Glock 30 - gen 3 or 4?

[BigWoolyBanjo]

I'm looking at either a used gen 3 or a new gen 4.
$165 difference.
I know about the double recoil spring on the gen 4.
Also like the light rail on the gen 4.

Question is: Does one have more or less problems than the other?
Or are they both very reliable?

Thanks in advance!

 

[NapalmMan67]

Can't speak to the 4, but my Gen 3 has been flawless in almost 2000 rounds down the pipe. And it has a light rail.


.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Glock 30S....

Id add the fairly new Glock 30S .45acp model.
I had a security co-worker who purchased a new 30S in 2014. He really liked the Glock.
If I were right handed, I would buy-carry a Glock 30S. It's based on the gen 3 format but has a thin slide. It can take the larger 21 13rd style .45acp magazines in a pinch.

Rusty S

 

[Osageid]

I have the 30s and completely satisfied

 

[JR24]

I like my 30S fine, but if I did it over, I'd go Gen 4 30. I don't find the thinner slide that much easier to conceal (though sharing holsters with my 19 and 23 is nice) and the extra weight of the standard 30 slide does cut recoil noticeably (for me, YMMV).

I prefer the Gen 4 for the grip texture (though Talon Grips help a lot on Gen 3) and the mag release (though Vickers Tactical Tango Down extended release are almost as good).

 

[burk]

Most of the Gen 3's have light rails. I have a 30SF and love it, but the stock 30 grip doesn't fit me as well. If it's any indication, Glock which still offers the Gen 3's has droped the 30 G3 (slow sales) but still offers the 30sf gen 3. If you like the smaller frame the G4 still gets you an extra mag, beefed up spring and RTF frame. Also a lot of the later G3 SF's came with the HD spring too.

 

[bearfoot]

The difference will be the features, not the reliability. I haven't heard or experienced any issues with the function of the Gen4 30 (which I have). If they had offered a Gen4 30S, I'd have gotten that, but the stippling and larger mag release, so I opted for the Gen4 30.

 

[blue32]

I'm at 15,821 rounds with my gen 3 SF. The only think I might want is that larger mag release that comes standard on the gen 4

 

[Lucky Derby]

The only Glock I've seen problems with, new out of the box, was a G23 Gen 4.

I'm sure that others have had problems, and I'm sure that most Gen 4 guns are fine.
Just mentioning my experience.

That said, I'd probably get a Gen 3 or earlier over a Gen 4.

 

[george burns]

I had a 30 from the time they were released, I recently bought the "S". I love it. It is just a great gun, has all the 30 features and is lighter and thinner, along with a bit shorter.
The SF argument is supposed to ne Short frame, but all who research these things sat that it is also thinner in the grip, it sure feels thinner.
The recoil feels less than my stock 30, "to me", and it carries easier. It still can use my leather holsters, and mags, so I am really happy with it, if I had only one gun, that would be the one.
Thank goodness that will never happen. I just can't get away from Glock reliability, I mean every one, "several" just right out of the box accurate and consistent. There may be better triggers or other singular controls on various guns, but the package still rules polymer guns for me. 11 rounds in a 20 ish oz gun. With the Liberty Civil Defense, hollow points in there. it weighs less than my 26.

 

[mgmorden]

They're mostly the same. I just bought a Gen 4 replacement for my G17 mainly for the simple fact that I wanted the smaller grip/frame.

 

[BigWoolyBanjo]

Thanks ya'll.
I went with the gen 4 G30

 

[Tacoma236]

Jus bought the G30 Gen 4...I have shot all sorts of weapons. All calibers, and all types. I have shot 1911's, Sig, XDS, Ruger, Colt etc. I have shot a slew of .45. This is by far the best .45 I have shot. And for a compact hand gun its AWESOME>
Ok now for the questions.
Grip' I have smallish hands and I was worried about the grip. ....Holds as well as my Service Sig 229.
Recoil...one word...awesome. The closest I can describe is the recoil you get from firing a Rhino...straight back into your arm. I shot 100 rounds today (hitting 4" circle repeatedly at 15 meters) did not even feel it. The Gen 4 recoil spring is the Bomb.
Finally carry...its about the size of the Sig I carried for years. I have the XDS 45 and its slim but you just cannot beat the control of the Glock...