Glock 30 with light loads? Just tried one and No Go in my case. Heavy loads kick hard

[Walt Sherrill]

If you really like .45 and want one that's gentler on the shooter, consider the Glock 37 or 38. I've had a bunch of .45s, and the Glock 38 (.45 GAP) is the softest-shooting .45 I've owned. I really like it.

Prepare to hear a lot of responses about how the .45 GAP is a solution in search of a problem, etc. Ignore them. It's a nice gun and a good round. I just bought 500 rounds for the same price as .45 ACP, so the price difference isn't always an issue. The Glock 37/38 are built on the smaller frame (similar to the 17/19 or 22/23). It fits smaller hands when the standard Glock .45 (except the 36) doesn't.

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[BP Hunter]

If you are using this gun primarily for self defense, then you may have to deal with the recoil. I used to have a Glock 36, which is smaller and thinner than the G30. I used the Hornday Sefl Defese ammo of 165 gr which cycled flawlessly. The recoil was also very manageable.

 

[777funk]

Got it to work with light loads and the Wolff 15 lb spring. It ejects less than 1-2' away and many times over my head or in my face where the 1911 throws the same case about 4-6' to the 4 o'clock position.

It does NOT work with SWC's as someone else pointed out. 230gr seems to work the best. I'd probably do better if I up the charge a bit but I'm hesitant with the unsupported stock barrel. I got my first split case mouth with this gun (usually shoot my cases about 10-20 times and have never had a split case thus far with my powder puff loads).

I also notice with the 15 lb (lighter than stock by 2 lbs), the gun fails to go completely into battery about 10% of the time. All of these rounds passed the barrel plop test so I don't believe it was the seating/crimping.

My conclusion is that the stock spring is probably a safer bet for reliability. Of course the slide may have more spring back and close IF I had heavier loads to kick it back harder and further. Either way, the 1911 doesn't have trouble with the same loads. I suppose the short and light G30 probably just isn't made to do what I'd like to do with it. And I see why they say not to use reloads since fresh cases would be safer in the unsupported chamber.

Interesting Walt on the GAP. I notice that the charge to projectile distance is usually about the case length difference when I load for ACP. So that makes the GAP probably a more efficient cartridge for how I reload (light loads). But I'm sure brass is harder to come by which counts of course.

 

[hentown]

I'm guessing that the OP hasn't had a lot of experience in shooting .45ACPs through any pistol? I've found the G30 to be one of the softest-shooting .45s that I've shot, and I've shot a bunch through 1911s and Glocks. Same with G21.

I wouldn't shoot bullseye with a Glock (well, I'd be bored senseless shooting bullseye with anything), but I don't have any problems hitting relatively small targets out to 100 yds with my Glocks.

May be the OP should work on his grip and stance and should just shoot some more .45ACPs through some more Glocks?

I've NEVER heard anybody classifying a G30 as a heavily-recoiling pistol, with the exception, of course, of the OP. Any failures to function were probably related to the OP's grip and stance.

 

[777funk]

Hentown, no offense taken about inexperience, but I've shot many rounds out of 1911's, Rugers, and a Smith back in the 90's, all of these being metal guns and I felt that the Glock (with the stock spring) kicked very sharply compared to the others. But...

I should add, I believe part of that was possibly shooting SWC out of the Glock which someone else pointed out doesn't work and they said why.

When I watched for the problem with the SWC's, sure enough the back of the case being ejected catches on the next case mouth and SWC flat of the following round in the magazine and stops the spent shell (and slide) from coming any further back. So this creates a much sharper recoil than a functioning gun. Maybe this is what I was first noticing but didn't realize it at the time. It's like shooting a single shot 12GA vs shooting a nice soft autoloading gun, you're getting ALL of the recoil if the action can't move.

I tried the G30 with round nose 230gr lead that eject properly and the 15lb Wolff (2# lighter than stock) spring and it's a much softer shooting pistol. I'm guessing due to the fact that it cycles now more than any other factor. Now that I have it figured out, it's much better. I still enjoy shooting a 1911 or a Ruger P90 a bit more (no offense to Glock fans and I'm sure the G30 is a fine gun for the purpose for which it was made).

 

[777funk]

Well after I got it figured out (no SWC's and the right spring and loading) I have to say, I really like the G30 now. It was all about being able to get my reloads to work reliably like they do with the other .45's. I am using Bear Creek 200gr Round Nose Hollow Base and they're running 100% now that I found the settings it likes. Recoil is similar to any other .45 now that I'm not shooting SWC's that are jamming into the next one in the mag upon ejection. I'll have to save the lead SWC's for 1911's.

