Heckler & Koch P30 9mm

[Wil]

I have the opportunity to purchase a used P30- well kept and almost new- I have used other H&K products, but this would be the fist pistol- any input as to this new model?

would use it primarily for self-defense- conceal carry- also at the range to hone my shooting.

thank you for all your help.

Though not the one shown here.

 

[tgarza]

H&K make fine firearms. I have used the USP 45, 9mm,MP5 and G3. I would have to say if it says HK on it its a shooter.

 

[mparker762]

I had one of the first H&K USP's, one with the land-and-flat rifling instead of the polygonal rifling. It was one heck of a shooter, and I ran many thousands of rounds through it. The only H&K pistols I own at the moment though are two 9mm P7 squeeze-cockers. Those things are practically telepathic, the subconscious pistols I've ever used; raise the gun and it's cocked and ready, lower the gun and it decocks and is safe, change the mag and raise the gun to shoot and it drops the slide and cocks it automatically, think about putting a hole in the bullseye and there's a hole in the bullseye.

 

[airplanedoc]

I have a USP45 and it is one fine shooting weapon. I doubt you will be dissappointed in HK.

 

[djmike523]

Great sidearms, they are... And awesome to take to the range. perhaps I'm a bit old fashioned, but when it comes to personal defense, I feel 9mm rounds possess greater chance of not getting the 'job' done (especially if up against an individual strung-out on chemical substances) because of their force of velocity.


Sure, the military uses them (9mm) -not that cost of production comes into play - and yes, they are effective rounds that are widely seen as a standard home defense cartridge that will almost certainly perform admirably when called upon.

Personally, I have a .45 in the nightstand; I don't want myself or a loved one to be the 1 in 1000 who went up against an intruder that was still able to remain a combatant after taking a round or two from a 9mm.

 

[airplanedoc]

9mm rounds possess greater chance of not getting the 'job' done (especially if up against an individual strung-out on chemical substances)

Agreed, I just didn't want to be the one to start the 9mm vs 45 war.

 

[Leche]

H&K make wonderful firearms. djmike523 makes the point that the 9mm is a little weak in the realm of things. While true, a well practiced and cool in the moment (difficult to know until you're in that situation) can atop threats with a .22. I would just buy it cause its an H&K.

 

[mparker762]

Personally, I have a .45 in the nightstand; I don't want myself or a loved one to be the 1 in 1000 who went up against an intruder that was still able to remain a combatant after taking a round or two from a 9mm.

The difference in stopping power between the 9mm and 45 isn't sufficient to justify using a 45 that you're less comfortable shooting, or that your wife can't also shoot if needed. My wife has her own 45 Kimber so that's not an issue in our house.

Personally I have an 8rd .357 magnum revolver in the nightstand and a variety of 38spl and 357 mag revolvers scattered around the house. I don't want to be fumbling with safeties in the dead of night or accidentally hitting the mag eject or discovering that the magazine has gone bad. The business end of that revolver is seriously intimidating, and it's darned near as telepathic to shoot as those squeeze-cockers. It's a S&W Custom Shop gun, so it's got a very smooth action and great trigger, and it's like butter. My wife has her own 357 magnum, so she's familar with the manual of arms and the recoil.

I once had the unpleasant experience of taking my then-bedside Glock 22 to the range and discovering that it would reliably jam with that magazine on the third shot, the magazine lips having lost their position sometime in the previous two months (changing springs didn't fix it) ... I traded it in for the current-bedside S&W 627 and never looked back.

I carried a Wilson CQB for awhile and felt perfectly confident with it. But as well as I shoot with it, I shoot better and faster with the S&W 627 and the poodle-shooter squeeze cockers. Next time I have to qualify I'm taking the P7M8.

Edit: the bedside also sports a machete for zombies.

 

[Left Coast DJ]

HK makes great firearms. But I suggest renting a P30 at a shooting range and firing one. If you're in the Phoenix area, both Shooter's World and Scottsdale Gun Club have a great selection of HKs. So they may have a P30 for rent.

As for which round is better, that's like trying to argue which razor blade is better. YMMV! I personally like 9mm because I can control the shots better for tighter groupings, 9mm ammo is much cheaper than .40 and .45, and if you live in an urban setting, the 9mm has less of a chance of overpenetrating and going into your neighbor's house. Besides, almost all European forces use 9mm...

The best way to settle the 9mm vs. .40 vs. .45 argument is to get a 12 gauge for home defense!

Edit: That looks like a Ken Lunde picture!

 

[tgarza]

the best way to settle the 9mm vs. .40 vs. .45 argument is to get a 12 gauge for home defense!

+1

 

[professorchaos]

I love my H&K!

 

[Gravy]

The only H&K pistols I own at the moment though are two 9mm P7 squeeze-cockers.

Care to PIF one of those P7's or are you starting to horde them?

My local gun store had recently gotten 3 NIB P7's that had somehow gotten misplaced while in storage. The store had them for sale at the original price, cheaper than the used ones. I was too late.

As for the P30, might be on large side for concealed carry. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it anyway.

 

[HDguy]

I have a Kimber .45 in my nightstand and a Glock 23 .40 for concealed carry.

 

[Mazeman]

Good looking gun. Plus it has a rail, so you can "accessorize".

Here's my Sig P220 with a rail light:

 

[bolocheung]

I keep a Glock 17 in the nightstand & a Sig P220 hidden in the family quarters. I agree with above, if I am groggy & am suddenly awoken, the pump of the 12 gauge will get the intruders attention.

 

[barracudamagoo]

HK. Because you suck, and we hate you.

 

[rtaylor61]

I carry a S&W .38 Special. But I love shooting my .9mm. But under the bed I have a Mossberg 12 gauge!

Randy

 

[Doc4]

... oh. I misunderstood your thread title. Here I was thinking "Wow, a Koch P30 9mm is a bit extreme for dealing with a heckler."

 

[GreatDane]

HK makes a great gun, but I personally wouldn't want to carry something that big. I also live in Florida, and dress in shorts, Hawaiian shirts, and sandals for about 10 months out of the year, so that may have something to do with it. I usually carry a Kel-Tec PF9 or P11, a Glock 26, or a Kahr CW9. As long as you have a decent round (CCI/Speer Gold Dot 124gr. +P for me, thank you), it'll be just as effective as a .40 or a .45. No matter what you carry, shot placement is more important then caliber, so make sure that whatever you end up carrying is comfortable enough that you won't mind practicing with it... A lot. I average 300-500 rounds/month through my carry pieces (thank God I reload and have a TON of supplies), but some may view that as a bit extreme. I compete too, tho, so training for IPSC = self defense training, in my book. YMMV, etc. etc. I say get the gun if you're getting a good deal on it.

 

[SRock]

Here is my take. H&K are fantastic firearms. I own several. They always shoot straight and true and are very reliable. I've been a gunsmith for going on 10 years now and I've never had to repair any of my H&K's and only rarely have had to do work on military MP5's and that is normally the result of abuse or shooter caused problems. I recommend them often to anyone who can afford them. If you are considering it for concealed carry it is a bit large. However, if you are going to keep it in the home for home defense that isn't an issue. As far as 9mm vs. larger calibers is concerned there are plenty of ammo options out there that nearly makes that a moot argument.

I say if the price is right, go for it!