Thinking-just thinking at the moment-about buying a Glock 30S. Never had one, never saw one, except photos and drawings on the 'net.

I've had a few others, like the 30SF, and always thought them a little too big for comfortable carry IWB. I'm in Florida, shorts and T-shirt most of the year.

Also, I have some stinking arthritis in my right hand, the trigger finger and joint, so recoil might be a problem. Interested in hearing about anyone's shooting experiences with one of them.

I'll be a bit surprised if anyone here has a 30s (seems to be a kinda rare bird), but thought I'd give it a shot and ask your experiences. You folks here always surprise me.

Currently carrying a 365, 365XL or Glock 42.
Quite satisfied with them, but just thinking about the Glock.

Bob

Don't bother.

Since you think the 30 and 30SF are too big, you're going to be similarly disappointed by the 30S.

It has the exact same frame as the 30SF, just with the ever-so-slightly thinner and more rounded slide off the G36 and its negligible associated weight savings (3.35 oz).

But in overall length/width/height, it's exactly the same as the 30SF that you found to be too uncomfortable.

30SF:
LENGTH: 175 mm/6.88 in.
WIDTH: 32.50 mm/1.27 in.
HEIGHT: 122 mm/4.80 in.
UNLOADED: 745 g/26.30 oz.
LOADED: 955 g/33.71 oz.

30S:
LENGTH: 177 mm/6.96 in.
WIDTH: 32.50 mm/1.27 in.
HEIGHT: 122 mm/4.80 in.
UNLOADED: 650 g/22.95 oz.
LOADED: 860 g/30.36 oz.

I have a 30S. It's my favorite of the Glock 45's. I've owned the 36, 30, and 30SF as well. The 30S has the size advantage over the others 30s, and the capacity advantage over the 36.

I have one and I love it. Recoil is better than you would think from such a small pistol. Very accurate. I cant speak for the arthritis aspect, but I have no issue shooting it at all.

If I had one complaint, I don't care for the mag being part of the grip, but it has never been any kind of an issue, I would just prefer a slightly longer grip. I do have big hands also. But, its a glock. works like one, shoots like one. Its 10 rounds of .45 in a G19 size package.

I also have a P365XL which has become my EDC. The 30s is a bit chunkier and heavier than a 365 or G42, so its hard to compare against those slim pistols. But if you can carry a G19 you can carry a G30s.

Basically a 36 slide on a 30 frame.

I’ve owned a 30S and it totally didn’t work for me. Something about its shape or slide velocity or something all conspired to shift recoil just perfectly where it would reverberate through my wrist and fatigue the hell out of me and I would eventually induce a malfunction.

I’ve also owned a G30 “Fat” and it was a pleasure to shoot.

I am not recoil sensitive in any way it was just the exact physics of THAT GUN.

Chris

quote:

Originally posted by drabfour:
Basically a 36 slide on a 30 frame.

That's exactly what it is. You can even make your own "G30S" if you own a G36 and a G30SF, by installing the G36 slide onto the G30SF frame.

Yeah just reread your post were you mentioned that.

unless you like wearing suspenders with your shorts under your shirt LOL that sucker isn't much smaller than the SF....

Carried the G29SF for a while, really not that bad a carry, only did OWB when on the motorcycle wearing jeans and a good heavy/thick/wide belt and it wasn't an issue.

They are similar in size, weight and capacity

I have yet to shoot my 30s though it feels awesome in the hand. Lighter and trimmer than my 29sf.

I bought a new Glock 30S a couple months ago but I haven’t shot it yet. I really like the way it feels though.

I, too, had the same random desire for one.

Only bummer is it’s basically impossible to get the 9th or 10th round (depending on the magazine) into it. Maybe that will change with time.

Now I need to shoot it.

I have a Gen 3 G-30. Not the -30S.

I loved it as a back-up / off duty gun, my duty is a G-21, so ad a BUG, I can use the same mags.

But it is a THICK, HEAVY lil bastard to constinstantly carry.

I've always considered the Gen4 G30 as a manageable and somewhat pleasant shooter even with my small hands, but the recoil of the G30S was different enough to be a 'no bueno' to me. Sharper sting and harder for me to hang onto, mostly because of its Gen3 ergonomics and texture. And these days that sort of 'sting' would definitely not play well with my shooting elbow's ever increasingly sensitive ulnar nerve.

quote:

I've always considered the Gen4 G30 as a manageable and somewhat pleasant shooter even with my small hands, but the recoil of the G30S was different enough to be a 'no bueno' to me. Sharper sting and harder for me to hang onto,

So it wasn’t just me. That’s good to know. I had basically the same GEN3 experience vs the G30s.

It always kinda bugged me because they aren’t RADICALLY different guns.

When Glock went to GEN4 were ALL the G30’s “SF” or “S” models or did they retain a “fat” model if you will?

As stupid as it is I always kind of regret selling my GEN3 30. It’s such a boring and pedestrian gun to miss but for some reason I find myself wanting to replace it from time to time.

I sold my 30SF when the 30S came out and never regretted it. It has recoil but nothing terrible, it gets my knuckle more than anything else but I never got around to undercutting it. As far as size goes, if I lay my 30s on a table next to my wife's 26 I might pick up the wrong one. It's been a while since I had them side by side but the 30s might be a smidge smaller than the 26. I'll check when I get home from work today.

quote:

the 30s might be a smidge smaller than the 26.

I always saw the 30’s of all types as closer to the Glock 19 and a fair bit bigger then the 26. It’s been a minute though. .

The closest .45 of this type that I found to the 26 was the XD Mod 2. That was a pretty small plastic .45.

quote:

Originally posted by mark60:
It's been a while since I had them side by side but the 30s might be a smidge smaller than the 26.

Nope. The G26 is the same width, and around a half inch shorter in height and length.

G30/G30S/G30SF
LENGTH: 177 mm/6.96 in.
WIDTH: 32.50 mm/1.27 in.
HEIGHT: 122 mm/4.80 in.

G26
LENGTH 165 mm/6.50 inch
WIDTH 32 mm/1.26 inch
HEIGHT 106 mm/4.17 inch

I love the controllability and accuracy of the standard fat boy 30, and shot it better than the gen 3 21 I ended up parting ways with. The slimmer slide of the 30S has always intrigued me. Personally, I’d comparison shoot the two models side by side before I ever made a jump.

I had the chance to shoot a 30S a few years back and really liked it. Always felt that if I had to carry a .45 ACP again at some point down the line, a 30S would be at the top of my list.

It's pretty much the same size as a Glock 19, my EDC gun, so carrying it wouldn't be an issue for me.

Good luck with your decision.

I went from a 30sf to a 30s and absolutely hated it. The recoil impulse or something just hit me the wrong way. I could shoot the 30sf all day but I could barely make 40 rounds thru the 30s. CSlinger also mention the same. I honestly didn’t notice enough difference carrying it so I traded it back on a Gen 4 30