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G30S?

16K views 151 replies 56 participants last post by  Roguebama 
#1 ·
Went with my wife the other day to get her her first pistol for conceal carry. She chose a G43. I myself carry a G26 but I'm wanting to move up to a .45. I don't have very big hands and I'm starting to lose a little weight so I'm looking to avoid a double stack mag. I've read both good and bad about the 30S but anyone actually have one they'd care to chime in about?
 
#3 ·
I handled the 30s and also the M&P Shield 45. Holding the Shield just felt like it fit my hand perfectly.Both are very nice pistols and it was a hard choice.So far I am satisfied.You may not even like the M&P brand but I threw that out there just in case.
 
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#5 ·
We did a session for the ladies from our church. We had about 10 different handguns, including G43, 26, 19, Smith 640 and 67, 1911s.

First part was at the house: general principles and safety, ie., didactics. Ladies were able to handle all guns on display. Most developed a "preference" based on how the gun felt in the hand.

Then we drove to the club for live fire. Ladies got to fire whatever they liked, and assess ability to make hits and recoil. Of interest, none of the ladies ended up liking the gun(s) they thought they'd like. In general, they ended up liking heavier, beefier guns. This was true for both revolvers and autos. So the Smith 67 and G19 were big winners.

The experience made me think back to my own sense of what felt good vs what shot good. Light went on - must be dense, cuz it took decades. The G30 feels like a brick in the hand, but it is easily the most comfortable .45 I have ever shot, the one most conducive to an aimed follow-up shot for me.

I see people in gun stores buying pistols based on nothing more than how the gun feels. And I have to wonder if this might not be the worst way to select a handgun for SD.
 
#62 ·
We did a session for the ladies from our church. We had about 10 different handguns, including G43, 26, 19, Smith 640 and 67, 1911s.

First part was at the house: general principles and safety, ie., didactics. Ladies were able to handle all guns on display. Most developed a "preference" based on how the gun felt in the hand.

Then we drove to the club for live fire. Ladies got to fire whatever they liked, and assess ability to make hits and recoil. Of interest, none of the ladies ended up liking the gun(s) they thought they'd like. In general, they ended up liking heavier, beefier guns. This was true for both revolvers and autos. So the Smith 67 and G19 were big winners.

The experience made me think back to my own sense of what felt good vs what shot good. Light went on - must be dense, cuz it took decades. The G30 feels like a brick in the hand, but it is easily the most comfortable .45 I have ever shot, the one most conducive to an aimed follow-up shot for me.

I see people in gun stores buying pistols based on nothing more than how the gun feels. And I have to wonder if this might not be the worst way to select a handgun for SD.
I've had a glock 17 since the late eighties then bought the glock 19 but I Love the glock 30. It's fun to shoot and the recoil is way lighter than I thought after having shot the glock 36 single stack.
 
#6 ·
Have a 30S and like it well enough. Ut carries well and is very accurate for such a small gun, BUT.

I wish I had gotten a gen 4 30 instead. The recoil difference is very noticible to me and the thinner slide doesnt help all that much for concealment for me.

Also the gen 3 sf both gives me glock knuckle and pinches my pinky; the gen 4 30 does not.

That's all my observances, YMMV
 
#7 ·
I have a 30, 30SF and a 30S. I gave the 30 to my Son as it was just a smidgen to big for me. My favorite to shoot is the 30SF, just an absolute joy. The 30S I prefer to carry as it fits most of the holsters I have for my 19 (or is it the other way around?) and it just carries nice. A little more felt recoil than the 30SF, but nothing that isn't manageable.
 
#8 ·
I wouldn't mind going with a double stack mag if it was easier for me personally to conceal. I carry on my right backside hip and the double stack just makes it stick too far out from me when I sit even with my IWB Kydex holster. Also it's starting to get a little uncomfortable while sitting as well.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Went with my wife the other day to get her her first pistol for conceal carry. She chose a G43. I myself carry a G26 but I'm wanting to move up to a .45. I don't have very big hands and I'm starting to lose a little weight so I'm looking to avoid a double stack mag. I've read both good and bad about the 30S but anyone actually have one they'd care to chime in about?
For an IWB/CCW .45 ACP?

The slimline single stack G36 6+1 .45 ACP is the only GLOCK choice, especially if you have med. or smaller hands.

It is lighter and thinner than the double stack G30S (G36/30), and is slab-sided, so it carries very comfortably in a thin suede IWB holster.







Nutter
 
#14 ·
The 36 is Glocks red headed stepchild. There is a reason why Glock hasn't made a Gen4 version.
 
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#21 ·
Can you elaborate anymore on this?

Also look into a GLOCK OEM Minus ("-") connector.

