New from Glock: 30S

1. Glock 30S? Does it come with Siri?

2. Sooooo, Glock’s response to Springfield’s XD(S)?

   • Sorta. It does bring 5 more rounds to the party, but there’s a cost.

     It’s .7″ longer, .28″ wider, and .4″ taller. It’s also about 1.2 oz lighter empty, but will end up about 4.5 oz heavier loaded, due to the increased capacity.

     • Bad math. About 3.5 oz heavier loaded, not 4.5.

   • I don’t think too many police customers are carrying the XD(S) as a BUG to their G21SF full size pistols. It is likely the answer to exactly what their customers asked for, as clearly stated in the corporate press release.

   • The XD-S .45 was in response to the Glock 36.

     The XD-S 9mm is in response to the S&W M&P Shield.

   • It’s about damn time. I was about a week away from buying a seperate upper and lower and making my own. People have been doing this for years and not a single issue. I wish it wasn’t SF. The full-sized 45 Glock frame is perfect in the 30. I have a 21sf, but the only reason I bought it was because it was unfired and I got it down to $300. Trigger reach doesn’t feel right. Even with the beavertail I put on it.

   • It’s the other way around: The XD-S was a response the the G36.

     I’ve been using a G36 slide on My G30SF for some time, and it provides what I wanted in the first place from Glock. I still have one G36 intact if a slightly thinner frame is desired. The SF fixed the 30. The G36 slide fixed the SF. I have no complaints whatever, except that the evolution to the 30S or hybrid took so many years. (The original G30 didn’t fit my hand…)

3. Why don’t they come out with the Glock 36 slim frame single stack but in 9mm. I would sell my kahr CM-9 today and buy that model.

   • Me too. I want to trust my Kahr, but the first round in my re-load mag takes a nose dive as often as not. Not sure if its my mag pouch, my mag indexing technique, the mag design itself or any combination of the above. Have you had a similar issue?

     • goldilocks – i have the same issue with my pm9. consistently reproducible with HP but not fmj/rn. so, i bought a box of pow’rball and that is the top round in all mags.

       • Thanks for the tip. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I used to carry Pow’RBall in my Kimber Klone in a futile effort to increase its reliability.

         Why just the top round? Any reason not to use all Pow’RBall in the Kahr mags.

   • they have – it’s called The Shield.

     • Love my Shield, only problem is the wife wants it. She doesn’t even look at the rest of my guns.

       • The only problem with the Shield is it’s freakin HUGE compared to the cm9/pm9. I just use fmj in my backup mag.. If seven +P Gold Dots aren’t enough I’ll probably be dead anyway.

   • I was praying Glocks announcement was going to be a single stack in the mold of a Kahr PM9, was seriously disappointed when this was announced. I currently carry the Ruger LCR and LOVE IT, so light and easily concealable. Only disadvantage is the reloading as it’s a wheel gun, still love it though.

4. I am currently researching a concealed carry weapon. I have a Glock G21 but need something concealable. This may very well be the answer. I will be interested in a field report if you get a T&I opportunity.

   • Depending on your method of carry and the way you dress, you can realisticaly conceal a full size handgun. “Dress around the gun,” some say.

   • Yup. Carried a G21 for many years in all seasons of dress with no problem. It’s all about carry technique. If you want to, you can conceal a full sized pistol with NO problems at all….I’ve never carried less than a full-sized .45. It can be done if you want it to be so….

     • Okay, I understand that you think you are being helpful….. but you are not. I actually own the gun already. On my body, it is not easily concealed. I am NOT able to wear it concealed and I have already tried several methods. What I need is a smaller gun.

       That you only carry a full size .45 is fine for you. It just does not work for me.

       • Sid, if I offended you, I apologize. We are all here to learn from each other and talk about a common subject we all love. I don’t know your physical build, style of dress or method of carry. I only meant that as an average guy of 5’11”, 180 lbs, I have never had trouble carrying a big gun (and I choose to). Truth is, the first rule of concealed carry is that you MUST be comfortable with what YOU carry. If you want big power in a smaller package, I strongly suggest a Glock 30SF or the new 30S. You won’t go wrong with 10+1 in .45 ACP, and ANYONE can carry them. Even my 4’10” wife can make either disappear.

5. Question for the peanut gallery: I’m leery of using a gun with only a trigger safety as a conceal carry gun. My current CC has a traditional safety in the slide and I’m leaning towards the XDs, with the combined trigger and pressure plate safety. While I would be fine with a trigger safety for open carry, I feel the challenges of CC dictate a safety seperate from the trigger. Am I just being a nervoud nelly?

