[Mot45acp]

About a month ago I got off working a 53 night straight turnaround. I was in need of some trigger time. I wanted to go pistol shooting.

Open up the safe, I didn't feel like shooting my G21 SF, Gen 4 G19, G30 SF, or G 23. Then it hit me.....all my centerfire autos were Glocks. I needed something different.

2 weeks of research leads me to the HK P30 DA/SA V3. My LGS couldn't get one, so I order from Buds. 2 days later it arrives.

I have heard of guns fitting your hand like a glove, but this more like a glove chambered in 9mm. I ran 100 rounds of Winchester 9mm NATO. I was quickly hitting 3" squares at 10 yards, which is phenomenal shooting for me. Mag prices are on par with Glock mags.

Only hitch was user error by letting my strong hand thumb rest on slide stop, causing failure to lock back after last round. The trigger is a little stiff in DA but I want to shoot it more before I go to changing anything.

Never been a USP fan, good guns but they've always felt like bricks to be. (And I'm a Glock shooter) Now I am looking at the HK 45 tactical to go with my Osprey and the P2000sk for CC. Any input on either of these models?

[PR-NJ]

HKs are beautiful guns. I just choke on the price.

[PR-NJ]

Of course, the price adds to the allure...

[Texan Scott]

Shot a friend's HK USP45 a lot... sweetest, lightest recoiling polymer frame i've ever shot. better than my glock 22, better than his sig 2022. but the cost, :eek: and o course, all the buttons and levers i'm not used to... the mag release alone would have taken a month of range days to relearn.

[RBid]

Texan Scott,

I think you'd be shocked at how quickly you could adapt to the mag release. Before I got my PPQ, I had no experience with that style of release. After one day of dry fire (with snap caps), I was actuating it with my trigger finger, reflexively. When I transition between that and my PF-9, my body automatically releases with each weapon's required movement.

I actually prefer the lever style mag release now. It is amazingly smooth, and quick.

[777TRUTH]

Glock Guy Goes to Dark(er?) Side...

That is one way to look at it.

I prefer to say "Glock guy sees the light"

Nice pick up, enjoy your new toy.

[JEB]

very nice. its always nice to have some variety in the safe.

[Mot45acp]

The mag release was easy to adapt to. Easier than expected. The grip change was harder. I was shooting strong hand thumb stacked parallel on support hand thumb. This was applying pressure to the slide stop, causing it to not lock back after last round fired.

One other thing is for some reason using the hook on the front of the trigger guard causes my first shot to go about 6" low at 10 yards.

Cool thing is this gun has improved my grip by wrapping support thumb over strong thumb, locking it in place. The other thing is I no longer use that hook on the trigger guard. I now rest trigger guard on the first knuckle. My new grip style appears to be compatible with all other styles of autos.

[Kiln]

HK- When you want a gun that performs just like pistols half its price, but says "H&K" on the slide.

[Mot45acp]

Of course, the price adds to the allure...

SPOILER ALERT!!!!! I AM NOT BASHING 1911s, JUST SHARING MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES!!!!!

I have had several $1000+ 1911s they are what swore me off the platform. 90% of it was reliability issues. I mean you pay $1300 for a pistol and it should run out of the box after a good cleaning. I have never had one that I would stake my life on. Hell, the 1911 I had go the longest without a hiccup was a RIA I got from a member here. But they were fun to shoot and pretty accurate.

This was the first higher end pistol that makes me feel like I got my money's worth (so far). If it continues its performance (got another 150 rounds through it today) And I payed full retail which was $920 after shipping.

[coalman]

HK makes a fine gun. I like 'em. I just shoot them poorly unfortunately.

[Pilot]

HK- When you want a gun that performs just like pistols half its price, but says "H&K" on the slide.


HK - when you really can't afford it, so you have to b*tch about the price.

[Urban_Redneck]

I was shopping for a 9mm polymer pistol recently and the best way I can describe the the P30 is that you don't grip it...it grips you :)

I couldn't swing the price and went to the darkest side--- Caracal F :eek:

Enjoy!

[Fishslayer]

No compromise... ;)

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn215/THE_Fishslayer/OSR/OSR1/HKMagazine.jpg

[kcshooter]

Oh, btw, DON'T load your magazines like that.^

[Warp]

That backwards loaded mag...blows my mind every time. You would think that at least ONE person who shoots, or even has an academic knowledge of how to load a pistol, would have looked at that graphic before it was put into production.

[Kiln]

HK - when you really can't afford it, so you have to b*tch about the price.
I almost bought one but noticed I wasn't obnoxious or arrogant enough to own one.

I just don't get why somebody buys an HK auto when there are so many options that work just as well for less. Maybe I just don't get it because I don't feel the need to have a $900 gun to wave around that does the same thing as my $600 XDM.

