Any info on Glock 30 or 36?

[Hal]

Looking at both.
Like both. Prefer the single stack 36 because it's slimmer.
30's I've seen shot though are amazingly accurate.

Q: Are the 36's as accurate?
Q: How does the .45acp seem to perform from the short barrel?
Q: 230 gr or 185 gr preferred bullet weight?

Unfair comparison- - - but if anyone has shot either of them and a Walther P99 - - how does the 30 or 36 stack up against a Walther P99 in 9mm for shootability?

 

[Arub]

I have not shot the Walther, so can't compare the Glocks with it.

Have a 30. Really like it. Fits my hand and real comfortable to shoot. It's really not that much wider than the 36, check out the specs on their site. The 30 is really accurate, at least out to 25 yards (my max. shooting distance) and is a joy to shoot. Very little recoil, at least compared to my other auto loaders.

Only one negative on the 30, so far. It has been reported, and experienced in my case) that you may not be able to effectively load 10 rounds in the magazine in the weapon with the slide closed (one in the chamber making it 10+1). Apparently this is not the case with all 30's. There are three simple fixes for this: 1)call Glock and return questionable magazines; 2)file down 'legs' on magazine followers (they bottom out when loading 10 rounds); 3)live with 9+1. I filed down the legs on the followers and can effectively load and carry 10+1 - minor and easy fix.

I prefer the 230 grain bullet in the 30. Works well and is comfortable for me to shoot.

 

[denfoote]

Have all three

Here are your answers.

• 1) Yes!! The G36 barrel shares the same hexagonal rifling as the G30, so there is no difference in the accuracy. the only difference is the capacity: 4 less rounds in the 36.
  
  2) It performs ok as far as I can tell. Hollow point expansion is the most debated topic in the handgun world. Heck, even if they don't expand, you are going to get at least a .45 size hole!!
  
  3) Apples to oranges, but I'll give it a shot. I have the G30, G36, and the P99. I shoot them equally well. Of the three, I prefer the G36, because I have rather smallish hands and the single stack fits my hand better. Even with the smallest backstrap, I still have to stretch just a tad to reach the P99 trigger. The P99 does have the more modest recoil, but the small .45 Glocks are quite manageable. At least for me!!

 

[Tamara]

The G30 and G36 are similar enough that I can't see owning both. I already had a G30 when the G36 debuted (after a Rohrbaugh-esque wait...), and figured that, although it was a bit slimmer, it wasn't enough to justify spending more money or giving up four rounds. (Of course, if I had the G36 first, I'd probably feel all vice versa-ish about it. )

Anyhow, both are fine weapons. The G30 has a lot of rounds on board for such a small gun, but the G36 is definitely a bit more IWB-friendly and is a better fit for the short of finger.

 

[rappa]

My primary carry is a G36. It's accurate. It's performed fine so far (1500 rds and counting). I haven't shot anyone with it so I don't know the 'real life' performance of the round coming out of a short barrel, but it's been fine on paper with JHP, FMJ, 230gr, 185gr, 200+P, Gold Dots, Golden Sabres, Reloads, Blazer, White Box, Hydra Shok, etc. I carry 185gr or 200gr. The main bag on the G36 is that it's only 7rds and with some loads it kicks like a mule on 'roids! I've no problem with either. If I need to carry high capacity, I carry my G19 w\pre bans. As stated, the G36 conceals very well and for me is comfortable to carry in a FIST #1 kydex on a Wilderness 5 stitch. The G30 is a www.Glocktalk.com all time favorite. 10 rds of .45 in a concealable pistol w\mild recoil. Check out that website and you'll find all you ever wanted to know (fact and fiction ) about the G30 and G36.

 

[cornbread2]

According to some of the gun writers the Glock 30 is the most accurate Glock made.

That is important to about one percent of gun owners because they are the only ones that can know the difference.

 

[cratz2]

I've never shot a G30 but have handled them and donned them as if concealed to get a feeling for how it feels to draw. I know that for me, my needs and my hands, I'd rather have the G36 though neither the G30 nor the G36 feel as good as my G23 (which I never carry). I'm passively in the market for a G36 and don't really have a desire to get a G30.

I know one guy that works in a gunshop... very decent shooter. Carries a G30 and has another as a backup. When the G36 came out he wanted to like it more but after shooting four or five came to the conclusion that, for whatever reason, he just can't shoot the G36 as well as the G30. Not blaming the gun... maybe his hands or maybe just a strong preference to the G30.

Compared to the P99? You're right... it's not a fair contest. Standard pressure 9mm in the P99 vs standard pressure ammo in the G36, the P99 is child's play while the G36 requires at least a modest bit of effort to control.

As for ammo, as long as it proved reliable, I'd probably carry 200 Gr +P Gold Dots. And of course the 230 Gr Rangers seem to be consistantly good performers.

 

[Hal]

Good info - thank you.

I'm leaning very heavily towards the 36.

I'm not real sure what Gaston sacrificed o the accuracy gods when he made the 30,,, those things are just outright scarry accurate. All of them I've seen being shot run right up,,well above my Kimbers. I had all I could do with my Commander to stay ahead of one fella one day at the range. If the 36 shoots that well,,and it sounds like it does,,,my short list is getting shorter.