   • Yes.

     Use a holster that covers the trigger (which damn near all do).

     • That should be a kydex holster which covers the trigger. This guy found out the hard way why a leather holster with a glock can be a bad idea
       http://www.usacarry.com/mans-leather-holster-causes-accidental-discharge/

   • Don’t sweat it… I see no difference if your carrying a gun on your hip or at 3 o’clock under your shirt, as far as safty. I personally highly recomend glocks and revolvers for carry platforms for the fact of non existing external saftys. I’m a firm believer in the K.I.S.S method….( keep it stupid simple)

   • Yes.

     If you’re carrying in a holster, and you should be carrying in a holster, the type/number of safeties is not relevant. What is relevant is if you’re used to carrying a gun that has an external safety, and you’ve practiced to where that’s automatic, then switching to a gun without one will require a little muscle memory retraining. Not to the degree that going from no-safety to safety would require, but it’s still something to keep in mind.

     If you’re concerned about it, do what lots of people do when they start concealed carrying, with any style of gun. Carry without one in the pipe for a little while. Many people, especially those with guns with no external safety, are concerned about accidents. I was one of them, carrying an XD(M). I carried with an empty chamber for about a month, and discovered that in that time, my finger had come nowhere near the trigger, accidentally or on purpose.

     It’s all in your mind. It’s just something you learn to get over.

     • Thanks for the imput. My carry holster is a soft holster, and while it does cover the trigger, I think I will switch to a hard holster if I go Glock. As for the mechanics of the external safety, first thing I did was get some snap caps and practice drawing. My thunb hits the safety after the gun clears the holster, but before the booger hook hits the bang switch (I love that phrase).

   • I’ve CC’d about 10 years with a Glock 27 and Smith 340. Neither have external safeties, and its worked out fine. My duty gun has no external safety. All of my holsters are OWB black leather which completely cover the trigger (s). Personally, I think external safeties on a handguns are a waste of time, create an additional possibility for failure, and take longer to draw and fire. Many other professionals think so also. Some disagree.

     Try a Glock or two at a range that rents guns and see what you think. Your CC guns, preferences, and methods will likely change until you discover what works for you and your lifestyle. Hope that helps.

6. I’m sure there WAS demand for a concealable .45 with ten rounds on hand. But I can’t imagine it was anywhere NEAR the demand that the M&P Shield has had- I’ve been looking for one for months now and no luck. Glock should have gotten to the single stack ultraslim striker fired polymer concealed carry pistol first, but instead they’re losing massive potential sales to Walther and S&W. I don’t get it- there’s a lot of people pondering the purchase of a PPS, Shield, or Kahr right now that are already among the Glock faithful and would probably go for a similar Glock item first. I know that one of the massive appeals to the Glock brand in general is the massive interchangeability of accessories, but I don’t know a lot of people looking to slap lights on their Shield.

   • Kyle, just guessing here. Glock mass produces, and I mean mass, a simple reliable product that uses a lot of interchangeability of parts amongst it’s different “Models”. They can use the same frame for all of their 9mm line for example. As long as it keeps the double stack magwell all they need to do is adjust for length of magwell.

     In order to produce a single stack 9 they would have to set up a whole new line for the frames and the mags at least. Maybe for the slide and barrels also.

     • That is true, and probably the answer to my question. Still, as much as Glock will have a future as a police and military weapon for a long time, if it wants to remain relevant as the top of the heap in civilian carry as the options continue to grow they’re going to have to adapt a bit. The G19 is the ideal carry weapon for many… but if you’re in a place with a ten round limit (and the nation could be a place like that before long) then a Shield or Kahr starts to make more sense. Especially as the M&P line continues to gain a reputation as just as reliable but better looking and with more options than Glock.

       • It could also be as simple as Glock has been so successful for so long that they’re just coasting and not thinking ahead. Success has destroyed more than one person or company.

       • The G30S is an excellent solution for carry in states requiring 10 rounds or less. And if you can only have 10 rounds, why not 45ACP? The G36 slide on the G30S is much lighter than the G30 slide: For me it was not about thickness of the slide, but the weight. Thinness helps too, but an over-weight slide made my frequent pocket carry sometimes show one side of the coat “obviously low.” That’s over now, with a spare and checkbook in the other pocket.

   • i picked up a M&P Shield a while ago and have been pretty damned impressed with it. The M&P 9 and Shield took a long time for me to love but i like them just as much, if not more now, than my Glocks.