[Mot45acp]

Well I got it because I don't like the grip safety of the XDM. Didnt like the way the XDM flung brass into my face.

The ergos of this gun are out of this world, as mentioned above: "you don't grip the gun, it grips you." I am not arrogant. I am not even an HK fanboy. Im not a fan of the USP series due to feeling like a brick.

Kiln: Anything useful to add? I respect tha you disagree, but have you ever held a P30? Totaly different animal. I was just sharing an experience of a new platform that not many people have. Isn't this what its about? The sharing of knowledge? Who knows maybe after reading this someone will be grateful that they didn't shell out money for one, or they may choose to buy one.

To anyone else, I know they are not rare, but I know they aren't common as well. If y'all have any questions about the pistol, I would be more than happy to answer them.

[Sapper771]

I like the P30. Would like to have a P30L in 9mm, but I am not paying $900-$1000 for one. All of the ones I have handled had awful triggers. Long, heavy, and gritty DA pull that stacks. Long reset with plenty of pre travel. I am not about to lay down that kind of money for a pistol with a trigger like that. Not saying that they are bad pistols by any means.

The new Walther PPQ is what I would get if I wanted a pistol like the HK P30, with out the price tag and cruddy trigger.

Oh.........and I can afford HK pistols.

[Mot45acp]

Sapper - the trigger does need some work, both in the DA and reset departments. I am waiting to get to the 1000 round mark to see if the DA smooths out (as reported) if it does not, then I will be sending it to grayguns for a trigger reset and DA smooth over job.

The flip side is I am shooting well with it. My "shooting sin" is I am more of a tinkerer and builder than a shooter. It shows in my shooting. I bought this to blast away as much cheap 9mm as I can. I will have a better idea after some more range time.

I sold a milled AK to be able to afford one :o

[Kiln]

I've got little to say about H&K products that is positive because of the cost of the gun compared to what you get. Alot of companies sell their guns at lower prices and have the same level of quality as H&K. I don't refuse to buy an H&K product because I can't afford it, I refuse to buy one because there are options that are just as good that are priced fairly.

That said I am sorry for derailing your thread and will see myself out.

[skt239]

I've got little to say about H&K products that is positive because of the cost of the gun compared to what you get. Alot of companies sell their guns at lower prices and have the same level of quality as H&K. I don't refuse to buy an H&K product because I can't afford it, I refuse to buy one because there are options that are just as good that are priced fairly.

That said I am sorry for derailing your thread and will see myself out.

You should have just started your own thread rather than ruin this one.

I love the P30, congrats.

[Kiln]

You should have just started your own thread rather than ruin this one.

I love the P30, congrats.
Wow thanks for injecting your wonderfully insightful comment captain obvious, maybe that is the reason I typed the last line you quoted.

[Sapper771]

Mot45acp,

If you shoot it well and you like it, then that is the most important thing. We are all riddled with biases and preference, but the only person you have to please is you.

If you are more of a tinkerer than a shooter, I figured that a 1911 would be right up your alley. HK gets rather upset if you disassemble their firearms. There isnt much tinkering to be had with an HK, unless it is done by their armorers.

[Prince Yamato]

The only thing I wish HK would do is offer a chart that describes their various trigger actions in terms of weight of SA/DA pulls. V.1 vs V2, etc. is confusing.

[boricua9mm]

I almost bought one but noticed I wasn't obnoxious or arrogant enough to own one.

I just don't get why somebody buys an HK auto when there are so many options that work just as well for less. Maybe I just don't get it because I don't feel the need to have a $900 gun to wave around that does the same thing as my $600 XDM.

If that's the angle of the argument...Why do you feel the need to have a $600 Croatian pistol when a $300 S&W 3rd Gen auto does the same thing? After all, they both reliably send bullets in the proper direction and have them land close together.

For example, how do you quantify the difference between $600 XDM arrogance and $750 USP arrogance?

Pretty slippery slope, eh?

[JustinJ]

I almost bought one but noticed I wasn't obnoxious or arrogant enough to own one.

But you are enough to do the bandwagon HK price bashing in this thread? It's ironic how the same people on boards who cry about HK prices never gripe about over priced 1911s, ARs, etc.

My primary concealed carry gun is a p2000sk. I believe it is the best subcompact on the market and have no doubt my great grand children will own it. Its accurate, light recoil for its size and has HK durablility and reliability. Mine was a steal at $820 as it came with a .40 barrel and a .357 sig.

A friend recently got a P30 and i couldn't have been more impressed. It is without a doubt the finest gun in it's class. Light recoil, excellent grip and ergonomics and HK quality. My only gripe is capacity should have been a little higher.