So end result, I'm very happy with the G30. The barrel is so much easier to clean on this gun vs other .45's and I'm getting NO leading with the Bear Creeks (moly coated). I've recovered a number of the Bear Creeks and the moly coating is still fully intact after shooting. Not even the rifling scraped the coating off. I guess that's why there is no leading. This is the best setup I've found so far. I was having some function trouble earlier because of too much case neck flare. I minimized the flare to where it will just keep the bullet on top as it goes through the press and that did the trick. Now the only thing I wish I could change is add a safety for when it's holstered. I'm a little concerned after doing a little searching and finding a lot of KB threads but so far I haven't had a sign of trouble, and to be fair I've also seen many posts of guys who've shot in the 100k range including reloads with no KaBoom. So hopefully that will be my case if I hang onto this one. I have to say it's a great .45 in a little package. I'm impressed. I just had to figure out how to get it to work with my requests. Now that it does, I'm very happy with it!

 

[yogiboobooranger]

You wish to add a safety..google safety for Glock and you will find many options for adding an external safety to your gun. Here is one example:http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...es/manual-safety-kit-for-glock--prod5532.aspx
I do not think it is needed, but if it will make you feel better, you can add one.

 

[Claude Clay]

did i miss a post or has no one mentioned the -- not shooting lead in a polygonal barrel?

but the trouble is resolved; bullet shape yields extraction failure.

side by side my old Defender, in my hands, is a more accurate and a softer shooter
than the g30. 3 fewer rounds but the defender does not twist in my hand like a glock and the trigger/cycle time is much faster. and the defender reliably cycles all shape bullets and power loads.

if DAO 1911 platform is important to you, the Agent series fits the bill.

 

[mdauben]

I first used WWB 230 ball and it functioned great but kicked like a mule.

The Glock 30 is a compact gun which by its very nature will kick more than a larger and/or heavier pistol. I routninly shoot WWB 230 ball in my Glock 21 and its fairly pleasant. In my Glock 36 (a single-stack brother of the double-stack Glock 30) recoil is understandable much sharper.

Then I switched to 200 LSWC's with medium light charge weights and once again I was disappointed. It failed to eject every one of them. Apparently the recoil springs on these are designed for full power or defensive loads only.

First, Glock recommends against use of unjacketed bullets in their guns. The polygonal rifling in Glock barrels generally does not work well with solid lead slugs. Second, many semiautos will have failures with reduced power loads unless they are specifically set up for them (which the Glock is not). Finally, I would never pick a subcompact, polymer pistol in .45 ACP for "enjoyment". Its designed as a self defence weapon. If you want "enjoyment" on the range, you are better off with your 1911.

Curious if maybe I'm overlooking something here. Maybe I should try a G17 or G19?

With their larger size and less recoil, they will certainly be more comfortable for long periods at the range. I can shoot my Glock 17 all day long with a smile on my face.

Maybe the G21 would be a little more like the full size metal 45's I've shot in the past.

I love my Glock 21 and enjoy shooting it quite a bit. The only problem is being a larger & heavier gun (especially when loaded with 13+1 x 230 gr cartidges!), its a bit harder to concealed and carry than a Glock 30 or 36 (not impossible, just not as easy).


EDIT: Ooops! I see you've resolved your problems. Good shooting with your Glock!

 

[777funk]

Yes I did Mike, Seems like the lighter wolff spring did the trick. It still only ejects the case about 1-2 feet (which is barely sufficient) but it runs 100%.

Also re lead, I started using Bear Creek moly round nose or round nose hollow base profile and loaded right, they run beautifully. I've recovered a bunch of them and they show no (as in none at all visible) exposure through the coating to the lead. It's easy to see when you cut through the coating because the lead is shiny grey/silver whereas the moly is dark grey matte almost black in color.

So I'd say they're most likely getting NO lead deposited in the barrel. Cleaning also seems to confirm. The barrel shows only powder as far as I can see (looks just like after shooting jacketed).

I also shot regular cast lubed and it didn't look too bad after 40 rounds or so.

 

[hentown]

Let me reiterate: I'd hazard a guess that I've put more rounds through Glocks than everybody else posting so far in this thread...combined. I find the G30 to be extremely pleasant to shoot. It handles recoil just fine.

 

[gym]

It's a 45, after all, it's supposed to have some recoil. Otherwise stick with the less powerful calibers, "honestly". You can't expect to shrink down a gun to "pocket size" and not get some recoil. The XDS has about the same as the Glock, I have both and there is no noticeable difference.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Let me reiterate: I'd hazard a guess that I've put more rounds through Glocks than everybody else posting so far in this thread...combined.

Uh, yeah, sure.

 

[777funk]

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I think what I had originally found so shocking about the G30 vs other .45's ended up being just the SWC's catching on the next one in the mag as the spent round was ejecting. This made for a very sharp recoil and of course was non functional. Both gave me a bad taste for the G30.

It's much better now. I would say pretty close in feel to the metal .45's. I put it up for sale the day after purchase (around the time I compared it to 1911's that were functioning (and recoiling) as normal with the SWC's). Now that it works, I'll miss it a little if it sells. It's a nice little gun.

 

[PO2Hammer]

They are great guns, glad you got it running.