☼SIG☼
08-19-2008, 10:25 PM
Hi all, this is first post here. After reading this site for the past weeks gathering info on the P30, I thought I'd post a review of my recently purchased P30.
First off let me start by saying the P30 is simply a great gun. It should definitely be on anyone’s short list when looking for a compact 9mm for either home defense or even concealed carry. I was looking for a second concealed carry piece to backup my G19, and wanted something with a polymer frame, somewhat compact size, excellent reliability and a high round capacity. These needs are all met by the P30 and then some. The P30 is slightly larger and does weigh a bit more than the G19, but they are close enough for me to put them in the same class of compact 9mms.
The main thing you’ll notice when you pick up the P30 is how comfortable it feels in your hand. You can tell that a lot of research and design time were spent designing the new grips for this gun as well as the HK45. The interchangeable side grips and backstraps (which attach to the frame via roll pins) should allow almost anyone to find a comfortable hand-grip for this pistol. I will admit the grip does look a little on the showy side at first, but after you pick one up you’ll definitely see that the so-called Batman grip not only looks good, but it feels great in your hand as well.
The overall fit and finish of the gun is excellent. There were no major flaws I could find with mine. The gun feels very smooth and solid overall. Two minor points worth mentioning are that the HK HE (Hostile Environment) finish does not really seem to take well to the slide release levers as almost all of the P30s and HK45s seems to have a bit of metal showing at the corners on the levers. Also the right side slide release is somewhat loose in the battery position… when the slide is retracted however, the right side release tightens up like it should.
Disassembly is easy and straight forward. The recoil spring is captured and is not removable from the guide rod. The ambidextrous slide release also functions as the takedown lever, but unlike previous HK pistols (USP, P2000, HK45) the lever simply slide outs, but never detaches from the pistol. One less part to loose I suppose. Also the extractor (which is huge) also functions as a loaded chamber indicator when viewed from above.
Accuracy is great and definitely above average… but then again for the price it should be. The P30 has what many would call a high bore axis similar to most of the SIG P series pistols, and shoots very similar to them as well. I was easily able to make nice 2-3” diameter groups at 7 yards with my first magazine. I shot 200 rounds in total. 100 rounds of Federal AE TMJ 124 gr. And 100 rounds Speer Lawman 124 gr. I will mention that I had only 1 fail to feed round, (with the AE) but it was easily cleared, and the remainder of the magazine fired w/o fail. Some have complained about the DA/SA trigger on the P30, but I have to say it felt great to me. Some may pine for the lighter LEM version, which can’t be far away, but personally I’m not a fan of the HK LEM trigger. I like a heavier pull. The decocker is also a nice feature and it has a very intuitive placement right next to the hammer. The sights are not tritiated… no radioactive glow at night material. They are superluminova sights (same stuff that coats the hands of your analog watch which makes is glow in the dark). The sights aren’t bad, but I’d like to see a tritium option available (besides the after market Henie straight eights).
Well, for me anyway, the P30 fit my needs quite well for a well made, compact, accurate, high capacity compact 9mm. Check one out if you’re in the market.
Here are some porn pics:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r88/1987JMP/p30-2.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r88/1987JMP/p30-1.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r88/1987JMP/p30-3.jpg
PS: To any other P30 owners out there... are the wear marks pictured below (inside the red circle) on the plastic mag follower normal for the first 200 rounds?
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r88/1987JMP/p30-5.jpg
First off let me start by saying the P30 is simply a great gun. It should definitely be on anyone’s short list when looking for a compact 9mm for either home defense or even concealed carry. I was looking for a second concealed carry piece to backup my G19, and wanted something with a polymer frame, somewhat compact size, excellent reliability and a high round capacity. These needs are all met by the P30 and then some. The P30 is slightly larger and does weigh a bit more than the G19, but they are close enough for me to put them in the same class of compact 9mms.
The main thing you’ll notice when you pick up the P30 is how comfortable it feels in your hand. You can tell that a lot of research and design time were spent designing the new grips for this gun as well as the HK45. The interchangeable side grips and backstraps (which attach to the frame via roll pins) should allow almost anyone to find a comfortable hand-grip for this pistol. I will admit the grip does look a little on the showy side at first, but after you pick one up you’ll definitely see that the so-called Batman grip not only looks good, but it feels great in your hand as well.
The overall fit and finish of the gun is excellent. There were no major flaws I could find with mine. The gun feels very smooth and solid overall. Two minor points worth mentioning are that the HK HE (Hostile Environment) finish does not really seem to take well to the slide release levers as almost all of the P30s and HK45s seems to have a bit of metal showing at the corners on the levers. Also the right side slide release is somewhat loose in the battery position… when the slide is retracted however, the right side release tightens up like it should.
Disassembly is easy and straight forward. The recoil spring is captured and is not removable from the guide rod. The ambidextrous slide release also functions as the takedown lever, but unlike previous HK pistols (USP, P2000, HK45) the lever simply slide outs, but never detaches from the pistol. One less part to loose I suppose. Also the extractor (which is huge) also functions as a loaded chamber indicator when viewed from above.
Accuracy is great and definitely above average… but then again for the price it should be. The P30 has what many would call a high bore axis similar to most of the SIG P series pistols, and shoots very similar to them as well. I was easily able to make nice 2-3” diameter groups at 7 yards with my first magazine. I shot 200 rounds in total. 100 rounds of Federal AE TMJ 124 gr. And 100 rounds Speer Lawman 124 gr. I will mention that I had only 1 fail to feed round, (with the AE) but it was easily cleared, and the remainder of the magazine fired w/o fail. Some have complained about the DA/SA trigger on the P30, but I have to say it felt great to me. Some may pine for the lighter LEM version, which can’t be far away, but personally I’m not a fan of the HK LEM trigger. I like a heavier pull. The decocker is also a nice feature and it has a very intuitive placement right next to the hammer. The sights are not tritiated… no radioactive glow at night material. They are superluminova sights (same stuff that coats the hands of your analog watch which makes is glow in the dark). The sights aren’t bad, but I’d like to see a tritium option available (besides the after market Henie straight eights).
Well, for me anyway, the P30 fit my needs quite well for a well made, compact, accurate, high capacity compact 9mm. Check one out if you’re in the market.
Here are some porn pics:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r88/1987JMP/p30-2.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r88/1987JMP/p30-1.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r88/1987JMP/p30-3.jpg
PS: To any other P30 owners out there... are the wear marks pictured below (inside the red circle) on the plastic mag follower normal for the first 200 rounds?
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r88/1987JMP/p30-5.jpg