Re: The P99. It's another one on the short list. I just wondered how it felt to people that had a 30/36 and a P99.

 

[RWK]

Hal,

I own and sometimes carry a Glock 36 (normally using any decent 230 grain FMJ for practice and 200 grain P+ for carry, to increase muzzle velocity and expansion). With probably 1000 rounds fired, I have experienced absolutely no problems. Further, the size, “concealabilityâ€, reliability, durability and Glock-like quality of the G36 are all first-rate. HOWEVER, like all Glocks in my hands, the accuracy is not up to my standards -- adequate, but not “target levelâ€.

Therefore, if you shoot Glocks well and they meet your accuracy requirements, I would recommend the G36, since its other attributes (quality, durability, reliability, and so forth) are all excellent. The G36 provides a high-quality, compact, 6+1 .45 ACP package, which should be sufficient for almost any conceivable non-LEO defensive scenario.

 

[Sean Smith]

OK, I owned a Glock 36, among several other Glocks (a 23, 35 and 20C). I don't own any Glocks anymore, or plan to, but that's a different story.

The 36 was the most concealment-friendly, though not much more so than the 23 I had. Recoil wasn't too bad in spite of the light weight. Ergonomics were, well, Glock, but not as fat in the grip obviously. Trigger sucked, exactly like all Glocks. Accuracy was pretty average, like most Glocks. Sights were the standard ding-prone plastic Glock sights. It was reliable.

I didn't keep it very long, though. I just couldn't shoot the thing for crap. I knew it was capable of good accuracy, but if I wasn't shooting it off sand bags I couldn't hit jack squat with it. This was not the case with the 23, 35 or 20C, incidentally, just the 36, which gave me fits trying to hit anything with it.

I'm not suggesting you don't get one, but you should try one before you buy one.

P.S. I'd split the difference and use 200gr.

 

[shooter1]

Having owned both the 30 & 36, I still own the 36! Gaston did good making a single stack!! Don't know what he was thinking when he allowed the 37 to get out.
Will

 

[Bill Hook]

I have long fingers, but otherwise small hands and don't like the 36, whereas the large frame Glocks seem to be a good fit for me. It just felt a little odd and it can't be that the grip was too small, as my PP and Mak fit just fine.

 

[Brigrat]

45's tend to have expansion problems in barrels shorter than 4.25 inches, .40, 0r 9mm would be better out of shorter barrels. As far as the 36 is concerned, I don't like the way it feels in my hand, as the grip is not only short, but narrow too. I have large hands, to the point that the G19 is a bit small, so take my opinion with a grain of salt so to speak. Check out ammolab for good info on 45 bullet performance out of short barrels, there are a couple of active threads that address this topic over there right now.

 

[shooter1]

I don't concern myself with bullet expansion in a compact handgun. Penetration, however is a must! If you are looking for expansion in a short barreled handgun, look at the Federal "Powerball" ammo. Just remember that expansion at low velocities equals reduced penetration.
Will

 

[roo_ster]

G30 vs G36

Every G30 I've shot has been scary accurate and has puffball recoil, to boot. I can shoot almost as well with the G36...almost...but the difference is not all that significant out to 25 yards.

Unless the G30 is just -barely- too big in the grip, I'd go with the G30. The diff in grip width is hardly noticable...both are kind thick for their application, IMO.

If you don't mind a bit more recoil, the G29 is everything the G30 is, but chambered in 10mm. A little more recoil, but nothing spectacular. The option of full-house 10mm in a small, relatively mild recoiling package is mighty attractive.

G30, G36, G29 are all quality & none is a bad choice. Face it, the Glock is the Honda of handguns: reliable, soulless, & boring. -Reliable- is awfully important.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

I've carried a G30 for about 7 years now and, for me, it's just about perfect. Yes, the 36 is slimmer, but it's never really been an issue for me. I'm a skinny guy but with the right holster and clothes, it disappears. I played with the G36 but found that it was too slim for my hands; I like how the G30 fills my hand completely. Personal choice.

The issue with the magazines, I’ve not seen. Yes, that last round in the magazine can be a pain, but I just download by one for a total of 10 rounds altogether.

I’ve heard many theories as to why the G30 is so accurate; none of which convinced me. But it is MUCH more accurate than it has a right to be, so I don’t question it too much.

Bullet weight. Wow. Well, in the one unpleasant experience I had, the 230grn Fed HydraShok performed miserably out of my G30. A solid chest hit on the bad guy wearing a t-shirt, and it barely expanded. Through and through and exited his left shoulder blade. PD recovered the round sitting on the deck.

Needless to say I was unimpressed with the round’s performance. After talking with a number of PD investigators and some forensic pathologists, the overall opinion is that the 3¾†barrel on the G30 (and G36) is too short to get the 230grn rounds up to speed for reliable expansion. I’ve since switched to 200grn +P Gold Dot.

IMHO you can’t really go wrong with either G30 or G36.