Glock 30 vs 36

[chipperi]

My best bet is to just go and handle them but none of my local shops seem to have the glock 30 and 36 at the same time for me to handle. I am looking for a smaller lighter ccw piece. I currently carry a S&W 4516 but it is a bit heavy. The 30 has a double stack mag and the 36 has a single.

My problem I have huge hands 15 ring size. the 30 would probably fit better but could possibly print. The 36 may be to slim and feel odd in my hand but conceal easier.

Anyone with experience with both the 30 and the 36 that has some input.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I had a G30 for a while. It was the only Glock I've had that was fussy about functioning. It is asking a lot of that highly compressed magazine spring to lift those big heavy cartridges up in time. Once I sorted the wheat from the chaff, as it were, and found good magazines it was OK. The guy I sold it to reported no problems with it and liked it very much.

I shot a couple of boxes of ammo through a G36 several years ago and it performed well for me, but not enough to supplant the G19 I already had. I found it a much better fit in my hand than the chunky G30. But I am 5-9 and 148 lbs., too. I think you would probably find the G30 a better fit for you than the G36.

 

[BobbyQuickdraw]

The smaller Glocks are terrible for large hands. I have big hands too and own a Glock26 and am going to get something new. Don't know if I'll sell the Glock26 or not, but it is definitely not a great fit for my gorilla hands.

 

[GunNut]

The Glock 30 is the more reliable of the two, but the 36 is much more concealable, IMHO.

The 36 is actually one of the nicer feeling guns that I have ever handled and I plan on getting one when funds permit.

If I were in your shoes I would probably just go with the 30 and dress around the gun. Printing is way more of an issue for all of us on the gun boards than it is in the real world as most people have no clue what is on your waist. Could be a PDA, cellphone or any other variety of things people keep on their belts.

 

[Glockorama]

If you have big hands, I would say the 30. Mine was a fantastic gun; accurate, 110% reliable, and easy (I think) to conceal. Excellent gun.
When the 30 first came out, it was all the rage.

 

[Winchester 73]

I have the 36 and my son has the 30.The 36 is much easier to conceal but you're giving up 4 rounds(6+1 vs 10+1)and as mentioned the 36 has been plagued by some reliablity issues according to many reports ,although mine has operated flawlesssly for 4 years and thousands of rounds.
If you have medium to large hands and have the proper gun rig like the Milt Sparks Versa Max II,I'd go with the 30.
Concealment won't be that difficult with that holster(or one similar)and the proper garments.But you probably won't go wrong either way.
Specs:
Glock 30 length 6.77 width 1.27 barrel 3.78 weight 24.69(no mag)cap. 10+1
Glock 36 length 6.77 width 1.13 barrel 3.78 weight 20.10(no mag)cap. 6+1
Good luck.

 

[R&J]

We like to think of these things as clones, duplicates, but they are built within tolerances, parameters called "acceptable". A lemon is always a possibility, but of the Glocks, G30 is one model that gets few complaints. Conversely, the G36 seems to be a fussy little bugger! Kind of like Volkswagens--get a good one and you'll love it!

I've rented a G30 on two occasions, putting 200-rounds through it both times. Each time I was impressed, and by my last box of ammo, I was shooting the little gizmo about as well as my G21, which is to say, pretty well!

The rental unit was a 2nd Gen G30 with two magazines, one having the Pearce Extension. This would be a must for me. I have fairly big hands, and long fingers, so the blocky Glocks feel good to me, and the magazine extension made it just right.

The G30 was originally introduced as a "Compact Model", as was the G29. It has a rail for a laser or weapon light, and for all practical purposes will do what a G21 will do, less a few cartridges. It will conceal on a bigger guy. There are plenty of accessories for it.

The G30 was my next planned purchase, but I'm going to wait to see what our goofy state does, since they're frantic to disarm us. .45 ACP ammo has gone way up in price, and is often not available.

I've only held the G36, never fired it. The slender .45 would make one hell of a BUG! Assuming you get a good one. Accessories for this model are slim, as compared with the G30.

You may want to hold out for the G30SF, which is confidently expected by February of 08. This will offer a slimmer grip than the current G30.

--Ray

 

[pablo45]

I like the 30. Some even come with a rail which is awesome and handy to have. I have never really played with the 36 but I am sure you can not go wrong. I like the 30 because mags are interchangeable with the 21.

 

[chipperi]

Thanks guys, The capacity thing isn't much of a concern to me as my current carry gun is 7+1 the 36 would be 1 less.

You may want to hold out for the G30SF

What is this one you mention? It is 645 am getting ready for work don't have the time to investigate right now.

 

[R&J]

Q) "What is this one you mention? It is 645 am getting ready for work don't have the time to investigate right now."

A) "You may want to hold out for the G30SF, which is confidently expected by February of 08. This will offer a slimmer grip than the current G30."

Recently another edition of the venerable G21 was offered--the G21SF "Short Frame" (should read "Slim Frame"). This is the same .45 ACP pistol with a slimmer grip, and a couple other refinements, like an ambidextrous magazine release, and optional Picatinny rail. In my case, all of these "improvements" are moot; but shooters with smaller hands and lefties would differ.

Anyway, a G30SF is confidently expected, but you say you have "huge hands", so I don't know if this will benefit you.

--Ray