     I previously dismissed them as a ripoff by a S&W that suffered considerably because of Glocks product, and the problems with first iterations didnt help, though its fair to say i would recommend one strongly.

7. Glock says their new pistol is “tough to contend with”? What does that even mean?

   Do they mean it’s easy to use when you’re shooting it but tough to contend with at all other times? That doesn’t sound appealing. I have a Springfield that’s so easy to use it doesn’t contend with me, ever (though it is heavy, so it contends with my beltline sometimes). Tough for bad guys to contend with, maybe…but then any gun is tough to contend with if it’s pointed at you.

   Probably they just mean they’ve made the market tougher for other makers to contend with, which maybe they have. I’m just having a tough time contending with their vague syntax.

   • The Glock website uses the phrase “tough to face” rather than “tough to contend with.” With either phrase, I believe they’re speaking about the perps on the receiving end, and the challenges they’re facing.

8. I wonder how much money Glock and other gunmakers would lose if people realized a proper belt + proper holster = ability to carry any full sized pistol you want.

   • Yep. I have a CompTac MTAC holster for my full size M&P. I wear it around the house, and often forget Im wearing it. I could wear pants and a tshirt and nobody would ever know I was carrying it. I can see how the sub-compact market would be good for smaller framed men and women though. There is a limit to what you can conceal based on your body type/size.

   • Not true for the majority of people. I’ve tried many holsters, belts, rigs with numerous handguns and for those of use that actually have to move around during the day a sub-compact is the only choice. It’s not like you realized something everyone else hasn’t, bigger guns just don’t work well with conceal and carry for most.

     • Have you met the “majority of people” Lars?

     • Then you aren’t trying the right shirts. Tight t-shirts, and form fitting polos aren’t going to hide much. A bowling (Charlie Sheen) shirt that’s loose around the waist will hide just about anything. I’m pretty sure I could carry an AR pistol under a pull over hoodie.

   • There are reasons why the G30 outsold every other compact pistol for LEO undercover carry. It isn’t that the plainclothes crowd doesn’t understand carry. Clothing has to vary by season and milieu being worked. The 30 provided good capacity but much easier concealment. With the thinner and much lighter slide the G30S has simply magnified the advantages. (And who is it that can work wearing a bowling shirt routinely?)

9. What a worthless sub-compact round.

10. Taurus has been making the PT145 MilPro compact 10 round .45 for years.

    It has a thumb safety, 10 in the mag and 1 in the pipe and the same over all size as a G26/27 with a pinky extension.

    Never has had one failure in these humble hands since 2006 and can still be had for around 350 bucks. Extra mags are readily available. It has a long smooth trigger pull, more DA revolver like than a Glock.

    Granted its not a Glock, but it works.

11. Slim or not most .45 and 10mm Glocks are really BIG grips so if you have the hands for it there fine. Wish they make a single stack Glock in .45.

    • umm… Glock 36?

12. I would seriously consider a single stack Glock 9 mm, but….I have owned a 26 with Pearce grip extension for years- it has been my go to EDC for some time (26.25 oz loaded with 11 147g JHP). I own and carry a 30SF (33.75 oz loaded with 11 185g critical defense) for when wardrobe suits it. Deep down inside I prefer the 45 ACP for self defense. The problem is that with the 26, I can carry IWB with a single belt clip holster. When I carry the 30SF the extra 1/2 pound requires a two clip style IWB holster. I recently purchased an XDS due to the weight, size, etc and the fact the I could carry it single clip style. Once I figured how to rack the slide (it requires a quick hard full pull or will not properly load) it proved to be reliable, shootable, and very Glock like in fit and performance. I have chosen not to carry it, however, due to it having 1/2 the capacity of the 30 and 26. Finally, looking at the specs the 30S appears to be nearly the same exact dimensions of the 30SF except that it is wider (1.28 vs. 1.27)? The benefit of the 36 is supposed to be the 1.1″ width so I would assume the 30S is supposed to be 1.1″ wide? What am I missing?

13. Here’s the problem as I see it: had G36 for about six months and got rid of it b/c the stupid grip is sawed off at the end instead of the perfectly useful grip on other Glocks. The inexplicably thick magazine bottom only mated up with the grip frame when fired, resulting in pinching my pinkie and eventually a blood blister at about 10 rounds. A pre-shooting band-aid cured it but who needs the hassle? This grip shows the same design flaw.
    I’ll skip the pain and get an XD-S,thanks.

    • I recently purchased an XDs and couldn’t be happier. I have owned both Glock and Springfield’s in 45 ACP and 40. While both companies make great guns, Springfield’s tend to be more accurate. At least that’s the way it has been for me. I also prefer the grip on the Springfield’s.