[Kiln]

If that's the angle of the argument...Why do you feel the need to have a $600 Croatian pistol when a $300 S&W 3rd Gen auto does the same thing? After all, they both reliably send bullets in the proper direction and have them land close together.

For example, how do you quantify the difference between $600 XDM arrogance and $750 USP arrogance?

Pretty slippery slope, eh?
The XDM has competetive features when compared to firarms of equal price. loaded chamber indicator, hi cap mags, cocked indicator, changeable grips, and comes with a nice case and plenty of other goodies.

I paid extra for these things. When I look at an H&K firearm I don't see anything that sets it apart from the competition that justifies the higher price besides greed.

[boricua9mm]

The XDM has competetive features when compared to firarms of equal price. loaded chamber indicator, hi cap mags, cocked indicator, changeable grips, and comes with a nice case and plenty of other goodies.

I paid extra for these things. When I look at an H&K firearm I don't see anything that sets it apart from the competition that justifies the higher price besides greed.

I can think of a good number of things. They use cold hammer forged barrels with a legacy of some wicked torture test R&D to include shooting through a squib without any catastrophic failure. They offer models with threaded barrels and appropriate sights to see over a suppressor. All pistols are available in multiple trigger modes (variants) to accommodate the preferences of the user. In the case of the P30, you have a pistol whose grip with customizable combinations of side panels and backstraps. They've never had a recall that I can remember, nor have I ever heard of one. They use steel reinforced polymer frames with the advantage of having the most experience in using the material in any centerfire application. They are consistently making it through high round training and testing scenarios with flying colors. They've never had a problem with locking blocks cracking from poor engineering choices (*cough, cough, XD*), and they've never had to change the badge or trade dress of the pistols to gain acceptance in the US marketplace (ala Hrvatski Samokres).

To me, that makes the German engineered & built pistol like the USP worth $150 over the Croatian Sensation. At the end of the day, that only equates to 500 rounds of 9mm, or two good range trips.

[Fishslayer]

But you are enough to do the bandwagon HK price bashing in this thread? It's ironic how the same people on boards who cry about HK prices never gripe about over priced 1911s, ARs, etc.


Or maybe they never visit the consignment cases. The occasional USP shows up at what I would consider pretty decent prices.

[skt239]

Wow thanks for injecting your wonderfully insightful comment captain obvious, maybe that is the reason I typed the last line you quoted.

Yet you continue to ruin the thread.

HK's are in the same price range as Sig, does the same (arrogant, obnoxious) apply to Sign owners?

[Fishslayer]

Why do you feel the need to have a $600 Croatian pistol when a $300 S&W 3rd Gen auto does the same thing?

Where are these $300 S&W 3rd Gens?:eek:

Baah! They probly won't ship to Kalifornistan anyway...:(

[PR-NJ]

I almost bought one but noticed I wasn't obnoxious or arrogant enough to own one.

I just don't get why somebody buys an HK auto when there are so many options that work just as well for less. Maybe I just don't get it because I don't feel the need to have a $900 gun to wave around that does the same thing as my $600 XDM.
They feel REAL GOOD in your hand.

Plus snob appeal - similar to why someone will buy a BMW X3, when arguably a Honda CRV is "just the same."

That said, an HK is still toward the top of my wish list. And I have a CRV, not a BMW - go figure.

[Mike J]

My only experience with an HK was putting a few rounds through one of their 9mm pistols at a rental range once. I had met a friend there & he was renting a lot of different 9's for us to shoot. I don't even know what model it was other than it was an HK but it handled & shot nicely for me. I have seen a case full of them on occasion at a local Glock LEO dealer here that I'm pretty sure were LEO trade ins. They seem nice but my current financial state insures my sticking with my tried & true Ruger & XD.

To the OP-Congratulations on your purchase. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

[GunTech]

I recently picked up an HK and while it is a decent gun, why is the trigger so crappy on a gun that is supposed to be so high quality and costs so much? And after handling a number of HK I find the same terrible trigger so this doesn't seem to be a unique problem (you can find many complaints about this issue online).

Really HK? You can't do better? And where are all the HK torture tests if the gun is so superior to other combat tupperware?

[boricua9mm]

If you want a pistol with a stick of butter for a trigger, you don't go buy a combat pistol.

[Mot45acp]

There was a test on the P30 where it went 91,000 rounds.

http://pistol-training.com/archives/2668

[Urban_Redneck]

If you accept that the continuum of 9mm pistols begins here: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTsqcle04D6PKiZzeB594z7Ihud99mE_q5Zj5Zmnwh_cVDIaxuUWQ and ends here: http://thehandgun.info/img/Korth/Korth-Semi-Auto.gif

Then the H&K is kinda in the low/middle :p

[TimboKhan]

Sigh... enough. When a thread results in someone getting called "Captain Obvious", we have left the High Road and entered fourth grade.