Hardly anyone talks about the G30, so I’m curious to hear from owners.
10 rounds of 45ACP in a sub-compact is great, but would like to hear from those who’ve run the G30 how much more felt recoil in the smaller frame vs the G21, and how much you find it impacts follow-up shots or fatigue.
Also, the Gen4 G21 seems to be among the most reliable of the Gen4 Glocks. Is the G30 equally good to go, or does it suffer any of the issues common to the 9mm variants?
For a little background, I have an FNP-45 which is rather big and blocky. Personally I love the way it feels in hand, but it’s a bit too large for some folks. I am looking to pick up a second .45 ACP but it certainly doesn’t have to be a full-size. Just want a second handgun in the caliber and am attracted to the G21’s stellar reputation. I’d love to see Glock put out a compact sized .45 ACP akin to a G19, but I hear the G30 is roughly the same size as a G19 (from pictures it looks more like a twin to the G26) and holds 10 rounds which is great for a “sub-compact” .45 ACP. More concerned with how it shoots and handles.
Gen4 G30 is only out in limited numbers in blue label LE only boxes. Thus, you may get more responses after the release of regular production models in early 2013.
I have a G30 (not Gen 4) and a Gen 4 G21. Both are excellent guns and both shoot exceptionally accurate. I have concealed carried both, and with the right holster, conceal well. Obviously, they are heavy to carry, but again, with the right holster it has never been a problem. The G30 is slightly easier for me to conceal, but both are great guns. I am really not sure I could tell you which one I like the best. I like them both so much, they are my favorate Glocks. Although I recently bought a Gen 4 G17, and I am really starting to like that also. I have always thought the best overall concealed carry gun was a G19. But there is something about the .45’s. Just some thoughts.
I used to have a Gen 3 G30 non-sf variant. It was a tack driver.
It concealed adequately enough, though it was a tad thick. It was heavy in comparison to smaller calibers, and the felt recoil was punishing. My hands would usually be shaking after 50 rounds or so. It’s also really tough to insert a full mag on a closed chamber if you want to top off.
That said, I was a much newer shooter when I owned it, and hadn’t had the benefit of formal training like I do now. Wish I hadn’t sold it, and I’ll probably get another like it if I find a good deal on a used one. I feel like my G21 has lower felt recoil but the time between when I ditched the 30 and acquired the 21 has been too great to make a meaningful comparison.
I never warmed to the g30sf grip…I’m looking forward to a gen4. Never heard of g30s suffering from btf issues and having shot one a bit, they are very accurate. My hand doesn’t hang off the back strap like the 26, but the extended base plate helps.
I had a gen 3 G30SF (blue label), which I sold earlier this year (consolidating to 9mm)…I don’t think I’ve seen any gen 4s for sale yet. Aside from the “stick-of-butter” slide geometry and a worrisome initial break in (failure to return to battery for the first ~150 rounds), it was an awesome pistol. Definitely a tack driver (often surprisingly so), and (for me) not at all bad in the felt/perceived recoil or muzzle flip departments. Perhaps strangely, I liked and shot it much better than my gen 3 G21SF (also recently gone). I echo the point above about the difficulty of seating a full magazine under a loaded chamber. FWIW, the length and height (but not width!) with 10 round magazines make it very close to L and H dimensions of the G19 (also as pointed out above).
I have both. Both are gen 3. Both have been reliable and problem free. I prefer the way my 30 shoots. It just feels a little “crisper”. The recoil feels a little cleaner I guess. Hard to put into words. I experience no difference in follow up shots or fatigue.
As a side note, my 4’10" tall mother loves the 30. Don’t know why, but she’s able to shoot tighter groups at a faster pace with it. She shoots this Glock better than any other model or caliber. I can’t explain this, but the proof is on the paper.
Having said all of that, I preferred the 23 for several years and several classes, and have recently gone back to the 19.
As others have pointed out, while the unloaded G30 is “subcompact,” the only available magazines extend far enough below the grip to make the pistol, in fact, nearly equivalent in size with the G19 (except for the width). For the life of me, I can’t figure out why Glock just doesn’t mold the frame to the same length as the G19, and put a flat floorplate on the magazine…
I’m personally a fan of the G30, and the two that I’ve owned have been completely reliable, and much more accurate than I could possibly have asked for, given their size. Having said that, it’s still a wide little booger, and not the most forgiving of hand size.
Still, unless you live in a capacity restricted state (or the impending magazine capacity ban passes), I don’t see what the G30 gains you over the G19, unless you’ve consolidated calibers to only shooting .45ACP…
I am not sure if you are still looking, but I thought I would add my two-cents. I was in a position about 6 months ago very similar to this one. I wanted to get a .45 for home defense. I went down to my range and rented a Gen 3 Glock 30SF and put just over 100 rounds through it. I really liked it. The accuracy was much better than I thought it was going to be and the recoil was very manageable. I already owned a Glock 26 at that point that I carry comfortably so I decided to look away from the smaller 30. I rented a Glock Gen 3 21SF, and a FN FNP .45 at that point. I first shot the FN and I really liked it. Then, not expecting anything I shot the 21. As soon as I shot the 21 I fell in love with it. My groups were great, it recoiled awesome and It just felt right. I traded my XDM 9mm the next day straight across for a Gen 4 Glock 21. After a few hundred rounds though It, it is my favorite handgun I own.
I have a Gen3 30SF and 21SF and love them both. They have both been very reliable and shoot very well. I have carried both IWB and have found that the 30SF is easier to conceal and can be adjusted to be more comfortable when sitting due to the shorter barrel.
So I got to feel up the 21 and 30 in 3rd gen models today. Both were SF models if I saw correctly. The 30 definitely was.
Didn’t care for the way the 30’s grip/mag pinched my palm when inserting the mag while holding it. it was otherwise about what I’d want
The 21 is kinda huge. I already have a full-size 45, so I’d be inclined to go with the 30 if it didn’t pinch the palm fat. Am now considering expanding my search to other compact 45s beyond Glock.
I shoot and occasionally carry both G30 and G21SF. These are earlier Gen 3 guns.
I LOVE these guns… they are supremely reliable, accurate, and comfortable to shoot.
For capacity alone, the G21 SF is my first choice. 14-rounds of .45acp on tap in a highly reliable, accurate Glock is wonderful.
But given the likelihood of us going back to 10-round mag capacity restrictions, I would happily go with the G30. Mine is as reliable as the sun, very accurate, and possibly even softer shooting than the G21SF!
I am a major fan of the G30. (Don’t feel any need, personally, to go with the G30SF, but I’m sure it’s an awesome choice as well.)
I too own both, and love my G30. I don’t own the sf models nor can I comment on them, but the my G30 is comfy, “small enough” to carry daily, and lights out as far as a shooter. Both of mine are early gen3
Thanks, picked one up today after fingering it for a bit. Fits the hand well, size is good, and doesn’t pinch the palm. Sacrificed a little in capacity compared to the Glock, though.
