GLOCK 30 .45 ACP
Compact Glock .45 ACP G30
This model had the widest and shortest grip of the test. But, the extended magazine floorplate provided added purchase, and this compact .45 ACP didn’t recoil was much as we expected.
If the Glock 30’s safety wasn’t depressed with the shooter’s trigger finger, it blocked the rearward movement of the trigger.
Glock’s compact .45 ACP pistol is the G30. This Austrian-made handgun features an internal striker firing system and a Safe Action trigger, which has one type of pull and doesn’t have a second-strike capability. A 3-3/4-inch barrel, a 10-round magazine and fixed sights are standard equipment. The polymer frame’s integral grip has all of the manufacturer’s latest improvements.
Taking down this Glock is quick and easy. Start by removing the magazine and ensuring the chamber is empty. Pointing the muzzle in a safe direction, pull the trigger to uncock the internal striker. Retract the slide about 1/8 inch, then pull down on both sides of the slide lock lever, located on the frame above and in front of the trigger, with the thumb and index finger of the same hand. Push the slide assembly forward and off the frame. Remove the captive recoil assembly from the slide, then withdraw the barrel. Reassemble in reverse order.
The Glock 30’s molded black polymer frame had a squared and undercut trigger guard with serrations on the front and an integral grip. The grip had two finger grooves, serrations on the front and back and shallow texturing on the sides. There was also an indentation on either side of the grip that served as a thumb/finger rest. The front of the frame and slide were beveled to make the gun easier to insert into a holster. Steel parts were finished with a matte black surface treatment called Tenifer, which made them very hard and corrosion resistant. The wide gripping serrations at the rear of the slide worked well.
Magazines
Two 10-round magazines were furnished with the Glock 30. Each had a black plastic double-column body with a steel reinforcement insert and ten witness holes in the back. The removable floorplates, which were long enough to serve as a grip extension, and followers were also made of black plastic.
Fit and Finish
The Glock 30’s fit and finish was average. Some minor molding marks were present on non-critical internal areas of the polymer frame. No tool marks or sharp edges were found. The slide fit the frame so loosely that there was considerable lateral and vertical movement. But, the barrel-to-slide fit was very good.
Handling
The Glock’s handling was, in our opinion, acceptable. It sat well in the hand, but pointed high. Target acquisition was satisfactory. The finger-grooved grip was the widest, the deepest and shortest of the test. All shooters said it was overly stubby, but holding onto the grip and the magazine’s extended floorplate provided a reasonably secure grasp. Felt recoil was the heaviest of the test, but not uncontrollable.
Controls
Most of the Glock 30 controls weren’t conveniently located for left-handed shooters, but the manual safety was ambidextrous. This safety, a pivoting lever that was pinned to the trigger, blocked the rearward movement of the trigger if it wasn’t depressed with the shooter’s trigger finger. The small low-profile slide catch and the rectangular magazine release were on the left side of the frame and worked in the usual manner. Right-handed shooters could operate either of these controls with their dominant thumb.
Sights
The Glock 30’s fixed sights were the most visible and easiest to acquire of the test. The front was a triangular 1/8-inch-wide blade with a white dot on its face, while the low-profile rear was a dovetailed blade with a white-outlined 1/8-inch-wide notch. Both were made of black plastic. This system’s point of aim was right on the point of impact at 15 yards.
Triggers
Like all Glock pistols, the movement of the Model 30’s Safe Action trigger was like a short double-action pull. (This isn’t technically correct, but is a good description of how it feels). The trigger had about 3/8-inch of takeup and released consistently at 6 pounds. The long takeup was necessary to fully cock the internal striker.
The Glock 30 made it through the test without a single malfunction, and it was accurate enough for defensive work. At 15 yards, this pistol’s smallest average groups of 2.35 inches were produced with UMC ball ammunition. Federal Hydra-Shoks were good for 2.43 inches. Average groups opened up to 2.73 inches with Winchester Silvertips.