      One more thing, they also make a 7 round mag for the XDs.

      • Leo338,
        Thanks for the info. It helps.Maybe I got so irritated by the G36 b/c I’ve been so pleased with my G19 for 20+ years.

    • The short two-finger grip is not a design flaw. The short two-finger grip is the whole point of a subcompact pistol. The idea is to give you the option of a more compact grip that is easier to conceal under a lightweight shirt. The grip is the part on most handguns that “prints.” If you carry a handgun with a large grip, you will need to “dress around it” to conceal it. Not everyone wants to change how they dress, so there is a market for subcompact handguns with a short two-finger grip.

      Glock should ship the 30 with a flat floor plate rather than the extended floor plate, or at least ship both floor plates and allow the user to decide. Personally, I do not like extended floor plates. I prefer the 9 round magazine with flat floor plate for maximum concealment.

      It is a trade off: You exchange a place to put your little finger for less ammo capacity, shorter grip, and easier concealment.

14. Looks like a great product introduction to me. A 9 round magazine (I do not like extended floor plates) in a Glock 30 with a less thick slide. Combine that with a spare 13 round magazine and that makes for a lot of .45 ACP firepower in a compact platform.

15. I had the G36, and it was a great gun if you like clearing jams and misfeeds. I might have caught a lemon with my 36, but I sent it to a new home after it pissed me off several times. Lucky I never had to use it in a DGU because I most likely wouldn’t be here. I own several Glocks and I carry the 30SF and G19, and I love them both. I’ll give the new one a try because I can always use a new 45.

16. Width: 32.5 mm / 1.28 inch

    According to

    http://us.glock.com/products/model/g21sf

    A standard G21 is

    Width: 32.50 mm / 1.27 in.

    So exactly what is so ‘slim’ about the ‘G30S’?

    • Measure and weigh the slide. Measure the height. Your questions are answered.

17. All they did was shave 2.7 oz from the Glock 30. The overall width is the same.

18. It’s almost the same size and weight as my M&P9c just a little taller and slightly longer. I had a 30SF and didn’t care for the weight and thickness but loved everything else about it. The G30 is a very popular CC weapon among .45 fans. I think it bridges the gap between the 30 and 36 very nicely. I’m really surprised they didn’t introduce it with the Gen4 frame. That tells me they didn’t put as much R&D into it as they are saying. I really think they fit 36 slides on a SF frame, checked for function, and called it good. That being said, when I find one through blue label I’ll get it.

    As for the comment about not many LEO’s using the XDs as a backup to the G21…I know a LOT of LEO’s that are using the XDs as a backup to their G21’s and for off duty carry. They don’t care about mag compatibility, they just want an easily concealed and reliable firearm in the same caliber as their duty weapon. By all accounts, it’s filling that role very nicely. Most of the guys I’ve talked to are carrying it in an ankle rig or in their vest chest pocket. Think replacement for .38 J frame with free carry and practice ammo.

    I really don’t like XD’s, but I might own an XDs very soon.

19. Why not in the Gen 4 frame? I like the texture and oversized magazine release of the Gen 4, so I suppose I will have to wait for a Glock 30S Gen 4. Nevertheless, I do like the reduced thickness of this model. The slide thickness of the 21 and 30 appears to be unnecessary and the 36 and 30S appears to confirm that observation. However, thanks to the “oversized” slide on the 21, I do feel that it helps to reduce felt recoil.

    • The G30 slide was just a cheap way to manufacture slides for the G29 and G30 in one go. It wasn’t necessary to have such thickness or weight for .45ACP, even +P. One reason not to go Gen4 right away is the use of alternate spring weights, which is popular among +P carriers. It also leaves the G30S compatible with the many G36/G30SF hybrids in use.

20. I’m a bit confused. If a glock 30S is suppose to have a Glock 36 slide. Shouldn’t the slide width be 1.10″???? Or did someone just cut and paste from the Glock USA website which also might be incorrect. Someone get me a measuring tape and the actual gun, I’m dying to know what is really is.

21. I think Evoronin is correct as the dimensions from the Glock USA website do not match the dimensions that the pistol should have based on the components that are said to comprise the G30s. Width of the slide should be 1.10 inches. They are even showing a slight difference in the distance between the sights. IT’s very minor, 1 mm, but shouldn’t it be exactly the same? I mean a G36 slide is a G36 slide whether it is mounted on a G30sf frame or the G36 frame.

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