsters and sights (much better now than when I owned it), and higher bore axis (being used to glock I always pointed low on presentation).

Glock 19:
Pros- damn near indestructible finish, availability of parts & accessories, 15, 17, & 33 round mags all work in it (replacement floor plates/springs that add rounds as well), you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a glocksmith, many brands offer custom parts (vickers/tangodown, lone wolf, apex, etc), gen 4 issues have been solved with newest spring/ejector (atleast for all the 19’s I’ve seen).
Cons- push button mag release, only backstraps for customizing grip (or stippling), slide bite for certain people’s hands (fixed for me with new medium beavertail OEM backstrap :)), and often malfunctions when shooting without a mag in (1911 extractor test).

This is what I’ve personally experienced with owning and shooting both quite a bit. I’m no expert, but I know that user input is helpful, even hopefully biased input. So my vote goes with glock 19, which for me personally was a better fit.

15

Pretty much how I feel, Everyone raves how Glock parts are available everywhere, even at the 7-11,:stuck_out_tongue: The way I see it, you have to break something first, and with most HK’s I’ve seen, that’s not going happen for a looong time…

16

I really, really wanted to fall in love with the G19. I like Glock pistols, I do, and I think they’ve earned a very strong reputation for a good reason. Very minimalist with focus on function before anything else. At least that is what everyone told me. All the pros seemed to love theirs and rave about how it was the perfect pistol for most people. It was reliable, accurate, not quite a full size, yet not quite a compact. And then I bought my first G19, a Gen 3, in 2011, right at the height of their problems and the pistol I had was a nightmare. BTF just about every other round, brass, steel, mil-surp, Winchester, Remington, defense ammo, etc. My Oakleys had no less than 8-10 good dings in the lenses right over the eyes within 2 range sessions and my forehead had a couple red marks from being slapped with hot brass. And I had more than a few FTE problems. I contacted Glock and the people I spoke to were, in all honesty, complete dicks. I tend to be very polite and try to convey myself with respect to others, these people both treated me like I was a moron and acted as if I wasted their time. I asked if I could get a new ejector and extractor, as research I had done led me to believe that was the problem, they basically told me they would not send the parts out, I had to send it in on warranty. I still don’t understand this because at the time I read on the forums more than a few people who had no problem getting the new (at the time) parts.

So, I waited. Then the Apex extractor came out. It helped, but the problem was not altogether solved and I still had the same issues, just less often, but it still annoyed me to no end when it happened. I put the G19 away for a while, disappointed, and went back to shooting my M&P and my 1911 for a while. Then I got an offer at a gun show to trade my old G19 and get $300 off for a new G4 G17, which I did. I had hoped this would be the ticket, since many people online were insisting that the Gen 4 Glocks were devoid of the issue. Went to the range the first time and no problems, but I only shot 50 rounds. Next time I came back with about 200 rounds and, surprise, BTF all day.

I sold my G4 G17 at the beginning of October, and at this point I don’t think I will ever buy a Glock product again between the poor performance of their current offerings and the very poor CS I experienced, at least not until they have built their reputation back up to where it seemed to be before the late gen 3/gen 4 period. Again, I really wanted to be a G19 fanboy like all the other guys, and no matter how much I tried, it always seemed to be a problem. I picked up a P30V1 about a week or two later and after about 600 rounds so far, I haven’t had an issue so far. Yes, it was nearly double the cost of the Glock, and that is a big con, but for the headache I had with Glock, I wish I had of gone with H&K in the first place.

17

Everything can break, even HK’s so the availability of parts is never a bad thing. Owned and carried both, still do the P30. IMO both will serve well. New magazine prices are almost the same, although Glock is still easier to lay hands upon.

Get the one you shoot best if price isn’t an issue. If the initial price for the gun and some accessories puts you in a bind for practice or classes then get the g19 if you shoot it well.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

18

Metplat’s experience’s to a degree mirror mine with the Gen 3 G19 I had, I liked it, but 2ejectors, 3 extractors (including Apex’s) later, and still it wouldn’t run properly… Gave up and sold it at that point. Dug out a older P-2000 I had in the safe, (light LEM gun) learned to shoot it, and later bought a P-30(also light lem), and then a HK45ct (converted to light LEM). I honestly don’t know if Glock got the extractor issues fixed or not, But that doesn’t matter to me… I lost confidence in Glock, and I still don’t trust them. Sure the HK’s cost more but, they worked right out of the box. and that means much more to me than parts availability or how less expensive mags are.

19

The p30 is a fine pistol I like them and would not hesitate to own or run one. Honestly I will likely add one to my collection one day. However is it worth 2x the money? I don’t see it. A g19 will handle everthing from ccw, comp to duty at 1/2 the cost . They are both good its also unfair to assume all glocks don’t run based.on some. If we are being honest there are many more reliable glocks than not. The answer should be how much do you want to spend? Both are good choices

20

I wonder how many P30 owners will dump their present pistols if H&K came out with a P30 pistol that had a decent striker fired PPQ type trigger ? I suspect more than a few would, and the reason why would be obvious. IMHO, overall the H&K P30 is the best non striker fired 9mm pistol currently on the market, it feels great in the hand, is quite accurate, handles flawlessly and is about as reliable as you’d want a handgun to be. It lives up to H&Ks legacy of building excellently crafted, reliable firearms with mediocre triggers. Also, anything man made, can and will break at some point, no matter who’s name is on it. So having easy access to or having a few spare replacement parts on hand, doesn’t seem like a bad idea to me.