Takes a little off the trigger weight and improves the break. Almost like a Gen4.

That, and the Rhinoplasty, are the only mods it needs.


P.S. There is a minuscule but vocal minority opposition to the G36... tantamount to penis envy.

They lack the knowledge, skills, and confidence to understand and appreciate the Finest CCW GLOCK produces.

:supergrin:




Nutter
Is that something I can do or would I need a gunsmith to do it? I'm not very familiar with "working" on firearms. Just operation and cleanings mainly.
 
#15 ·
Also look into a GLOCK OEM Minus ("-") connector.

Takes a little off the trigger weight and improves the break. Almost like a Gen4.

That, and the Rhinoplasty, are the only mods it needs.


P.S. There is a minuscule but vocal minority opposition to the G36... tantamount to penis envy.

They lack the knowledge, skills, and confidence to understand and appreciate the Finest CCW GLOCK produces.

:supergrin:




Nutter
 
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#16 ·
I have both a 30 and 30S. The 30S is my carry gun.
The only differences are: the 30S slide is narrower, and the 30S is made on the 30 SF.
The Short Frame is the same width as the 30 and 21. It uses the same magazines, it is smaller from the rear of the trigger guard to the back strap.
I shot them both - 3 rounds and change guns for 2 whole G21 magazines in each. I couldn't tell any difference in the recoil.
As for looks, the 30S looks sleeker, both look very utilitarian to me.
 
#19 ·
...I myself carry a G26 but I'm wanting to move up to a .45. I don't have very big hands and I'm starting to lose a little weight so I'm looking to avoid a double stack mag. ...
If you want to avoid a double stack, you'll want to avoid any G30 variation as they are slightly larger than the G26 double stack you already carry. To go thinner, you should check out the already mentioned G36 & Shield .45 or the XDS or Kahr in .45. Of course, then your capacity is really hit. Just switching from 9mm to .45 already reduces capacity. Even more so if going from double to single stack. If you're carrying the 10 rnd mag in your G26 and find it printing too much and too heavy, the 30S will be more of each (even with the smaller 9 rnd mag).

Still, you asked about the 30S. I owned a G21 years ago and never got over it's super blocky feel. Ultimately, I sold it off. After the G30S came out, I found it to be everything I wished the G21 would have been. The narrower slide, the SF frame, the option of the fairly concealable 9 round mag. All good! Fairly compact, but not small. When I pick up the G30S, it always feels "too big" for my medium sized hands. When I shoot it, it performs just fine as compared to slimmer gripped pistols.

I liked the G30S so much, I bought a G26 last year and love it, too, and it carries better. When either of those is still too bulky, I drop down in weight and size to a micro .380.

G26 & G30S (each with extended mags; although, I actually carry with the flat bases):
Firearm Gun Trigger Gun accessory Handgun holster


Bodyguard .380
Firearm Gun Trigger Gun accessory Everyday carry


Personally, if you already shoot 9mm and find the G26 too big at times, I'd recommend you drop down in size to a G43 rather than up in size and caliber. In a very small single stack, you won't gain much by the move to .45, but you can maximize capacity, esp. with MagGuts spring kits like I use for my BG380. A G43 or a Shield 9mm may suit you better. Just remember that the extra round in the Shield makes for a longer grip that prints more. Even the G43 is longer than the G26, but only by about a baseplate's thickness.
 
#22 ·
If you want to avoid a double stack, you'll want to avoid any G30 variation as they are slightly larger than the G26 double stack you already carry. To go thinner, you should check out the already mentioned G36 & Shield .45 or the XDS or Kahr in .45. Of course, then your capacity is really hit. Just switching from 9mm to .45 already reduces capacity. Even more so if going from double to single stack. If you're carrying the 10 rnd mag in your G26 and find it printing too much and too heavy, the 30S will be more of each (even with the smaller 9 rnd mag).

Still, you asked about the 30S. I owned a G21 years ago and never got over it's super blocky feel. Ultimately, I sold it off. After the G30S came out, I found it to be everything I wished the G21 would have been. The narrower slide, the SF frame, the option of the fairly concealable 9 round mag. All good! Fairly compact, but not small. When I pick up the G30S, it always feels "too big" for my medium sized hands. When I shoot it, it performs just fine as compared to slimmer gripped pistols.

I liked the G30S so much, I bought a G26 last year and love it, too, and it carries better. When either of those is still too bulky, I drop down in weight and size to a micro .380.

G26 & G30S (each with extended mags; although, I actually carry with the flat bases): View attachment 318156

Bodyguard .380
View attachment 318157

Personally, if you already shoot 9mm and find the G26 too big at times, I'd recommend you drop down in size to a G43 rather than up in size and caliber. In a very small single stack, you won't gain much by the move to .45, but you can maximize capacity, esp. with MagGuts spring kits like I use for my BG380. A G43 or a Shield 9mm may suit you better. Just remember that the extra round in the Shield makes for a longer grip that prints more. Even the G43 is longer than the G26, but only by about a baseplate's thickness.
When I was about 10-15 lbs heavier it didn't seem to bother me and the weight is fine. I'm just wanting to hide it better and not have to wear a light jacket all the time to conceal it. Also going from a 9mm to a .45 isn't a big deal to me honestly, I've shot both calibers most of my life at the range.
 
#20 ·
Had the 30S and sold it and kept the 30SF as my double stack subcompact 45ACP. The slight difference in weight doesn't affect me. I have the Shield 45 as my single stack 45ACP and sold the 36 frame (I used the 30S slide on the 36 frame because the 30S is in reality a 36 slide on a 30SF frame).

But this is going to be your gun. I would go to a range that has the 30S/36/30 (SF) available to rent. Shoot them side by side then you will be able to make your decision on how each gun felt and performed for you and what will be best for you.

Good luck on your decision. You will not go wrong with any of these guns.
 
#28 ·
I didn't notice the "stay away from double stack" in the OP. In that case a 36 is the only 45 Glock to be had. My single stack 45's are all of the 1911 variety. I love 'em, but I know they aren't appealing to everyone. Still, I'll plug the CCO configuration as a nice option, and one I use to carry on occasion.
 
#29 ·
Glocks and Colt 1911's are really the only pistols for me. Nothing against other companies I just don't care too much for other brands. Gonna have some free time tomorrow after I put my son on the bus I'm gonna go to a few shops and get an idea as to how they feel. Possibly see if I can try on some different holsters with it as well. Definitely checking the 30S and 36.
 
#33 ·
You're asking for input, but you seem to have conflicting interests.

... I myself carry a G26 but I'm wanting to move up to a .45. I don't have very big hands and I'm starting to lose a little weight so I'm looking to avoid a double stack mag. I've read both good and bad about the 30S ...
You:
  • Carry a G26
  • (Have smaller hands)
  • want to move from 9mm to .45, possibly a G30S

I wouldn't mind going with a double stack mag if it was easier for me personally to conceal. I carry on my right backside hip and the double stack just makes it stick too far out from me when I sit even with my IWB Kydex holster. Also it's starting to get a little uncomfortable while sitting as well.
You
  • Find the G26 prints too much
  • Want something easier to conceal than the G26
  • Find the G26 to be uncomfortable at times.

... I'm just wanting to hide it better and not have to wear a light jacket all the time to conceal it. ...
You
  • Want a better concealing pistol than the G26

So, the G30S is a great pistol. I love mine. Almost everyone who has one loves it, except for the handful of people who prefer the added heft or the barrel-swapping options of the regular G30.

BUT

The G30S will never conceal better than your G26. It's wider, taller, & heavier. It won't be more comfortable. It isn't better suited for smaller hands. It will print slightly more than the G26. Of all the factors you've listed, the only thing the G30S has for you is it is .45 ACP.

If that's what you want most, get one and enjoy.

If, however, you are looking for an easier to carry pistol than the G26, you have to look at the Shield, the G43, the PM9, etc. or a .380 of some sort.

If you must have .45 and smaller, the XDS is probably the only option (the Shield .45 is larger than the Shield 9 below), but your capacity with an XDS is cut in half compared to your G26. 5+1 .45 vs 10+1 9mm. That's a big cut even if you feel the caliber increase gives you some benefit. (Edit to add: and the XDS is only narrower than the G26, not shorter in height).

Concealability comes from the right combination of height, width, and weight. It's different for everybody; but, going larger and heavier won't help your ability to conceal.

For me, personally, the biggest factor is the height/grip length followed closely by width. A Shield is nice and narrow, but too tall for my preferences. Here are some comparisons of height and width along with capacity. (The extra "+" means you can add a MagGuts spring kit to add an additional round without changing the minimum height).

Font

 
#34 ·
Can you elaborate anymore on this?
Is that something I can do or would I need a gunsmith to do it? I'm not very familiar with "working" on firearms. Just operation and cleanings mainly.
It's pretty simple, I'll link to a vid. It is a basic tear-down that you should be able to do as a GLOCK owner. Just get the OEM GLOCK Minus (-) connector, which is usually gouge priced at $25, compared to a few bucks for the std. Worth it.



Start at 9:00, and you don't need the fancy tool, just something/anything to push the pins with.

A 30S will fit in a 19 holster and a 26 will fit in a 36 holster
This is incorrect.

The G36 uses the G19/23 Compact holsters.




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